The High-flyer

I'm back

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 17:41:00 +0000

oh ! yeaahh !! It feels good to be back !!

While this space has been dormant for few months, my time outside this space has been very eventful. Lots have things changed since my last post.

I used to be a care-free bachelor doing whatever I wanted to do. Aimless loafing with friends and cousins. Spending entire weekends doing absolutely nothing, making sure that the long list of unattended household chores grows longer and longer every weekend. Splurging money on fine dining, visiting all new restaurants treating friends and cousins to lunch and dinner for no reason. Movies were a major addiction, there were hardly any weekends that went without visiting a movie theatre. Reading books, newspaper, gym-ing, slogging at office I found time for everything. Rangeen (colorful) days I call them.

Then I got married. It all happened at such a swift pace, I sometimes find it hard to believe how last few months passed in a jiffy.

My care-free bachelor mindset was rattled after marriage. All this even after having an awesomely understanding wife. I was in a shock. I was doing things that I had never done before getting myself more organized, doing better time management and being responsible. Anyone who knows me would tell you, these characteristics are never associated with me. It is a whole new way of leading life for me. These are again Rangeen days with slightly different color, slightly faded one. Hope you understand what I mean :P.

Oh! by the way there are many good bits of getting married. Relatives call the newly weds for dinner and lunches to their homes. Its a good way to make note which relatives we should be visiting more often. Judgement is made based on their culinary skills, Shameless huh !! Anything for good food :P.

IT industry here in India, unfortunately has a strange unwritten rule that bachelors should put extra hours, slog more, leave application will be questioned and all that. After marriage its cool, I evade all this. Plus we get 5 days marriage leave apart from all the other leaves, awesome !!

Marriage is a good thing is the sense that a person is chosen to bear all my PJs, listen to my non-stop ramblings. Well ! there have been times when my wife goes into non-stop talking mode all the wax accumulated in my ear just melt. We are constantly competing in who bugs the most contest. I've been winning it obviously.

My wife is a awesome cook, thats a bonus. We went to Rajasthan for our honeymoon, it was 7 days of absolute indulgence, will write about it later some time. Metallica had come down to Bangalore. My wife not being a metal or a hard rock fan was a sport to accompany me to the concert. They kicked some serious ass with high octane music. Hail Metallica !!

This is a small briefing how things are going on with me. Now I'm more or less adjusted to the vagaries of married life. The perpetual fight with time is at its fierce-ful best. Hope to squeeze some time every week to keep this space alive.

The Dog Bone Trap

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:07:00 +0000

I'm finally back to blogging after a long hiatus. 2011 has kept me really really busy.

This Dilbert strip is real cruel, but this has been the state of life in 2011 literally. Work life balance has gone completely awry.

Last two months I've been regularly getting back home almost after midnight. I've not been to Gym, not cooked anything at home, house keeping has been irregular. I have been procrastinating my chores for months now. Have read just one book in last four months. Not watched television for two weeks now, I can go on and on. (Now you know why IT is flourishing in India. When we engineers slog we slog real hard.)

I'm a Leo, Leos have big egos. It sometimes is their biggest weakness. If one is smart enough he will exploit this to get anything done from Leos. Just give them a ego booster (a dog bone, what I call it) and they are in your command. At work I'm getting these dog bones time to time that is keeping me motivated rather than getting frustrated excessive work. I'm stuck in this dog bone trap.

This Leo is now on a mission dodge the dog bones thrown at work. No matter how chewy, rubbery the dog bone is, this Leo will not give in. This Leo will get back to his regular schedule of washing clothes, vessels and cleaning house :P. How I wish if someone could give me dog bones to get all these chores done !!

Hence forth I'll make a point to at-least post one blog every week and not leave this space dormant for long.

Today I reached home from office at 1 A.M. Got a meeting at 11 tomorrow am not yet prepared for it so got to wake up early and run through the docs. Need a good sleep now.

Ciao
Good Night :)

Mobile blog

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Sitting in a boring conference call with Mac book on my lap.

Thought of testing blogger on my cell.

7 Khoon Maaf

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:11:00 +0000

If you are planning to watch "7 Khoon Maaf" with your wife, beware husbands. This movie in a casual way might inspire and educate your "wify-dear", how to butcher you in case of any animosity and move into another wed-lock. Jokes apart this is a good movie.

