And for those that think I missed their picture, here is yours as a group!!! ;-)
Cross-posted on my running blog
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
SF Marathon
Some 'public' pics from the SF Marathon this Sunday, Aug 3, 2008. I did not run.. I just went to cheer my friends that did!
And for those that think I missed their picture, here is yours as a group!!! ;-)
Cross-posted on my running blog
And for those that think I missed their picture, here is yours as a group!!! ;-)
Cross-posted on my running blog
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Explosive Growth?
While the economists in India have been predicting year over year growth rate of 8-10%, the past few days we have been seeing an explosive growth rate in a totally different dimension. I am talking of the series of bomb explosions first in Bangalore and now at Ahmedabad. I mean, what the hell is happening?
It is a wake-up call to the police and intelligence bureaus in the country. Enough of the pot-bellied, uniform-trotting facade. It is time to realize that 'security' in the country is a joke. Should we allow the country to dissipate into the state of Pakistan or Israel? ... Where everyday is greeted with an explosion at some part of the country... and communal forces tearing the country apart like a pack of rogue dogs shredding a piece of shirt apart?
Also read, "Security in India is a joke"
It is a wake-up call to the police and intelligence bureaus in the country. Enough of the pot-bellied, uniform-trotting facade. It is time to realize that 'security' in the country is a joke. Should we allow the country to dissipate into the state of Pakistan or Israel? ... Where everyday is greeted with an explosion at some part of the country... and communal forces tearing the country apart like a pack of rogue dogs shredding a piece of shirt apart?
Also read, "Security in India is a joke"
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Wanted?
Man... this is one hell of a movie... well... ok... another hell of a movie.... I 'L'oved this one.... Angelina is as fingerlickin' great as ever... and the photography and direction are just amazing... Jim is pretty good fit for the role too...
On the whole.. an awesome... 'must watch in the theatre' movie....
Like my friend was saying... "We should watch this movie in 3D!!!!"
On the whole.. an awesome... 'must watch in the theatre' movie....
Like my friend was saying... "We should watch this movie in 3D!!!!"
Monday, June 30, 2008
The Pick-up Game!
It has now become a common occurrence... Every time we go shopping at one of the nearby Indian or any supermarket, one or another Indian couple with a big smile on the guy's face and a glib pick-up line approaches us..!
Let me tell you what happened the last time.. Me and my friend (roomie) were at India Cash & Carry buying some stuff.. our bi-weekly routine. This guy with his wife approached us (the wife seemed pretty young and enthusiastic.. she must be new at this game! ;-) And as soon as he opened his mouth, I knew what was coming "Hi.. you resemble one of my friends..."!!!!
Mez: yeah?!?!? [##$%^%*&*&^($#]
Hiz: Hi.. I am Rakesh [holding out his hand]..
Mez took one look at his face and another at her face... I did not want to disappoint the eager look in her's :P.. "Hi.. I am Bhaskar"
I think I saw a glow in her face ;-)
Hiz: Bashar? nice name....
Mez: [#@^#&*^**()@ ]... [nice name, it seems....at least pronounce my name properly!!!!]
Hiz: Where do you work?
Mez: [thinking to myself..."in the road-side gas station here"] blah blah blah...
Hiz: yada yada yada yada
Mez: blah blah blah blah
Hiz: yada yada..... can I have your phone number?
Mez: [thinking again... haan, aagayaa naaa... tu Amway/Quixtar waloon] [translated as... 'yeah, there you go... ya Amway/Quixtar guys']
I give them my cell number. And internally, I am laughing out aloud.... 'cos I have already become a member of this Quixtar thingy... (for a totally different reason... I will tell ya some other time!!)
More blah blahs and yada yadas... and we part amicably...
I go home and promptly, the next day evening, I get a call from this guy.... But, I did not pick up his call.... why? 'Cos I don't pick calls from guys who cannot pronounce my name right...!
-------------------------
Question of the day: How do you differentiate between cabbage and lettuce??!
Let me tell you what happened the last time.. Me and my friend (roomie) were at India Cash & Carry buying some stuff.. our bi-weekly routine. This guy with his wife approached us (the wife seemed pretty young and enthusiastic.. she must be new at this game! ;-) And as soon as he opened his mouth, I knew what was coming "Hi.. you resemble one of my friends..."!!!!
Mez: yeah?!?!? [##$%^%*&*&^($#]
Hiz: Hi.. I am Rakesh [holding out his hand]..
Mez took one look at his face and another at her face... I did not want to disappoint the eager look in her's :P.. "Hi.. I am Bhaskar"
I think I saw a glow in her face ;-)
Hiz: Bashar? nice name....
Mez: [#@^#&*^**()@ ]... [nice name, it seems....at least pronounce my name properly!!!!]
Hiz: Where do you work?
Mez: [thinking to myself..."in the road-side gas station here"] blah blah blah...
Hiz: yada yada yada yada
Mez: blah blah blah blah
Hiz: yada yada..... can I have your phone number?
Mez: [thinking again... haan, aagayaa naaa... tu Amway/Quixtar waloon] [translated as... 'yeah, there you go... ya Amway/Quixtar guys']
I give them my cell number. And internally, I am laughing out aloud.... 'cos I have already become a member of this Quixtar thingy... (for a totally different reason... I will tell ya some other time!!)
More blah blahs and yada yadas... and we part amicably...
I go home and promptly, the next day evening, I get a call from this guy.... But, I did not pick up his call.... why? 'Cos I don't pick calls from guys who cannot pronounce my name right...!
-------------------------
Question of the day: How do you differentiate between cabbage and lettuce??!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Redwoods and the Pacific
Me and a couple of my friends recently went to the Muir Woods National Park and some beaches around - Muir beach and Stinson beach. It was good (but not so good on my knees. I need to check with a doctor now :( )
The thing about redwoods is that they grow really straight and tall. And their barks look like somebody twisted the whole tree. Also, we noticed an inverted 'V' hole on almost all trees. Any idea why redwoods are the way they are?
The thing about redwoods is that they grow really straight and tall. And their barks look like somebody twisted the whole tree. Also, we noticed an inverted 'V' hole on almost all trees. Any idea why redwoods are the way they are?
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The big apple and its charms..
I gotta say this - New York is dirty, at least most parts of the regular city.
I got to see the big apple this time like never before - Up close and personal. For one, I stayed there for almost 10 days. For another, I commuted like any other NewYorker - in the subways and NJ transits. For one more, I saw the NY of the wee hours (May be I should add that I did not get to visit the SOHO as I had planned earlier).
Our Jersey city office by the Hudson was great. It had a spectacular view of Manhattan and there were ample light reflecting from the waters. Central park was great too - got to explore some more parts of it this time. But, the surrounding areas or the areas leading to it were pretty dirty. Some of these areas had garbage and dirt piled up in the mornings - I guess they were waiting for the garbage trucks to pick them up. Others like the Harrison station along the NJ transit route looked downright ugly (I thought it was an un-used station since my trains did not stop there. Later on, one of the trains did and I was shocked!)
If you walk around the regular city at a time when the regular guys are not around, you will get to see a lot more dirt and folks that live in the dirt. But, I think - what is amazing is that the city is so old and yet, has moulded itself with the times. Like the numerous subways/trains developed and connecting almost every part of this humongous city.
Many people over the decades must have thought like Annie Hall in the Woody Allen movie by the same name - Annie: "What's so great about New York? I mean, it's a dying city...". But, the charm of the big apple probably lies in its undying spirit - that it has thrived beyond its age. With and without its WTCs.
And it is so different and levelling.. you see executives (well, may be not the top honchos) wearing blazers traveling in the transits/subways.
---------------------------------
The NJ transits are another animal altogether. Once I got onto a train only to know that it was not going to stop at my station. What worse, the first stop in that train was an hour ahead, much after the station I was to get down. Another time, I got into the wrong train because my train was late and this train came to my platform (also late by itself) at the time it was supposed to come. (They don't even mention the destination on the sides of some trains) [Lessons - you gotta carry a schedule with you and find out the exact time of the train you need to catch - after looking at the stops listed on the schedule for each train. And confirm with the ticket checkers/staff before you board, especially if the train is delayed]
---------------------------------
On the subject of Annie Hall and Woody Allen,
this is what he says about California!
Alvy Singer (Woody Allen): I don't want to move to a city where the only cultural advantage is being able to make a right turn on a red light.
And here is a classic dialogue from the movie:
Alvy Singer :[addressing the camera] There's an old joke - um... two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of 'em says, "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible." The other one says, "Yeah, I know; and such small portions." Well, that's essentially how I feel about life - full of loneliness, and misery, and suffering, and unhappiness, and it's all over much too quickly. The... the other important joke, for me, is one that's usually attributed to Groucho Marx; but, I think it appears originally in Freud's "Wit and Its Relation to the Unconscious," and it goes like this - I'm paraphrasing - um, "I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member." That's the key joke of my adult life, in terms of my relationships with women.
