tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78897284518153861612024-03-05T12:50:52.491+05:30random thoughtsNikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-5611503607662990122012-05-01T22:09:00.000+05:302012-05-01T22:26:48.087+05:30A Bollywood Cancer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was lying in my bed, trying to get some sleep, but that seemed like a luxury.Bollywood numbers were piercing the atmosphere from some trumpets, most probably of some baraat.Playing 'Mujhe pehchaano, me hoon kaun' at a wedding , and that too an arranged marriage lends itself some unintentional humor. But I digress.<br />
I started thinking of how bollywood or films in general has invaded our lives , much like those blaring trumpets. A few months back we had our rail budget. On the day the budget was introduced at the parliament, a popular national daily had a strip dedicated to "Top train moments in Bollywood". Had they run out of ideas or suggestions for a rail budget for our country?
While channel surfing a few days back I noticed that almost all daily soaps have lends its name from bollywood lyrics. Can't they take some time out of their busy tear jerking schedule to find a title that suits the storyline? To know the difference one should try surfing for internet radio station. There were plenty of channels to choose from offering variety of news, analysis, discussions, stand up performances, music, and podcasts. While I found foreign channels to be enlightening, all the Indian channels were narrow minded and focussed only on celebrity gossips and film music. I remember during my schools days I used to hear a lot of light music on radio and TV. But where are they now. The malayalam radio channel I was listening online was playing hindi songs.<br />
Genuine, fresh and creative music and writing should be a source pride but apart from dewarists and few other programmes I hardly find anything original on TV on arts and music.<br />
While cheerleaders of IPL mindlessly gyrate to recycled bollywood tunes, I have turned to news channels for entertainment.<br />
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</div>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-50653851592189640582012-01-03T22:23:00.000+05:302012-01-08T12:46:34.267+05:30My mobile app<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I recently bought a samsung galaxy ace S5830 and dived into the world of android apps. I would like to share some apps that I enjoyed using. And all of them are free</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">1.<a href="http://www.rovio.com/en/our-work/games/view/1/angry-birds">Angry birds</a> I know all of them are familiar and enjoy destroying the evil pigs with thpse fluffy and very angry birdd. Nut love them so much that i had to give them first place.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">2.<a href="http://www.dolphin-browser.com/">Dolphin browser</a> Though it is not as versatile as opera its no nonsense simplicity caught my eye. It is ideal for browsing through simple webpagrs and comes with a lot of handy add-ons like webpage to pdf converter. It can handle video pages very well too.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">3.<a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=com.world.newspapers&hl=en">World newspapers</a> I am a newspaper junkie and I love to browse through various newspapers. This well organised app helps me a lot. Also check out the indian newspaper app. It has a good collection of regional newspapers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">4. <a href="http://tunein.com/">Tunein</a> radio this is one of the best apps - after angry birds,of course - in my mobile. Its an app that helps you listen to radio channels over the internet. I am in love with radio because of this app. It is much simpler than the next best app Pandora.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">5. <a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=com.easy.battery.saver">Easy battery saver</a>. This app lets you choose various profiles that suits your needs and reduces your battery consumption accordingly. I was a bit apprehensive at first but it works.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">6.<a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.listen&hl=en"> Google listen</a> this app from google lets you listen to podcasts under numerous categories. Its quite fast and simple to use</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">My phone becomes slow quite frequently since its internal memory is very low. Here is a tip if you have the same problem. Go to system->applications->manage application and under various application clear your cache memory. This will free up your memory to an extent. Also remember to uninstall all those apps that you have installed just to try out and forgot about completely!</span>
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</div>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-61663808620352161522011-11-12T15:10:00.001+05:302011-11-12T15:33:52.601+05:30Star signs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"Have you recently looked up at the sky and watched the stars?" a friend of mine asked me. I was taken aback by his question.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdvNGiQTQuxxLDS9O7lDY5l9FddJMftdSdcNZnghjjPZFGB1jH7SijyO9mx_fyXFLOxI7B24Q65_D3bJLXAPZNvXzxkEPzR1XTphkLbbtOF4AgM0LTDNhASGxGshPrTX25lLdJXOru4U/s1600/9894237-stars-in-the-night-sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdvNGiQTQuxxLDS9O7lDY5l9FddJMftdSdcNZnghjjPZFGB1jH7SijyO9mx_fyXFLOxI7B24Q65_D3bJLXAPZNvXzxkEPzR1XTphkLbbtOF4AgM0LTDNhASGxGshPrTX25lLdJXOru4U/s320/9894237-stars-in-the-night-sky.jpg" width="168" /></a>And then I took my time trying to show how ridiculous he sounded and gave him some advice on how not to look stupid. Meanwhile my friend was desperately trying to explain his side of the story. But I was not listening. Later on during the day, I tried to recall the last time I had witnessed the night sky. I was horrified. I could not remember!That night after dinner I took a walk just to watch the stars. It was simply beautiful! Tiny little sparks on a dark endless carpet. I rediscovered beauty in something I had taken for granted. The irony hit me like cold water on a winter morning. I was trying to look for extraordinary things and beauty of the small and ordinary was just above my head. I am not trying to criticise modernity or development initiatives that have been empowered by technology. I do strongly believe that technology is the future. But sometimes we all miss out on things lying right there in front of us in our pursuit for the big and the great. Hyperboles tend to have a muffling effect on the melody of the natural. I now make it a point to look at the stars every night - through the little squares made by the apartments or through the dangling branches of trees. I thank my stars for the beautiful celestial show.</div>
</div>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-13661804661473155242011-07-13T11:31:00.002+05:302011-07-13T11:31:04.214+05:30The Rozabal Line<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bb/The_Rozabal_Line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bb/The_Rozabal_Line.jpg" /></a></div>
After reading 'The Davinci code' I had tried to familiarise myself with various theories connected with the life of Jesus Christ including his having spent a considerable amount of time in India. It was therefore with much scepticism that I approached <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rozabal_Line">The Rozabal Line</a> by Ashwin Sanghi. I was not sure whether it would provide me with something novel and fresh. I was pleasantly surprised. I am happy that I stand corrected.<br />
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The book begins with the revelation of the tomb of Jesus in Kashmir -Rozabal and from there goes on an international roller coaster ride with an impressive array of characters across the boundaries of space and time. The chapters are short and crisp and follows an almost fluid like motion - very much like a grain of sand. But each chapter is like the grain of sand in an hourglass; each grain filling up a crucial piece of the story and inching towards a scintillating climax.<br />
