tête-à-tête

Movie Review : Invictus

2010-03-01T02:03:00.004+05:30

I just finished watching Invictus and I have to say that it was brilliant. Yet another Clint Eastwood classic. It's a sport film about a team that actually made a difference to the lives of millions of people and a divided nation that desperately needed a symbol of unity after centuries of hatred fueled by apartheid.

The movie is set in post-apartheid South Africa when Nelson Mandela has just taken over as the President of the bitterly divided nation. After 27 years in prison, he struggles tirelessly to unite a nation that is split bitterly along the lines of race. The blacks hate everything that is white and that stands for apartheid and race distinction. The whites, on the other hand, are fearful and distrustful of everything that the new black leadership represents.

In his attempt to unite the country under a single cause, Mandela turns to François Pienaar, the captain of the South African rugby team, The Springboks. The movie is based on the book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation.

There are several scenes in the movie that are thought provoking. One of the first scenes of the Black-White discord is when the newly founded presidential bodyguard consists of Black ANC activists and White Afrikaner Corps policemen. They share the responsibility of keeping one of the world's foremost statesmen alive while getting over their long-held prejudices for each other. There is also a rugby match between the Springboks and England which has all white South Africans cheering for the Boks and all the black South Africans cheering for the opposition. In their view, the Boks stand for white supremacy (considering the team had only one black player, Chester Williams.)

Mandela, in his reconciliation program and amidst rebuilding a nation, decides that this team and the upcoming 1995 Rugby World Cup would be the source of inspiration that the newly formed Republic needs. He asks the young South African captain to provide this inspiration in the form of a victory in the World Cup. There is nothing better to heal a nation's scars than the common element of sport. It must be said that when this request was made, the Boks were seeded 9th and were the clear underdogs with nary a victory to their name.

Whilst this movie is a stirring tale of a nation coming together, it is also a sports movie. And what does every sports movie have? An underdog team rising against all odds to beat the champions. And the challenge is herculean to the young François Pienaar. He recognizes that the World Cup actually represents salvation for the racially volatile nation and that the team were the bringers of this redemption. To top off this mammoth expectation, the Boks are asked to conduct rugby training camps in the poorer areas of the nation for young black children.

One very powerful scene was when Mandela tells François about this poem that he used to read when he was a prisoner on Robben Island. This was something that gave him strength when he felt like he was spent. The poem is called Invictus.

It is this poem that François reads on a visit to Mandela's cell and realizes that here was a man who spent 27 years in prison and then came out willing to forgive and forget for the betterment of his country.

The Boks go ahead to beat all the odds and face off with the most successful rugby team in the world, the New Zealand All Blacks in the 1995 World Cup final.

Well, watch the movie. Watch it and be blown away by a larger than life performance by Morgan Freeman and a very real performance by Matt Damon.

Damn, I love Clint Eastwood. I hope he keeps making movies till he has to go to that great Studio in the Sky.

Lost Season 6

2010-02-27T03:44:00.005+05:30

Season 6 of Lost is back and I can't wait. :) I'm watching it now as we speak and I'm on Episode 5. So, here's what happened so far just as a quick recap.

As you can see from the pretty awesome poster here, it's the last season and there are a lot of faces here from the previous seasons. Some are dead, some are not but let's face it, being dead has never kept a character off screen in this show. The one thing the final season promises is a lot of answers. And I can't bleeding wait. :) So, what was I saying? Oh, yes. A recap.

So, as you know the Flight crashed, blah blah blah. (If you don't know this, you're not a Lost fan and this will all be gibberish anyways). So, in Season 5, we saw some pretty far out things happening. A few characters (Saeed, Jack, Kate, Sun, Hurley and Aaron) finally got OFF the island and spent three years off it. A few characters (Sawyer, Jin, Juliet, Miles, Daniel and Charlotte) were left on the island and kept jumping through time (as a result of the wheel being turned in the season finale of Season 4) and finally, after Locke locked the wheel in place, they were all stuck in 1977 or something. As you might remember, Charlotte dies from the effects of time travelling leaving Faraday a very, very sad man. :( But Sawyer and the rest of the troupe join the Dharma initiative and decide to make a life for themselves in 1977 making the best of their situation.

In the real world, present day, three years have passed and Locke (having been thrown three years into the future after setting the wheel right) tries hunting down the Oceanic Six in an attempt to bring them back to the Island. Ben "helps" Locke by first having him go around and talk to them and once they refuse Locke, Ben kills him. This prompts the Six (minus Aaron) to get back ANOTHER plane to head back to the Island. This is an Ajira flight that's headed over where the island might appear (as told to them by Eloise Hawking, Faraday's mother and one-time leader of the Others). They get on the flight and sure enough, it crashes. But the Six are all thrown back to 1977 where they are found by Jin and Sawyer. In an attempt to save their lives, Sawyer passes them off as new Dharma recruits.

Of course, things go haywire and people start dying as these guys rush to make sure that the future never comes to pass. How, I'll get to in a second.

In the present, Locke's body was on the plane heading to the Island. But once the rest of the Ajira survivors start collecting, there he is, well and good. And of course, this is bad news for Ben Linus. But Locke wakes up and as the leader of the Others, he starts making them walk towards Jacob, all the while whispering in Ben's ear that he must kill Jacob.

Oh, before we get to this, at the very beginning of the season, you see two people. Jacob and a dude in black sitting on the Island in the 1500s (I think) and they're discussing why Jacob keeps drawing people to the Island. Now, that makes Jacob close on 500 years old. And there's no indication that he's not older. So, Jacob and dude in black keep arguing and the guy in black, we'll call him Nemesis, says that whatever it takes, he'll find a loophole and kill Jacob. To which Jacob replies that he's sure he will.

Anywho, back to 1977, where Faraday finds Jack and tells him that if he's able to explode a Hydrogen bomb where one particular Dharma station is about to be built, he negates this huge pocket of Electromagnetic energy, thus nullifying the existence of the station and the plane crash in the future. Faraday is then killed by his mother in the past before he can complete it. Jack, in the belief that this will actually work, follows through on the plan and gets the bomb (after a lot of gunfighting) to the hole where the energy is discovered. And as they're about to blow the bomb and hence, reset the future, the EM energy starts drawing everything inside and almost kills Juliet. The bomb never detonates.

In the present, Locke takes all his followers to Jacob and him and Ben enter Jacob's sanctuary. Here, some other Ajira survivors (Jacob's people) find the real Locke's body and bring it to Richard and the rest. So, "Locke" and Ben enter to talk to Jacob and here it is revealed that "Locke" is actually Nemesis and he tells Jacob that he has found the loophole and makes Ben kill him.

At the same time, in 1977, Juliet is lying at the bottom of the pit and she sees the unexploded bomb. She desperately hammers away at it until the last scene of the season is the bomb exploding.

So, now, here we are. Here are some of the questions that are at the top of my head:

1. Who the frack is Jacob and what's the deal with the Island?
2. Who is Nemesis and why does he need to kill Jacob?
3. What is up with jesus dead people showing up ALL THE FREAKING TIME.
4. What's the deal with the Island?
5. What is that crazy black smoke monster thing?
6. Who are the Others and why are they so weird and why can't they answer simple questions without making it seem like they've been asked to figure out Schrodinger's Cat.
7. What's the deal with the island?
8. How is time travel possible?
9. Why do dead people...

Okay, I'll stop. You get the picture.

But honestly, I do love this show. This is one show that has carefully crafted only questions for the better part of it's 5 year run and has kept us on tenter hooks for the entire while. The last season is supposed to answer all the questions. It's exceptionally well written and yes, the plot has more loops than a Celtic promise band but that's what makes this show so great. I can't figure out anything and it's driving me nuts.

Am I sad that this will be the last season? Sure. Can I wait any longer to find out what the hell is up with that Island? No. I want answers... NOW.

So, like I said, I'm already on Episode 5 of Season 6 and I must say, it's kickass! Stick around for updates. :) To leave you with something though, here's the trailer for a brilliant Season 6. Enjoy!

Carlton Towers

2010-02-23T21:06:00.002+05:30

There was a fire today in my office building. You must’ve seen it on the news. It was Carlton Towers in Bangalore. Most people know it as the TGIF building on Old Airport Road. The top few floors caught fire and a few people panicked and they jumped from the top floors of the building and fell to their deaths. Some others died in the hospital due to smoke inhalation. The toll is now at 9 and I hope to God it stays there.

I’m fine. I wasn’t even at work. I had decided to stay and work from home and thought I’d pop into the office during the afternoon. For whatever reason, I’d decided to stay at home and continue working and was only made aware of the fire by a colleague who called me to tell me that all our people had gotten out safely from the building. We’re on the first floor and the fire was, at that time, contained in the higher floors of the building.

I got on the phone and immediately checked to see if anyone was hurt. Luckily, no one was. There were a few scared people because I believe they’d witnessed a few jumpers. I then called home to tell them I was okay. I then turned on the news and watched as the drama unfolded. People trapped in the top floors were breaking glass to be able to breathe. The fire engines that had gotten there couldn’t reach past the 4th floor as their ladders wouldn’t go higher. People were shimmying down ropes from the 7th floor. It was the scariest thing I had witnessed in a while. They finally rescued everyone and admitted around 60 people to the hospital.

I have a few bones to pick with what happened today besides the needless loss of life.

What enraged me completely was that the news channels, News9 and Headlines Today were showing video clips from some amateur cameras of people slipping, falling and jumping out of windows. And they had these clips on repeat. It was atrocious. I’ve never seen anything else with such clear disregard for human decency or courtesy. Imagine the state of the people sitting at home, scared shitless that their loved ones might be there, there’s no way to get in touch with them and they see pictures (no matter how blurry) of people falling to their deaths. There’s no information being conveyed here that people would lose in translation if it was uttered. “People have been seen jumping from windows.” It’s pretty clear and explanatory. Videos of the same are completely unnecessary. I picked up the phone and tried to call them to give them a piece of my mind and stayed on the phone for 15 minutes trying to get through but gave up after I got the busy signal for the hundredth time.

Also, the roads were jammed for miles in every direction with traffic that was blocking fire engines and ambulances. That, I can understand. It happens. But there were also 500 onlookers standing and gawking at the spectacle. There were a few good Samaritans who were helping ferry the people into waiting cars and such to take these people to the Hospital. But a large number of them were standing like fucking idiots watching. I’m sure a moron would have realized that they were in the way. But no. The stupid thing about the idiot mob/crowd is they’re a bunch of bumbling fools who have the IQ of a dodo. What the hell are they staring at? Is it entertainment? Do they want their 10 seconds when the News cameras pan the area? It’s pretty simple logic, if you’re not helping, get the hell out of the way and let the rescuers do their fucking job. Idiots.

