Perspective

Stay Classy, Shaadi.com

2010-02-12T16:59:00.001+05:30

Actually, I would totally marry a girl who could do Darth Vader impressions.

AGW as Religion

2010-02-02T13:15:00.001+05:30

Saw this comment in this Telegraph Article.

Makes so much sense.
Which is why its scary.

Musical Reflection

2010-01-29T18:17:00.000+05:30

When your music preferences go from listening to 'Take Away My Pain' in an endless loop to 'Hold Me Tight' ... you know you are in a positive mood.

:)

Not an Idea

2010-01-11T13:17:00.000+05:30

So Idea has gotten one more ad out on its dubious social change platform.

Few points.
Its very very annoying to read a newspaper or a magazine on a mobile phone screen. Have they ever tried it? Which is precisely the reason why everybody and their uncle is out unveiling e-book readers at CES.

Most of the phones shown are iPhones.
Idea doesn't even carry the iPhone.
Airtel does.

Maybe next time an ad with more than 10 minutes of brainstorming, eh?

Anatomical Correctness

2009-12-22T14:01:00.000+05:30

DNA realises, 32 minutes later that 'boobs' is rather inappropriate for a National Newspaper.

But anyway ... a rose by any another name ...

Distance

2009-12-16T17:35:00.000+05:30

What is distance?

The dictionary offers a few clues in the first two definitions

dis⋅tance
/ˈdɪstəns/ [dis-tuhns] noun, verb, -tanced, -tanc⋅ing.
–noun
1. the extent or amount of space between two things, points, lines, etc.
2. the state or fact of being apart in space, as of one thing from another; remoteness.

Actually, when applied to two people those definitions do clash sometimes. Its very much possible to be close to someone an ocean away. Its so much more easier 'these days' with our 24x7 net access and cheap ISD rates. The days of my grandparents' might well have been Good Old Days, but I am glad to be where I am, when I am.

FMyLife

2009-12-08T07:32:00.000+05:30

After lots of dilly dallying around, I finally made my way to an Ophthalmologist. So turns out what I initially dismissed as 'staring at the screen' is an eye inflammation due to an allergic reaction.

Also, when reassessing my power, I was blown away by how little I can see out of my left eye. Classic seeing-double-when-drunk-as-portrayed-in-movies double. What I have to do is wait out this inflammation and then get it checked again. A week of eye drops and that should do it, apparently.

So why am I typing this out here.

The eye drops.

How appropriately ironic.
Perfect.

Atheism, again

2009-12-03T14:09:00.003+05:30

Spent the majority of the day listening to this ..
Very Interesting.

I do think on these lines sometimes and I find myself increasingly subscribing to an agnostic/atheist point of view.

It also is the 200th post here, apparently ..

Velvet Glove, Iron Fist

2009-11-26T22:40:00.002+05:30

Dear La Presidenta,

Congratulations on the Sukhoi Flight. It seems you pulled 2G. Well done indeed.

But I see this photo of yours on the front page, and immediately notice only one thing.

I mean, I know we are all going through this hypocritical austerity phase. But then, you are the holiest of the holy cows. Surely, you could have dipped into the exchequer for a pair of new, clean gloves. Perhaps in your size too.

Just Saying.

[Image: ToI]

And so it is ...

2009-11-26T13:26:00.000+05:30

Its been a while that I have written something personal here. Not that I haven't noticed it till now, but somehow there was never anything I felt like writing. Though as such, there was a lot to write about.

But yesterday, while chatting with Sudnya, she happened to mention it. I retorted with 'you should be the one to talk' and she replied on the lines of .. 'I'm not so interesting when I'm peaceful / happy. That's where I usually rant'.

So, I thought for a moment, and I realised, that its more or less true for me too. For the first time in many months, I feel happy. Its not that happiness is an emotion which prevents you from displaying your feelings. Far from it. The difference lies in the fact that there are people around me now. I can talk, I can laugh and I can share. All person to person, without resorting to this medium.

So in a way, its a good thing that this place has been empty for a while. Because it means that I haven't. Its a good thing that my phone bill exceeds my rent bill because that's my outlet now.

Which also means that I devote this place to criticizing Hrithik Roshan ads.
Like this.

Yes, we know the secret ingredient of any good cookie is 'Love'. But not when the word before that is 'making'. On the same counter! Disgusting!

Happy Birthday

2009-11-25T18:38:00.000+05:30

What can we say but Happy Birthday!
The whole world is grateful.