The author has done his research and it clearly shows in work. The book is very Indian and hence one finds a delightful intepretation of history from an uncompromising Indian perspective. The etymology of some words are so shockingly close home yet oblivious to the average Indian mind that it sends us on a detective hunt for intepretations of siimilar words dispersed throughout the book. He has done a commendable job of being patriotic while avoiding the narrow minded nationalism that we are so famous for. Thus there is no dull lecture on the extinction of the 'bharatiya sanskar' due to the import of western culture. I won't call him the Dan Brown of India. That would degrade him. His work is fiercely independent with enough masalas mixed to provide a wholesome entertainment. I believe that this book will send us on a journey to rediscover the myths, folklore and traditions that we believe we are so familiar with. It did that to me.<br />
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.<iframe frameborder="0" height="75" scrolling="no" src="http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583" width="170"></iframe>.Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-22258124107399483672011-07-02T15:09:00.002+05:302011-07-06T21:11:30.865+05:30Delhi Belly<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8qcFESbX4dnzYAbRld3Xjf9-02AnAG5NuACRCd262LRstIJcCXvuDYSCcBcRKaYnwrPDIUt7kmaUs5BbyOhnJ9FYoTovdWec8bc9FJepZF9JQGXo__KvkvRtqa5nLn8IXSuTsEzoPS8/s1600/delhi+belly+wallpapers+desktop+wallpaper+imran+khan+image+photo+pic+poster+bollywood+movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8qcFESbX4dnzYAbRld3Xjf9-02AnAG5NuACRCd262LRstIJcCXvuDYSCcBcRKaYnwrPDIUt7kmaUs5BbyOhnJ9FYoTovdWec8bc9FJepZF9JQGXo__KvkvRtqa5nLn8IXSuTsEzoPS8/s320/delhi+belly+wallpapers+desktop+wallpaper+imran+khan+image+photo+pic+poster+bollywood+movie.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>When Dk Bose(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaag_D.K._Bose">click here</a>) was launched it raised quite a few eyebrows. If your eyebrow(s) were among them then do<b> NOT</b> watch '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_Belly_(film)">Delhi Belly</a>'.<br />
I would term the release of this film as the coming of age of mainstream bollywood cinema. Gems like 'Udaan' or 'Peepli Live' in my opinion were not mainstream enough. This movie is dirty, filthy, crass but not hypocritical. And that is what I liked about the movie.<br />
The movie deals with the miserable lives of three losers, one of whom (Imran Khan) is about to get married to Sonia (Shehnaz treasurywala). Sonia picks up a package for a friend at the airport and through some series of intricate, comical(/vulgar) , and unfortunate events puts the lives of the three main characters in danger.<br />
This short, crisp movie with a running time of just over 100 minutes have stretched the boundaries of acceptable scenes and language in bollywood cinema. Expletives flow freely like water and toilet humor is packaged (see the movie to know what I mean) in an entirely shocking manner. It is this boldness that is remarkable about this movie. It is bad and does not feel sorry about it.<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="75" scrolling="no" src="http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583" width="170"></iframe></div>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-990713420404787322011-06-19T11:46:00.009+05:302011-06-19T15:25:26.548+05:30Shaitaan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIfgbISciGydVqbrtu4J_f6J7eAFhlWb9dSlt4_slua2fLYLYtwkkev9sIVjWG-xhjfq62mF7PXp2hLh2WUeNzK3ajrXaUWemUXoCSYWu4K1_N5ysBOmX30o5EGrg30dFsvJt7sGbRswS/s1600/shaitanposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIfgbISciGydVqbrtu4J_f6J7eAFhlWb9dSlt4_slua2fLYLYtwkkev9sIVjWG-xhjfq62mF7PXp2hLh2WUeNzK3ajrXaUWemUXoCSYWu4K1_N5ysBOmX30o5EGrg30dFsvJt7sGbRswS/s1600/shaitanposter.jpg" /></a></div>"Shaitaan.."exclaims kalki while her character menacingly holds a teddy bear and " Pareeee !!" she calls out while playfully brandishing another. The movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaitan_(film)">Shaitan</a> is about all of us juggling the shaitans and angels within us every moment of our life.<br />
The movie has promising start with the mentally traumatised Amy (Kalki) coming to India with her parents. Here she meets a group of friends - all of them super rich, carefree and lives a wacky lifestyle. Their lives take an unexpected turn and they have to confront the devils within them, and in the society.<br />
The movie is shot brillianly with breathtaking colours and tantalising angle but the direction has a 'david fincher' feel to it. The music is funky and creative but sometimes goes over the top. The 'khoya khoya chaand' sequence is simply superb.The dialogues are the real gems of this movie. Sample this -" Kuch dost aisen hein jinhe raath ke do baje hi call kiya jaata hein" or the brilliantly delivered "himani navratna tel kahaan lagate hein?". When a police superior tells his junior "Sach aur Sachchai mein fark hota hein" you can't help comparing it with the present situation and nod your heads.<br />
Shaitaan portrays the brash, violent section of Indian youth who are aggressive in pursuit of the 'trophies' they are obsessed about and get confused after getting them. A good watch.<br />
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<div></div></div>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-1514368278893389812011-03-30T17:40:00.001+05:302011-03-30T17:41:20.387+05:30My election manifesto<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SZMIopPrNp6MO8TrcAr_ZEuOTb8apEVS7qsYGotMS4AREfStqVA3pIQjXFfYXKqCquPw0ffjryr9AL6zaw3qMftETXtbyQpopMc7NKuhO2DEC4TZDUys6IrmOg_12i7SI4tusSaK9Ss/s1600/cartoon_swiss_banks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SZMIopPrNp6MO8TrcAr_ZEuOTb8apEVS7qsYGotMS4AREfStqVA3pIQjXFfYXKqCquPw0ffjryr9AL6zaw3qMftETXtbyQpopMc7NKuhO2DEC4TZDUys6IrmOg_12i7SI4tusSaK9Ss/s1600/cartoon_swiss_banks.jpg" /></a></div>Its election time in Gods Own Country and this time yours truly has decided to contest the election as an independent candidate .I can't promise freebies like the grand old man of Tamil Nadu but here's a list of nothings that I promise to work for.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Distribution of alcohol to be made through PDS</b><br />
To put the people out of their misery I think it is better that we start distributing alcohol of all forms, colours and brands through outr<br />
very own 'raation shaap'. How else will the hardworking malayalees find time to attend more pressing matters like <br />
going to a strike or burn up some shops? You don't expect them to waste their precious time waiting in the serpientine queues in front of Bevco do you?<br />
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<b>2. Declare 'the Gulf' as the 15th district of Kerala</b><br />
All gulf countries should be given DoK(District of Kerala) status. This will be of great assisstance to keralites in their exodus to the 'sheik-lands'<br />
And my government will try applying VAT tax on the sheiks. Imagine the revenue that can be collected!<br />
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<b>3. Declare the entire state as an amusement park</b><br />
The narrow,winding roads, dotted with potholes, that seem to fall off into the underworld makes this the best investment opportunity for the state. We have many bus, lorry and jeep drivers<br />
who have shown their expertise in plunging their vehicles into rivers , ponds, backwaters, canals, puddles and other waterbodies. They can be hired to make kerala <br />
the adventure tourism capital of the world<br />
<br />
<b>4. Registeration fee for strikes and hartals</b><br />
An online registration form (along with a small fee of course) has to be filled by any party before they can start a strike. <br />
<b><br />
5. Banning all words with "o"</b><br />
The sound "O" has been the bane of malayalees, causing shame and embarassment to him whenever he speaks. My government will start an initiative to replace all those <br />
words with "non-o" words. This will increase the morale, and self confidence of all mallus.<br />
<br />
Please will you people support me?<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="75" scrolling="no" src="http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583" width="170"></iframe> </div>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-18535177995150588882011-02-26T18:05:00.001+05:302011-02-26T18:10:14.575+05:30A trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqf0C_CRVxQiwh0YI1vypJ7jeEAhWpIcModeWzNuVs9V4dKKlChEMgNbM9E-JtLRnwAr8EqdXm78K2PoQ1iJmwDacFuXmWvsRq1HQQVUb7pXeJ7Ey_se2TJ3yS6OkhvdZXbRdKuK-gKgo/s1600/DSCN0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqf0C_CRVxQiwh0YI1vypJ7jeEAhWpIcModeWzNuVs9V4dKKlChEMgNbM9E-JtLRnwAr8EqdXm78K2PoQ1iJmwDacFuXmWvsRq1HQQVUb7pXeJ7Ey_se2TJ3yS6OkhvdZXbRdKuK-gKgo/s320/DSCN0328.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the gravity column</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Going to a temple town like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belur">belur</a> might not be a conventional idea of a weekend trip but as they say it is not just about the destination, its about the journey as well . Right? <br />