I got to see the big apple this time like never before - Up close and personal. For one, I stayed there for almost 10 days. For another, I commuted like any other NewYorker - in the subways and NJ transits. For one more, I saw the NY of the wee hours (May be I should add that I did not get to visit the SOHO as I had planned earlier).
Our Jersey city office by the Hudson was great. It had a spectacular view of Manhattan and there were ample light reflecting from the waters. Central park was great too - got to explore some more parts of it this time. But, the surrounding areas or the areas leading to it were pretty dirty. Some of these areas had garbage and dirt piled up in the mornings - I guess they were waiting for the garbage trucks to pick them up. Others like the Harrison station along the NJ transit route looked downright ugly (I thought it was an un-used station since my trains did not stop there. Later on, one of the trains did and I was shocked!)
If you walk around the regular city at a time when the regular guys are not around, you will get to see a lot more dirt and folks that live in the dirt. But, I think - what is amazing is that the city is so old and yet, has moulded itself with the times. Like the numerous subways/trains developed and connecting almost every part of this humongous city.
Many people over the decades must have thought like Annie Hall in the Woody Allen movie by the same name - Annie: "What's so great about New York? I mean, it's a dying city...". But, the charm of the big apple probably lies in its undying spirit - that it has thrived beyond its age. With and without its WTCs.
And it is so different and levelling.. you see executives (well, may be not the top honchos) wearing blazers traveling in the transits/subways.
---------------------------------
The NJ transits are another animal altogether. Once I got onto a train only to know that it was not going to stop at my station. What worse, the first stop in that train was an hour ahead, much after the station I was to get down. Another time, I got into the wrong train because my train was late and this train came to my platform (also late by itself) at the time it was supposed to come. (They don't even mention the destination on the sides of some trains) [Lessons - you gotta carry a schedule with you and find out the exact time of the train you need to catch - after looking at the stops listed on the schedule for each train. And confirm with the ticket checkers/staff before you board, especially if the train is delayed]
---------------------------------
On the subject of Annie Hall and Woody Allen,
this is what he says about California!
Alvy Singer (Woody Allen): I don't want to move to a city where the only cultural advantage is being able to make a right turn on a red light.
And here is a classic dialogue from the movie:
Alvy Singer :[addressing the camera] There's an old joke - um... two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of 'em says, "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible." The other one says, "Yeah, I know; and such small portions." Well, that's essentially how I feel about life - full of loneliness, and misery, and suffering, and unhappiness, and it's all over much too quickly. The... the other important joke, for me, is one that's usually attributed to Groucho Marx; but, I think it appears originally in Freud's "Wit and Its Relation to the Unconscious," and it goes like this - I'm paraphrasing - um, "I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member." That's the key joke of my adult life, in terms of my relationships with women.
My first above-5 miler...!
Yesterday, I ran my first 7-miler! (well, almost seven miles ;-)
I knew I had a target of 7 miles as a part of my training here. But, just the previous week (as I had wrote earlier), I had this bad knee pain and I had to stop at 3 miles. So, I was quite unsure. I did do some cycling over the week. And I did ice my knee multiple times.. like, wrapping a frozen water bottle around the different sides of my knee and then, once the area goes numb, I rub the area (it seems, the cold helps control the inflammation and the friction improves the blood flow)
So, I reach the Oracle trail (near Foster City) at 7am on the Saturday and it was a great cloudy day. The temperature must have been in the late 70s or early 80s and there was no wind - just the ideal day for a long run. I was all happy and excited (I was excited already - I woke at 6am and ate a protein snack bar!).
And I started my run comfortably with my jerkin on. Reach 1.5 miler and I was getting really warmed up.. rather hot and I left my jerkin at the water station. I then reached the 3 miler and had a couple of gulps of Gatarode and I could feel a li'l pain in the knee area. But, I was happy because I had already crossed my previous limit!
I was also happy because I was only 0.5 miles from the turn-back point!! Man, these small joys... So, I reached the 3.5 miles, kissed the line and was on my way back.. and the pains started getting bigger - not so much as to stop my run, but still it was getting to me. But the view was nice and scenery was good and of course, the weather was great, so I kept on. Oracle trail or Bay trail, as it is also called, I think runs all the way to the bay.
And beyond 4.5 miles, I had to stop running and start walking because the pain was considerable and I was afraid I will make it worse. But, I saw that the pain subsided as I was walking (this was contrary to last week - when the pain increased and remained even after I stopped running) So, I started running again at 5 miles. I took a few small breaks in between my runs (either walk instead of run or run slower) and I managed to finish the 7 miles in (approx.) 2 hours.
I am happy for my first six/seven miler.. this is at least 2 miles more than what I had run in a single shot earlier! :-)
Cross-posted on my Sun Runs blog
Check it out here
I knew I had a target of 7 miles as a part of my training here. But, just the previous week (as I had wrote earlier), I had this bad knee pain and I had to stop at 3 miles. So, I was quite unsure. I did do some cycling over the week. And I did ice my knee multiple times.. like, wrapping a frozen water bottle around the different sides of my knee and then, once the area goes numb, I rub the area (it seems, the cold helps control the inflammation and the friction improves the blood flow)
So, I reach the Oracle trail (near Foster City) at 7am on the Saturday and it was a great cloudy day. The temperature must have been in the late 70s or early 80s and there was no wind - just the ideal day for a long run. I was all happy and excited (I was excited already - I woke at 6am and ate a protein snack bar!).
And I started my run comfortably with my jerkin on. Reach 1.5 miler and I was getting really warmed up.. rather hot and I left my jerkin at the water station. I then reached the 3 miler and had a couple of gulps of Gatarode and I could feel a li'l pain in the knee area. But, I was happy because I had already crossed my previous limit!
I was also happy because I was only 0.5 miles from the turn-back point!! Man, these small joys... So, I reached the 3.5 miles, kissed the line and was on my way back.. and the pains started getting bigger - not so much as to stop my run, but still it was getting to me. But the view was nice and scenery was good and of course, the weather was great, so I kept on. Oracle trail or Bay trail, as it is also called, I think runs all the way to the bay.
And beyond 4.5 miles, I had to stop running and start walking because the pain was considerable and I was afraid I will make it worse. But, I saw that the pain subsided as I was walking (this was contrary to last week - when the pain increased and remained even after I stopped running) So, I started running again at 5 miles. I took a few small breaks in between my runs (either walk instead of run or run slower) and I managed to finish the 7 miles in (approx.) 2 hours.
I am happy for my first six/seven miler.. this is at least 2 miles more than what I had run in a single shot earlier! :-)
Cross-posted on my Sun Runs blog
Check it out here
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Omar and the Niagara!
And, as the Cock crew, those who stood before
The Tavern shouted - "Open then the Door!
You know how little time we have to stay,
And once departed, may return no more."
Alike for those who for TO-DAY prepare,
And that after a TO-MORROW stare,
A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries
"Fools! your reward is neither Here nor There!"
That is Omar Khayyam for ya...
But time comes to a standstill at the Niagara... Majestic, as it is - where does all the water go?!
Here are some pics (and some Patel shots!; no! not the typical staring into the camera ones)..
Don't you feel like jumping into the water and stoping the flow....??
For the full album, check this link!
The Tavern shouted - "Open then the Door!
You know how little time we have to stay,
And once departed, may return no more."
Alike for those who for TO-DAY prepare,
And that after a TO-MORROW stare,
A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries
"Fools! your reward is neither Here nor There!"
That is Omar Khayyam for ya...
But time comes to a standstill at the Niagara... Majestic, as it is - where does all the water go?!
Here are some pics (and some Patel shots!; no! not the typical staring into the camera ones)..
Don't you feel like jumping into the water and stoping the flow....??
For the full album, check this link!
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sun Runs and Baby Steps!!
I started a new blog today... Sun Runs!!! It is going to be my chronicle for the next few months as I train with Team Asha for the Chicago/Silicon Valley Marathon.
Follow me there....!
---------------------------
Here is my first post on Sun Runs.. {cross-posted here}
---------------------------
In the world of Iron Men (refer Iron Man Triathlon), I am just a toddler taking my baby steps... and I just want to chronicle my first steps and my experiences as I train for the Marathon!!
I am sure I have not run 26.2miles in my entire lifetime put together so far. I am now going to run it in a single day... and multiple times over as I practise the next few months. And with my coaches and mentors @ Team Asha, I am pretty sure I am in good hands!!
So, here is to Iron Men and Women of the world(read coach Char's blog!!) and the toddlers!!! :-)
Follow me there....!
---------------------------
Here is my first post on Sun Runs.. {cross-posted here}
---------------------------
In the world of Iron Men (refer Iron Man Triathlon), I am just a toddler taking my baby steps... and I just want to chronicle my first steps and my experiences as I train for the Marathon!!