One of my colleagues told me that while she was running down the fire escape to get out of the building, the fire escape was locked. There was also clutter in the stairwells that impeded the firemen when they were trying to enter the building. What kind of a bastard locks a fire escape? And this isn’t the first place I’ve seen it. Hundreds of buildings all over this country have emergency exits that are locked and sealed. This is kind of like having the antidote for a deadly disease but keeping it in a lockbox and forgetting the key. They’re arresting the maintenance personnel and so they should. It’s their negligence that didn’t give people the chance to escape. They should be made to face the families of all those killed. The state of emergency response and procedures in this country is deplorable. Even if there ever was a terrorist attack, more people would die from inefficiencies and stupidity than from bullets or bombs.

Anyways, I’m sorry for the families of all those who lost their lives today. It really makes you wonder. You wake up in the morning thinking its just another day at work and you never come home. Reminds you of how fragile life actually is. I was never in any danger today because I wasn’t even in the same zip code. But it could’ve been me just as easily as it was the people who died. I’m not scared or angry for me. Just at the completely needless loss of life.

Book Review : Bridge of Rama - Ashok K. Banker

2010-02-13T17:52:00.000+05:30

Bridge of Rama is about the coming of age of Hanuman. The little vanar warrior from Armies of Hanuman has been entrusted with enlisting to Rama's aid, the biggest vanar fighting force in history. An army that will raze Lanka to the ground and rid the world of rakshahas forever.

Rama and Lakshman wait at the southern tip of the continent waiting for this force to appear. They face the ocean and the 100 miles to the Lankan landmass seems like an unsurpassable distance. The vanars, as a race, are afraid of the ocean and Lakshman is less than confident about the fighting skills of this undisciplined "army" in the face of the most formidable and ruthless warriors on prithvilok. And then, Hanuman arrives.

No one recognizes Hanuman. He, in no way, resembles the scrawny little vanar who met Rama at Janasthana in the previous book. Through a secret transformation, yet to be revealed, he is as tall as a man, powerfully muscled and the paragon of strength. And he brings with him, a janaya-sena, a generation army. It is army that consists of every vanar, man, woman and youngling, capable of fighting. Every vanar in existence is pressed into service with only one objective in mind, the liberation of Sita. And in addition, he has a surprise, a massive army of rkssas or bears, one of the most powerful creatures in the animal kingdom.

Simultaneously, we also follow how Sita's coping in Lanka as a prisoner. Ravana's trying his best to seduce Sita by being an understanding and almost sympathetic captor. Mandhodhari, on the other hand, has a different view of Sita and sees her as a seductress who's got evil designs to be the next Lankan queen.

The vanar-rksaa army begins trying to build the bridge of Rama from the southern tip of the Indian continent to Lanka. This is a hugely challenging task as hundreds of animals push massive boulders in an attempt to make the passageway. However, during one such move, a boulder comes loose and starts tumbling towards Rama. Hanuman, seeing this, manifests a power whereby he expands himself to triple his size and saves Rama. He says he doesn't know how he did but that it was by thinking of Rama that he could. At this point, Jambavan, the king of the bears reveals that Hanuman is no ordinary vanar. He is the child of Vayu, the wind god and the apsara, Anjani. He is, in essence, a demi-god, and it was his devotion for Rama that awakened his power.

That night, as the army sleeps, Rama is visited by the spirit of Dasaratha, who tells him that if Rama did not save Sita the same night, she would perish and the bridge and the army would be for naught. Rama then asks Hanuman to fly to Lanka to bring back his bride.

Hanuman, using his newfound power, grows himself to a hundred times his size and leaps over to Lanka to rescue Sita.

The rest of the book details Hanuman's encounted with Sita and Ravana and the havoc he wreaks on behalf of Rama. His decimation of Rakshasha legions and his threat to bring an army back that would reduce Lanka to rubble.

I'm almost done with the set. I'm on Book 6 now, The King of Ayodhya. :)

By the way, one curious little side-note to this post. I was looking up Rama's Bridge on Google and I came across this.

These are aerial and satellite images of Adam's Bridge or Rama's Bridge that "is a chain of limestone shoals, between the islands of Rameswaram, off the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu, India, and Mannar, near northwestern Sri Lanka. Geological evidence indicates that this bridge is a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka.^"

It was reportedly passable on foot till the 15th century at which time, storms deepened the channel. Which kinda makes you think, doesn't it? :)

Book Review : Armies of Hanuman - Ashok K. Banker

2010-02-13T16:07:00.000+05:30

The tale continues...

When we left our heroes at the end of Demons of Chitrakut, they had just started a long, bloody war with one battalion of Asuras who survived the decimation of the Brahm-astra. The 14,000 strong force had come to take revenge for the mutilation of Supanakha and to claim the head of their mortal enemy, Rama. However, unexpectedly, Rama, Sita and Lakshman were suddenly joined by outlaws and other inhabitants of Chitrakut who pledged their swords to the cause of Rama. Outnumbered 50 to 1, Rama tells his people that they will wage a guerrilla war against the Rakshasas which might be bloody and long but will ultimately lead to victory for the forces of good.

Banker's fourth installment of The Ramayana consists primarily of three acts. The first scene opens 13 years after the last frame of the previous book. Rama's forces have valiantly fought the Rakshasa army using the cover of the land to bring their numbers down to a still formidable 2000. The Asuras are now lead by a extremely smart general called Trisirias (the three-headed one). He has studied Rama's movements over the past decade and has finally figured out how to crush them. Rama and his rag-tag band make one final stand at the Battle of Janasthana. They are also watched closely by a vanar (monkey) warrior, Hanuman, who's reporting on the legendary warrior to his tribe chief, Sugreeva.

The second act is post the Battle. After a stunning victory for the forces of good over evil, Rama, Sita and Lakshman enjoy the last few months of their exile and are eagerly awaiting the return to Ayodhya and the life they were denied over a decade ago. This act also talks of the resurrection of Ravana and the resurgence of Lanka as a force to be reckoned with. But to deal with the Princes of Ayodhya, Ravana decides to take the less direct route of confrontation and decides to kidnap Sita instead. This is probably the part of the Ramayana that almost everyone knows about. The deception and the act that leads to the main battle of the Ramayana.

The third act is the brothers enlisting the help of the vanars, a half-simian race who live in the jungles close to Chitrakut. Already, their names and deeds are a part of legend, so when Rama and Lakshman come to seek the help of the vanar king, Sugreeva, they make one deal. They will help him regain his lost throne from his brother, Vali. In return, Sugreeva must help Rama and Lakshman attack Lanka and free Sita. They are viewed with a slight distrust but eventually win the vanar's trust with the aid of Hanuman.

After a pitched fight between Rama and Vali, Sugreeva tells Rama that he and the rest of Vanar-kind will help Rama fight Ravana and get the love of his life back. He then sends Hanuman and a few other vanar generals to recruit as many vanars as possible to Rama's aid. They set out to recruit the armies of Hanuman.

God, I can just feel this book building the pace for what will be the mother of all battles. On to book 5, The Bridge of Rama.

Terry Gilliam - Bravo Python!

2010-01-18T00:26:00.003+05:30

Here's a question. Name a movie that has Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer and Verne Troyer and looks like one of the most visually stunning films ever? I present to you... The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Book Review : Demons of Chitrakut - Ashok K. Banker

2010-01-06T22:00:00.001+05:30

Okay, so I JUST finished the third book, literally 30 seconds ago. I just put it down and I have to tell you how it is. Okay, I think I already used the words brilliant and awesome, so, in an attempt NOT to repeat myself, I'm going to try and find some synonyms. It was : astonishing, awe-inspiring, beautiful, breathtaking, daunting, exalted, grand, imposing, impressive, magnificent, majestic, mind-blowing, moving, real gone, something else, striking, stunning, stupefying, wonderful, wondrous, zero cool.

I have no idea what "zero cool" and "real gone" are, but what the hell, I'll throw them in there for good measure. :)

After decimating the Asura forces in the Siege of Mithila, the triumphant heroes are wed to their respective brides and the royal retinue is on its way back to Ayodhya. Rama is to be crowned the new king of the Suryavansha line and he is to take his rightful place at the helm of the greatest of Arya nations, Ayodhya.

On the way to Ayodhya, they are stopped and challenged by Parushrama, the slayer of Kshatriyas. I won't go into too much detail here but the backstory is that his father (a brahmin) is wrongfully killed by a few arrogant kshatriyas and Parushrama embarks on an epic cleansing of all the kshatriyas on the mortal realm. Once he completes the task, he goes into meditation, coming out again and again to complete his task. He is awakened from his current tapasya by the breaking of Shiva's bow. He comes out to challenge Rama and Rama bests him, proving to him that his time is at an end. This is because the current race of kshatriyas are dharma-abiding, god-fearing people who accept their place in the world with honour and humility. Parushrama genuflects before Rama and then gives up his crusade to spend the rest of his years meditating.

But all is not well in the Unconquerable city. How could it be? Any stripling worth his salt knows this is just the beginning of Rama's travails. Manthara, Kaikeyi's governess and the secret apprentice of the Lord of Lanka plots to overthrow Rama and sow dissent in House Ayodhya. She plans, schemes and sets her plans in motion which eventually leads to two things. One, Rama's 14 year exile in the demon-filled Dandaka-van and two, for Bharat to be crowned King with Kaikeyi as the First Queen (Dasaratha's).

But the plan backfires, as Bharat wants no part in the kingship that rightfully belongs to his elder brother and refuses the Sun Throne. Rama, the perfect human being that he is, accepts his exile without a word and heads out, but Sita and Lakshman join him vowing never to leave his side, no matter where he may be headed. As Rama heads out, the word spreads like wildfire that Rama has abdicated the throne and has been exiled and the country stands at the cusp of revolt and civil war. Bharat refuses his place on the throne and exiles himself, followed by Shatrughan and vows never to step foot in Ayodhya for as long as Rama is not king. The burden then falls on Kausalya to rule as Regent in Rama's absence, which she takes up as her duty.

Rama, Lakshman and Sita encounter many people, incidents and places on their way to their destination of Chitrakut. These are again written in very human terms. Lakshman is not as all-forgiving as Rama is and resents the fact that they've been outcast for putting their lives on the line, slaying Tataka, taking on Ravana and saving Mithila. Sita is fearful that Rama is destined to a life with violence (not of his choosing) which she is afraid of.