Perspective

2009-11-19T12:47:00.000+05:30

So everyday while walking back you see a black Punto and a black Swift parked opposite each other on a side street.

The scene always reminds you why, regardless of her quirks and foibles, and the obvious superiority of the other, you always fall for the pretty girl..

Hope Fiat doesn't lose it this time.

Pre-paid Piper

2009-11-10T17:42:00.000+05:30

Perhaps the good people at Reliance are not familiar with what happened after the interval in the Pied Piper story.

Yes, that's right.

Instead of filing a breach of contract lawsuit like any good man swindled by The State would, he kidnaps the town's children. And as if that wasn't enough he discriminates against the disabled kid.

In keeping with my previous views, yes, he still needs a haircut and a shave.
And oh yeah, Napoleon called. He wants his coat back.

Radio

2009-11-10T10:00:00.000+05:30

Just watched Pirate Radio last night.
Two words.

Awesome.
Soundtrack.

That boat really rocked.
The sixties were an amazing time to be alive in, apparently.

Can't wait for the 'real' Radio now.

Afternoon Drowsiness

2009-11-02T16:15:00.000+05:30

Monday Again.
The disturbed sleep cycle of the past two days tries to wobble into normalcy today.
But it takes its time.

Open Letter

2009-10-27T23:21:00.000+05:30

Dear Toilet Cleaner Manufacturers,

You really spare no expense or creativity to come up with some of the best advertisements on Indian television. I mean, showing before and after shots of a (once) dirty toilet is sheer genius. Then there are those with your host visiting said dirty toilet's home with camera crew and getting reactions from satisfied customers. That is sheer genius with a cherry on top.

But hear me out here. How about not playing those ads on prime time TV, say between 8pm-10pm, because, you know, most people have dinner during that time. I don't know about you, but the sight of a dirty loo just as I am about to shove the next tasty morsel into my mouth unnerves me a bit. I mean, I know where all that rajma is going to end up eventually, but I'd rather not think about it right now.

How many customers do you think you gain by this? I certainly will never even consider picking up your product when I am in the market. You spoil my dinner, I don't buy your stuff. Simple.

So here's an idea. Pull those ads. Instead allocate that budget to 'adopting' the toilets on the Railway Station, Bus Stand, etc. Feel free to display your wares, slap your posters all over the place. But keep them as clean as the 'after' pictures in your ads. That would create a positive impression and people would appreciate it. And next time I go to the store, I would remember to buy your brand.

Sincerely,

Atheism

2009-10-26T17:08:00.000+05:30

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/23/god_poll/comments/

If you believe in one true god then you don't believe in all the thousands of gods that have gone before, roman gods, greek gods, norse gods, mayan gods, egyptian gods etc. I agree with you. I don't believe in any of those gods either. I'll just go one small logical step further and not believe in your god either.

Point is, you should be trying to be a good person, which basically comes down to a lifelong Hippocratic Oath of "first do no harm". Every ethical position comes about naturally from that. And according to JC in the New Testament, it doesn't matter who we pray to - the good guys get to Heaven anyway, and the bad guys don't. The humanists and atheists are at an advantage here, because they can consider "first do no harm" without the laborious framework of how to do no harm which has built up historically around every religion - the utterly unholy Catholic doctrine of "every sperm is sacred", for example, which has no basis in the teachings of JC.

So it's the reverse of Pascal's Wager. Blaise Pascal reckoned that you should go to church regardless of whether you believed or not, because if the Christians were right then it'd get you to Heaven, and if the Christians were wrong then you'd not lost anything. But according to JC it's the other way around - you'll get to Heaven whether you follow a religion or not, so long as you behave well. And if there isn't a Heaven, you've still led a good life which has generally improved the world as a whole (even if only in a small way).

Besides which, there's a deeper point. Unless your god bases its decisions about an afterlife on the way you actually act, and the reasons you act that way, that god isn't worthy of worship. And if it does (cf. Christianity, Judaism and Islam), then it's handling admission to Hell, not Heaven.

Saw this while going through the above article.
Exactly my position.
Just be a good person.
Who cares if you say your morning prayers or don't.

Dhak Dhak, Groan

2009-10-25T18:09:00.003+05:30

Apparently Hero Honda sold another bajillion bikes and made record amounts of cash, bucking industry trends, recession, yada yada ..

But having loads of cash and throwing it by the gunny sackful at an ad agency gets you this ..

Wow! S-P-E-C-I-A-L E-F-F-E-C-T-S!

But Seriously, Wtf!

Hrithik Roshan is not in any way Moses ... and the SFX looks like those leftover reels from the Shaktimaan editing floor found a new home.