I am sure I have not run 26.2miles in my entire lifetime put together so far. I am now going to run it in a single day... and multiple times over as I practise the next few months. And with my coaches and mentors @ Team Asha, I am pretty sure I am in good hands!!
So, here is to Iron Men and Women of the world(read coach Char's blog!!) and the toddlers!!! :-)
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Off-beat Math & A Short Story
12 + 144 + 20 + (3 * 4^(1/2))) / 7) + (5 * 11) = 9^2 +0
If you are not gifted enough to decipher these simple codes, I will give you a clue: It is a poem!! Now, try looking at it from that angle...
...and if you are still having trouble with the poem, here you go:
A Dozen, a Gross and a Score,
plus three times the square root of four,
divided by seven,
plus five times eleven,
equals nine squared and not a bit more.
!! ;-)
-----------------------------
10**12 Microphones = 1 Megaphone
10**6 bicycles = 2 megacycles
2000 mockingbirds = two kilomockingbirds
1/2 lavatory = 1 demijohn
10**-6 fish = 1 microfiche
1 unit of suspense in a mystery novel = 1 whod unit
10 millipedes = 1 centipede
5 holocausts = 1 Pentacost
10 monologues = 5 dialogues = 1 decalogue
8 nickles = 2 paradigms
2 snake eyes = 1 paradise
2 wharves = 1 paradox
1 milli-Helen (of Troy) = amount of face that can launch one ship
-------------------------------------
In a literature class, the students were given an assignment to write a short story involving all the important ingredients - nobility, emotion, sex, religion and mystery. One student allegedly handed in the following story:
"My god!" cried the duchess. "I'm pregnant. Who did it?"
-------------------------------------
Thanks Venky (MP)!
If you are not gifted enough to decipher these simple codes, I will give you a clue: It is a poem!! Now, try looking at it from that angle...
...and if you are still having trouble with the poem, here you go:
A Dozen, a Gross and a Score,
plus three times the square root of four,
divided by seven,
plus five times eleven,
equals nine squared and not a bit more.
!! ;-)
-----------------------------
10**12 Microphones = 1 Megaphone
10**6 bicycles = 2 megacycles
2000 mockingbirds = two kilomockingbirds
1/2 lavatory = 1 demijohn
10**-6 fish = 1 microfiche
1 unit of suspense in a mystery novel = 1 whod unit
10 millipedes = 1 centipede
5 holocausts = 1 Pentacost
10 monologues = 5 dialogues = 1 decalogue
8 nickles = 2 paradigms
2 snake eyes = 1 paradise
2 wharves = 1 paradox
1 milli-Helen (of Troy) = amount of face that can launch one ship
-------------------------------------
In a literature class, the students were given an assignment to write a short story involving all the important ingredients - nobility, emotion, sex, religion and mystery. One student allegedly handed in the following story:
"My god!" cried the duchess. "I'm pregnant. Who did it?"
-------------------------------------
Thanks Venky (MP)!
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Team Asha & Asha for Education
TEAM ASHA is a premier endurance sports program that trains people for half and full marathons. Team Asha gives one the chance to discover not only the magical benefits of running but also the supreme joy of affecting the life of a child with every progressive step.
Since 2000, they have trained more than 750 marathoners from different walks of life. 99% of them successfully completed a full or a half marathon. Train. Run. Educate.
Asha for Education is a non-profit organization on a mission to catalyze socio-economic change in India through education of under-privileged children. Of the 68 Asha chapters worldwide, three are right here in the San Francisco Bay Area: Asha Berkeley, Asha Stanford and Asha Silicon Valley.
Over the years, Asha has succeeded in touching the lives of thousands of children through its various educational initiatives and projects. Although the primary focus is on education, Asha also addresses issues affecting human life such as health care, environmental concerns and women's issues. Asha will continue to evolve in keeping with the needs of the hour and the needs of our country (India).
Asha for education is run by a diverse group of committed volunteers who take personal interest in researching and identifying worthy projects in India. We mobilize the needed funds and also work closely with the projects right from inception to realization.
-------------------------------------------------
My grandmom used to say "Whenever you get a chance to share your knowledge or better still, help somebody learn - do that. That is the best gift you can give to not just him but his entire family. And it is equivalent to feeding 100 hungry persons." I think Asha embodies that spirit.
One of my school friends, who later went on to BITS Pilani and then to Univ of Wisconsin - Madison for her MS - she was one such volunteers who came back to India and was handling some of their educational initiatives in South India. (I am trying to reach her.. Lets see if I can find out what she is upto now.)
That is how I had heard about Asha. And now, in the bay area, I heard of Asha again and I took this opportunity to be a drop in the ocean. I am a part of Team Asha 2008 - training for the Silicon Valley marathon and also championing the cause of educating the under-privileged in India.
I have no idea how I am going to run 26.2 miles.. I have zilch idea how I am going to raise 2400 odd dollars for the cause. But, I am doing it. Whatever support you can give in showing the way to a kid in India - please let me know.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Madras isShtyle!!!
The first time I saw it on a JC Penney's catalogue, I thought it was a coincidence... But, it did remind me immediately of the lungis I saw in my childhood...
I checked the next catalogue I got (yeah, we are getting a lotta spam in our postal box!) and there it was, with more colors and types.... Then, I was sure the city I grew up has inspired a whole new style... the Madras style.... !!!!
I did some research online... check these out for yourself!!!!
www.capemadras.com
Check this one out especially... they even show an authentic Madras lungi... the guy on a cycle with the girl behind!! Click on the "India" section at the last...
More Madras ishtyle!
And a lot more here...
Monday, April 28, 2008
WB!!
I can give you hundreds of reasons why I am not writing here as often... but then, when they have given a good, encompassing reason called Writer's Block, why should I worry about those hundreds?? :P
Anyways, it is a self-attributing reason... What I mean to say is - the same reason also prevents one from even writing about it!! So, I guess I have broken through it now!!!!! ;-)
Anyways, it is a self-attributing reason... What I mean to say is - the same reason also prevents one from even writing about it!! So, I guess I have broken through it now!!!!! ;-)
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Lovin' it!
Am loving my S10 experience!!
The other day I was coming by the CalTrain and took a picture...
But, what is that grass like things hanging from the speakers??
It sure looks like grass.. Let me zoom some more..
Wow! why would they keep thin wire-like things protruding from a speaker?!
Here.. are some other snapshots
SF Giants game at AT&T Park by the bay
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563136421pmlCKA
a soothing 'zen' weekend!
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563085000SwNgPR
Ensoi!!
Bhaskar
The other day I was coming by the CalTrain and took a picture...
But, what is that grass like things hanging from the speakers??
It sure looks like grass.. Let me zoom some more..
Wow! why would they keep thin wire-like things protruding from a speaker?!
Here.. are some other snapshots
SF Giants game at AT&T Park by the bay
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563136421pmlCKA
a soothing 'zen' weekend!
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563085000SwNgPR
Ensoi!!
Bhaskar
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Here There!!
Here is not so much fun anymore
Let me get there for more!
And I can be this life-long wanderer
With no one 'dear', till my feet get sore!!
-------------------------------------------
I at least bought a new camera... so, I can capture the sights on the way!! It is a Nikon Coolpix S10.. pretty conventional looks.. let me check how it performs and tell ya..
Let me get there for more!
And I can be this life-long wanderer
With no one 'dear', till my feet get sore!!
-------------------------------------------
I at least bought a new camera... so, I can capture the sights on the way!! It is a Nikon Coolpix S10.. pretty conventional looks.. let me check how it performs and tell ya..
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A Quiz!!
What is the best place for the sun on earth?!? (pun intended!!)
Answer:
Sunnyvale!!
I moved to this place last week... And fell in love with it!! More later....
And you know the best part?
Saravanaa Bhavan is only 2.4miles from my apartment!!!!
Answer:
Sunnyvale!!
I moved to this place last week... And fell in love with it!! More later....
And you know the best part?
Saravanaa Bhavan is only 2.4miles from my apartment!!!!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Buds!
Some of my buddies are budding bloggers now!!! I am happy for them and happy that I could play a small part in their exploring their own hidden facets and expanding their horizons :-)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Truth!
I came across this wonderful clip on the Modern Doomsday(Thanks to Erin!).
The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard
It's terrific! Like my friend Arun says, the best part of this story is that it is so catchy and so true!! truth - simple yet flabbergasting!!!
Quoting Cris B., "Annie Leonard does a brilliant job of distilling 10 years of research about STUFF into a fast-paced 20 minute presentation..." ...