It was about to become another boring weekend and add to that the nauseating joblessness of final semester, what you are left with will make even the Coen brotherscringe. But some articles on this temple town I had read earlier flashed before my eyes and there I was packed and all set to go!<br />
I set off to Bengaluru in an <a href="http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tnstc.in%2F&rct=j&q=SETC&ei=Y_FoTaXcEMymrAey1-jCCw&usg=AFQjCNFUoVRYLmOafsQzORp1TLDwrK614g&sig2=uoqvocy2n5sfDvGlyB-WoQ&cad=rja">SETC</a> bus.<br />
A warning to all those who try to attempt this stunt. The bus journey is not as rosy as they show in the movies. Instead of following a straight trajectory on a smooth and arrow-straight stretch of a national highway the driver chose to hop the bus on the carriageway. His dexterous hands made the bus trace parabolas on the road. It was a ride that a 5 year old (like the one sitting in the seat next to me) could enjoy. After that back breaking stomach churning ride lasting for infinity to me and just 11 hours for the driver(adjusted for relativity) <br />
I was at the Majestic bus terminal , Bengaluru.<br />
The adventurer in me decided to enquire about the route to Belur in Kannada. I approached a uniformed man and uttered "Belur ... Temple-udu...". The man stared at me and replied in clear and near-perfect English. "Please board a bus to Chikmanglur. It will take about six hours to reach Belur. So have something to eat now". I sheepishly left to find a bus to chikmanglur, this time taking care not to resort to any Kannada antics. <br />
After a refreshing tea and morning snack I boarded the bus to chikmanglur. Banglore was slowly fading away from the window and the bus started making a monotonous hum as it entered athe highway.<br />
The journey to Belur was uneventful and I reached there at noon. I began scouting for a place to stay. I chose a tourist lodge near the famous Chennakesava temple. The rates were affordable Rs 250 per day per head. Only problem was that they kept my driving licence with them till I checked out. It was some governement regulation I assumed. <br />
I set out to visit the temple in the evening. There are many templea that overpower you with its gigantic constructions and grandeur. But this temple was different. It welcomed me with simplicity. <br />
What strikes you at first is the exquisite carvings covering the entire temple and from a distance it looks like a fine embriodered cloth covering the deity inside. After snapping some pics in and around the temple<br />
I strolled around the temple courtyard. I noticed a solitary column standing right in the middle like a giant prayer reaching out to the sky. On enquiry I learnt that it is a pillar that is not joined at the base with cement or mortar. Just pure gravity and its own weight has helped it withstand the test of time. After ogling the beautiful carvings for a while I returned to my room. I had another journey to prepare. This time to Halebidu (pronounced alabeduuuuu in Kannada. Seriously ask any local and he will howl out this name.)<br />
The next morning I took the first bus from belur to halebidu . The journey took a little more than half an hour. I was told by someone that the temple opens at six. That someone was wrong. I came to know that 6.30 a.m was the standard opening time. I decided to take a stroll down the road. The scenery was incomparable - morning sun jsut caressing the clouds overhead,a large lake with palm trees bordering it<br />
birds cackling and taking their morning dip in the ice-cold waters. I thanked the above-mentioned 'someone' for making me come here early.After taking in as much nature as I could, I headed back to the temple. Tragedy struck. My camera battery was out of charge!Seeing my trouble someone gestured towards a nearby restraunt that lets you charge your batteries for just five rupees. I rushed to the place. DOuble whammy! Power cut!<br />
I dragged myself back to the Halebid temple and with the batteries borrowed from a helpful tourist clicked a couple of snaps. <br />
Maybe I was not destined to take the photos. Maybe I wasd supposed to enjoy this poetry in stone with my eyes. After a light breakfast I bid farewell to the town that fed me sweet sambhar, and delicious tamarind rice. I was not concerned about the 'hopping' journey back to college. I was refreshed and recharged. I was prepared.<br />
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For photos that i clicked check out my album. <br />
<table style="width: 194px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="center" style="background: url("https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif") no-repeat scroll left center transparent; height: 194px;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/116167210993968785671/BelurHalebid?authkey=Gv1sRgCJzMwJevicCrSw&feat=embedwebsite"><img height="160" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_j8eRKRxb5-0/TWjqzJmEnRE/AAAAAAAAAKI/R9WLsrjGkv8/s160-c/BelurHalebid.jpg" style="margin: 1px 0pt 0pt 4px;" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/116167210993968785671/BelurHalebid?authkey=Gv1sRgCJzMwJevicCrSw&feat=embedwebsite" style="color: #4d4d4d; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Belur-Halebid</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>You are free to use these photos. Reference to my blog will be appreciated.<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="75" scrolling="no" src="http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583" width="170"></iframe> </div>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-6188319058071801332010-12-17T18:04:00.000+05:302010-12-17T18:04:42.071+05:30Scam 24x7I was flipping through the channels one lazy evening. A carnival of scams was unfolfding in the television. Just then my dad remarked," I am going to start a new news channel - ScamTV24x7. It will be a nice idea to start one now". <br />
That got me thinking . What if we actually had one? These would be the various programs I would want to air<br />
<br />
1.Morning Leaks : Morning show which analyses the various leaks brought out by wikileaks<br />
2.Kalmadi aur barbaadi : A peek into the destruction of our sports culture by India's very own Suresh Kalmadi<br />
3.Dutt and nothing but : An hour long show about the corruption in journalism hosted by Barkha Dutt<br />
4.Tata, birla and ambani : a show about corporate manmaani<br />
5.Babuj zara dheere chalo : a live programme that tracks the greedy bureaucrat babus in their quest for money in the murky Indian system. The babus agreed to donate 1% of their hard earned money to charity after watching this show.<br />
6.Indian Paisa League : This innovative sports show features various exposes in the sports world.<br />
7.Politricks : The great Indian con-show from the worlds best con artist- Indian netas.<br />
<br />
Got any other ideas?<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="75" scrolling="no" src="http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583" width="170"></iframe>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-62853965113249492972010-08-08T17:34:00.000+05:302010-08-08T17:34:28.713+05:30Why I support the bureaucrats trapped in the CWG corruption scandalI think the recent controversy surrounding the corruption in Commonwealth wealth games going to be held at Delhi is avaricious, malicious , delicious and auspicious. I do not find anything wrong with what the bureaucrats have done. The reasons for my steadfast support to the 'babus' are :<br />
<b>1.Nobody told them that Commonwealth does not actually mean COMMON WEALTH.</b><br />
They thought that Common wealth means common wealth as in common room, common toilet etc etc - anyone can use it .They took whatever they needed for their 'chai paani'! They were misinformed .Don't you think?<br />
<b>2.They were trying to make India an egalitarian state.</b><br />
They were trying to reduce the disparities between the rich and the poor. The oft-repeated 'aam aadmi' campaign was not working and UPA government was running outof ideas. So they thought of a novel scheme to rob Indians of their money and make everybody poor and usher in equality. They were this close.<br />
<b>3.Lalit Modi said 2000 crore is no biggie</b><br />