And yes, adding huge amounts plastic cladding to a piddling 150cc engine is like stuffing your underwear with a sock. Looks very impressive but when needed the most, you come up short.

Maybe they should stop making ads altogether. We all know people will still be buying a 'Passion++ Pro+++' a hundred years from now and it will still be a best seller. So why bother. Save that cash, add it to the balance sheet. But yes, deduct Rs. 15 for a shave, for Mr. Roshan.

Wide Load

2009-10-25T03:31:00.000+05:30

So I found this in one of my Site Meter visit logs...

That, is an unbelievably wide screen, but running 16bit colour would be a letdown.

Is that your zoom lens or are you just happy to see me?

2009-10-24T11:26:00.000+05:30

After a long hiatus, and some dithering about, the FZ18 is back where it belongs - with me.

Hopefully, the output will be worth the wait ..

What would I do?

2009-10-23T23:19:00.000+05:30

Reminds me of a rather special someone ...

:)

Space - The Final Frontier

2009-10-21T13:38:00.001+05:30

Evidentlythe22lakhpeoplefromthese250centersin140citieswillnowlearntowritefluentenglishwithnaryaspacebetweenwords.
They , howeverwilllearntoinsertanextraspacebetweenacommaanditsprecedingword.

Smokin Joe's

2009-10-13T20:49:00.000+05:30

It started as an attempt to rhyme toes with rose, immediately moved on to Joe's, and apparently, we set the proverbial ball rolling because this is what followed..

AP:
foes / chose / grows / pose / lows / joe's / nose / woes / rose

ML:
joe's....!
how would that one go??

AP:
Dinner at Smokin' Joe's
was the start of our woes
how I wish we chose
someplace else, but - who knows

ML:
Dinner last night was at Smokin' Joe's
i love the way he strikes a pose
a cowboy hat, beware oh foes
and a thick black stache under his nose!

AP:
So we decide on smokin joe's
and the place is not even close
but there she was with her button nose
she smiled at me and my heart beat rose

ML:
Last winter we went to smokin joe's
the heat was out and the cold winds rose
we waited there with curled up toes
who ate our pizza - god only knows!

AP:
There was an itch between my toes
and that was the least of my woes
'cause when I went to Smokin Joe's
some of that chilli went up my nose

ML:
I was racking my brains to write a small prose
sitting by the window, watching the blooming rose
i crossed my legs and scratched my nose
thats it! i'm getting a pizza from smokin joe's!

AP:
I had a date at Smokin Joe's
But my best friend said, bros before 'hos
In love and war, I said, anything goes
Looking at the bill, I'm glad its her I chose

ML:
I saw this lil boy at smokin joe's
he looked all tattered and picked his nose
but when the pizza was served, in the air he rose
hell! that's the voodoo boy! - i simply froze!

AP:
Sitting outside Smokin Joes
We were besieged by hungry crows
I nudged the nearest with my toes
With a rude stare, the whole flock rose ...

(digressed into a discussion on ghosts -> david copperfield -> mediums -> shorts which are no longer medium)

ML:
We were making up verses about smokin joe's
but we gradually digressed to shorts - why? god knows
in the end, 'size does matter' is the tag line he chose
stop talking about pizza dude and shed some of those kilos!

(a long time later..)

ML:
i'm at my wits' end, as the day narrows
writing the report is adding to my woes
going through this hell, is not something i chose
how i wish singapore had a smokin joe's

AP:
The day has highs, then there are lows
I know you are bored, it really shows
Not hell, just one more of the chores
Finish it off and we won't talk of those ..

*The End*

The End

2009-10-08T12:01:00.000+05:30

Conclusion and Epilogue:

To sum it up, Sony tried to push me into buying a new camera. Previous experience, here and here.

After showing them the finger, I gave it to a dinky small time camera shop figuring I had nothing to lose. So a couple of missed connections and a weeks delay, I finally got it back. Cost me 1800 for replacing the DC-DC converter.

Test 1: Put in approximately 80% charged 1900mAh and left it on in video mode. Lasted 1 hour 21 minutes till the battery ran out. I think that is a pass.

Later, I got a call from Sony about the feedback form I had filled in while collecting it. Apparently they wanted to know why I had marked most of the fields '0' and 'Poor'. I explained to the lady that when I take my vehicle to the service center and complain of low mileage, they don't recommend that I change the engine.
I think she got it.

Aaaand Good Morning!

2009-10-06T21:23:00.003+05:30

How could I let this go ...
:)