"With the support of pen & ink sketch-like animations, Annie demonstrates how our materials economy is completely dysfunctional, how our linear production-consumption system is using up our limited resources. Smart, witty and factual, Annie explains in language school kids can understand that our finite planet is in crisis...it's being trashed by what we the people, our government and powerful corporations are doing to create, use and dispose of stuff...lots and lots of stuff, every day."
The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard
It's terrific! Like my friend Arun says, the best part of this story is that it is so catchy and so true!! truth - simple yet flabbergasting!!!
Quoting Cris B., "Annie Leonard does a brilliant job of distilling 10 years of research about STUFF into a fast-paced 20 minute presentation..." ...
"With the support of pen & ink sketch-like animations, Annie demonstrates how our materials economy is completely dysfunctional, how our linear production-consumption system is using up our limited resources. Smart, witty and factual, Annie explains in language school kids can understand that our finite planet is in crisis...it's being trashed by what we the people, our government and powerful corporations are doing to create, use and dispose of stuff...lots and lots of stuff, every day."
Saturday, March 15, 2008
When the going gets tough...
Everyone (at least quite a lot of folks) are looking towards the possible fed rate cut on tuesday. There are tell-tale signs that the recession is already underway in some sectors of the industry and affecting the vulnerable sections of the economy.
There are talks of more lay-offs in the mortgage and financial sector... Other sectors (notably IT/software) too have started cutting the costs and tightening the budget. There is growing unemployment in the economy - supposed to be at the levels of 2003!
etc etc...
But, you know - When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!!
There are talks of more lay-offs in the mortgage and financial sector... Other sectors (notably IT/software) too have started cutting the costs and tightening the budget. There is growing unemployment in the economy - supposed to be at the levels of 2003!
etc etc...
But, you know - When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Detroit, nalla Detroit!!
Well, I am in Detroit now. Come here for a few days, on work. I don't know where work is going to take me in the coming weeks, but I do know that I will not continue in Los Angeles for long.
Detroit is so coool!!! well.... literally cold... with snow around and flurries falling... but is nice (to visit, don't know about staying though ;-)
The best part is that the snow and all-encompassing whiteness gives it a surreal feeling.. more like in those fantasy lands... of Santa & Snow white!!!
As I was driving to my friend's place, I was reminded of my time in the Netherlands some years ago. Bare leaf-less (but not life-less) trees and cold winds... amazing! And then, the shock on my friend's face (I had not told her about my visit) when I knocked their door in the middle of the night... Man, priceless!!
But then, as Govar says, living here could be an altogether different deal... But I am not going to worry about it... I am just a happy visitor now!!
----------------------------
Downtown Detroit is supposed to be so crime-ridden... I went to a Tacos place... They had security cameras all over.... And even the counter was like a safe-deposit with thick glass panels... you deposit your money and close the door... only then, would the cashier's door open on the other side... he will keep the food packet and close the door again... And then you can pick it up your side....
----------------------------
I almost drove to Canada... We were on our way to the MGM Grand casino downtown... we went past the ambassador bridge (that links to Canada)... There were a lot of construction work happening on the highway and many ramps were closed... We tried navigating our way and ended at a toll plaza. When enquired, she said that it was the toll leading to Canada... Well, imagine if I had not asked the question!!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Serial Entrepreneur...
Over the weekend, I came across someone who was supposed to be a serial entrepreneur... 'serial entrepreneur' - I thought what a funny title... in the lines of serial killers and such... Is this guy supposed to be a killer of startup ventures?! (On the contrary, this term refers to guys starting one business followed by another and often another...)
Why would somebody become a 'entrepreneur'?
Quoting Linda Pinson, creator of business plan software (business-plan.com)
First (of all), many entrepreneurs want to be masters of their own fate and they can't find this outside of entrepreneurship. While studies have shown that people derive tremendous satisfaction from their work, how many people are really doing exactly what they want to be doing? Entrepreneurs like to be in control of their future. They like to set their own course.
Many entrepreneurs feel that running a business offers far more security than being an employee. Entrepreneurs often argue that you can acquire wealth much faster if you own a business and you can build a buffer of personal financial security. Further, an entrepreneur's continued paycheck isn't dependent upon a single employer whose faulty business decisions could lead to being laid off. So, while some people see starting a business as more risky than conventional employment, other people see it as less risky.
Why would somebody become a 'serial entrepreneur'?
Well... I would say, if you know how to start a new venture and if you enjoy the process of establishing and building a structure 'built to last' - you should become a 'serial entrepreneur'!
------------------------------------------------
One of the best aspects of this society is that there is a big tolerance for failure. It is "OK" to be a failure. If you fail at something, you just brush the dust off yourself and then, start working on the next.
If you fail in your venture, collect the learnings and then, start off with your next venture.
If you fail at your married life, just take some time to collect yourself and then, look afresh at life.
Just that, you should not jump into something just because 'failure is ok'!!
Why would somebody become a 'entrepreneur'?
Quoting Linda Pinson, creator of business plan software (business-plan.com)
First (of all), many entrepreneurs want to be masters of their own fate and they can't find this outside of entrepreneurship. While studies have shown that people derive tremendous satisfaction from their work, how many people are really doing exactly what they want to be doing? Entrepreneurs like to be in control of their future. They like to set their own course.
Many entrepreneurs feel that running a business offers far more security than being an employee. Entrepreneurs often argue that you can acquire wealth much faster if you own a business and you can build a buffer of personal financial security. Further, an entrepreneur's continued paycheck isn't dependent upon a single employer whose faulty business decisions could lead to being laid off. So, while some people see starting a business as more risky than conventional employment, other people see it as less risky.
Why would somebody become a 'serial entrepreneur'?
Well... I would say, if you know how to start a new venture and if you enjoy the process of establishing and building a structure 'built to last' - you should become a 'serial entrepreneur'!
------------------------------------------------
One of the best aspects of this society is that there is a big tolerance for failure. It is "OK" to be a failure. If you fail at something, you just brush the dust off yourself and then, start working on the next.
If you fail in your venture, collect the learnings and then, start off with your next venture.
If you fail at your married life, just take some time to collect yourself and then, look afresh at life.
Just that, you should not jump into something just because 'failure is ok'!!
Monday, March 03, 2008
After the Jazz...
After being temporarily distracted by romance(;-) and work, I am back here! Hope to see more of you around...
--------------------------------------
Well, that video link below never got updated. The problem with You Tube is that it could not encode the .mov format video file into a flash-based video that it uses to upload.
And then I checked this other video uploading site, Viddler... And have updated the links to the video... check it out!!
I have some suggestions for You Tube, apart from support for .mov files.. Even though they work good otherwise and are simple and easy to use, view, upload... I am sure they can give a better user experience...
--------------------------------------
I came across this quote... (Thanks Pads!) I just love it...
"This is no time to make new enemies." - Voltaire, when asked on his deathbed to forswear Satan.
Man, Voltaire, you are too much!!!
--------------------------------------
Well, that video link below never got updated. The problem with You Tube is that it could not encode the .mov format video file into a flash-based video that it uses to upload.
And then I checked this other video uploading site, Viddler... And have updated the links to the video... check it out!!
I have some suggestions for You Tube, apart from support for .mov files.. Even though they work good otherwise and are simple and easy to use, view, upload... I am sure they can give a better user experience...
--------------------------------------
I came across this quote... (Thanks Pads!) I just love it...
"This is no time to make new enemies." - Voltaire, when asked on his deathbed to forswear Satan.
Man, Voltaire, you are too much!!!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Happy Birthday, Sweetie!!
Wish you many more happy returns of the day and a great, happy married life with me!!.. Yeah, come over right now ;-)
Watch out for the video here...!!
http://www.viddler.com/sbhaskar77/videos/1/
PS: Thanks to Pads for the pic & M for the moments!!!!!
Friday, February 08, 2008
At some level...
I am waiting on edge....
for my niece/nephew to come out in to this world and call me out loud and crying 'mama' (uncle)!!!
---------------------------
I was watching the 'Super Tuesday' - the primaries and Caucuses for selecting the party candidates for the Elections to be the President of United States. Hillary is good... she knows how to touch the chords of the masses. But Obama is quite amazing in his power to reach out to youngsters and move them beyond their own awareness.
No doubt, it is going to be a close call.... But something tells me it is going to a Black President for us!!
----------------------------
Why is my (blog) popularity increasing again?! Well.. I have nothing to complain... Thank you, folks!!
Oh, BTW, this is my 300th post here!! I am happy I came this far... Thanks again :-)
for my niece/nephew to come out in to this world and call me out loud and crying 'mama' (uncle)!!!
---------------------------
I was watching the 'Super Tuesday' - the primaries and Caucuses for selecting the party candidates for the Elections to be the President of United States. Hillary is good... she knows how to touch the chords of the masses. But Obama is quite amazing in his power to reach out to youngsters and move them beyond their own awareness.
No doubt, it is going to be a close call.... But something tells me it is going to a Black President for us!!