The Movie is a dark thriller. It is based on Ruskin Bond's "Susanne's Seven Husbands". This movie has very few characteristics of a typical bollywood movie. This I feel will make the movie very interesting, however on the flip-side not everyone will like it. This is reflected in the range of ratings it earned, between 4 to 2.5 (out of 5).

Susanna, a beautiful girl, in the hope to get a loving and caring husband marries half a dozen times. Every husband, seemingly good, gradually shows a dark side when Susanna least expected. Every marriage ends in a bizarre fashion. Movie is about how Susanna ends one tumultuous relationship and enters another one.

Vishal Bharadwaj, again succeeds in making a daringly different movie and executes it to perfection. Every character in the movie leaves an impression. The star cast including Irfan Khan, Annu Kapoor, Nasseruddin Shah and Priyanka Chopra are all good. I was particularly impressed with Vivian Shah, playing the role of Arun. Priyanka has done a fab job in the movie, depicting a 20-21year old Susanna to a 40 year old lady is awesome.

The music of the movie is good. "Darling" is an instant hit. However I like Awaara and Yeshu it kind of has a haunting feel to it.

If the movie is so good cannot imagine how good the book will be. "7 Khoon Maaf" is a wonderful movie, go watch it.

The Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:22:00 +0000

The sun has set for 2010. Bringing new hopes and aspirations for the new year 2011.

Happy new year folks. Wishing everyone happy and prosperous 2011.

Cross blogged from here.

An Album I'll Always Love

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:07:00 +0000

If you had to listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

gunsnroses
This is easy. Without any doubt it would be the album "Appetite for Destruction" by Guns N' Roses.

Why ?

This is one of the first albums that got me hooked on to hard rock and heavy metal music.

I absolutely love the "Welcome to the Jungle" video. I feel it is Raw at its best. Every song of this album is very different, and makes me want to listen more and more. How can I not mention "Paradise City" every time I listen to this song there is an adrenaline boost. "Sweet Child O' Mine", no doubt is a classic.

P.S. Sorry Metallica, your Black Album missed by a whisker !

one liners for the new year

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 12:08:00 +0000

I stumbled upon this blog-post and found following one-liners interesting and funny. I like the last-one the most.

one liners for the new year:

I always tried to pick up women with tattoos. My logic is: Here’s a woman capable of making a decision she’ll regret in the future!”
“I braked as hard as I could, but I still hit the car in front of me. A gorgeous blonde got out and yelled, ‘Ram me up the a$, why don’t you?’ And this, your honor, is where I believe all the confusion began.”
Marriage is like a deck of cards: at first, you only need two hearts and a diamond, but by the end, you sometimes wish you had a club and a spade!

Tees Mar Khan + The Tourist

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:29:00 +0000

Last weekend was a movie bonanza. I watched 2 movies staring 2 gorgeous ladies. It was visual treat !

Tees Mar Khan:

The only reason I watched this movie was to see the Katrina in "Sheila ki Jawani" song. This movie minus the song is horrible, utter crap, full of cheap worthless slap-stick comedy. Akshay Kumar who had set the bars high with comedies like Hera-Pheri and Bhool Bhulaiyaan is pathetic in this movie. Katrina plays a bimbette in the movie. Other than looking hot and sexy in the songs, she absolutely has no role. Akshaye Khanna is okay in his little role. Overall the movie is damp squib.

The only face saver of this movie is the songs and sexy looking Katrina. She fills the movie with lots of ooopmhh ! I thought Katrina looked best in Race. In this movie she looks even better, she finally has learnt to dance. Katrina with her accentuating curves, skimpy clothes, raunchy dance moves and catchy lyrics has given one of the bollywood's best item numbers in Sheila ki Jawani.

Farah Khan this time around was big let down. Go watch the song and walk out, not worth wasting the time watching the entire movie.

*****

The Tourist

What do you say when two best looking hollywood actors are shot in the best locations of France and in Venice ? This movie is an absolute visual treat, with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.

The movie is about the hunt of Alexander Pearce. The Scotland Yard follows Elise (Angelina Jolie), lover of Alexander Pearce in France. Alexander Pearce has embezzled huge sum of money from a Russian gangster. Scotland Yard is in search of Pearce for the millions of Pounds he owes to British Government in taxes.

