tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138121912025-10-04T15:37:49.623+05:30From next week, I will write regularly. Okay?Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-89866418896276809372017-04-21T11:42:00.001+05:302017-04-21T11:42:57.418+05:30

Memories of Ice (Malazan Book of the Fallen #3) TL/DR: If you have read fantasy before and you liked it, drop everything and read this series. Warning: these are big books and they suck time. Well worth it. My review of Book 1 in the series, Gardens of the Moon, is available here. What should I add except that the series seems to get impossibly better with each book? The book revolves

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-61324461897176148002016-10-26T20:24:00.003+05:302016-10-26T20:30:33.569+05:30

TL/DR:  The first Aroon Raman book I've read. Met expectations. I'm going to read the others he's written. Review:The book started off with two very different issues - child trafficking & weather manipulation - and managed to tie them up well. A well told story in all, with none of the characters resorting to superhuman stunts - keeping the action sequences believable. The plot &

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-85004947564336106922015-07-26T08:43:00.003+05:302015-07-27T11:07:03.661+05:30

Sticky feet  Or sticky ground. I cannot see. I try to reason. I need reason on my side. I cannot see, of course. It is dark. And cold. No option to stop and check. The darkness is such a place. You keep walking.  Or you don't get to. I pray. That my feet be sticky. Though I know where I am. Exactly where I am. I know the

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-29441210538048509622014-12-10T17:09:00.003+05:302014-12-12T19:21:48.631+05:30

When I got Book 1 of Ajaya from Leadstart for the review (thank you for that!), I thought it would take me forever to sit through the book. But no, I finished it one fine Saturday. I am not too keen usually about books laced with religion, songs and pages of praise as dialogues. Especially most of them on Ramayana or Mahabharatha. I'm also not keen about books that change the storylines of

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-76449027599183528012014-09-22T01:37:00.000+05:302014-09-22T01:43:55.445+05:30

It's been a very long time since I wrote anything here. So yea, Hi. How have you been? Ever since I started working on the Immortal Game series, I stopped writing elsewhere - on football, music or anything else. This is just an update-type-post, really. I'm kinda done with the first book of the series now. Does it matter if I send it out to Publishers or not? I am personally not too happy

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-37741241604207134762014-03-27T11:30:00.004+05:302014-03-27T12:06:25.667+05:30

This friend of mine, Ganapathy Premkumar is riding his bicycle down from Bombay to Bangalore to raise awareness about the everyday issues of acid attack survivors. He's also trying to raise some funds for the NGOs working for them. How bad is an acid attack, really? Till I was 20 or so (despite clearing chemistry papers at school), I used to think that acid just damages someone's skin.

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-11353791874449116672014-01-21T15:12:00.000+05:302014-01-21T15:12:11.042+05:30

So, I recently saw this video and felt it must be shared as much as possible. Some genius at work, this. When I share this, instead of looking at what can be done with the relics of Technology, people start wondering if the Imperial March is 'really that simple'. For you lot, I present this. Didn't listen to it on Headphones? Tsk Tsk.

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-81231182164646300862014-01-05T12:03:00.000+05:302014-01-05T12:11:09.925+05:30

As I am fretting over why I don't seem to be writing all the time, I was looking up how actual writers write. Accidentally, I chanced upon someone sharing a note on Charles Bukowski where I saw this. I never type in the morning. I don’t get up in the morning. I drink at night. I try to stay in bed until twelve o’clock, that’s noon. Usually, if I have to get up earlier, I don’t feel good all

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-60199270273264376662013-12-01T12:32:00.001+05:302013-12-01T12:34:45.871+05:30

Why, How, What? Here's your proof. Prerequisite: Are you a Thamizh, Football fan? Guardiola receiving award for inventing Chitti. Guardiola saying "Andha Aandavane namma pakkam irukaan..." Guardiola saying "Ulle Po" To Manu. Guardiola trying Padayappa Salute Jose saying "Enna Sivaji ipdi panitanga..." Guardiola saying "Idhu Kuluvaali" and asking for route to