----------------------------
Why is my (blog) popularity increasing again?! Well.. I have nothing to complain... Thank you, folks!!
Oh, BTW, this is my 300th post here!! I am happy I came this far... Thanks again :-)
Saturday, February 02, 2008
A week in recap....
It rained cats 'n dogs in California last week...
And I did not know what hit me...
But something shifted
And the impact is going to be ever-lasting!!
-------------------------
I am discovering the pleasures (visual, spiritual & ... :) of Malibu... Walking the fine balance between high expectations and being open to life... That is not just nature at work!!
Shall post some pics soon!!
And I did not know what hit me...
But something shifted
And the impact is going to be ever-lasting!!
-------------------------
I am discovering the pleasures (visual, spiritual & ... :) of Malibu... Walking the fine balance between high expectations and being open to life... That is not just nature at work!!
Shall post some pics soon!!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Here comes the Jump!!
Here is the first part...
And here is the second... Excuse the bad quality of this video. I shall get a better version of this part soon!
Can you suggest me a good free dvd ripper? Thanks in advance!
And here is the second... Excuse the bad quality of this video. I shall get a better version of this part soon!
Can you suggest me a good free dvd ripper? Thanks in advance!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Is Sky the Limit?!
It seemed like a nice sunny day when I started my car and keyed-in the address of the destination for the Perris Valley Airport in my GPS. I was quite excited just by the thought that I am going to jump off an aeroplane (my first :-) that day..
I had earlier made some enquiries at Thrill Planet (LA Skydiving online website) and the Perris Valley Skydiving school for the sunday noon seemed a good option. After some thoughts, I chose to go for a tandem jump (in which I would be strapped tight to an instructor during the free fall) and not the solo or Accelerated Free Fall (in which a couple of other instructors would also jump together with me but I would not be held tight to them - though they would give some 6hrs training before the free fall). At $340 - together with the video, it did seem a li'l costly, but then I could not lose the opportunity of jumping off an aeroplane, could I?!
Thus, I arrived at the Perris Valley Aviation at noon and was surprised to see the parking lot full!!! I did not imagine there were so many sky diving enthusiasts here.. Anyways, when I went inside to the office, I found out that a group of 100 professional sky divers were doing some formations in the sky that day and that I had to wait for another couple of hours before I would get a chance to go up in the sky.
After all the wait (watching the planes take off and the hundred odd guys land in multicolored parachutes again and again and a burger to fill my stomach in the time, I was assigned an instructor, Luke. (Of course, I should have asked for a female instructor... but then, I did not want any distraction this day ;-). He gave me some training and told me what to expect and all that. Finally, after getting dressed for the occasion, we made our way to the small aeroplane that was waiting to take us. (It felt like I was one of those astronauts in that jump suit...just the all-cover helmet was missing!)
The plane took off and started gaining altitude.. It must have been a couple of minutes and I was seeing 'ants' down below through the window. I checked the altimeter strapped on to my left hand and saw that it was only 4000 feet yet. We were to go thrice that height!! The burger in my stomach started churning a bit and I decided not to look out the window again...:-)
Luke again told me what to do - how we should slide to the edge of the door at the appointed time, how I should sit with my left foot just off the door and the right knee bent to the floor next to it, how I should look up with my chin protruding and all that, how I should arch my back just after we jump, how I should hold my legs bent and hold tight to the shoulder straps....etc etc. And then, he checked my gear and tightened the straps one final time, before letting me chat on video and himself playing some pranks with the co-instructors...
The final minute came and we were all set... and then, came the jump. That was the best part!!! The first few seconds felt so blissful... falling freely, throwing caution to the winds... and then, as we gained velocity, the winds literally caught up and were hitting me on the face and everything...! The difference in pressure started hurting my ears, but then, soon enough, Luke opened the trail (you would see the single rope like thing trailing us) and we stabilized.
It was time to give some poses and show the thumbs up and give a message from the batman... The video/photo guy was just beside us (This is an interesting fact of Physics.. remember the experiment from the top of Leaning tower of Pisa?! whatever be your weight, you will always hit the ground at the same time... as long as you time the jump, and start at the same time).
I tried opening my mouth and the wind was getting into my mouth and even otherwise, it was pulling my face in all directions...!!! Anyways, after about a minute of jumping off the plane, Luke engaged the parachute and the rest was a smooth landing.....
The next time, I want to do the solo jump.... Let me know if you wanna join.. :-)
Check my pics at
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562218381OLTZiv
I had earlier made some enquiries at Thrill Planet (LA Skydiving online website) and the Perris Valley Skydiving school for the sunday noon seemed a good option. After some thoughts, I chose to go for a tandem jump (in which I would be strapped tight to an instructor during the free fall) and not the solo or Accelerated Free Fall (in which a couple of other instructors would also jump together with me but I would not be held tight to them - though they would give some 6hrs training before the free fall). At $340 - together with the video, it did seem a li'l costly, but then I could not lose the opportunity of jumping off an aeroplane, could I?!
Thus, I arrived at the Perris Valley Aviation at noon and was surprised to see the parking lot full!!! I did not imagine there were so many sky diving enthusiasts here.. Anyways, when I went inside to the office, I found out that a group of 100 professional sky divers were doing some formations in the sky that day and that I had to wait for another couple of hours before I would get a chance to go up in the sky.
After all the wait (watching the planes take off and the hundred odd guys land in multicolored parachutes again and again and a burger to fill my stomach in the time, I was assigned an instructor, Luke. (Of course, I should have asked for a female instructor... but then, I did not want any distraction this day ;-). He gave me some training and told me what to expect and all that. Finally, after getting dressed for the occasion, we made our way to the small aeroplane that was waiting to take us. (It felt like I was one of those astronauts in that jump suit...just the all-cover helmet was missing!)
The plane took off and started gaining altitude.. It must have been a couple of minutes and I was seeing 'ants' down below through the window. I checked the altimeter strapped on to my left hand and saw that it was only 4000 feet yet. We were to go thrice that height!! The burger in my stomach started churning a bit and I decided not to look out the window again...:-)
Luke again told me what to do - how we should slide to the edge of the door at the appointed time, how I should sit with my left foot just off the door and the right knee bent to the floor next to it, how I should look up with my chin protruding and all that, how I should arch my back just after we jump, how I should hold my legs bent and hold tight to the shoulder straps....etc etc. And then, he checked my gear and tightened the straps one final time, before letting me chat on video and himself playing some pranks with the co-instructors...
The final minute came and we were all set... and then, came the jump. That was the best part!!! The first few seconds felt so blissful... falling freely, throwing caution to the winds... and then, as we gained velocity, the winds literally caught up and were hitting me on the face and everything...! The difference in pressure started hurting my ears, but then, soon enough, Luke opened the trail (you would see the single rope like thing trailing us) and we stabilized.
It was time to give some poses and show the thumbs up and give a message from the batman... The video/photo guy was just beside us (This is an interesting fact of Physics.. remember the experiment from the top of Leaning tower of Pisa?! whatever be your weight, you will always hit the ground at the same time... as long as you time the jump, and start at the same time).
I tried opening my mouth and the wind was getting into my mouth and even otherwise, it was pulling my face in all directions...!!! Anyways, after about a minute of jumping off the plane, Luke engaged the parachute and the rest was a smooth landing.....
The next time, I want to do the solo jump.... Let me know if you wanna join.. :-)
Check my pics at
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562218381OLTZiv
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Videos galore!!
I have a lot of videos to post here... For one, a couple of my girl fans have got together to make a video on me.. And, as you can imagine, it is so flattering to have their time and attention!!
And then, there's gonna be a video of me sky-diving... :-)
But all those would come later...
Here's the video/lyrics of a rock song I like these days....
Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood Lyrics
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless,but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
Yeah... Ha Ha!
Finally someone let me out of my cage
Now, time for me is nothing cos I'm counting no age
Now I couldn't be there
Now you shouldn't be scared
I'm good at repairs
And I'm under each snare
Intangible
Bet you didn't think so I command you to
Panoramic view
Look I'll make it all manageable
Pick and choose
Sit and lose
All you different crews
Chicks and dudes
Who you think is really kickin' tunes?
Picture you gettin' down in a picture tube
Like you lit the fuse
You think it's fictional
Mystical? Maybe
Spiritual
Hearable
What appears in you is a clearer view cos you're too crazy
Lifeless
To know the definition for what life is
Priceless
For you because I put you on the hype shit
You like it?