They reach Chitrakut and build themselves a hut in which to live out their exile in peace but they know that danger is literally just around the corner. The entire Asura army wasn't wiped out at the siege. One battalion still survived as they couldn't make the siege on time and took refuge in the Dandakan forest that borders Chitrakut.

It is here that Supanakha finally attempts to seduce Rama. She tries sorcery to pass herself off as Sita and fails as Rama sees right through the disguise. She leaves maimed and injured and comes back with the army of 14,000 asuras.

This time, the brothers don't have the power of brahman anymore (read the previous book) and are but mere mortals fending off an army. Rama, Lakshman and Sita (yes, Sita is an accomplished warrior in her own right) fight off the forces until they are joined by the unlikliest of allies. The story draws to a close with Rama telling his band of outlaws that the struggle will be long and hard but that at the end of the day, victory will be theirs, no matter what. They agree to start attacking the 14,000 strong force with guirella tactics in order to decimate their numbers.

Paralelly, we follow the story of the defeated Lankan lord who, after being vanquished, is brought home by his brother but loses complete control over the island nation of Lanka.

Yet another masterpiece. I'm not going to say anymore cause too much gushing will just ruin it. Read the books in order, or else they won't make sense. And tonight, I go home and pick up the next one, Armies of Hanuman.

Book Review : Siege of Mithila - Ashok K. Banker

2010-01-04T18:48:00.000+05:30

I know it's been a long time since I posted anything but I've been super busy. Lots of things happening which have something to do with my absence. But I shall elaborate on those later.

For now, I'd like to say, I completed Book 2 of The Ramayana series by Ashok K Banker and yet again, it was excellent.

Book 2 picks up moments after Book 1 left off. The Princes of Ayodhya have vanquished the Asura Tataka and have fulfilled their servitude to the Brahmarishi Vishwamitra, or so they think.

News has reached the Arya nations of the advance of an Asura horde sweeping across the country, heading straight for the defenseless Arya nation of Mithila, home of Janaka and his four daughters. After the last Asura war, Janaka has turned his entire nation to the pursuit of one thing, enlightenment. It is in this pursuit that the army was, for all intents and purposes, disbanded and ritual and pooja became the mainstay of the populace along with the pursuit of a higher state of dharma.

Vishwamitra informs the young princes that the next road on the way to stopping Ravana lies in Mithila. He doesn't inform them till much later that this is the target of the ten million strong Asura horde that threatens to wipe out the defenseless Arya nation.

Along the way, they meet new friends, face more perilous missions and finally, enter the Swayamvar of the Princess Sita on the eve of the Asuras landing at Mithila. It is there that Ravana, in disguise, tries to steal Sita away by winning the competition only to be bested by Rama at the last moment. The challenge is to lift the Bow of Shiva (which is iron cast and weighs 500 kilos), string it and shoot at a target. Rama steps in to challenge the demon king and bests him, thereby winning Sita's hand and also tying their fate together.

But is there a point? The mainstay of the Asura army is knocking at their doorstep (literally) and there is virtually no time to call on allies or reinforcements as every nation is too busy getting their own armies on alert. So, the Rajkumars' Vajra (50 horses and a few elephant), the two Princes, the Brahmarishi and a host of sadhus face what looks like a lost cause.

Or is it?

This is another tale resplendent with Vedic mythology, more tales of good vs. evil while the two brothers march along their preordained path to glory, hand in hand with dharma.

It is little known whether Rama was a real historical figure whose acts of bravery were so legendary that he went down as an incarnation of Vishnu or whether he was a complete fabrication of Valmiki, the robber turned saint who recieved the divine story from Ganesha.

Here is an excerpt from the Author's Note:

Adi-kavya: The first retelling

Some three thousand years ago, a sage named Valmiki lived in a remote forest ashram, practising austerities with his disciples. One day, the wandering sage Narada visited the ashram and was asked by Valmiki if he knew of a perfect man. Narada said, indeed, he did know of such a person, and then told Valmiki and his disciples a story of an ideal man.

Some days later, Valmiki happened to witness a hunter killing a kraunchya bird. The crane’s partner was left desolate, and cried inconsolably. Valmiki was overwhelmed by anger at the hunter’s action, and sorrow at the bird’s loss. He felt driven to do something rash, but controlled himself with difficulty.

After his anger and sorrow subsided, he questioned his outburst. After so many years of practising meditation and austerities, he had still not been able to master his own emotions. Was it even possible to do so? Could any person truly become a master of his passions? For a while he despaired, but then he recalled the story Narada had told him. He thought about the implications of the story, about the choices made by the protagonist and how he had indeed shown great mastery of his own thoughts, words, deeds and feelings. Valmiki felt inspired by the recollection and was filled with a calm serenity such as he had never felt before.

As he recollected the tale of that perfect man of whom Narada had spoken, he found himself reciting it in a particular cadence and rhythm. He realized that this rhythm or metre corresponded to the warbling cries of the kraunchya bird, as if in tribute to the loss that had inspired his recollection. At once, he resolved to compose his own version of the story, using the new form of metre, that others might hear it and be as inspired as he was.

But Narada’s story was only a bare narration of the events, a mere plot outline as we would call it today. In order to make the story attractive and memorable to ordinary listeners, Valmiki would have to add and embellish considerably, filling in details and inventing incidents from his own imagination. He would have to dramatize the whole story in order to bring out the powerful dilemmas faced by the protagonist.

But what right did he have to do so? After all, this was not his story. It was a tale told to him. A tale of a real man and real events. How could he make up his own version of the story?

At this point, Valmiki was visited by Lord Brahma Himself. The Creator told him to set his worries aside and begin composing the work he had in mind. Here is how Valmiki quoted Brahma’s exhortation to him, in an introductory passage not unlike this one that you are reading right now:

Recite the tale of Rama … as you heard it told by Narada. Recite the deeds of Rama that are already known as well as those that are not, his adventures … his battles … the acts of Sita, known and unknown. Whatever you do not know will become known to you. Never will your words be inappropriate. Tell Rama’s story … that it may prevail on earth for as long as the mountains and the rivers exist.

Valmiki needed no further urging. He began composing his poem. He titled it, Rama-yana, meaning literally, The Movements (or Travels) of Rama.

*~*

Man, I love this series. So, dutifully, I'm on the third book already... Demons of Chitrakut.

Monday Morning Blues

2009-12-21T12:43:00.000+05:30

Sigh. It's another Monday morning and I feel dreadful. Kind of because it was not the best weekend, partly because it's Monday and I'm back to work (here. :| ) and partly because it's a gloomy day and I just found out that Brittany Murphy passed away at the age of 32... of natural causes.

I'm turning 29 in a few days and that's scary as all hell. It makes me wonder what life has in store for me. Sometimes I feel like I'll live to be 200 years old and sometimes I feel like it's my last day around. The inconsistency of life never ceases to astound me. You never know who's next or when they'll go. If today is my last day, I'd like to be living it up, not sitting in an office working. But then again, who does?

When I was an eager pup of 17, I had determined that I would live my life everyday like it was my last. I'm sure everyone makes these declarations when they're young and naive. But how many people actually live it. I know a few do. They make sure everyday is a celebration of some sort. Of love, happiness, something. And there's me. I'm in a rut that I desperately want out of.

I think I've fallen into this ever since I moved back to India. I've never really felt quite at home here and I always felt that if I move away, life will be great again. But how much of this is just wishful thinking and reminiscing of glory days. What's to say that if I lived anywhere, my life would be any different from how it is today. Just a different office, a different setting but the same routine.

My greatest fear is that I will never find what it is that makes me truly happy. Whether it's the job, a place, I don't know. And I keep waiting for stuff to happen to me. I know this is a coward's way out but I don't know what I need to do to find some peace of mind and some fulfillment.

I really hate feeling the way I am right now. I really wish I could up and leave and damn the consequences but unfortunately, I cannot.

I have always promised myself that I would be fearless and never be poor. I mean, monetarily. Towards that end, I'm making headway but what about everything else. Am I willing to sacrifice the rest of life in pursuit of money? But at the same time, I can't go out and do what makes me happy because I have no clue what it is that will make me happy.

I sound like a mess and I kind of feel that way too.

Book Review : Prince of Ayodhya - Ashok K. Banker

2009-12-14T20:12:00.000+05:30

And another book done. And this time, I finished it in record time, I'm proud to say. I completed the 500-odd pages of Prince of Ayodhya in one day. I started the book in the morning on the bus ride to work and was done by the time I hit the sack later that night. I read it at lunch, in the loo, on the bus ride back and any other spare moment I got. And the reason is, for the first time in a LONG time, I just couldn't put the book down. It was brilliant. It took me back to the days when I read The Lord of the Rings for the first time. I used to read it in class, during lunch, in the loo (yes, that's where the best reading is done). The writing was brilliant, the subject riveting and the characters, real and relatable. "How," you might ask, "are characters from a 3000 year old epic relatable?" To which I would say... READ THE BOOK. No, really. It was a contemporary look at the legendary classic The Ramayana. Ashok Banker took a few liberties, sure, but then again, who doesn't? And the result is a story that is gritty, full of adventure, fantasy & drama with just the right mix of mythology thrown in.

Now, I'm a huge mythology fan and right up there with the Greek and Roman, are the Indian myths. Our pantheon of a few hundred million deities gives us a lot to read and write about and the Ramayana is a good vs. evil story with a punch.

Rama, Lakshman and other characters of Banker's Prince of Ayodhya (PoA, for short) aren't demigods or incarnations of the one true God (not yet, anyways). They are teenage boys (around 15) born into a royal family facing a grave threat of invasion. The invading hordes are Asuras (Rakshasas) headed by the dreaded demon lord, Ravana. This book reminded me so much of LOTR which is probably why I'm fawning over it so much. Like Sauron, Ravana has been marshaling his forces to overrun the Arya Nations (Indian kingdoms) with a demon horde the likes of which has never been seen. It's up to Rama and his brother, Lakshman who are princes of the Suryavansha royal house to go out there and start the process of opposing him. The Asura Wars (like the Last Alliance of Elves and Men) was when Ravana was defeated by the current ruler of Ayodhya the Unconquerable, King Dusserutha. He is now old and about to announce Rama's ascension to the Sun Throne when Guru Vishwamitra (not unlike Gandalf and the Ishtari) comes to warn Ayodhya of Lanka's plans. The Gurus, Vishwamitra and Vashishta are two of the Seven Seers. They are sages of supreme power who have control over the magic of the Universe (called Brahman) and able to channel these energies to achieve the pinnacle of knowledge through penance and are almost immortal. They guide the princes on the path of righteousness that will eventually lead to victory.