Elise gets a note at a coffee shop in France to board a train to Venice and pick up a man who looks like Pearce. That is where Frank (Johnny Depp) enters. Frank gets into trouble in Venice as the police and the gangsters mistake him to Pearce. Then movie further proceeds on how Frank, Elise, gangsters and police find Pearce.

This movie is thousand times better than Tees maar Khan. However I feel there was more room for punch and thrill in the movie. Angelina as always looked graceful and sexy. Johnny Depp did well with his role. But between both of them I felt there was something missing. This movie could have been much better I feel.

Its a one time watch. The visuals of the movie are breath taking.

Colors of Joy

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:07:00 +0000

cross blogged from here

Dry flowers for sale, in Kodaikanal.

Bucket List : One Item Down

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:08:00 +0000

Its about time I feel to strike an item off my bucket list.

I gave two fair shots at "Pursuing MBA". First time it was so close. My second attempt, last week I submitted my application to one of the prestigious B-School in Asia. It will take them couple of months to get back if my profile interests them for further processing.

I feel I've spent lot of time and effort on this item, at the cost of other things. I need to divert my attention to other items in my bucket list. "Pursuing MBA" is off my list, I'll not be applying to any MBA programs anymore.

Good things can still happen. If this B-School finds my profile interesting I'll be striking this entry on a happy note.

Wish me luck, fingers crossed !!

Keep the Change : Nirupama Subramanian

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 20:05:00 +0000

Damayanti Balachandran "D" is an intelligent Madrasi gal from a conservative Brahmin family. She has been studious, without much fun in school and college. She hates her job and to top her worries, her parents are pestering her to get married. She decides to go for a corporate job in Mumbai. Her life suddenly changes, she has to now deal with corporate madness, her bosses and a size zero room-mate. "D" visits Goa for a corporate training, returns falling in love. Further story is how "D" manages her love, career and betrayal.

Image from Harper Collins site

The plot is nothing new, the story is very predictable. The only savior I felt is the witty humor that keep you smiling throughout the read. If you are, traveling or say you need a relaxing read with "दिमाग की बत्ती off" then this book is an excellent choice. Its not riveting yet not boring, its witty and time-pass read.

Verdict: I rate this chick flick average, however it is a pleasant read.

Goa : Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 08:16:00 +0000

We were on our long awaited trip to Goa, all of us were excited. Our first stop was at Tilmati beach, Karwar. It is a beautiful beach, clean and very few people around. We had to walk a little bit to get to the better part of the beach. However guys after 11 hours of driving were not in any mood to walk around. It was a shame that we did not spend much time here.

Tilmati Beach

We then drove across the border into Goa, to reach Palolem beach. This beach is featured in the movie Bourne Supremacy, Matt Damon lives here in the movie. This is again a beautiful beach and well maintained. Probably because not much crowd comes here as much as Baga, Anjuna or Calangute beaches.

Palolem Beach

Our stay was arranged in Candolim. We had to drive for couple more hours to reach Candolim. We were all hungry lions, waiting to pounce at Goan sea food. At 4 O'clock we had our lunch. Thinking of that food, my mouth waters. I tasted chicken cafreal for the first time, it was hot-spicy awesome !!

Prawns Papaya Salad

King Prawns

We then went to Newton's (a super-market) to get some items for beak-fast the next day. Opposite to Newton's was this beautiful eatery. The lightings made it look cool. Where-ever we went through the narrow roads, we saw restaurants, pubs, bars and eateries glistening with light after dark. Not sure if its always like that or because it was Diwali season.

In the evening we went to Curlies a beach shack. Its a nice place on the shore of Anjuna beach. It was saturday, there was a hip crowd. It had the kind of atmosphere that one would associate Goa with. Cool breeze blowing from the sea, good trance/progressive music and lots of pretty faces around, gori chiknis, some dressed to kill, some in cool casuals its was lovely sight. This place remains open till 4 in the morning. We decided to come here another day and stay up the entire night.

Curlies

We were getting hungry, it was food time. This time we went to a Goan-Portuguese restaurant, Coqueiro. I had a fish stew. It was yumm. I tried prawns balchao it tastes sweet, did not really like it. Nevertheless we hogged royally.

The 14 hour journey started to take toll on us after food. We decided to call it a day, this is how the day 1 in Goa ended.

Goa : A hope for the lifeless

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:11:00 +0000

There are times when life feels absolutely stagnated. Time seems to be the only variable, rest everything seems to be in a stand-still mode. Last couple of months have been absolutely this for me almost in every sphere. There has been nothing interesting going on.