Gunsmokin' righteous with one token
Psychic among those
Possess you with one go
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless,but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
The essence the basics
Without it you make it
Allow me to make this
Child, like in nature
Rhythm
You have it or you don't that's a fallacy
I'm in them
Every sprouting tree
Every child and beast
Every cloud you see
You see with your eyes
I see destruction and demise
Corruption in disguise
From this fuckin' enterprise
Now I'm sucking to your lies
Through Russ, though not his muscles but the percussion he provides
with me as a guide
But y'all can see me now cos you don't see with your eye
You perceive with your mind
That's the inner
So I'm gonna stick around with Russ and be a mentor
With a few rhymes so m****r f****rs
Remember where the thought is
I brought all this
So you can survive when law is lawless
Feelings, sensations that you thought were dead
No squealing, remember
(that it's all in your head)
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
...........
And then, there's gonna be a video of me sky-diving... :-)
But all those would come later...
Here's the video/lyrics of a rock song I like these days....
Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood Lyrics
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless,but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
Yeah... Ha Ha!
Finally someone let me out of my cage
Now, time for me is nothing cos I'm counting no age
Now I couldn't be there
Now you shouldn't be scared
I'm good at repairs
And I'm under each snare
Intangible
Bet you didn't think so I command you to
Panoramic view
Look I'll make it all manageable
Pick and choose
Sit and lose
All you different crews
Chicks and dudes
Who you think is really kickin' tunes?
Picture you gettin' down in a picture tube
Like you lit the fuse
You think it's fictional
Mystical? Maybe
Spiritual
Hearable
What appears in you is a clearer view cos you're too crazy
Lifeless
To know the definition for what life is
Priceless
For you because I put you on the hype shit
You like it?
Gunsmokin' righteous with one token
Psychic among those
Possess you with one go
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless,but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
The essence the basics
Without it you make it
Allow me to make this
Child, like in nature
Rhythm
You have it or you don't that's a fallacy
I'm in them
Every sprouting tree
Every child and beast
Every cloud you see
You see with your eyes
I see destruction and demise
Corruption in disguise
From this fuckin' enterprise
Now I'm sucking to your lies
Through Russ, though not his muscles but the percussion he provides
with me as a guide
But y'all can see me now cos you don't see with your eye
You perceive with your mind
That's the inner
So I'm gonna stick around with Russ and be a mentor
With a few rhymes so m****r f****rs
Remember where the thought is
I brought all this
So you can survive when law is lawless
Feelings, sensations that you thought were dead
No squealing, remember
(that it's all in your head)
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
...........
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Crazy Kia Re!
How crazy can you get??!
Today was just one of those days.... imagine, I paid 2000 rupees to get a eye checkup done... ok, I also got a chottu 3 ml eye drops for that money.... No, the whole thing cost about 10,000 bucks, of which 2K was my part.... You need to convert that into dollars, but the cost of medication in this country is ridiculously high... World is flat, right? Then, how do such inequalities exist in two parts of the same world??!
There were other things in the day... let me not get to that here....
But, to top it all, I spent the last two hours on Orkut, reconnecting with my old engg batchmates....ogling at the babes, in general... May be, it is not so bad... but, it sure is crazy!!
PS: It is only 2.45am here...!
PPS: Dont you start now... how many can I give my attention to??!
Today was just one of those days.... imagine, I paid 2000 rupees to get a eye checkup done... ok, I also got a chottu 3 ml eye drops for that money.... No, the whole thing cost about 10,000 bucks, of which 2K was my part.... You need to convert that into dollars, but the cost of medication in this country is ridiculously high... World is flat, right? Then, how do such inequalities exist in two parts of the same world??!
There were other things in the day... let me not get to that here....
But, to top it all, I spent the last two hours on Orkut, reconnecting with my old engg batchmates....ogling at the babes, in general... May be, it is not so bad... but, it sure is crazy!!
PS: It is only 2.45am here...!
PPS: Dont you start now... how many can I give my attention to??!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Welcome, 2008!
Hey! 2008
Hope you are going to be good to me.... and have loads of fun in store. You better...!!
Let yourself shower greatness on my friends visiting here too :-)
Bhaskar
Hope you are going to be good to me.... and have loads of fun in store. You better...!!
Let yourself shower greatness on my friends visiting here too :-)
Bhaskar
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Political...?
There are some things that something is designed for. If that thing is put to use in anything that is beyond the design, then, that thing would not serve its purpose.
Well... for example, telephone was designed to be an instrument that enables communication. But, when the same telephone is being used like a measures of one's popularity (like, the more the calls I get, the more popular I am!)... that leads to trouble.
Well.. take the other example, which is kinda the point here - the procreational organs in the body have been designed (fine-tuned over millions of years) for a specific function and purpose. And there are other parts (like the arse and the hole!) that are designed for waste management. Now, if these two things get mixed up, they (do not) lead to issues! (pun intended). They, basically, do not serve the purpose they were designed for!!
This is in no way saying how this is supposed to be.. or that I am not in support of gay movement... or that I am a republican supporter... or that I am a prude - people who know me would vouch for it! I think One (or Many) cannot dictate how someone else got to be behaving/doing. And certainly not about one's personal choices - as long as the person does not inflict pain, loss, misery on another - they should be allowed to live free and die hard!!
-----------------------------
Bernard Shaw must've been a gay!
He said "Some look at things that are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?" !!!!
Well... for example, telephone was designed to be an instrument that enables communication. But, when the same telephone is being used like a measures of one's popularity (like, the more the calls I get, the more popular I am!)... that leads to trouble.
Well.. take the other example, which is kinda the point here - the procreational organs in the body have been designed (fine-tuned over millions of years) for a specific function and purpose. And there are other parts (like the arse and the hole!) that are designed for waste management. Now, if these two things get mixed up, they (do not) lead to issues! (pun intended). They, basically, do not serve the purpose they were designed for!!
This is in no way saying how this is supposed to be.. or that I am not in support of gay movement... or that I am a republican supporter... or that I am a prude - people who know me would vouch for it! I think One (or Many) cannot dictate how someone else got to be behaving/doing. And certainly not about one's personal choices - as long as the person does not inflict pain, loss, misery on another - they should be allowed to live free and die hard!!
-----------------------------
Bernard Shaw must've been a gay!
He said "Some look at things that are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?" !!!!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Unn Sirippinil....
Beautiful song... I wanna watch this movie tomorrow...!! (Pachai Kili Muthucharam)
Andrea looks cute..
Un Sirippinil Un Sirippinil
un sirippinil un sirippinil
en manadhin paadhiyum poaga
un imaigalin kan imaigalin
min paarvaiyil meedhiyum thaeya
hmm indru naetru endru illai
yaen indha nilai
hmm unnai kanda naalirundhae
naan seyyum pizhai
un sirippinil un sirippinil
en manadhin paadhiyum poaga
un imaigalin kan imaigalin
min paarvaiyil meedhiyum thaeya
unakkul irukkum mayakkam
andha uyarathu nilavai azhaikkum
idhazhin vilimbu thulirkkum
en iravinai paniyinil nanaikkum
edhirinil naan erigira naan
udhirndhidum mazhaicharam neeyae
oru murai alla mudhal murai alla
dhinam dhinam ennai soozhum thee
un sirippinil un sirippinil
en manadhin paadhiyum poaga
un imaigalin kan imaigalin
min paarvaiyil meedhiyum thaeya
mudhal naal paartha vanappu
thuli kuraiyavum illai unakku
urakkam vizhiipil kanavaai
unai kaanbadhae vazhakkam enakku
aruginilae varugaiyilae
thudippadhai niruthudhu nenjam
mudhal mudhal indru nigazgiradhendru
nadippadhu konjam vanjamae
un sirippinil un sirippinil
en manadhin paadhiyum poaga
un imaigalin kan imaigalin
min paarvaiyil meedhiyum thaeya
hmm indru naetru endru illai
yaen indha nilai
aha hmm unnai kanda naalirundhae
naan seyyum pizhai
But I think Kamalini looked hotter in Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu..
Andrea looks cute..
Un Sirippinil Un Sirippinil
un sirippinil un sirippinil
en manadhin paadhiyum poaga
un imaigalin kan imaigalin
min paarvaiyil meedhiyum thaeya
hmm indru naetru endru illai
yaen indha nilai
hmm unnai kanda naalirundhae
naan seyyum pizhai
un sirippinil un sirippinil
en manadhin paadhiyum poaga
un imaigalin kan imaigalin
min paarvaiyil meedhiyum thaeya
unakkul irukkum mayakkam
andha uyarathu nilavai azhaikkum
idhazhin vilimbu thulirkkum
en iravinai paniyinil nanaikkum
edhirinil naan erigira naan
udhirndhidum mazhaicharam neeyae
oru murai alla mudhal murai alla
dhinam dhinam ennai soozhum thee
un sirippinil un sirippinil
en manadhin paadhiyum poaga
un imaigalin kan imaigalin
min paarvaiyil meedhiyum thaeya
mudhal naal paartha vanappu
thuli kuraiyavum illai unakku
urakkam vizhiipil kanavaai
unai kaanbadhae vazhakkam enakku
aruginilae varugaiyilae
thudippadhai niruthudhu nenjam
mudhal mudhal indru nigazgiradhendru
nadippadhu konjam vanjamae
un sirippinil un sirippinil
en manadhin paadhiyum poaga
un imaigalin kan imaigalin
min paarvaiyil meedhiyum thaeya
hmm indru naetru endru illai
yaen indha nilai
aha hmm unnai kanda naalirundhae
naan seyyum pizhai
But I think Kamalini looked hotter in Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu..