Lalit Modi was hired by these powerful men sa their consultant and he consulted thus:"See, what you have taken is a pittance when compared to what I have stolen from 1 day of a single IPL. Just relax and work on a public statement that is atleast 100000 pages long. They will soon get tired and forget about the incident". Because of this manipulator our poor officers are in trouble<br />
<br />
I urge all my fellow compatriots to show their solidarity with the tainted officials.They intentions were honest . Weren't they?<br />
To read about the allegation <a href="http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/337392,hits-delhis-commonwealth-games.html">click here</a><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="75" scrolling="no" src="http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583" width="170"></iframe>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-89408967665074264432010-07-24T22:15:00.000+05:302010-07-24T22:15:59.070+05:30Smile PleaseI found it tucked in between a garment store and a grocery shop. I expected a photo studio to be in a much better locality. "Focus" I told myself. All I wanted was four passport sized photos and I needed it by monday. And this studio was the only place open on a Sunday. I should thank God for that instead of criticising the ambience.<br />
It was quite early in the morning and the orchestra of crows,sparrows,cuckooos and other indistinguishable species had given up hope of attracting attention with their singing. I stepped inside. It was a small reception with two chairs lying strewn across the tiled floor. There was a tabled across the room carrying a bundle of papers and bills. The shaky table also supported a very very old computer. The one that Emperor Akbar used to communicate with his many wives. The walls were adorned with posters of actresses in various poses costantly smiling at you and urging you to stay in forever. The rising number of women customers must have compelled the owner to add some posters of actors as well. I noticed a few actors stuck on the wall threatening to suffocate you with their six pack abs.<br />
"Welcome sir" , a hoarse voice distracted my attention. "Sorry for the state of things here. I have just opened the shop and was not expecting anyone at this time."<br />
The sound reminded me of someone trying to sharpen a knife by rubbing it against a rock. I looked at the source of the cacaphony. He was a short man about five foot tall with an unkempt hair. He had the widest possible grin on his face. As if someone had digitally altered his face and pasted the grin there. He had his front teeth missing and had a big brown scar covering his entire chin. He was massaging his scar constantly. His eyes were slighly squinted andhis eyeballs were dancing to the tuneof some odd bollywood song - restless and irritating. He reminded me of the henchmen of bollywood dons. Not the macho wrestling type; but the ones that planted evil ideas into their masters mind, or the one who kept the boss's account. <br />
"I am new to this town and customers were few and far between. You are my first customer for the day. I am sure you will bring me good luck" he continued , the grin still glued to his face.<br />
I was least bothered about the prospects of this guy. I just wanted my photos. "How long will it take?" I asked anxiously. <br />
"Almost ready " he said " and you can collect your copies within 10 minutes" emphasising the last part." Please come in" he beckoned me in.<br />
The room was surprisingly spacious for a studio. It had a white cardboard screen balanced on a stand hiding the blue painted walls. In front of the screen was a tall metallic chair. But what intrigued me was the wall opposite the chair. It was filled with photos. Not photos of celebrities but of ordinary looking men and women. They were neatly framed and hanged on the wall. It looked like a riot of faces all of them looking at you. I felt uncomfortable. There was something in their eyes that made me feel that way. But I could not exactly tell what.<br />
"Here take your seat" the photographer offered me the chair." No need for make up. You look smart the way you are"<br />
I was surprised that I felt happy hearing a praise from a person that I had started to repulse. I gave a quick a quick glance to the photo-filled wall before I took my seat. <br />
"They are all my customers. For me they are the biggest celebrities. That is why I have created my own hall of fame for them.Soon you will also join them. I like to collect such photos of people. I like to collect something else also. "He went out of the room without enlightening me futher on his hobbies. "Good, I thought. As if I care".<br />
He returned with a long-nosed camera - the one you watch journalist taking photos with and placed it very carefully on a stand. It was as if some hazardous chemical or a deadly virus will come out of it if disturbed. He began adjusting the camera asking me to lower my neck, straighten my spine look straight etc. He then proceeded to change the lights and adjusted the screens. He looked busy. "Good" I thought "let the work do the talking".<br />
He returned to his apparatus. "Smile please" he shouted almost scaring me.<br />
I tried to put up a smile on my face with great effort. "That's it. You look great.Stay right there" he said alomost dancing behind the cameraall the while giving signals with his hand. And then he pressed the button.<br />
The flash blinded me and before I knew what was happening I fainted. I had no idea about the time. All I knew was that I had regained my consciousness. A strange sensation engulfed me. I realised that I was unable to move my limbs or even my legs. I felt like I was glued to something that left me immobile.The chair in which I sat moments ago was there in front of my eyes. But I was watching it while sitting some where high above the ground. That can't be. I had not noticed any staircase or anything opposite the chair except ... Yes the wall that where I was. A wild wave of emotions rocked me. I tried to cry. I could not. I was still smiling unable to flex even the muscles of my face.<br />
That was when he came in. " I told you I loved collecting things. Actually , I love collecting people. You are now a prisoner within this photo frame. We will be travelling soon to some other town before people get suspcious. Meanwhile meet your neighbours and make some friends".He gave out a long evil laugh before he went out. <br />
I was stuck in this photograph rather stuck as this photograph. God knows till when. I haven't lost hope. One day... <br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="75" scrolling="no" src="http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583" width="170"></iframe>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-17110318531203171612010-07-13T23:24:00.000+05:302010-07-13T23:24:21.095+05:30ClosedI cursed myself for listening to my grandfather. How will he know the trouble involved in finding an antique store from among a thousand odd shops? Added to that this tower did not have a 'sutradhar' - a robot guide that takes you around a place answering your queries. That made finding this shop in this 5 km tall carbon structure almost impossible. May be this building was not so developed when he was alive.His memory in this video log can only recall things that happened when he was alive. I cursed the old man again and kept searching.<br />
At last I found it tucked in between a painting store and a scrap nanotube outlet. It was a plain looking parlor - a place where you expect to find nothing. Why he chose a place like this to hide a 'valuable treasure' to quote him; was a question that I kept asking myself. I decided to finish off this chore as soon as possible.<br />
I entered the store. It was a small square room filled with articles that I had never seen before in my life. There were statues of tigers that I had heard so much about, some paper books and metal vases. The rest of the space was filled with currencies of countries with strange writings on them. They were all abolished the day the common universal government was adopted about a century back. <br />
"Looking for something?' a voice enquired from a corner.<br />
I turned to see an old man almost in his nineties glancing at me. He was a short man with a flowing white beard with a welcoming sparkle in his eyes. "He can sell himself as an antique" I told myself. <br />
"I am Dev from Kashi sector-46. My grandfather Arjun Varma asked me to come here and give you this"<br />
I handed him a thin glass sheet almost the size of my palm. I knew that it was called 'dhruv' used to identify people used in those days. Advantages of attending history lessons. I congratulated myself.<br />
He took the crystal sheet and placed his thumb on it. Some images flashed from the apparatus. That was odd I told myself. It was usually a persons face and his voice describing his credentials that comes out. At least that's what I have learned.<br />