I've read the original Ramayana as a child and it was very one-dimensional. There were the Princes, exiled from Ayodhya, Sita (Rama's love) gets kidnapped by Ravana who desires her and they raise an army and go get her back (and kill him, as a matter of course). This book describes, in contemporary language, how two normal boys are able to take on the demons who are powerful magical entities (not unlike Orcs). Another thing that makes PoA great is the side stories of deceit and intrigue within the Royal household which will eventually lead to Rama & Lakshman's exile. But that's much later. We have very realistic characters like Kausalya (the first Queen) and the King and they're all normal people who feel lust, pride, joy, sorrow, envy and rage. They aren't all perfect versions of humanity who have only righteousness in their hearts. They've made mistakes that they regret, they feel anger and betrayal and the whole gamut of human emotions that the previous telling of these epics lacked.

DISCLAIMER: I've read one of the million abridged versions out there, so the version I've read might be one-dimensional. I'm sure the original Sanskrit telling must have had all the things I felt my version lacked.

Now, for my favorite part. Indian myth has always had great potential for brilliant stories, granted that the person deals with them in a way that 21st century people can understand. Banker does just that. He says that like the age old tradition of honor, the princes are bound to Dharma (one's obligation in respect to one's position in society). They must, as princes of the royal house and being Kshatriyas (warriors), fulfill their destiny and duty in fighting the scourge that will soon cover the land in darkness. He brings old traditional sentiments and makes them very relatable emotions of today. He also infuses into the story at appropriate points, the stories of Hindu mythology, like the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, Kama's Folly, the stories of Lanka just to name a few.

I'm told Banker has a few inconsistencies in his novel but all that's forgivable because the narrative is so engrossing and fast paced. Besides, they are nothing major that impact the outcome in any significant way.

It's so well put together that I really could not stop reading. I'm going to have to get the next book right away.

Book Review : 2001 A Space Odyssey - Arthur C Clarke

2009-12-11T10:52:00.001+05:30

I have just finished another book and this one is quite the contrast to my recently completed Wodehouse classic. 2001 A Space Odyssey has been called one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time and one of the greatest movies of all time. Just as well because both the book and the movie were written almost simultaneously.

Both the book and the movie are based on Arthur C. Clarke's short story, The Sentinel. The Sentinel is the story of an artifact that is found on the Moon's surface that is surrounded by a force field. The artifact is sending out a signal to the stars and the moment the force field is breached, it stops emitting. The story hypothesizes that it is a warning of some kind to a race beyond this world that another space-faring race that has just emerged.

Stanley Kubrick is one my all time favorite directors. His movies that I have seen thus far have been nothing short of genius. I've seen A Clockwork Orange, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut, The Shining and a few more and I've loved each and every one of them. I've only seen the first few minutes of 2001 and for the life of me, I can't remember why it is I didn't complete watching the rest of the movie.

I'll give the movie its due when I do get around to watching it but for now, I want to focus on the book.

The book starts with the dawn of human evolution (about 3 million years ago) when ape-men were no different from all the rest of the animals out there. Sociologists and anthropologists have theorized that it was around that time that "men" in their basest form started using tools, discovered fire, etc. And the rest is history. Sweeping across the globe, we are now the dominant species for the time being. The story goes that the ape-men were no different from the rest of the animals with the exception of walking upright. One day a giant "rock" or monolith appears that starts giving them intelligence. Now, I'm not talking about dodo to Einstein but basic thought like picking up a bone to defend themselves. And this monolith was just one of many around the world trying to induce intelligence in to different species around at that time. It made a few adjustments and took a few chances, rolled the die, if you would. And then it disappears. The ape-men are the first to take to this experiment and show progress. One among them, Moon Watcher, the leader of one tribe is able to more ably handle tools and hunt and he becomes the first step of the next stage of human evolution. He is the master of the world.

I have always wondered about the theory that life on this planet had extra-terrestrial origins. Every science fiction story has some kind of a mythology about it in some way. Benevolent higher beings run around the galaxy seeding life on different planets, as an experiment, to preserve their essence, to ensure life doesn't end with their extinction. But I don't necessarily agree. I think the Earth has a few 100 billion species to boast of. A lot of which evolve in just over millenia to become something new and never before seen. I think we're just on one of those lucky planets and we won the evolutionary lottery to take first place... for now.

We jump forward 3 million years to the year 1999 when a doctor is called to the moon colony under a top secret cover stories of a plague (explaining the news blackout from the moon base) and is told that while digging, they uncovered a black column that is perfectly symmetrical and adheres to a 1:4:9 ratio in its construct and is hence, artificially created. They have no idea what it does but it is carbon-dated to be 3 million years old. This is the first sign of intelligent life outside our world and there is obvious excitement. And just as they are examining it, there's a sunrise on the moon and just as the rays of sun shine on the monolith for the first time in a few million years, a sharp burst of energy shoots from it in to outer space.

Now, again, we jump a few years to 2001. David Bowman and Frank Poole are two astronauts aboard the spaceship Discovery on their way to Saturn via Jupiter for extra-planetary study. They have 3 more members in "hibernation" or suspended animation. And their on-board computer is a marvel of technology, the HAL 9000 (Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic Computer). He maintains life aboard ship and the astronauts are just caretakers.

The story follows the life aboard and the wonders, fears, doubts and exhilaration of inter-planetary travel. The two men are honored and excited at being the first two to venture in to the unknown like the sailors of old, but at the same time, go through feelings of immense loneliness that comes with the realization that the next human other than the 5 on board are a few hundred million miles away.

Both Poole and Bowman fall in to a routine that, if all goes well, will not be disturbed for a few years until they hit Saturn orbit. Then the remaining astronauts are woken up and research commences. But, of course, something goes wrong. HAL starts malfunctioning and reporting errors when there are none. When the two, after much deliberation, decide to disconnect HAL, the computer takes matters into its own hands and kills Poole when he ventures outside the ship for some repair work. Bowman who is inside tries waking up another astronaut for help, at which time HAL opens the airlocks and vents the ship's atmosphere trying to kill Bowman and hence protect himself. Bowman manages to survive and disconnects HAL.

Here, you have your Frankenstein complex come into play. Man builds something more advanced than he is but it eventually turns on him and it is his own undoing. Now, with HAL no longer a threat and the remaining astronauts are all dead, Mission Control tells him that the purpose wasn't just a study of Saturn but that it was a mission of paramount significance. The monolith, before it fell silent, had sent one strong burst of energy in the direction of Saturn and to Japetus (a moon of Saturn) in particular. It was kept hush-hush but the hibernating astronauts were trained to study whatever it was the monolith was trying to communicate with. With the usual human paranoia, they wonder if it's an alarm sent out setting into motion an advancing army of aliens or just a simple signal. Since he's the sole survivor of the mission crew, he must find out what is out there, in the name of humanity.

Bowman, amazed at first, accepts this and again falls into a routine till Saturn orbit is achieved. He's overwhelmed by the fact that he is to be the representative for all humankind, for better or for worse. As they approach Japetus, Bowman keeps wondering what awaits him and he finds out soon enough. As he hits orbit, he finds something that is nothing short of astounding.

On the surface of Japetus is another monolith far larger than its little cousin on the moon. This one is 2000 feet high and proportional in every other way to the moon monolith. And as Bowman flies towards it to investigate, it awakens after 3 million years of waiting. It accesses its instructions as to what to do when this eventuality happens and opens up to let him in. It is a Star Gate.

Bowman falls through sending one last signal to Earth before he vanishes. He says, "The thing's hollow - it goes on for ever - and - oh my God - it's full of stars!"

He is then transported through sights and sounds that defy human comprehension. He passes stars, galaxies, nebulae and astronomical phenomena that are beyond our wildest dreams. He sees ancient abandoned space ports and ship yards until finally, he falls into a star. A red sun where he sees brilliant lights and lands in a hotel lobby. It's a perfect recreation of what a hotel would look like in any city in America. At closer inspection, he sees that it's all fake. A phone book with nothing inside, cereal boxes that outwardly look like Earth brands but filled with an alien substance. He believes that if the aliens would wanted to have killed him, all they needed to do was to let space take him. He lies down after a while and as he sleeps, his entire life flashes before him in reverse order. He dreams with clear vividness, all the important events in his life and realizes that all his memories are being drained and stored and he feels himself changing. The same creatures that created the monolith are probing him the way the monolith did to the ape-men and Moon Watcher but this time with a different objective. To push man to the next stage of evolution. He opens his eyes as a being of pure energy. He is the Star Child.

He exists in space and time as a being that is both immortal and omnipotent. He then encounters other energy beings that show him how to jump through space and all its dimensions (not just three) with ease and he realizes that the Universe is his playground.

He returns to Earth and as he approaches, the nations of the world panic and launch their nuclear warheads at this new entity that is coming at them. With a thought. he destroys all the warheads on the planet. And just like Moon Watcher before him, he's the master of the world and wonder what he will do next. "I'll think of something.", he says to himself.

I find the entire story and premise fascinating. I have always thought (like other sci-fi fans, I'm sure) that when the human potential is completely realized (we utilize 100% of our brain), we will achieve something akin to Godhood. We will be capable of acts and feats that, right now, we attribute to the supernatural and impossible. I would love to be David Bowman and achieve control over mind & matter and have all the knowledge of the stars at my fingertips.

For anybody who loves science fiction, don't miss it.

Book Review : Imperial Blandings - P.G.Wodehouse

2009-12-08T15:52:00.001+05:30

So, after almost 2 odd months of reading, I've finally completed my first P.G.Wodehouse book, Imperial Blandings. Now, it's only thanks to the insistence of one person (thanks VC :) ) that I even started reading Wodehouse. And I have to say that this book is absolutely hilarious.

Very few writers have made me laugh out loud while I read. Dave Barry is one, Bill Bryson is another and now, Wodehouse is right there with them.

I know he's a world famous humorist but I have no idea why I haven't read him till now. The reason it took me 2 long months to finish this book is because I only got time to read it on the bus on the way to work or during lunch breaks.

Blandings Castle and its inhabitants, Lord Emsworth, the 9th Earl of Emsworth (known far and wide for his absent-mindedness) and his family and the situations that arise from their misadventures are the basis of the three stories that make up Imperial Blandings. The three stories included herein are Full Moon, Pigs Have Wings and Service with a smile.