It is very tiring and de-motivating to go to office every day and face the same bugs and same crashes that have plagued our software. Our software that was very stable is suddenly behaving erratic, and is doing everything that it shouldn't be doing. We the creators of it are completely bamboozled, we are struggling to understand the sudden change in intention of our software. I feel that somehow this frustration is the main reason for my low spirits, as I spend a lot of fruitless time in office.

I used to think I'm now used to and kind of liking to stay alone at home. But coming home from the demotivating day of work, makes things more difficult. I get back home late, I feel so lazy and push off doing all the house work. Most of the time house is a mess, with all work piled up. There is stack of clothes to be washed, sink is filled with dirty vessels, newspapers and clothes scattered everywhere. I want to stop here and not paint a ugly picture of my home.

I cannot remember when was the last time I saw something entertaining on television. I have been downloading movies and tv shows, but have never watched any of those. I've got stuck with a routine that I've started to abhor.

Fortunately, I'm taking a welcome break from all this. Planning to visit Goa with three friends. I'm really looking forward to have a good time and drain all the negativity, that has accumulated. I've been to Goa couple of times and it has been very memorable. This time we are planning to cover few the places that we have not visited during earlier jaunts.

Thanks to my friends they have planned a exciting itinerary. Place we plan to cover Gokarna, Canacona, Arambol, Calangute, Panjim, Anjuna, Vagator, Chapora, Baga, Aguada, Dona Paula and possibly Tiracol.

Sun, Sea, Sand and good sea food, hoping to have a helluva good time and come back rejuvenated.

Shooting Outdoors

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 13:43:00 +0000

Light is a very important ingredient in photography. Photography is all about the amount of light falling on a subject for the amount of time. And there is depth of field as another parameter. In the following play list the first 2 videos of the 4 parts gives good tips on shooting outdoor especially with fast shutter-speeds. This coupled with the understanding of reading the histogram. Can prove potent combination for outdoor photography.

7 Amazing Success Lessons from Thomas Edison

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 04:19:00 +0000

Excellent compilation from 7 Amazing Success Lessons from Thomas Edison:

Impossibility

“Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."

Roadblocks are sign-posts letting you know that success is just around the corner. Roadblocks are there to keep the uncommitted out. Roadblocks qualify you for success. Don’t get discouraged when things seem impossible, it’s darkest just before dawn.

Perspiration

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

Thomas Edison said, “The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it goes around wearing overalls and it looks like hard work.” There is no success without hard work; success is something that is only earned after much labor. Success can only come to those who labor for it, it is through labor that you become a valuable person, and your value attracts success.

Capability

“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

Most people are living considerably beneath their capabilities. They’ve never focused all of their efforts on a singular task, so they are completely unaware of the power they possess. Everyone is good at something, and if singular focus is given to that talent over the course of years, amazing things will be done. You are capable of astonishing yourself!
Solitude

“The best thinking has been done in solitude.”

I have had my best thoughts locked away in a quiet room. Take time everyday to escape to a quiet room, if only for five minutes, to have your best thoughts. It’s hard to think about achieving the impossible, when you’re surrounded with people wanting to discuss only the possible. Escape to a quiet room today, and begin to see all your possibilities.
Restlessness

“Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress.”

Thomas Edison said, “Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.” As long as you’re perfectly content you can’t make progress. Nothing happens until you become discontented. If you can live with being 30 pounds over weight, if you’re content with that idea (not happy, but content), then you don’t have the power to change it. Remember, "discontent is the first necessity of progress."
Perspective

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”

Perspective is everything! Edison said, “Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won't work.” That’s the way we should view our life, not as a compilation of failures, but as series of necessary experiments letting us know what doesn’t work. From this perspective, we can move into doing what works, from this perspective we can succeed.
Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common Sense

“The three great essentials to achieve anything worth while are: Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common sense.”

Nothing can replace hard work, it’s fundamental to success. If you’re not willing to work hard, you don’t even have a chance at success. No one succeeds and says “That was really easy!” Additionally, you have to have a no-give-up-attitude; you must be willing to stick to a task that you’re passionate about, and never lose focus. And the final key is "common sense," we all have it, but we all don't use it like we should.

"Teenage Dream" to "Love the way you lie"

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:59:00 +0000

I'm absolutely hooked on to these two songs. These two are very contrasting songs, one taking you high into dream land and other bringing you crashing back to reality.

Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" is more of a girly, fantasy, romantic song (Not the kind of song I generally like). It kind of reminds you of your dreams, Well ! being practical, I feel its bit too far from reality (nothing bad in dreaming though !).

I liked the the bass and Katy's voice. The ~~girly~~ lyrics is not too bad either. Watched the video many times, eventually to began like Katy perry in the video :D. We Indian men fall easily for "gori mems"you see....

Follow the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm_n3hg-Gbg. Its a video with ~~creepy~~ kid making faces and lip syncing to this song I found it funny.

*****

Every time I listen to the chorus of this song some kinda feeling envelopes (Trademark of an Eminem number). The lyrics of this song is awesomely "sick" as my friend puts it. It tell about things that normally and generally one gets to see and experiences in life. Eminem expresses this in his own style, some people brand it sick. But thats Eminem !!

The video is "haut" with Megan Fox in the video. The chorus, the video, the lyrics all blended together is a mind-blowing number. Just can't stop listening to it. !!

If My Life Was a Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:01:00 +0000

If your life was a movie, which one would it be and why?

I want it to be Hangover ! Weird choice !! Let me explain, Why ?

The four guys have the best ride of their life, that too in a vintage Mercedes to Las Vegas. Book a villa in Caesars Palace hotel. (and the best part ask the receptionist if Caesar really live here :D) Have a blast there. Have fun in all possible "sane" and "insane" ways. Experience the worst nightmare of (literally) loosing a friend day before his wedding.

After doing all this they get back home to see that all their woes and complications are resolved. It all ends with they lived happily ever after kinds :).

Life is so much fun when its bleeding edge one day, calm and peaceful another day.

What do you feel still a weird choice ?

My Epic Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:18:00 +0000

Where all would you go, and why?

Lake Tso Moriri, Ladakh
Epic road trip woah ! I'm flooded with thoughts. Epic road trip, the thought itself excites me !!

My Epic road trip would be to travel all of India. How great it will be if I could take 6 months off from work, find one or two like minded blokes and hit the road. Travel, stay should be basic nothing extravagant, nothing luxurious. The motive of this trip should to touch the culture of every state we visit, feel the lifestyle and experience the diversity of India.

It should cover offbeat places, that still retains the simplicity and austerity of life and nature. Apart from famous, populous tourist attractions. The trip should neither be completely planned nor completely adhoc, it should have room for all excitement and thrill.

I'd like to mention few places I wish to visit, Kashmir, Leh, Ladhak, north eastern part of India, Taj Mahal, Konark, Hampi, Rameshwaram, KanyaKumari, Sikkim, Ajanta to name a few places. I can go on an on :)

Im wondering what would be the feeling like when you get back from such a trip to work or our regular routine. Man !! we will have so many stories to tell, everyone will be envious of us. There might be some sense of vindication personally as-well.

As I mentioned just the thought of such a trip excites me. I really hope I can convert this wish of mine to reality, fingers crossed :)

The Fist of God : Fredrick Forsyth

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 17:10:00 +0000

The plot in Fist of God is based on the first Gulf war, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, followed by the American war on Iraq few months later. Many of the details are based on the facts of the Gulf war. The topic is well researched, I really admire Forsyth books for this reason. And ofcourse like his other books its a pacy read.

After Iraq invasion of Kuwait, Arab states panic. America utilizes the situation, to make Saudi Arabia believe that their oil wells are in danger. Meanwhile the intelligence agencies CIA, SIS and Mossad of the USA, Great Britain and Israel respectively try to understand the next steps and motivation of Saddam Hussein using intelligence intercepts and a high profile mole in Saddam's cabinet. Americans plan Operation Dessert Shield that transforms to Operation Dessert Storm to attack Iraq. Allied forces come to know about a dangerous secret weapon of Iraq, "Fist of God". Later part describes how the Allied forces find what the weapon is, where it is and how they destroy it.

My gist of the book sounds boring, however the book has many interesting espionage plots and gulf war facts makes the read very entertaining. I would not classify this book to be as good as The Day of the Jackal. But better than the Icon.

I give a thumbs up to this book, worth a read.

Camera Histograms

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:07:00 +0000

All I understood about camera histogram was that it takes up considerable area on the display LCD. It is better to have histograms switched off as I'd get to see the photo on the entire LCD display. Until today I never bothered to check what they really mean.