I noticed the old man's face had turned grim. He left the room in hurry and appeared after a few minutes but this time with a plastic box in his hand. "Here take it and use it wisely " he uttered in a solemn voice. "Now please leave". He had barely given me the box and was trying to send me out rather rudely. What is in it? I wondered. But I chose not to ask. He was not willing to entertain me for even a second. I left.<br />
I found the nearest teleporter and typed in my residential address. A capsule appeared, verified my credentials and opened itself. Just enough space for me, I should start exercising I told myself inspecting my 104 kg body. <br />
As soon as I reached my home I broke open the box. Curiosity had almost turned me mad. There it lay inside the box the strangest object I had ever seen in my life. A rectangular plastic tablet almost 15 inches long and about 8 inches wide. It had the queerest thing stuck on it. It appeared like the keys I had seen in my history lessons. The keys had strange symbols arranged neatly on top of it : 'Esc' 'F1' 'F2' it went on. I searched the box for some manual. I was not disappointed. I found a 'gyaan' - a digital manual inside. I rubbed my thumb on it. The device started a general introduction of the bizarre item I was holding. This was called a keyboard used to enter data in ancient times in a language called English. It became obsolete after after the entire world adopted a common language called 'bhaasha' in 3013 A.D. <br />
But why take all the trouble to give me this. And why do I have a strange feeling that this is not just a data-entry device? i scrolled down the e-tablet . I was filled with control keys and commands and description. What does my grandfather want me to do with this ? I wondered. <br />
I decided to test this machine and if I find no use to it I decided to sell it back to the same antique-dealer. <br />
I pressed a key that had a symbol resembling the up arrow. Nothing happened. Wait , I cannot feel the chair under me. Oh my god! I was resting in thin air some two feet above the ground as if I was tie to the ceiling by some invisible thread.There was nothing visible that ws supporting me. The only logical explanation would be that the arrow I pressed actually took me up. That's it!. This must be some magical charm. I could not believe my luck. My luck of being my grandfather's grandson and more importantly obeying my grandfather.<br />
I was sweating with excitement thinking about the infinite options I had in my hands. I could fly above my office and impress my colleagues.May be I can become a vigilante and help the police. May be there is button that can me invisible. With that i can...<br />
My brain was flooded with emotions. Focus I told myself 'you need to focus prepare a strategy. You have the power to be the most important man in the universe.The last thing you want would be some wild wild ideas in your brain. I brought myself back together. Or at least I tried to.My fingers were trembling. My head was spinning. I pressed the down key. I slowly descended back to the chair. I was escatic. <br />
Now to find something really cool to do. I reached for the manual and browsed through it. Infinite varieties of symbols filled my eyes. I decided to test some key at random. There was an odd combination that struck me. It was glowing in red and for some reason appealed to me. I was too excited to read the manual. after all Fortune favors the valiant is what I was taught. With some difficulty I found the keys and pressed it.<br />
I first thought that my eyes were playing tricks with me. It was pitch black . I could not see anything. I shouted at the top of my voice. No response. I pressed the keyboard frantically. No response. I tried to recollect the keys I had pressed.Alt and F4. Yes that's what I had pressed together. I tried to guess what it did but in vain.<br />
I cried.<br />
<br />
<iframe src='http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583' width='170' height='75' frameborder='0' scrolling='no'></iframe>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-78927891458397298942010-07-08T21:01:00.001+05:302010-07-08T21:03:40.156+05:30Ads, girls and hair oilThe story unfolds in a busy residential street. A teenage girl is learning to drive a scooter and her friend is assisting her as the pillion rider. The amateur driver loses balance and crashes against a parked car. The driver tries to escape but her friend stops; sticks a sorry note to the side of the car and then they both drive away. This is how a recent ad of a popular hair oil gets going. And this is one of the strongest woman character I have seen in recent times in the mainstream media.She is apologetic but not frightened.<br />
A bollywood actress had recently said that the rise of bikini-clad women on screen shows the growing power of women in the society. The woman showed in the ad commands more power and respect and that too while remaining fully clothed!<br />
At this point I would like to share a conversation I had with my friend recently. That too revolved around an ad. The ad in question showed a girl with her boyfriend cuddling in a park bench. The genius male proceeds to distracts the dumb girl by pointing at something replaces his hand with a big doll and escapes to join his buddies for watching a football match. My friends reaction to this was that this ad is demeaning to women. I agree with my friend. But I feel that most ads, serials and films are demeaning to women.<br />
Consider this: you wake up and brush your teeth with a particular brand of toothpaste and presto! you are surrounded by beautiful girls. You shave and out of nowhere a girl comes and hugs you in admiration. And yes shaving is a very tough job. The case of a car, shampoo, bike, perfume etc? Ditto. A woman exist at the level of these products. Something to be received and taken. Very much like these packaged products. Also there is a trap that is employed by the fairness cream companies. A girl has to be as fair as white cement to be successful. So woman have to peel their skin off like onion skin for fourteen days (?) till they become milky white to succeed in an interview, to marry, to post a letter ;in short - to survive.<br />
I don't want to venture into the teary world of 'glycerine' soaps (read <i>saas-bahu</i> and <i>bharatiya nari</i> type serials). This post is not enough to cover the tragedies of that 'mahabharat'. The less said the better.<br />
The hair oil ad mentioned earlier ends with the tagline - with growth there is improvement, there is life. Thus metaphorically connecting growth of hair and growth of the person's self. I hope the media grows up too.<br />
<br />
<iframe src='http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583' width='170' height='75' frameborder='0' scrolling='no'></iframe>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-71493321566918180612010-07-05T22:42:00.001+05:302010-07-06T09:19:49.675+05:30The Invisible ManI was lying in a pool of blood, in a pile of rubbish just by the footpath and yet no one was noticing me. I can't blame them either. They can't see me because I am invisible.<br />
Let me tell you my story. I was a normal kid born into a normal household.But the day I discovered that the pencil box which my uncle gifted me had the power to make one invisible I decided that I should become a successful man. I should be discussed by every household in this country. I knew that being invisible and earning money was not easy. I had stiff competition from Bobby Deol and a guy named Pawar from the agricultural ministry. But I was determined.<br />
I set off to Bombay and decided to do tricks on the street with the help of my pencil-box. I would stand in front of the gate way of India, disappear and make my shoes dance. I also composed some music for my performance. A few costume changes and a song later I was successful. I had a bunglaw cars, bank balance. Pawar only had cricket. I was happy and was enjoying my success. I had a lead role in a KKekta Kapoor serial aptly titled "KKahin to hoga". It was a story about a bahu finding out her invisible husband in their palatial house overcoming the various obstacles put by her mother-in-law.I even had a reality show "jaane tu kahaan hain" running on prime time television.This award winning show had 10 supermodels and 10 housewives searching for me in a dense jungle. Obviously I was never caught but it did rake in some TRPs. I was basking in the glory of my success.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>After a customary club dance just to show people that I am rich, I was pacing out of the exit when someone caught me by my arm. it was karan loafer - the ace producer and director. He had approached me with an offer for a role in his upcoming flick. I didn't know anything about my role and I swearto god i still have no idea about it. But I said OK. It was a Karan film. Thats what mattered.<br />