If you're wondering about the lovely, obese pig on the cover, she is the Empress of Blandings, the apple of Lord Emsworth's eye and "the winner of many prizes in the "Fat Pigs" class at the local Shropshire Agricultural Show." She is also a recurring plot device involving some character trying to kidnap her for various purposes. Clarence Threepwood, our Lord in question also has nine sisters, all of whom look like the "daughters of a hundred Earls" except for Hermoine who looks like a cook and are all formidable forces of nature who stand in the way of love. That means anytime a daughter of high society is about to elope with a person "below her class" or with no money, they are immediately packed away to Blandings Castle where they mope and keep considering various ways of ending their misery like "drowning in the lake" or cleaning the Earl's study.

To their rescue comes Galahad "Gally" Threepwood, the Lord's younger brother who has "never made the mistake of going to bed before three a.m." and is known to never touch a non-alcoholic beverage if there is alcohol to be had. He is the hero in the first two stories, Full Moon & Pigs have wings. Another savior is Lord Ickenham who, like Gally is known to have a weakness for young love and solving problems if he's just given the time to think about it. He's the hero of our third story.

Wodehouse has an amazingly dry sense of humor and the butt of most of his jokes are the upper-class British Lords, Earls and Dukes with the black sheep of the family always providing the solutions, mostly by confusing all involved with devious and hilarious plots. Most stories have two underlying themes. Someone always wants the Empress, to kidnap her or to have her lose the "Fat Pigs Competition". The second is unrealized love. with either a daughter of the house or some rich friend being sent to Blandings Castle because she's made the mistake of falling in love with someone without so much as a penny to their name. Now, the Aunts are the main antagonists always trying to marry them off to rich suitors and it is up to Gally or Ickenham to save the day.

Now, Blandings Castle serves as the setting for 11 novels and 9 short stories of which I've only read three. But there's hardly anything that's going to stop me from going out and reading the remaining books.

And here, for your pleasure are some quotes from P.G.Wodehouse:

“Unlike the male codfish which, suddenly finding itself the parent of three million five hundred thousand little codfish, cheerfully resolves to love them all, the British aristocracy is apt to look with a somewhat jaundiced eye on its younger sons.”

“She fitted into my biggest armchair as if it had been built round her by someone who knew they were wearing armchairs tight about the hips that season.”

"At the age of eleven or thereabouts women acquire a poise and an ability to handle difficult situations which a man, if he is lucky, manages to achieve somewhere in the later seventies."

'Tea?'

Millicent reached for a cup.

'Cream and sugar, Uncle Gally?'

He stopped her with a gesture of shocked loathing.

'You know I never drink tea. Too much respect for my inside. Don't tell me you are ruining your inside with that poison.'

'Sorry, Uncle Gally. I like it.'

'You be careful,' urged the Hon. Galahad, who was fond of his niece and did not like to see her falling into bad habits. 'You be very careful how you fool about with that stuff. Did I ever tell you about poor Buffy Struggles back in 'ninety-three? Some misguided person lured poor old Buffy into one of those temperance lectures illustrated with colored slides, and he called on me next day ashen, poor old chap – ashen. "Gally," he said. "What would you say the procedure was when a fellow wants to buy tea? How would a fellow set about it?" "Tea?" I said. "What do you want tea for?" "To drink," said Buffy. "Pull yourself together, dear boy," I said. "You're talking wildly. You can't drink tea. Have a brandy-and-soda." "No more alcohol for me," said Buffy. "Look what it does to the common earthworm." "But you're not a common earthworm," I said, putting my finger on the flaw in his argument right away. "I dashed soon shall be if I go on drinking alcohol," said Buffy. Well, I begged him with tears in my eyes not to do anything rash, but I couldn't move him. He ordered in ten pounds of the muck and was dead inside the year.'

'Good heavens! Really?'

The Hon. Galahad nodded impressively.

'Dead as a door-nail. Got run over by a hansom cab, poor dear old chap, as he was crossing Piccadilly. You'll find the story in my book.'

"Recipe for Christmas Rum Cake

Ingredients:

1 or 2 quarts rum

1 cup butter

1 tsp. sugar

2 large eggs

2 cups dried assorted fruit

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. soda

1 tbsp. lemon juice

2 cups brown sugar

3 cups chopped English walnuts

"Before you start, sample the rum to check for quality. Good, isn't it? Now select a large mixing bowl, measuring cup, etc. Check the rum again. It must be just right. Be sure the rum is of the highest quality. Pour one cup of rum into a glass and drink it as fast as you can. Repeat. With an electric mixer, beat one cup butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 seaspoon of tugar and beat again. Meanwhile, make sure the rum teh absolutely highest quality. Sample another cup. Open second quart as necessary. Add 2 orge laggs, 2 cups of fried druit and beat untill high. Sample the rum again, checking for toncisticity. Next sift 3 cups of baking powder, a pinch of rum, a seaspoon of toda, and a cup of pepper. Or maybe salt. Sample some more. Sift ¾ pint of lemon juice. Fold in schopped butter and strained chups. Add bablespoon of brown gugar, or whatever color you have. Mix mell. Grease oven and turn cake pan to 350 gredees and rake until poothtick comes out crean."

—Author Unknown;

maybe Omar Khayyám,

or Sir Galahad Threepwood

Memories - Saudi Part III

2009-12-07T16:34:00.003+05:30

(previous post - Memories - Saudi Part II)

I was 9 when the hostilities began that would go on to become the Gulf War. I remember not paying too much attention to anything but my parents and other people kept talking about it whispers. "He wouldn't!" "Saddam won't actually cross the line. He's just posturing." I remember wondering who Saddam was and what was wrong with his posture.

But it did happen. The Iraqi Republican Guard captured Kuwait City with very little resistance and Saddam overran it's oil rich neighbor with alarming ease. After a lot of pre-war diplomacy that went to naught, the United States and a massive coalition of 34 countries decided to launch a massive retaliation in order to protect the largest oil reserves in the world that are situated in Saudi. Saddam, then foolishly decided that since Kuwait had been such an easy target, moving further south to capture the oil fields of Al-Ahsa and Ras Tanura wouldn't be that hard. But this wasn't to be the case.

All this hardly affected us in Saudi but people started getting scared. What if Saddam decides to use chemical or biological weapons the way he did against the Kurds in Al-Anfal. Everyone started buying up war stores. Tonnes of food, batteries, blankets and a few hundred rolls of duct tape. Have you ever wondered what buying duct tape is all about? People seem to think of it as a miracle fix-all during hostilities. "Is that window shattered? No worries, we've got duct tape here.""Shrapnel wounds? Um... no surgical gauze available to stem the flow, but will duct tape do?" I swear to God, we had about 500 rolls.

My first real glimpse of what was coming was the first landing of US troops on Saudi soil in August of 1990. Well, not the first landing because they have Air Bases in the Kingdom but the first of the war. The coolest sight in the world to a 9 year old kid was scores of US Marines in their Humvees and camouflage walking through the streets of Dammam and Khobar. (The US 6th Fleet is anchored in Bahrain which is no further than 20 kms away). These troops were so cool and I thought they'd stepped right out of the movies. And also, there were WOMEN MARINES!! These chicks were no different from the men in their attitudes or actions and to someone who'd been living in the male dominated society of Saudi, seeing them in real life (as opposed to on TV) was crazy.

In fact, the presence of all these Marines didn't go over too well with the Islamists in the population. They felt that the Saudi government had sold its soul to protect the country. All these "decadent", gum chewing, loud-mouthed who had no fear of the local Mutawwa was something that was unacceptable. Having women Americans do that was just all too much for the local Mutawwa.

So, there was an incident where apparently, a Mutawwa walked up to a woman Marine and demanded she cover her hair and face. The Marine told him to go f#$k himself which would have given him a coronary. No one argues with the Mutawwa and to top it off, a woman had the gall to... so, he grabbed her arm and she coolly took out her gun and shot him. Now, would you call that a little extreme? Maybe. Was it awesome? Definitely. It was the talk of the town for ages. All the women in the country (local or otherwise) cheered for girl/woman power (albeit very softly). The religious fundamentalists were ticked off but couldn't do anything because the US had over 100,000 troops in the country and the woman Marine was airlifted out of the Kingdom before the Saudis could say "What the...?"

So, saying the influx of the US Marine core cause a flutter in the Kingdom is kind of understating it. But Operation Desert Shield (protection of the Saudi border areas) had begun.

It was around this time that the schools had started shutting down and there was much rejoicing amongst all school kids. The first real scary aspect of the war hit home when my dad went out and got us all chemical gas masks.

There is nothing even remotely cool when people are explaining to you that if the siren sounds, put this on, duck for cover and if you see a colored gas cloud advancing towards you, run in the opposite direction because the "cloud" will melt your skin.

Every day, Iraqi Scud missiles would be shot into Saudi airspace and a few hundred Patriots Interceptors would be fired to "intercept" them. I say this in quotes because despite our belief in American tech superiority, I later found out that it was a game of numbers. For ever Scud shot down, some 40 - 50 Patriots were sent up to intercept. The fact that they were peppering the sky hoping for a hit, gives me the jitters.

Two incidents happened that are kind of etched in my memory. The first was when my dad and I went out to buy groceries. We were in the shopping section of Dammam and were out there for maybe 5 minutes when the air raid siren sounded and my dad had asked me to wait in the car. I knew that the first thing I had to do was to reach for my gas mask and put it on immediately. I reached in to my canister bag (which all citizens HAD to carry at all times), hurriedly pulled it on and spent the next 5 minutes in absolute terror breathing hard through the lenses and staring frantically for my dad. Once you put one of those things on, it gives you a very surreal look at the world and everything looks like you're viewing the world through molasses. I think it must've been just a few minutes before my dad came back but it seemed like I was in there for a lifetime. Nothing untoward happened and I was fine but that was so bloody scary at the time.

The second was a little while later after which my folks immediately shipped us away. Like I've said before, off the coast of Tarout, there are, withing seeing distance, the oil platforms of Ras Tanura. These were the prize that Saddam so badly wanted but was never going to happen. So, he figured, if you can't catch them, burn them. He had already started the oil well fires in Kuwait that darkened the skies over Saudi for weeks.

So, Ras Tanura being as close as it was, it was normal to hear the siren and see fireworks in the sky as multiple Scuds and Patriots fought it out in the air above us. One afternoon, the siren sounded as my sister and I were on the roof and we could see a missile sailing above and almost immediately, the multiple interceptor launches and this was one of those times that peppering the sky didn't help. The Scud got through and I saw it make its way inland (the Scuds were never accurate weapons, just brute force) and I saw it disappear over the horizon and then the sound of a huge boom. This was the one that landed in an American residential compound and killed six American families as they sat in their homes.