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Black or White?
Lotsa thoughts floating around
but no time to pen
newfangled stimulants abound
that it is beyond my ken
color lies in the perception
but it is never seen (for what it is)
'cos grey is a misconception
white or black more one way (than the other) in its gene!!
but no time to pen
newfangled stimulants abound
that it is beyond my ken
color lies in the perception
but it is never seen (for what it is)
'cos grey is a misconception
white or black more one way (than the other) in its gene!!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Aatha, naan 'settle' aayittaen!!
Wheeef!! I am finally getting settled here... In 24 hrs, my status in this country has changed from a hitchhiker to a networked resident!!
I got to know my Social Security Number yesterday (I had to visit the SSA office to know it in person; the card is in the mail!). Next, I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles (popularly known as the DMV) and armed with my SSN number, I could apply for a California State Driver License. They gave me some tests, notably the written test in which I had to score more than 83.33% to 'pass'. I aced the test scoring 94.44% and they gave me a temporary driver license that allows me to drive a car on my own here. I still have to appear for a driving test next week to get my driver license though.
Anyway, now that that was done.. I went and hired a car and also moved into my own accomodation today. And then, I had to spend another couple of hours to get my post-paid mobile connection from Verizon. (Man, how much of a fuss these mobile companies make... they need an SSN... a good credit history (which needs that I own some credit cards and may be, some loans and to be paying them off on time for some months)... security deposit, in lieu of bad or non-existent credit history... and so on....)
After all that, I can finally claim I am settling down here...
Still to come are the credit cards, bank checking accounts, ....
I got to know my Social Security Number yesterday (I had to visit the SSA office to know it in person; the card is in the mail!). Next, I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles (popularly known as the DMV) and armed with my SSN number, I could apply for a California State Driver License. They gave me some tests, notably the written test in which I had to score more than 83.33% to 'pass'. I aced the test scoring 94.44% and they gave me a temporary driver license that allows me to drive a car on my own here. I still have to appear for a driving test next week to get my driver license though.
Anyway, now that that was done.. I went and hired a car and also moved into my own accomodation today. And then, I had to spend another couple of hours to get my post-paid mobile connection from Verizon. (Man, how much of a fuss these mobile companies make... they need an SSN... a good credit history (which needs that I own some credit cards and may be, some loans and to be paying them off on time for some months)... security deposit, in lieu of bad or non-existent credit history... and so on....)
After all that, I can finally claim I am settling down here...
Still to come are the credit cards, bank checking accounts, ....
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Harleys in Vegas and another Video
Kinda taking a break from all the travel... Nowhere this weekend..
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Here is a video I shot of the Harleys in Vegas... I had to cut it due to upload restrictions, still you get to hear it loud!
---------------------------------------------------------------
This video is sad yet stunning at the same time... It shows an LTTE woman ona suicide mission detonating a bra bomb...
---------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a video I shot of the Harleys in Vegas... I had to cut it due to upload restrictions, still you get to hear it loud!
---------------------------------------------------------------
This video is sad yet stunning at the same time... It shows an LTTE woman ona suicide mission detonating a bra bomb...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Warming up...
Its funny how things are different here...
For example, nobody knows what a 'fortnight' is... They only know 'biweekly'!!
People don't hire a car here... they 'rent' it. But the rich ones hire a chauffer!!
Nobody 'talks to you after sometime'... they would 'talk in a bit' or just 'later'!!
At the other end, they are a pain in the f*cking ass... They have not given me my social security number yet.. And so, I cannot get my DL... And hence, no renting a car.... Thats a bummer!!!
BTW, that's not a 'driving license'... its a 'driver license'!!
For example, nobody knows what a 'fortnight' is... They only know 'biweekly'!!
People don't hire a car here... they 'rent' it. But the rich ones hire a chauffer!!
Nobody 'talks to you after sometime'... they would 'talk in a bit' or just 'later'!!
At the other end, they are a pain in the f*cking ass... They have not given me my social security number yet.. And so, I cannot get my DL... And hence, no renting a car.... Thats a bummer!!!
BTW, that's not a 'driving license'... its a 'driver license'!!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Thank you guys for being my ardent fans ;-)
---------------------------------
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks for the things that one has at the conclusion of the harvest season. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada.
---------------------------------
I am at Irvine today and tomorrow. And, in San Diego for the weekend... visiting some of my friends here.
---------------------------------
TV shows.. talk shows... its a totally different animal here...
People literally going at each other, pulling each other's hairs, rolling on the floor hitting one another... that seems to be order of the day in these talk shows... typically, its about a couple and one of them cheating... and then the third person turns up.. some heated discussions follow... or I should say, some heated volleys are hit (you can never hear one full sentence... it will be filled with censoring sounds)... And then Kaboom!!
There is a dating reality show called “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila”... The speciality of this show is that it features 16 straight men and 16 lesbians. The competitors vie for bisexual internet sensation Tila Tequila, a 25-year-old entertainer it seems. I guess it runs mainly on the shock-value!! It is again filled with fights and fisticuffs.
And on another serious note, this guy Hugh Hefner should retire from public life... He looks pathetic in front of the blond bimbettes...
---------------------------------
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks for the things that one has at the conclusion of the harvest season. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada.
---------------------------------
I am at Irvine today and tomorrow. And, in San Diego for the weekend... visiting some of my friends here.
---------------------------------
TV shows.. talk shows... its a totally different animal here...
People literally going at each other, pulling each other's hairs, rolling on the floor hitting one another... that seems to be order of the day in these talk shows... typically, its about a couple and one of them cheating... and then the third person turns up.. some heated discussions follow... or I should say, some heated volleys are hit (you can never hear one full sentence... it will be filled with censoring sounds)... And then Kaboom!!
There is a dating reality show called “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila”... The speciality of this show is that it features 16 straight men and 16 lesbians. The competitors vie for bisexual internet sensation Tila Tequila, a 25-year-old entertainer it seems. I guess it runs mainly on the shock-value!! It is again filled with fights and fisticuffs.
And on another serious note, this guy Hugh Hefner should retire from public life... He looks pathetic in front of the blond bimbettes...
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Here you go, Vegas!
As I said, here are the pics from Vegas!
The place we stayed
The slot machines!
Can you guess?
This is where the sports betting go on... And what you see on the screens are the American football games and horse races that you are gambling on!!
The Eiffel restaurant
Which limo is this?
And more here!!
The place we stayed
The slot machines!
Can you guess?
This is where the sports betting go on... And what you see on the screens are the American football games and horse races that you are gambling on!!
The Eiffel restaurant
Which limo is this?
And more here!!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Newport & Artesia!
One of the best aspects of California is the weather and the beaches around. Here are some pics from the Newport beach and Artesia (Little India)
Jumping with joy on eating the Indian lunch at Sri Krishna Sweets "Tirupati Bheema's" ;-)
More pics here..
And here..
Other (incl. Vegas) pics coming soon!
Jumping with joy on eating the Indian lunch at Sri Krishna Sweets "Tirupati Bheema's" ;-)
More pics here..
And here..
Other (incl. Vegas) pics coming soon!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
TV ??
TV shows here are quite good.. I don't need to watch a movie for sometime.. I mean, I don't need to rent or download a movie for sometime...
There's one called 'Law and Order'... and some more with names I don't know yet.. Well, I keep flipping channels as usual :-)
And then there are other ones... Like the 'Play girls next door'.. its a reality show with Hugh Hefner and his play girls... These blondes are a li'l obnoxious... But man, this old guy is having all the fun!!
There are ones in the format of 'who wants to be a millionaire' (our Kaun Banega Crorepati)... its called 'are you smarter than a fifth grader?' ... And if you lose, you have to declare yourself (on camera) to be NOT smarter than a fifth grader... I heard something abt another 'are you smarter than a second grader' today.. let me check that out!
--------------
Oh.. I found out.. one of them is called the 'Nip/Tuck'..
Read the storyline and see for yourself..
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361217/plotsummary
There's one called 'Law and Order'... and some more with names I don't know yet.. Well, I keep flipping channels as usual :-)
And then there are other ones... Like the 'Play girls next door'.. its a reality show with Hugh Hefner and his play girls... These blondes are a li'l obnoxious... But man, this old guy is having all the fun!!