I was walking on the street trying to get some air. I was excited and was toggling between see and no-see mode when a truck came truck came out of nowhere and rammed me to the ground. Apparently the driver didn't 'see' me. So here I am ; successful,invisible and bleeding to death. I was thinking that I had not even started and here I am awaiting my end in a footpath. being invisible is a big show-off I guess.<br />
This post is an entry for <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2010/06/30/being-invisible-for-day-contest">Blogadda contest</a> <br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="75" scrolling="no" src="http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583" width="170"></iframe> Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-58308714374666710112010-07-02T12:23:00.002+05:302010-07-03T09:19:54.343+05:30.SRT - Some Retarded TalkSubtitles -Those inseparable companions of movie files. Those little minions,going by a rather plain name of .srt becomes a crucial part of our cinema experience especially if the film is in a foreign language or the film is too 'slangy' to comprehend. Take Guy Ritchie's whimsical tale 'lock,stock and two smoking barrels' for example. The London slang was difficult to get hold of and I had to seek the help of a subtitile.<br />
But I have found that they are not always very helpful.on the other hand they can be distracting and times even annoying.Picture this:<br />
the location is a typical gangster den (don ka adda) with guns , drugs, old drums, furniture that a 3-year-old can break etc etc There is a fierce inter-gang gun battle proceeding towards a bloody climax. Blood literally flowing all over the screen , human organs decapitated in ways that one cannot even think of; and the subtitle says - {Guns firing}. All that tension and mayhem reduced to just two words {Guns firing}.<br />
Do they have to tell us even the most obvious? Tires screeching, raining , snowball rolling,kissing (oh yeah!),scratching head - all these can very well be exluded from the description.Its similar to<br />
the instructions behind some shampoo bottles -<br />
step 1 : Open the lid.<br />
As if we don't know that! Anybody who can buy a shampoo bottle will definitely know that the lid has to be opened.<br />
Another funny experience is when I watch dubbed movies. Oh! I have a great time watching them. Whether its the sophisticated Judi Dench playing M <br />
uttering<i> podaango</i>!(<i>thoo teri</i>!in our <i>rashtra bhaasha</i>) in place of a rather restrained 'for heaven's sake Bond' or terrifying dinosaurs being called '<i>bheeman palli</i>' ( just a harmless<i> chipkali</i>) I had pure unadultered fun. But this one is the <i>creme de la creme</i>.I thank my friend for sharing this with me .<br />
Superman returns after a long soul-searching journey back to his rural abode. He is welcomed by his Mom with a classic '<i>Aa gaye mere laal</i>'!(it does not translate well to other languages). <br />
I enjoy watching the dubbed versions more than the original and as far the subtitles are concerned - I still hunt for them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Subtitles-Foreignness-Film-Alphabet-City/dp/0262050781?ie=UTF8&tag=randomtho0889-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Subtitles: On the Foreignness of Film (Alphabet City)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=randomtho0889-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0262050781" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />
<iframe src='http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583' width='170' height='75' frameborder='0' scrolling='no'></iframe>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-30690147100561744222010-06-29T08:02:00.001+05:302010-06-29T08:07:55.485+05:30Da<b>Da</b> - <i>noun/pronoun</i><br />
It is a well-known word found in the lexicon of tamil and malayalam population (of other languages I have no idea da). Its a versatile filler, a universal prefix, and an unavoidable suffix in most conversations. This two letter 'biggie' is the most popular word owing to its flexibility to be used in different situations and connotations with just slight variation in tone.The fact that almost 80% of any meaningful conversation consists entirely of this commonplace term speaks volumes about the popularity this word enjoys.<br />
The common versions are shown below. <br />
1. Da! (may or may not be followed by expletives): When delivered like a pop of a bullet with a slight dent in teh tone; expect a punch from the speaker. It is the intimidating da. I have come across this only in Kerala.<br />
eg : da @##%^&@@*! give my money back!<br />
<br />
2. Daaaaaaaaaa ( when delivered lazily with the dreary voice dying down in time) : The speaker is searching for an excuse.<br />
eg :Daaaaaaaa! I forgot to book your ticket to the U.S daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa<br />
<br />
3. Da (delivered mostly in a husky voice) : the cajoling da. If uttered by your better half get ready to be robbed of all your money.<br />
eg : Da(heavy breathing) can we go for shopping today?<br />
<br />
4. DaaAAaa : A variant of the above. Also used to lure an innocent listener into something. Characterised by the speakers voice travelling to the upper octaves and coming back.<br />
eg : Come on, lets kill this guy DaaAAaa!<br />
<br />
5. The above can also be used to tease a person after he has done something embarrassing or unspeakable<br />
eg : DaaAAaaa ! Did you vote for Congress ? Shame! Shame!<br />
<br />
The other variants include the cracker da which is in fact a series of da delivered one after the other(da da da da) resembling a drumbeat used mainly to intimidate a person; the revelation da which is a da in the form of a shriek usually used after you discover who stole your rare medival period coin from your collection etc.<br />
Da can also be used to mark the end or the beginning of a statement or used as meaningful pauses fixed in between apologies. New forms and usages are being introduced every second.<br />
The list is endless , ever growing and evolving da.<br />
<code class="ratingfield"><iframe frameborder="0" height="75" scrolling="no" src="http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583" width="170"></iframe> </code>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-22278422292416166332010-06-19T20:38:00.000+05:302010-06-19T20:38:58.077+05:30Raavanan (tamil)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeT0s2-bIP0WEFou3H89EO9xepaDPG8Z9XFoga2FC5YumBLdhiFrJJWi8-W_tE5_tZ8GLXw4puSbopoV5RDHYjVPPE5MOI828j30IO7-AaazrKQyQj2TsnQKUcst0kugepSjt57jr0lY/s1600/raavanan__tamil_movie_posters_wallpapers_stills_photos_pics_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeT0s2-bIP0WEFou3H89EO9xepaDPG8Z9XFoga2FC5YumBLdhiFrJJWi8-W_tE5_tZ8GLXw4puSbopoV5RDHYjVPPE5MOI828j30IO7-AaazrKQyQj2TsnQKUcst0kugepSjt57jr0lY/s320/raavanan__tamil_movie_posters_wallpapers_stills_photos_pics_02.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>I watched Raavanan the tamil version of Mani ratnam's magnum opus today and I honestly feel that it does not live upto the hype it has generated. I felt disappointed at the maestro's latest offering. <br />
The film begins with a brilliant scene that introduces the antagonist Veerayya (raavan/Vikram) kidnapping raagini (sita/Aishawrya rai bachchan) wife of a superintendent of police Dev (ram/Prithviraj). But from then on throughout the first half the movie is just a mish-mash of images that roll in front of the eyes without any effect on the viewers. The only saving grace is Vikram whose unflinching dedication to the character pays off. He literally lives the menacing and unpredictable Veera with relative ease.<br />
The second half gets interesting as the cat and mouse game between Dev and Veera intensifies.Dev tries to catch Veera by hook or by crook while Veera <br />
remains elusive and poses fresh challenge to Dev and his army every minute. I felt that Raavan actually came alive only at this juncture. This half also explains<br />
reason for Veera's enimosity with Dev.It culminates in a brilliantly choreographed fight sequence above a hanging bridge that sent shivers down my spine.<br />
I think Mani Ratnam's idea to narrate the Ramayana from the view point of Raavana was a brilliant plan.To explore the oft-heard tale from the viewpoint <br />