These two incidents defined the war for me. The Americans called it the "Computer War" but there was nothing computer-like about either incident.

We had an uncle (a family friend) who was a senior executive at the AlMarai Dairy Farms very far removed from the cities and we were immediately sent there while my parents made arrangements for us to leave Saudi. This was a truly different experience. To give you an idea, I'll have to explain what these Farms are like.

Almarai is the largest dairy food company in the Middle East. Normally, when you say the words Middle East, the first thing that doesn't pop into your head is rolling farmlands for as far as the eye can see. But that's exactly what we encountered. Hundreds of acres of lush, green farms growing fodder, amongst other things for the million or so Jerseys that they have on the farms. I guess it doesn't take centuries to make the desert into arable land, just millions of Saudi oil Riyals.

We spent an idyllic few weeks there playing with my uncle's kids in their huge house, feeding the rabbits that were around and went riding a few times.

Then came the final rush out of the country. As you could've imagined, all routes out of Saudi after the launch of Operation Desert Storm (the retaking of Kuwait) were packed with millions of expats striving to get out before any more bombs fell. And this was our last great trip during the war. My sister and I along with another family (close family friends of ours) drove across the Causeway to Bahrain, waited 16 hours to be let through to the airport, flew immediately to Oman, waited a day there and then took the next flight to Bombay. With that, we saw the last of Gulf War I.

Of course, we came back a few months later after the liberation of Kuwait and the severe drubbing of the Iraqi armed forces. There were stories abound about the torture, rape and looting that the Iraqi regular army and the Republican Guard unleashed while occupying and exiting Kuwait. And I remember thinking, wow, I just experienced (somewhat) a war. It was unreal and though I never (thankfully) saw the mayhem and the devastation that the Kuwaitis must've felt, I still thought the experience was very poignant.

There were still a few incidents which flared up through the next few years like the bombing of Khobar Towers of 1996 which claimed 20 lives and injured 370 others. I was a few kilometers away at the time in a friend's place and thought it was an earthquake. Windows shattered and the ground rumbled. But the rest of my years in Saudi were relatively peaceful compared to the turmoil of 1990-91.

My next memory of note is near the ending of my school life in the Kingdom (Grade 10-12) and my subsequent and very eventful relocation to St.John's, Newfoundland. But I'll get to that in a little while. :)

Memories - Saudi Part II

2009-12-01T16:16:00.002+05:30

(previous post - Memories - Saudi Part I)

So, that's where I grew up, initially. Now, when it came to school, I attended International Indian School, Dammam. Now, the school only started in 1982 and when I started attending it in 1985, it was a wee school with a few hundred students and a few dozen teachers. Today, this behemoth is home to 14,500 students and over 600 teachers. I believe, it is the biggest school in the Gulf.

By the time I left the school in 1997, it was now located in the above building. The beauty of schools in Saudi is that they are all segregated by sex. If you have 7000 boys on one side of the campus, you have 7000 girls on the other side, both seperated by high walls and fraternizing across the wall was not only frowned upon but was punishable.

My dad served on the Managing Committee of the school, which was chosen by the Indian Ambassador to Saudi at the time, Mr.Hamid Ansari (who is now the Vice-President of India). So, this made school both extra-enjoyable and extra-tricky for me. I could always rely on things getting done two minutes before I wanted them but at the same time, if I ever got in to trouble, then Dad would also be aware two minutes before the deed was done. I made some great friends in school, ALL of whom are married now, with kids, which is scary but that is another topic for another day.

We used to spend our weekends (Thursday and Friday in the Middle East) visiting Dammam and Khobar and the only thing and I repeat, the only thing we had to do as kids was visit malls or play sports. Am I talking fun malls with movie theaters and crazyness? Nope, just sprawling malls where you'd walk around with friends (movie halls don't exist in the Kingdom because they're "un-Islamic") and maybe, if you're lucky, spot a cute girl. Now, anywhere else in the world, this would mean that the girl is actually cute, but in Saudi, where ALL the women wear Burqas (infernal cloths that cover them from head to toe with an eye slit to look through) the phrase takes a new meaning.

So, when we spot girls, they had to have exquisite eyes or great hands. And you're not allowed to stare either, cause then you'll be rushed by other Saudi males and you will be summarily beaten for "dishonoring a female". Soo, all my friends were AWESOME at sports. I, myself, wasn't great but I could hold my own.

Saudi is a strange land with archaic customs that were old-fashioned a hundred years ago. But yet, they remain. No one dares say anything for fear of repercussions from the all powerful Mutawwas. I'd have a lot to say but Wiki summarizes it better:

"The Mutaween in Saudi Arabia are tasked with enforcing Sharia as defined by the government, specifically by the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV). The Mutaween of the CPVPV consists of "more than 3,500 officers in addition to thousands of volunteers...often accompanied by a police escort." They have the power to arrest unrelated males and females caught socializing, anyone engaged in homosexual behavior or prostitution; to enforce Islamic dress-codes, and store closures during the prayer time. They enforce Muslim dietary laws, prohibit the consumption or sale of alcoholic beverages and pork, and seize banned consumer products and media regarded as un-Islamic (such as CDs/DVDs of various Western musical groups, television shows and film). Additionally, they actively prevent the practice or proselytizing of other religions within Saudi Arabia, where they are banned."

They are honestly loathsome people who make the life of any non-Saudi non-Muslim, living hell. People were always in fear of these Mutawwa and their ability to walk in to anyone's life and tear it apart. I knew about them and had seen what they could do, but I, myself was quite sheltered and never had direct dealings with one.

The general populace consists of two types of people, the educated elite (educated abroad in Europe or the US) and the bedouins who make up one group are understanding and welcoming of foreigners. The former, because they see that expats are necessary to run the country because the majority of the Saudi population can't and the latter, because they still believe in the old ways of bedouin hospitality where they treat a guest with utmost respect but are quick to anger at an insult. Then there's the other group of small-minded, fundamentalist Islamists who know that foreigners are necessary but feel that they are better than any non-Muslim, non-Saudi. I have no idea what perpetuates this belief because a lot of them are plain stupid and/or ignorant, but that's the general belief.

This is the reason that over 90% of expats there prefer to live in closed or sheltered communities with other non-Saudis and very rarely do you see a Saudi and a non-Saudi fraternizing.

I have mixed emotions about Saudi. When a person lives their entire life in a country, they have a sense of belonging to their adopted place, some loyalty. Saudi Arabia makes it very hard to feel anything towards it but a thinly veiled mistrust. I myself love the country and dislike the people. I would never go back there voluntarily. But having said that, once a person moves to the Gulf, it's almost impossible to leave (any Gulfie can back me up on this). Most of my friends grew up there and are still there, working, as are their folks. I don't know whether it's the lure of money and no taxes or it's just simply that easy to fall into a routine that's almost impossible to break.

Gas still costs less than a Riyal per liter. That's Rs.12 or $0.25. And this is AFTER a 25% increase.

I both love and hate Saudi Arabia and I guess now, you know why.

Before I end with this, I want to show you pictures of some of these sprawling colossi that Saudis called "malls". This one is the biggest and most famous, it's called Al-Rashid Mall. This is where my friends and I spent a lot of time as kids, eating and checking out Burqas. ;)

I was in Saudi, Grades 1 through 12. The moment I was done, by some lucky chance, I moved halfway across the world to another little known place called St.John's, Newfoundland in Canada.

But before we leave Saudi, I'd like to talk about a little incident called the Gulf War.

(to be continued)

Memories - Saudi Part I

2009-12-01T14:27:00.002+05:30

I'm feeling quite nostalgic today so I thought I'd revisit some of the places I've been to in the past, through pictures and memories.

I was born in India waaay back in 1980 and moved quite quickly to Saudi Arabia. My parents were doctors and they were working there so I spent the next 17 years of my life in the sun-soaked country where temperatures reach 55 degrees Celsius (that's 131 Fahrenheit, for those of you who are metrically challenged). I had a good childhood. I spent the first few years in a place called Al-Oyoun in Saudi's Eastern Province. It's a sleepy little town (oasis) about 60kms inland from the sea. It's near the populous Eastern Province city of Hofuf. It was 120 kms back and forth to school everyday which isn't as bad as it sounds when cars can speed at 130-140 kmph.

It's not abnormal to see sword-wielding Bedouins in Oyoun's quiet streets as the entire area is still unofficially under the rule of the powerful and proud Shi'ite Muslim tribes in the predominantly Sunni Kingdom.

"In classic Arabic, Ahsa means the sound of water underground. It has one of the largest oases in the world with Date Palms of the best in the world, the oasis is located about 60 km inland from the Persian Gulf. All Urban areas are located in the traditional oasis of Al-Ahsa. In addition to the oasis, the county also includes the giant Empty Quarter desert, making it the largest county in Saudi Arabia in terms of area. The Empty Quarter has the world's largest oil fields and connects Saudi Arabia to Qatar, the UAE, and Oman."

The gun and sword laws aren't really enforced because, it is rumored, that these tribes can ride out and set fire to these fields at a whim and the government would be powerless to stop them.

So, as I was saying, going to school was an adventure. It's a beautiful drive, too. When you're driving, you have nothing but the highway in front of you and the desert in every direction. The first 5 years of my life, I spent at least 2-3 hours a day looking out at the sands and dunes roll by and it seemed like they were frozen relics of a time when the country was at the mercy of the elements and humans hadn't yet found the courage to wander the unforgiving landscape or disturb it, lest they awake some primeval beast from that deceptively quiet and beautiful scene. But, I remember feeling safe despite there being nothing but openness in every direction. I felt like nothing could disturb me there and it always seemed a welcome place. Once in a while, I'd see a herd of camel roll by and they seemed not to notice us and our trespass.

After a few years, we moved to Tarout. Tarout is a little island just off the coast of Saudi. It connects to the coastal town of Qatif which is one of the largest oil-producing cities in the world. In Tarout, there was a village called Sanabes and this is where I spent the next 8 years of my life. It was gorgeous. We lived about a few hundred meters off the beach and yes, it was palm-lined and the high-tide used to bring the water to a point where it almost touched the road that ran the perimeter of the island.