[image via wikipedia]

Histograms tell us about the tone and the contrast on the image. There are times when a photo looks good on the camera LCD, when the photo is really very dull or too bright. We get fooled by the brightness/contrast of the LCD. Histograms gives a real sense of the tone and contrast of the photo.

If you find this interesting, check out the articles. I got a basic idea on how to interpret histograms from these articles.

This Movie Always Gets to Me

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:34:00 +0000

What movie always makes you cry? (Or at least makes you emotional.)

Before I start off, let me just point out one thing, no movie has ever made me cry, or better, I could say no movie can ever make me cry. Unless I'm cutting onions while watching it ;)

I consider Tom Hanks as one of the best actors. Tom Hanks is one reason why I like this movie.

This movie, is simple yet so complicated. What I mean to say is Forrest lives his life in very simple terms. Yet his life turns out to be very complicated. I feel somewhere it reflects reality, no matter what you are, how good/bad you are. Life always manages to get things totally upside down. It always manages to give you a sense of thrill. Yeah ! sometimes it can be in a bad way. Anyways it makes life interesting worth living. The movie kind of depicts this and you will see even till the end Forrest Gump never gives up.

After you watch the movie, you can't stop thinking about it for next couple of hours. Its very touching kinds. How can I forget the scene of the floating feather in the beginning and the end of the movie, it leaves you thinking for your interpretation of the movie. This is a truly marvelous movie.

Good bad and the Ugly

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:10:00 +0000

I enabled Google analytics on my blog recently. I'm impressed by the amount of detail it provides and all that for free. Analyzing the data, one fact brought a wicked smirk on my face. I'm pretty popular in Decatur, Illinois. Once in every three days Mr Google is asked to search for "shivanand pb blogs". Old habits don't go that easily you see !!

Its so cool how a small snippet of code sits in a page and monitors the traffic going in and out of your site. Revealing all Good Bad and the Ugly facts about your site.

Banana Smoothie

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:50:00 +0000

I found this simple recipe for a Banana Smoothie, should try this out some time. Not sure where I can get flavored low fat yoghurt. The pic looks yummylicious. Recipe looks simple.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

6-8 Strawberries (if available)
1 ripe Banana
2 cups Strawberry low fat yoghurt
½ cup crushed ice
1 tbsp honey
1tbsp vanilla essence

Method
Blend them all in a food processor

Looking at the list of ingredients and the method to prepare, experimenting for newer flavors should be easy. And it is healthy as well, it should be okay to drink one glass before hitting the gym.

The Day of the Jackal

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:49:00 +0000

The book starts off with the plot to kill Charles De Gaulle, President of France by Jean Bastien Thiry. This is adopted from a real life attempt to kill the President, by the OAS to show thier anger and discontent on granting Independence to Algeria.

OAS a secret military organization that failed to prevent independence of Algeria, wanted to kill the president seeking vengence . The chief of OAS, Aurgoud is captured by the French, the organization becomes weaker. Their network in France was easily infiltrated by French police and intelligence. During this time, Rodin, deputy to Aurgoud takes over and decides to make a final attempt to assassinate Charles De Gaulle. They hired a foriegn assasin "Jackal" for this task.

Now on the book becomes unput-downable. Jackal starts his meticulous preparation, he flicks the passports of an American tourist and a pastor from Brussels. He gets a custom made rifle for the job from Belgium. French intelligence get to know about this plot when one of the body guards of Rodin reveals all this information.

All that the French know is that a foriegn assisin is hired to kill the President of France. They do not know who it is or when and where this going to happen. Its gets more interesting from here on, how the French police with the help of Scotland yard go about tracking the Jackal. Go grab the book to know how things unfold further.

The book is fast paced, and the author is witty. Sometimes I wondered if the author was a goon to know all tricks of trade. The plot is very well thought of, with no loose ends. This is by far one of the best thrillers I've read.

A big thumbs-up for the "The Day of the Jackal".

BSNL Broadband

noreply@blogger.com (Shivanand PB) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:58:00 +0000

I got my BSNL broadband installed yesterday (the timing was perfect, I considered it as my birthday gift :P). Cannot believe the download speeds I'm getting right now, its downloading at more than 70 kbps, once it even reached 120 kbps. unbelievable right !!

Hail BSNL Dataone !