of the oppressed and bring about an alternate narrative is commendable. But i think that is also this film's biggest disadvantage. Mani Ratnam i feel <br />
has been too faithful to the original Ramayana. We have Karthik jumping from tree to tree desparaely trying to show us that he is Hanuman, the <br />
henchman of Rama. We hear many characters talk of the 14 days that raagini has spent in custody of Veera - an obvious reference to the fourteen years<br />
of Vanvaas.And the repeated references to the ten characters of the fugitive is just irritating .There are many such scenes in the film which I felt was included<br />
because it is there in the original. We understand the meaning of an adaptation , but you don't have to rub it in! <br />
Prithviraj cannot even even act as a monkey's tail and he portrays Dev!To watch him trying to act was hilarious . Aishwarya looks jaded throughout the film.<br />
The camera by Santhosh Sivan is scintillating. He has absorbed the hues and beauty of those scenic locales brilliantly. Each scene looks like a vibrant <br />
moving canvas. The background music is amazing and the songs have a raw energy in them. Vikram is just outstanding - slowly trying to untangle his complex and multi-layered character and place before us the bare man behind the 'Raavan'.<br />
Watch this movie for the picturesquw locales ,superb cinematography and impressive background music. But above all watch it for the devotion of Mani ratnam to this art - he has given it his heart and soul to it.<br />
<iframe src='http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583' width='170' height='75' frameborder='0' scrolling='no'></iframe>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-42859250384862980082010-06-17T16:50:00.003+05:302010-06-22T20:15:58.130+05:30Crosswords<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbm60wLlQXHiV-5Xxa7H_bPY5guYSk_okiX2hIX5WVHA6UQDcZ3jHYjP0IU1QdNdBAsbwqCo_uxF2g5TUpzYCIPmt5sC9AH_hIj32biDokDf9wONTqRvLm0Nw9o2FW5QZqorKSd1Jl4I0/s1600/ttp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbm60wLlQXHiV-5Xxa7H_bPY5guYSk_okiX2hIX5WVHA6UQDcZ3jHYjP0IU1QdNdBAsbwqCo_uxF2g5TUpzYCIPmt5sC9AH_hIj32biDokDf9wONTqRvLm0Nw9o2FW5QZqorKSd1Jl4I0/s1600/ttp.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mgxIGnJijdcIueqXj8nK0ejxY0RaAUBrwQxWQ_NQ3j8BhluX3XX_84SHDBjeEY3fcLK7wxLScpyg_r5XCjyb2IfztGfeqd4sIHjz3s-VPV-5EcxEnyFuxEW0_dGqDCUdlUzZzMfaIag/s1600/crossword.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mgxIGnJijdcIueqXj8nK0ejxY0RaAUBrwQxWQ_NQ3j8BhluX3XX_84SHDBjeEY3fcLK7wxLScpyg_r5XCjyb2IfztGfeqd4sIHjz3s-VPV-5EcxEnyFuxEW0_dGqDCUdlUzZzMfaIag/s320/crossword.jpeg" width="320" /></a>This post is a result of some pleasant and many unsavoury experiences I had while i tried my hand at cracking a few crosswords. Whoa! Whoa ! Stop it right there .Before you march down this post let me clarify a few things.This post is not a comprehensive list of do's and dont's of crossward-cracking.Why? Simply because no such list exists. Secondly I am not an expert . I have solved only a few crosswords ; but i must confess I relished those moments!<br />
This post is about the discoveries I made during my humble endeavors. So here it goes:<br />
<b>Discovery 1: Getting a crossword is easy!</b><br />
Most newspapers have a daily crossword and there is a high probability that the newspaper that you follow has one. Or there are numerous free crossword puzzles online which you can access after a simple 'googling'. The more serious among you can buy crossword puzzles books.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/York-Times-Supersized-Sunday-Crosswords/dp/031236122X?ie=UTF8&tag=randomtho0889-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The New York Times Supersized Book of Sunday Crosswords: 500 Puzzles (New York Times Crossword Puzzles)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=randomtho0889-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=031236122X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<b>Discovery 2 : Getting started is tough!</b><br />
Seriously, the toughest part of the crossword is not in cracking the clues but pushing yourself to attempt it. You might feel that you are not upto it or that the clues dont make any sense.Don't worry relax! It didn't make any sense to me the first time either. If you feel that the online tutorials will make you a 'crossie-genius' then the time has come to share my third discovery<br />
<br />
<b>Discovery 3: Online tutorials does not make you a genius</b><br />
Yes they don't because they can't. If they promise you they can then definitely they CANNOT. Some of the online communities actually encourage discussion on crosswords and thus might improve your understanding but thats about it. The website <a href="http://www.crosswordunclued.com/">www.crosswordunclued.com</a> is a very useful website for beginners and veterans alike but ultimately you have to walk the walk yourself<br />
<br />
<b>Discovey 4 : Some clues</b><br />
Most of the easier clues in crosswords, I have come to know, involve anagrams and containers. Let me explain. Anagrams are words formed by rearranging the alphabets of another word. For example<br />
<br />
dormitory = dirty room (how true!)<br />
<br />
another example made popular by the Da vinci code is<br />
<br />
Oh! lame saint = the mona lisa.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anagram">Click here</a> for more on anagrams<br />
<br />
Most clues involving anagrams are indicated in the clues by the words out, break/broken, mix/mixed etc. because anagrams involve <b>breaking</b> and<br />
<b>mixing</b> to bring <b>out</b> new words.<br />
<br />
Example ( from Hindu crossword : nita jaggi)<br />
<b>Old man breaks the nut(6) </b><br />
Here the breaks is adjacent to the old man. so by rearranging we get<br />
old man = almond ;which is a nut<br />
Also notice that old man contains six alphabets as indicated in the question.<br />
<br />
Containers are clues in which the answer lies within the question, literally.<br />
<br />
Example ( from Hindu crossword 9870 : nita jaggi):<br />
Rabbit found in the Gurkha regiment (4)<br />
Usually the words in, inside, within etc. indicate a container. So observing closely<b> inside</b> the phrase<br />
Gork<b><u>ha re</u></b>giment we get the answer hare which is a rabbit.<br />
<br />
for other abbreviations and clues: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossword_abbreviations">Click here</a><br />
<br />
Discovery 5 : Enjoying the process is the goal!<br />
<br />
I had been very disappointed at my not being able to crack the easiest of clues and overlooking the simplest of hints.I cursed myself for it. Then I realised that beating myself up was taking the fun out of it. So if you feel dejected while in the middle of a crossie-session take a break , freshen up, and have a go at it later. Trust me it will a lot more enjoyable then.<br />
<br />
Final Discovery : the atlantis<br />
No esoteric lectures can replace the exhilarating experience of that eureka movement. So are you up to it?<br />
<code class="ratingfield"><iframe frameborder="0" height="75" scrolling="no" src="http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583" width="170"></iframe> </code>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-14123106485883390392010-06-13T15:17:00.004+05:302010-06-17T21:08:47.623+05:30Johnny gone downJohnny gone down is Karan bajaj's( <a href="http://www.karanbajaj.com/">karan bajaj</a>) second offering after the successful venture 'Keep off the grass'.<br />
Johnny gone down is a racy, entertaining piece of fiction that resembles a taut Hollywood thriller that you see often but soon forget. <br />
The story unfolds in an Indian railways compartment, a famililar setting for most desis.But from then on the book takes a roller coaster ride spanning MIT, Boston, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia ,stopping briefly at a Buddhist monastery in Thailand racing forward to Rio de Jenero, Brazil, back again to the U.S before taking a final plunge in India.<br />
The Protagonist Nikhil Arya, is believable and familiar at first as an MIT graduate waiting for a job in NASA. What happens to his life after his "innocent vacation' to Cambodia with his friend 'Sam' is unbelivable and overtly imaginative even for a work of fiction. The hero sheds his skin from an ambitious young man to a genocide escapee to a monk with relative ease. But may be thats what the author intended. Nikhil and Nick and Monk Namche and Coke Buddha and Johnny pass through our mind like a typical Bollywood heroine in a song video with her trademark costume changes. None stays with us.<br />