We used to go for walks along the beach at night. If you notice on the map, the entire central part of the island shows no habitation. That's because it was nothing but date palms and stud farms. Here they used to breed championship Arabian stallions the way they did way back in the day and I'm sure these animals never went for less than a few $100,000. And I could see the trainers running these horses up and down the beach at times, training them, exercising them. Even as a kid, I knew that I was in a special place. From our window on the 4th floor, we used to be able to look out at all of Sanabes and then right out to sea. We could see the three oil platforms of Ras Tanura and these massive tankers pulling up beside them.

This place is even more like the land that time forgot than the rest of Saudi. Saudi is a paradoxical place. It has rich, luxurious cities with everything in the world that oil-money can buy but it is also a thousand villages, with houses built of mud and people in their thobs and burquas selling dates and drinking black tea on carpets on dusty roads. I lived for the better half of my childhood amongst these people. The nomads and the date-sellers.

"Tarut or Tarout means goodness and beauty in the Semitic languages. Additionally, the town’s name is recorded as "TARU" in historical Chinese texts and "Ashtarut " in Arabic history. Today, however, most of the new researchers argue that the correct name is "Ashtarut " because the Canaanites and Phoenicians, who originally lived there, idolized the beauty of the town and called it Ashtarut.

We cannot separate the history of Tarut Island from the Eastern Arabian Peninsula's history. Tarut Island has survived for thousands of years and its antiquities prove that it was inhabited since the Stone Age, approximately 5000 B.C. It died several civilizations ago and was part of many Empires and countries. Some of them were before Christ, such as Dilmun, the Akkadian country, the Assyrian country, and the Persian Empire. Others were after Christ such as the Persian Empire, the Islamic country, the Portuguese Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. Now, Tarut Island belongs to Qatif city in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. It was a place of economic migration because of its important strategic location and it was a trade center between Indian contraries, the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq. In addition, it has a lot of natural resources, including pearl fisheries and date farms."

In the heart of Tarout, is this massive sand fortress that is, I believe, over 400 years old. I used to see it everyday passing by it, as a kid and I remember thinking that it still looked impregnable just like it must have when it was first built.

"Tarut Castle is the most famous castle in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and the oldest castle in the Persian Gulf. Tarut castle was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, on the rubbles from an event 5 thousand years before. It is located in the center of Tarut Island in Ishtarut near a waterhole known as Al-Awda in the sixteenth century. Later, it was fenced in. moreover; it is located on main beautiful streets near shops and main services. It is even now fighting nature’s force, age, and negligence to remain an important emblem of antiquities and heritage not only in our valuable country but worldwide. On the towers of the castle, the viewer can see most of the island, its shores and ardens from every direction, and can see where the blue of the sky meets the blueness of the sea and the greenness of the land. "

I loved it. Even now, almost 20 years after I left, I still remember the warm, salty sea breeze blowing in my face when we opened the windows and that is the smell I associate with my childhood.

(to be continued)

I hate Mondays

2009-11-30T16:12:00.005+05:30

Sigh. I have nothing against Mondays per se. (When I lived in Saudi, the first day of the week was Saturday and at that point, I hated Saturdays.) So, let me rephrase. I hate WORKING Mondays. Especially after you barely get a weekend.

In fact, I hate the first day of every week. That's it. That's my post.

Oh and one interesting thing I found while getting these pictures:

Day	Derivation
Sunday	First day of the week. Derived from the Latin dies solis, "sun's day," a pagan Roman holiday.
Monday	Second day of the week. Derived from the Anglo-Saxon monandaeg, which means "the moon's day." Latin: dies lunae, "day of the moon."
Tuesday	Third day of the week. Named for the Norse god of war, Tiu, or Tyr, the son of Odin.
Wednesday	Fourth day of the week. Named to honor Odin, or Woden, chief god in Norse mythology. Onsdag in Sweden and Denmark.
Thursday	Fifth day of the week. Named for Thor, Norse god of thunder. Torsdag in Sweden and Denmark.
Friday	Sixth day of the week. Named for the Norse goddess of love, Frigg, or Frija. Variation of the Old High German frìatag, "day of Frija."
Saturday	Seventh day of the week. Named in honor of the Roman god Saturn. Latin: Saturni. Sater-daeg by the Anglo-Saxons.

South-Asia & Terrorism - Origins

2009-11-27T15:18:00.001+05:30

A new blogger friend, Roshmi Sinha and I are having a discussion (in the comments section of a movie review post) that I think deserves attention.

We were talking about the state of current affairs in South Asia and it's development today. But let me backtrack so I can give you a little bit of history about the current topic.

The term Mujaheddin essentially means freedom fighter in Arabic. The most popular usage of the term came to light with several tribal leaders and opposition groups forming a coalition against the pro-Soviet Afghani government that came to power after overthrowing King Mohammed Zahir Shah in 1973. Now, the Soviets have had interests in Afghanistan strategically since the days of the Romanov Russian Empire with billions of dollars of aide flowing in to Afghanistan to secure alliances. This interest obviously carried over in to the days of the Cold War.

"In June 1975, militants from the Jamiat Islami party attempted to overthrow the government. They started their rebellion in the Panjshir valley, some 100 kilometers north of Kabul, and in a number of other provinces of the country. However, government forces easily defeated the insurgency and a sizable portion of the insurgents sought refuge in Pakistan where they enjoyed the support of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government, which had been alarmed by Daoud's revival of the Pashtunistan issue."

Now, the unpopular Afghan government started calling upon the Soviet Union to send reinforcements to fight the resurgent and hugely popular Mujaheddin rebels. The USSR, seeing this as a great opportunity sent regiments of Soviet regular troops into Afghanistan under the guise of protecting the elected government.

This prompted the Mujaheddin to reach out to the enemies of the Soviets, the Americans, for help. In 1979, Jimmy Carter authorized the funding of anti-Communist guerrillas in Afghanistan and Operation Cyclone, a covert CIA plan to arm the Mujaheddin was born.

Now, if you watch Charlie Wilson's War and other movies detailing that era, you have a good idea of how much money and training went in to upgrading the Mujaheddin from a ragtag group of revolutionaries to a battle-hardened fighting force capable of beating the mighty Soviets. It is also open knowledge that in order to be discreet about the funding and aid, the US used Pakistan's ISI to train the rebels instead.

After almost a decade of Cold War hostilities from both sides being fought on the Afghan battlefield, billions of dollars went to the Mujaheddin from their prime benefactors, the Americans and the Saudis. This decade also saw the Mujaheddin become one of the most formidable fighting forces in the world and the only one to defeat the Russian Army.

The Soviet Union, after a severe beating, withdrew from Afghanistan on Feb 15, 1989.

Post-Soviet Withdrawal

The war in Afghanistan took an incalculable toll on the people and the nation.

"Over 1 million Afghans were killed. 5 million Afghans fled to Pakistan and Iran, 1/3 of the prewar population of the country. Another 2 million Afghans were displaced within the country. In the 1980s, one out of two refugees in the world was an Afghan.Along with fatalities were 1.2 million Afghans disabled (mujaheddin, government soldiers and noncombatants) and 3 million maimed or wounded (primarily noncombatants)."

Afghanistan, as a country, was completely and utterly destroyed as was any and all infrastructure the country once had. Also, three years after the withdrawal, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan collapsed to the mujaheddin resistance.

Then, the expected happened with the Mujaheddin turning in on itself and broke off in to several warring factions until finally, the Taliban rose to deal with the corruption that had infiltrated all ranks of the Mujaheddin. The Taliban initially enjoyed enormous good will from Afghans weary of the corruption, brutality, and the incessant fighting of Mujaheddin warlords. The Taliban was also overtly funded by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates who felt that the Islamic radicals and fundamentalists who made the rank and file of the Taliban would be easier to control. They held power from 1996 till late 2001 when they were removed from power by the invading US and allied forces.

Bin Laden & Al-Qaeda

Now, from amongst this chaos rose one very prominent individual with the money to back his own brand of radical Islam.

"Bin Laden believes that the restoration of Sharia law will set things right in the Muslim world, and that all other ideologies—"pan-Arabism, socialism, communism, democracy"—must be opposed. He believes Afghanistan under the rule of Mullah Omar's Taliban was "the only Islamic country" in the Muslim world. Bin Laden has consistently dwelt on the need for violent jihad to right what he believes are injustices against Muslims perpetrated by the United States and sometimes by other non-Muslim states, the need to eliminate the state of Israel, and the necessity of forcing the US to withdraw from the Middle East. He has also called on Americans to "reject the immoral acts of fornication (and) homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling, and usury," in an October 2002 letter."

After leaving college in 1979 bin Laden joined Abdullah Azzam to fight the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistanand lived for a time in Peshawar. Bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia in 1990 as a hero of jihad, who along with his Arab legion, "had brought down the mighty superpower" of the Soviet Union. However, during this time Iraq invaded Kuwait and Laden met with Sultan, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and told him not to depend on non-Muslim troops and offered to help defend Saudi Arabia. Bin Laden's offer was rebuffed and after the American offer to help was accepted he publicly denounced Saudi Arabia's dependence on the US military. Bin Laden's criticism of the Saudi monarchy led that government to attempt to silence him.

This caused the birth of Al-Qaeda which went on to become the threat that it is to the world today.

Bush & The Middle-East Wars

George W. Bush, who I believe to be the biggest mistake ever to happen to world politics, probably worse than Neville Chamberlain and his appeasement of Nazi Germany from 1937-39, used the 9/11 attacks to start his global War on Terror with invasions of Afghanistan, the overthrow of the Taliban regime and of course, the invasion of Iraq based on some fabricated WMDs.

I am of the genuine opinion that Bush never wanted to capture Bin Laden, not because of any collusion between the two but because Bin Laden was Bush's excuse to walk into Asia and then use this as a platform to take out his father's old nemesis, Saddam.

The bruised Taliban, in the meanwhile, gathered their forces and made a massive resurgence not just in Afghanistan but in neighboring Pakistan where they had ties to the JUI party.

"For a period of seven years since their origin, Pakistan's government had been the Taliban's main sponsor. It provided military equipment, recruiting assistance, training and tactical advice that enabled the band of village mullahs and their adherents to take control of Afghanistan.

Officially Pakistan denied it was supporting the Taliban, but its support was substantial—one year's aid (1997/1998) was an estimated US$30 million in wheat, diesel, petroleum and kerosene fuel, and other supplies. The Taliban's influence in its neighbor Pakistan was deep. Its "unprecedented access" among Pakistan's lobbies and interest groups enabled it "to play off one lobby against another and extend their influence in Pakistan even further. At times they would defy" even the powerful ISI."

The formation of a Pakistan Taliban umbrella group called Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan was announced in December 2007.