There are ones in the format of 'who wants to be a millionaire' (our Kaun Banega Crorepati)... its called 'are you smarter than a fifth grader?' ... And if you lose, you have to declare yourself (on camera) to be NOT smarter than a fifth grader... I heard something abt another 'are you smarter than a second grader' today.. let me check that out!
--------------
Oh.. I found out.. one of them is called the 'Nip/Tuck'..
Read the storyline and see for yourself..
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361217/plotsummary
Monday, November 12, 2007
Vegaland!
Vegas Rocks!! Man, there is so much here that I need another couple of visits before I can say I've explored this place well!!
I spent my time doing what Americans love doing (since I'd gone with my Amru friends/colleagues).... boozing, gambling and watching American football.... I wandered off by myself sometimes leaving them to their betting and football matches... Man, words are not enough to describe the experience.. I need to upload some pics soon ;-)
It is a marketing extravaganza, no doubt, enticing and addictive... Otherwise, why would hundreds of thousands of people fly-in every week, shed their money and fly back? I had seen tens of limos in NY... But here it is easily in the hundreds, may be thousands... Ever seen a Hummer limo? You can find that and much more (Ford Expedition limo, anyone?)!!
We were staying in this hotel called the Monte Carlo... Its a huge one with so many casinos, food courts, and stuff... There are atleast 10-15 such big hotels. (I'm not looking at the small ones at all) And some 5 more are being built...
I think the casino table hosts have some remote control... Anyways, I made some money and lost more money on the Roulette... did not play blackjack... that would be for the next time... got to learn fully before that...
Enroute.. we passed through Edwards Air Force Base... thats where the Columbia and other space shuttles land, it seems... Its in the Mojave (pronounced, Mohave) desert... Just around the place there is this aeroplane junkyard too, where we could find old and discarded jet fighters and passenger planes...
We passed adjacent to the death valley (supposed to be the lowest and hottest place in the US) and this place named Zzyzx (wonder why they named such!!)
We also saw Area 51 (or the UFO center). Area 51 is actually a part of the Nevada Test and Training Range and is owned by the United States Department of Defense and the United States Air Force.
Area 51 contains an airfield whose primary purpose is believed to be the operation and analysis of enemy aircraft and weapons systems, and secret development and testing of new military aircraft. Many of blackbird and stealth flights have been created here and the entire area is 'highly classified'. Until a couple of decades ago, nobody knew about this place. It did not appear in any of the maps and the US govt. did not acknowledge the existence. It required the highest govt. clearance to access even the details related to this base.
Area 51 is the frequent subject of UFO conspiracy theories. Its secretive nature and undoubted connection to classified aircraft research, together with reports of unusual phenomena, have led to the popularity of Area 51 and it being a focus of modern UFO and conspiracy theory. It was believed that this was a storage, examination, and reverse engineering center of crashed alien spacecraft!!
So much for one visit... more later!!!
I spent my time doing what Americans love doing (since I'd gone with my Amru friends/colleagues).... boozing, gambling and watching American football.... I wandered off by myself sometimes leaving them to their betting and football matches... Man, words are not enough to describe the experience.. I need to upload some pics soon ;-)
It is a marketing extravaganza, no doubt, enticing and addictive... Otherwise, why would hundreds of thousands of people fly-in every week, shed their money and fly back? I had seen tens of limos in NY... But here it is easily in the hundreds, may be thousands... Ever seen a Hummer limo? You can find that and much more (Ford Expedition limo, anyone?)!!
We were staying in this hotel called the Monte Carlo... Its a huge one with so many casinos, food courts, and stuff... There are atleast 10-15 such big hotels. (I'm not looking at the small ones at all) And some 5 more are being built...
I think the casino table hosts have some remote control... Anyways, I made some money and lost more money on the Roulette... did not play blackjack... that would be for the next time... got to learn fully before that...
Enroute.. we passed through Edwards Air Force Base... thats where the Columbia and other space shuttles land, it seems... Its in the Mojave (pronounced, Mohave) desert... Just around the place there is this aeroplane junkyard too, where we could find old and discarded jet fighters and passenger planes...
We passed adjacent to the death valley (supposed to be the lowest and hottest place in the US) and this place named Zzyzx (wonder why they named such!!)
We also saw Area 51 (or the UFO center). Area 51 is actually a part of the Nevada Test and Training Range and is owned by the United States Department of Defense and the United States Air Force.
Area 51 contains an airfield whose primary purpose is believed to be the operation and analysis of enemy aircraft and weapons systems, and secret development and testing of new military aircraft. Many of blackbird and stealth flights have been created here and the entire area is 'highly classified'. Until a couple of decades ago, nobody knew about this place. It did not appear in any of the maps and the US govt. did not acknowledge the existence. It required the highest govt. clearance to access even the details related to this base.
Area 51 is the frequent subject of UFO conspiracy theories. Its secretive nature and undoubted connection to classified aircraft research, together with reports of unusual phenomena, have led to the popularity of Area 51 and it being a focus of modern UFO and conspiracy theory. It was believed that this was a storage, examination, and reverse engineering center of crashed alien spacecraft!!
So much for one visit... more later!!!
Friday, November 09, 2007
BlackJack
Its that time of the year to undertake pilgrimages and I am going on one tomorrow... Well.. I told you already!!!
Anyways, so here I am getting ready... I need to know some stuff, right? I am learning the rules and tricks of BlackJack... After all, that is supposed to be the only game that involves some skill in a casino... The odds are 7 to 3 in my favor, or is it?!
I would update the pilgrim's progress when I get back... bloggin' from Vegas would be so geeky and wasteful ;-)
Anyways, so here I am getting ready... I need to know some stuff, right? I am learning the rules and tricks of BlackJack... After all, that is supposed to be the only game that involves some skill in a casino... The odds are 7 to 3 in my favor, or is it?!
I would update the pilgrim's progress when I get back... bloggin' from Vegas would be so geeky and wasteful ;-)
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Life @ Calabasas..
.. is groovy baby!!!
I don't have my camera, otherwise I would have posted some pics already... I am loving this setting... mountain ranges around (some burnt from the recent forest fires)... beaches (Malibu!) nearby... Hollywood round the corner..... And Vegas not too far away!!!
I saw this guy.... Michael Clarke Duncan (of 'The Green Mile', 'The Whole Nine Yards', 'Scorpion King', 'Sin City'.... fame) last weekend... He was just behind us in the Whole Foods market!!
Mez going to Vegas this weekend!!!!!!!
I don't have my camera, otherwise I would have posted some pics already... I am loving this setting... mountain ranges around (some burnt from the recent forest fires)... beaches (Malibu!) nearby... Hollywood round the corner..... And Vegas not too far away!!!
I saw this guy.... Michael Clarke Duncan (of 'The Green Mile', 'The Whole Nine Yards', 'Scorpion King', 'Sin City'.... fame) last weekend... He was just behind us in the Whole Foods market!!
Mez going to Vegas this weekend!!!!!!!
Friday, November 02, 2007
Singapura!
Blogging from Singapura.. I got a visa on entry here and I'm going to be seeing some parts of this beautiful city before I catch my connecting flight to LA.
This place looks good... free broad roads, nice cars, great ambience, and better still neither as desolate as Austin nor as populated as New York.
more later!
----------------------------------
My friend picked me up at the airport (poor thing, she had to get up early on a Saturday... but then I told her she would not get to host a VIP like me often!) After catching up on the intervening months and some rest at her place (and some bloggin'... that's where I wrote the above), we left for the Boat Quay. There were the national triathlon championships and dragon boat races that day. We had lunch overlooking the races and then proceeded to the Orchard road. It is the MG road/Champs Elysee of Singapore... Had a brief window at Takashimaya plaza before we caught the metro to get back to Changi - the airport.
Short yet extremely sweet stop!!
This place looks good... free broad roads, nice cars, great ambience, and better still neither as desolate as Austin nor as populated as New York.
more later!
----------------------------------
My friend picked me up at the airport (poor thing, she had to get up early on a Saturday... but then I told her she would not get to host a VIP like me often!) After catching up on the intervening months and some rest at her place (and some bloggin'... that's where I wrote the above), we left for the Boat Quay. There were the national triathlon championships and dragon boat races that day. We had lunch overlooking the races and then proceeded to the Orchard road. It is the MG road/Champs Elysee of Singapore... Had a brief window at Takashimaya plaza before we caught the metro to get back to Changi - the airport.
Short yet extremely sweet stop!!
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Eternal Life!
Javeda Zindagi I love this song from the movie, Anwar... just melts my heart every time I hear it. (Courtesy: musicmania from ...
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Amazing guys... We have a school friends' egroup and we started reminiscing abt our school teachers. And the discussion has taken me bac...
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that is gone now! Hmmm... it was very risky to leave that pic in here.. so, i removed it ;) Will upload more pics soon. The fun continues.. ...
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Sooooooo much of joy that wring my heart, and leave me yearning with the unquenchable thirst for life!