The author has tried to juggle unsuccessfully with philosophy and mafia, family and detachment,friendship and karma yogaleaving too many balls in the air. The reader ends up confused while the story ends in a typical bollywood fashion.<br />
Priced at just Rs 99 /- this book is aimed at entertaining the masses. One may even find a movie adaptation soon and then we will forget it. We have too many examples to prove that.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&tag=randomtho0889-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=johnny%20gone%20down" target="_blank">Search Amazon.com Books for johnny gone down</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=randomtho0889-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />
<iframe src='http://www.blogadda.com/rate.php?blgid=16583' width='170' height='75' frameborder='0' scrolling='no'></iframe>Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-86529346898479226992010-06-09T12:24:00.001+05:302010-06-09T13:01:38.293+05:30fastflipIn this blog i thought i will share something that i have been using for a while. Its a website from google called<a href="http://fastflip.googlelabs.com/"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RKG4SsE08t7356tTpMU1KXvLU5Kiz1rYCDOwuEZdP6SrYah39QsVVG_aJaxKmiU3cxdpXti4t_0XLtY72Sx9za8BCYn0uUz5i4384c0jtwEeM8V_o1fSLoZXYWXxf5qf394f7JAd_LOY/s640/google-fast-flip.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RKG4SsE08t7356tTpMU1KXvLU5Kiz1rYCDOwuEZdP6SrYah39QsVVG_aJaxKmiU3cxdpXti4t_0XLtY72Sx9za8BCYn0uUz5i4384c0jtwEeM8V_o1fSLoZXYWXxf5qf394f7JAd_LOY/s200/google-fast-flip.png" width="200" /></a><a href="http://fastflip.googlelabs.com/">fastflip.googlelabs.com</a> .This site is very useful since it brings to you feeds from all major newspapers and magazines<br />
in one page. And whats more! you can search for a particular news you want.<br />
More info from google blog <a href="http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2009/09/google-fast-flip.html">here</a><br />
So start flipping!Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-1312006243808435522010-06-01T14:50:00.001+05:302010-06-01T14:56:48.132+05:30The Venitian Betrayal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:iomhnGUUjGDDYM:http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/bestselling-mystery-thriller-2008/104-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:iomhnGUUjGDDYM:http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/bestselling-mystery-thriller-2008/104-9.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>This Cotton Malone thriller by Steve Berry along the lines of 'the Da vinci Code' is a part truth-part fiction thriller involving the lost tomb of Alexander, a draught that that can cure AIDS and the political turmoils in a <br />
fictional Central Asian Republic formed by the union of states like Kyrgiasthan, Kazakhistan etc.The CAR is ruled by Irina Zovastina who fashions herself after Alexander the great and derives most of her ideologies from Homer's Iliad. Her quest to find the tomb forms a rather shaky crux of the story.<br />
I found the book to be good in patches. The book is not a thriller per se. There are small chapters hanging in there without contributing to thrills. The chapters are small like the DaVinci Code but sometimes too small. They don't convey much. The characters are half baked and it would have been better if the story had less but strong characters than a multitude of 'ghosts'.The cure for AIDS , the politics behind it, etc together with the tomb of one the most enigmatic conquerors of all times makes an explosive mix of a storyline but it completely fizzes out especially towards the end.<br />
I will suggest this book to anyone who just wants to kill time while reading a book. Not recommended for a serious reading.Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-11590676525083904022010-04-11T16:57:00.000+05:302010-04-11T16:57:03.768+05:30witty quotesI stumbled upon these quotes and found them witty. Hope ypu like them too<br />
<br />
1.It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.<br />
- Mark Twain<br />
<br />
2.Bad spellers of the world - Untie!<br />
- Graffiti<br />
<br />
3.Don't wish ill for your enemy, plan it.<br />
- Syrus, Maxims<br />
<br />
4.A vaccum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with.<br />
- Tennessee William, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof<br />
<br />
5.The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made.<br />
- Groucho Marx <br />
<br />
6.It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.<br />
- Jerome K. Jerome<br />
<br />
7.Experience teaches you to recognize a mistake when you've made it again.<br />
- Unknown<br />
<br />
8.Golf is a good walk spoiled.<br />
- Mark Twain<br />
<br />
9.The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.<br />
- George Bernard Shaw <br />
<br />
10.If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and the impersonators would be dead.<br />
- Johnny CarsonNikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-86058824030418954932010-04-11T16:50:00.001+05:302010-04-11T16:50:54.467+05:30Rise of Machines? i dont think soIt was 3.00 a.m and I was desperately trying to go back to sleep.Someone had suggested once that thinking of stuff you have done the previous day will help you fall asleep. <br />
So I started thing of stuff i had done the previous day and i got a list that looked something like this:<br />
morning - read newapaper watched a movie<br />
noon - watched a movie<br />
evening - watched a movie<br />
night watched a movie.<br />
I dont know why(:)) but I was not getting sleepy. So i began to think about what i had watched.<br />
I had watched matrix and terminator. Both the movies had machines taking over the world.<br />
But why? I mean what will be there purpose of their life?<br />
Human beings have some purpose. It can be professional - I want to be an engineer, personal - i want to rule the world or pure fantasies - i want to kiss lara dutta. What will machines wish for? life-long batteries?<br />
Also if machines are created in man's 'image' wouldn't they be killing each other and fighting over metal color?Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-55068071551433423962010-03-12T19:27:00.000+05:302010-03-12T19:27:14.739+05:30The Hurt LockerI was fed up of watching ugly duels between wizards,mis-adventures of human greed on some distant planet, mythical creatures running havoc ;getting mauled by werewolves or vampires and some one( one man and only one man required for)saving the planet.( for your information this 'one man' is always a white american and in most cases has a military background)I wanted a break from all this and wanted to watch something real - an escape from all this eye candy. That is when I got 'The Hurt Locker'.<br />
'The Hurt Locker' is directed by Kathryn Bigelow who now received an Oscar for this movie beating ex-husband Cameroon. The movie is set in the war ravaged country of Iraq and tells the story of a bomb disposal squad. What makes this movie stand apart from the rest of the terrorist-bashing, all-hail-america group of movies is its no-nonsense approach of story telling. The movie wastes no time in introducing either the premise or the characters and takes us straight into the action. The restless camera-work makes us a tense witness to the action and at times even we feel the scorching desert sun on our skin.Almost unknown actors bring the characters alive on screen as they faceless and nameless enemies across the desert. The right dose of music works wonders and a tight script guides the movie to a realistic climax.<br />
The movie may not be politically correct. But the directors effort to provide a straightforward narrative devoid of any gimmicks must be praised. She does not take any stand. She merely provides us an 'eye' in the bomb infested streets of Iraq.Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7889728451815386161.post-18778617839402185632010-02-08T08:56:00.001+05:302010-02-08T08:58:03.035+05:30Amarok Vs XineI am a fedora(fedora 10 GNOME) user and like many others installed amarok as my music player.<br />
It was working fine but some time back it started giving me bugs instead of music.<br />
I searched <a href="http://www.fedoraforum.org/">fedora forums</a> and every post was helpful but it just didn't solve my problem. Amarok was still showing an idle window even after opening a music file for the nth time.<br />
So i tried out <a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/xine/">xine</a> and till now it is working fine. More than fine i should say.Right now the only thing I ask myself is 'why didn't I do it earlier?'Nikhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10357986437340046455noreply@blogger.com2