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-26061719330007527202013-09-08T19:59:00.001+05:302013-09-08T20:17:06.230+05:30

Art by Retronator at Deviant 'Wait. Really?' Peter Tharoll opened google in a new tab and typed 'Amit Rover involvement in murder'. He skimmed through the top two links, one about some hearing about it that happened two weeks earlier and another was a random blog that seemed very anti-political. All major politicians were linked to something or the other in that blog. He went back to the

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-89393807081574148442012-12-21T00:49:00.002+05:302012-12-21T01:23:48.568+05:30

Going on slowly. Word count for the day is at an embarrassing 300, but did a lot of research today on things that are not even that important for the book. Spent most of the day researching Egyptian & Slavic Gods. Running into roadblocks here and there. But moving forward with each of them. From a Croatian folk song on Perun - an old Slavic God - that's been running again and again in my

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-34071866723668436062012-12-08T23:02:00.002+05:302012-12-08T23:38:49.475+05:30

In the last few weeks, I had been deeply disappointed with myself. When I looked into the mirror, I saw a depressed workaholic with no regrets, not sure about what he was doing or what he wanted to do. He was always looking to eat something or the other like the Panda. Was I upset? This was not the Aswin I'd known for the last two decades. So, as I take the break to write (or at least start

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-71967292031409304272012-10-08T12:02:00.002+05:302013-09-30T16:53:40.352+05:30

Around 1995, I used to imagine that things would go back to medieval times - and people would fight with swords and shields again - that I would rule an ever expanding kingdom - with a couple of friends ruling neighbouring kingdoms - that every honest citizen of my kingdom would be happy - that I would have this majestic white horse, Chetak, the very image of which would bring hope to friends

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-79105110671804687402012-09-18T20:47:00.002+05:302012-09-18T20:52:02.495+05:30

Yea, yea, I have not blogged for a really long time now. For all this while, I was waiting for something interesting to happen in my life. Given I spend most of my time at office or working outside office (from home, coimbatore and the like), there was nothing to blog about. Wait. I am not sure if I am allowed to blog about work, but then, I'd not be interested in doing that anyway. So

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-23665080011610409002012-08-02T20:00:00.000+05:302012-08-02T20:00:08.373+05:30

...is a little more inspiration. I've decided to get inspired from anything I can take an inspiration from. No, no, I am not talking about lifting music off another album and calling it an inspiration. I'm talking about discovering and re-discovering the endless possibilities ahead of us to make this the awesom-est time to stay alive. Get Inspired. Stay Inspired. Here's to fun.

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-16294019368630409372012-07-29T11:00:00.003+05:302012-07-29T11:00:30.549+05:30

After like three months, my mind has started rejecting the notion of working through weekends. In fact, as we speak, it's refusing to look at the numbers I generate on the screen. Not good news for the guy who wants to stick to a job. 'No, Sir', says my mind. 'Go Read a Book. Or better, write one'. Still wondering if I should control my thoughts or let it control me. Also, I am not sure if

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-18812392322725224152012-03-01T15:33:00.001+05:302012-03-01T17:09:54.700+05:30

To know what it was, he had to know what it wasn’t. It wasn’t magical. It wasn’t the once in a lifetime event that would serve as the spark for the rest of his life. It wasn’t the story for the classics section, or for any other section in that huge bookstore he knew. It wasn’t a story to even be written, for alas, no one else might find it engrossing enough. It wasn’t the fairy tale he had

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-38416296361488977112011-10-31T18:05:00.001+05:302011-10-31T18:08:41.449+05:30

I know this is a bloody weird area for me to write on - because I am an average writer and quite an average chess player. Meh, who cares? Catch me on Sportskeeda, writing about chess - mostly for the advanced beginners. http://www.sportskeeda.com/author/aswinsam/ I am also planning to start playing the game again. Only this time, I am actually going to learn stuff.

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-90751232738097527252011-10-26T17:38:00.005+05:302011-10-30T07:59:16.636+05:30

In two words, Mass Entertainer. On seeing the trailer, I was a li'l bit scared. I was scared if this was gonna be another thirupaachi (who am I kidding? I didn't like that movie) - but no, this one was good! In fact, I was quite happy at the end of the movie. It's a must for Vijay fans and fans of the masala movie genre (yes it is one now!) - it's a decent watch for the rest. This is an

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-66192535269440654572011-10-10T16:49:00.001+05:302011-10-10T16:50:35.119+05:30

That's the code name for something I've started working on. For the past couple of months, I had been struggling with two book ideas. The struggle was about deciding which book to start working on. One is a book on changing the world. Another is a book on transforming it. One is about what we can do in the future. Another is about understanding the past. Chetan Bhagat's R2020 seems to

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-39222239317136921152011-08-23T15:49:00.002+05:302012-10-18T19:43:37.768+05:30

Simple stuff to try out next time you get that irritating call: #1 Rep: Sir, I'm calling from Standard Chartered. Me: What chart? Rep: Standard Chartered. Me: What's that? Rep: Bank sir. Me: Oh Citibank? Indian Bank? Rep: Standard Chartered, sir. Me: Ok ok Axis Bank eh? (can go on till you are bored or till he cuts the phone) #2 (True Story. happened 5 mins back) Rep: Sir, I'm calling from

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-13090455173346624882011-08-16T15:38:00.002+05:302011-08-16T16:42:36.933+05:30

Fot those who have no time to read the draft but are bent on supporting the bill anyway (but WHY!), upto Chapter 3 in the draft alone, I could see these many problems. Refrained myself from adding too many opinions. Think for yourself. (Excerpts from draft at the IAC site itself) THE JAN LOKPAL BILL 2011  ... The bill, therefore, provides that the vigilance machinery and the grievance

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-45599684532806334982011-06-27T11:49:00.002+05:302011-06-27T12:16:36.208+05:30

எண்ணத்தை விட வேகமாக கரைந்ததென் நம்பிக்கை... என் மேல் எனக்கிருந்த நம்பிக்கை. கடிகார நேரத்தை நிறுத்த முயன்றேன் மாதங்களுக்கு முன்னால். மறந்திடத் துடிக்கும் அந்நிகழ்வுகளுக்குப் பின்னால். இனி காலம் முன் சென்று பயனில்லை அல்லவா? கனா கண்டு கொண்டே இருக்கிறது மனம் இன்னும், அது கனியாது எனத் தெரிந்தும்.பகுத்தறிவு அதை ஒதுக்கக் கூடப் பார்த்தது; இறுதியில் ஒதுங்கியதோ என்னறிவே. 

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-92043481102396277182011-06-24T11:13:00.004+05:302011-06-24T11:26:40.477+05:30

Some guy in Mumbai : @^(%(#&(%_*&# (translated into English as 'feels good to see another marati fellow at the workplace') Team mate at ABG: "Really? TN? Don't tell me! You are Mallu, no?" Random girl I tried talking to: "You? Thamizh? That too from Chennai? He he, don't pull my leg. Okay, tell me. hmmm, who is the Mayor of Chennai?" (Sigh.) A fellow IIMB guy after 1+ years: "You're at

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13812191.post-75200636783685089972011-04-09T08:48:00.004+05:302011-04-09T09:48:50.285+05:30

Things I like about the movement: a) It has brought people out of their indifferent lives to at least SAY something about politics. b) It's always better to have more people getting involved in politics. c) Intentions to 'make the country better' are commendable. d) Anna Hazare's determination at this age - Respect. Things I don't like about the movement: a) Fasting unto death: I remember the

Sambahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041571494563632204noreply@blogger.com3