As of now, the Pakistani government and army is in a full-blown war with the Taliban in many provinces with suicide bombings happening in Pakistani cities on almost a daily basis.

As of December 2008, at least 889 persons were killed and 2,072 others injured in 61 suicide attacks in Pakistan, as the total number of suicide bombings in the country since 2002 rose to 140.
The suicide bombings in 2008 surpassed the last year's figures of 56, including the one in which former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, whose first death anniversary would be observed on December 27, was killed in Rawalpindi.

My view on South Asia and the current crisis

The Taliban is a monster created by the US and Pakistan to counter what was then, the communist USSR. Now, they are a terror force the likes of which has never been seen. Al-Qaeda, using the protection of the Taliban, continues to plan and execute strikes all around the world in any country that seems unsympathetic to the Islamic cause.

I believe the Taliban and terror activities of the Asian Subcontinent can only be contained locally. The US is already in it's own sequel to Vietnam where they've dedicated hundreds of thousands of troops to both Iran and Afghanistan in a completely no-win situation that can only lead to more deaths and definitely no victory. They are invaders or "saviors" in a country that doesn't want to be saved, especially by them.

They should also stop funding Pakistan as it admittedly uses a good portion of aid sanctioned for the War on Terror against India. On September 25, 2009, Indian External Affairs Minister, S.M.Krishna told reporters, "Considering the statement that has been issued by the former president of Pakistan Musharraf himself where he has said that the aid provided to Pakistan by the United States have been used for directing its hostile operations against India."

It is only a matter of time before the discontent within America over the deaths of US soldiers on foreign soil will become vociferous enough that the US will have to withdraw, either voluntarily or because the cost of keeping forces abroad just does not outweigh the losses the forces are incurring in terms of both lives and money.

Roshmi believes (and I agree) that the powerful defense contractor lobby within the United States will not allow the War on Terror to end because of the billions of dollars in funding that these companies get for conducting the wars, both logistically and otherwise.

This doesn't seem an unpopular belief either. If you reference a recent spate of movies and shows, both 24 and State of Play both deal with Private Military Corporations responsible for providing private contractors (mercenaries) to handle certain aspects of the War on Terror. Their claim is that these PMCs are bolstering terrorists' capabilities on the battlefield through illegal arm supplies in order to increase their necessity on the battlefield.

According to a news report dated November 12th, 2009:

US defense contractors are funding insurgents in Afghanistan, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, according to a report in The Nation published Thursday.

The report, by veteran investigative correspondent Aram Roston, asserts that US military contractors charged with assisting US forces in Afghanistan are actually funding the groups killing American soldiers. Roston describes a protection racket similar to that of the mafia, in which contractors pay the Taliban "protection money" not to attack them.

"In this grotesque carnival, the US military's contractors are forced to pay suspected insurgents to protect American supply routes," Roston writes. "It is an accepted fact of the military logistics operation in Afghanistan that the US government funds the very forces American troops are fighting. And it is a deadly irony, because these funds add up to a huge amount of money for the Taliban.

"It's a big part of their income," a top Afghan government security official purportedly told told The Nation.

This is exactly the kind of gross mistreatment of War that spawns fears of Defense Contractors' involvement.

This essentially means the US is giving the Taliban money that will eventually be used against it.

My question to you is, how can America not loose? Obama is paying for Bush's gross incompetence and is continuing to pour troops and money in to Afghanistan and Iraq. The money, in some instances, is going directly to the Taliban.

The only way out is for the US to pull out and support these countries through partner states like India, Brazil and China. Any direct influence will, again, be misconstrued as setting up "Puppet Governments" which Karzai's government is already accused of being.

Movie to look out for in 2010 (Part II)

2009-11-26T20:22:00.002+05:30

I'm back and here goes. Where were we? Right.

12. The Book of El: In a post-apocalyptic world, a lone hero, Eli (Denzel Washington), guards the Book of Eli, which provides knowledge that could redeem society. The despot (Gary Oldman) of a small, makeshift town plans to take possession of the book.

Let's see, Denzel, who I like just made a movie called The Taking of Pelham 123 which I didn't like. Which is not something I ever thought I'd say about a Denzel Washington movie. But let's see if he makes up for it. Gary Oldman is a favorite any day.

13. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

To this I can say, YAY!! As you'd know from my previous post on Narnia, I'm a huge C.S.Lewis & Narnia fan. And I loved Prince Caspian. I don't quite know why the film had crappy box office returns but I'm really hoping they make all 7 Chronicles. This one is something I'm eagerly waiting for.

14. Shrek Forever After

Who doesn't love Shrek? I know it's movie four so people are probably starting to get a wee bit tired of it but I think they still have one good one left in 'em.

15. Sex and the City 2

I know it's sacrilege for a guy to admit he likes Sex and the City but I'm going to say it. I like it! It's funny, the chemistry between the characters hasn't gotten old after 6 seasons. But after this movie, please stop. You can't keep milking it just cause it made sense once. And yes, botox is your friend.

16. Tron Legacy

Okay, so I don't remember the original Tron movie cause I was 2 when it came out. But I do remember seeing those ridiculously cool tron bikes and stuff when I was a little older thinking, "Nice!" Well, it's 27 years later and time for a sequel. Look for it at the end of 2010.

17. Twilight Saga: Eclipse

I think I'll let media overkill do the job for me here. I don't care to see Robert "Sunken-eyes" Pattinson or Kristin "My life is going to end if I don't kiss Edward" Stewart. I can't go 10 feet without Twilight this or Twilight that. But unfortunately, screaming teen girls being a huge demographic, they will make all 4 movies pretty much back to back.

18. Alice in Wonderland

Now, this is a movie I'd give an arm to see. Tim Burton, the genius dark director is back to take what is, in actuality, not a childrens novel at all and subject it to his even more twisted vision. It is going to be AWESOME. Burton has with him, the usual suspects, Helena Bonham Carter, Danny Elfman and Depp. And just when you think Johnny Depp can't pull any more avatars out of his hat, he gives us...

19. Inception

If you loved The Dark Knight and I did, Christopher Nolan is back with the most underrated actor of his generation, Leo DiCaprio in a weird sci-fi thriller. I saw the trailer, didn't understand a goddamn thing but I can't wait to watch it.

20. The Expendables

Okay, this is just testosterone overkill. Sly Stallone, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, alongside upstarts Jet Li and Jason Statham, for a story about a crack team of mercenaries sent on a mission to terminate a South American warlord. I am weeping tears of joy.

21. The A Team

Does anyone remember The A Team. I thought they were cool with that cool van and Mr.T. I thought he was the biggest black man I'd ever seen in my life. Well, I was 8 when I first saw them. Here is your first official look at Bradley Cooper as Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as Sgt. "B.A." Baracus, Sharlto Copley as Capt. "Howling Mad" Murdock, and Liam Neeson as John "Hannibal" Smith in the Joe Carnahan-directed The A-Team.

22. Toy Story 3

I thought they were cute. Maybe they still are. Might download this one.

23. Shutter Island

My favorite actor-director combo is back. Leo DiCap-Martin Scorsese. Come on!
The Gangs of New York, The Departed, The Aviator and now a horror! I CAN'T WAIT! Look at that poster. :D

24. Robin Hood

Where has Russel Crowe gone? I haven't seen him since... oh wait. He's in England. In tights. Beating up bad guys. Generating Oscar buzz before it even begins.

25. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I

"We know it's the last part and we know it has to end. No? JKR won't write another? Damn it! How do we make this last just a little long... wait a minute! I'll just make the last part into last part- part 1 and last part - part 2. mehehehe."

26. Iron Man 2

Tony Stark is back. :)

Mickey Rourke is the cybernetically enhanced villain Whiplash and Scarlett Johansson appears as Black Widow, a Russian assassin who may also be joining Gwyneth Paltrow as potential love interest. Don Cheadle replaces Terence Howard as Colonel James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes, who later becomes Iron Man’s heavily armed back up, War Machine.

That's going to be my Super-hero pick of the year.

Movies to look out for in 2010 (Part I)

2009-11-26T14:00:00.004+05:30

If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m a huge movie buff. I love movies. I watch almost every kind out there, be it comedy, action, thrillers, horror, romance, foreign films, anything. It must however, be noted, that I rarely if ever watch Hindi movies. Nothing against Bollywood except to say that 90% OF THE MOVIES SUCK. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it. I do make the occasional exception like A Wednesday which I thought was a stellar piece of acting from both Naseruddin Shah and Anupam Kher. I loved that one.

Now, back to the topic at hand. Movies in 2010. Here’s a list I got from timesonline.com and I’m going to comment about just the ones I find interesting.

1. Avatar: First off, I know it's a 2009 movie and shouldn't feature in the list but DAMN, what awesome visuals. It's got Sam Worthington (Terminator: Salvation) and the movie honestly looks brilliant. Well, at least the scenes involving the planet Pandora do. I can't wait.

2. Clash of the Titans: So, here's Sam Worthington again! This time as Perseus looking to lay some serious pain on Hades. I'm a huge Greek Mythology fan, so I'm going to love this.

3. The Green Hornet: Okay, so Seth Rogen as the Green Hornet? Really? I don't know. This can either be really good or really bad. I'm really out to lunch on this one. I guess we'll have to wait.

4. Resident Evil: Afterlife: To be honest, I'm bored of Resident Evil. There's a virus, T- or G- or whatever, it gets out of control. First in 2002, then 2004, then 2007 and like clockwork in 2010. I wonder what the story will be this time. :|

5. A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas: Okay, I'm a Kal Penn fan, but why would he do this?? He's in the Obama administration as the Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Does he really need another Harold and Kumar, especially after Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay which was the unfunniest movie since since Epic Movie.

6. Highlander: Again, a fan of the Highlander TV show with Adrian Paul. I then watched the Christopher Lambert movies which were AWFUL. Each one worse than the last. Now, as with Star Trek they're doing a reboot. Let's see if it'll work. I hope it does. The concept is kinda cool.

7. Legion: First off, check out the poster. How cool does that look. Anything that has fantasy/horror with Angels and stuff is good with me. Now, a brief of the plot:

"After God loses faith in humanity, the archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) is the only one standing between mankind and the apocalypse. This time using angels as the act of Biblical judgment, God's wrath descends on Earth to exterminate the world's population. In a desperate, last-chance gambit, Michael leads a group of strangers to a small, New Mexico diner to protect a young waitress who may be pregnant with Christ in his second coming."

Again, a fan of Paul Bettany who I haven't seen in a while now.

8. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time: Whoa! I was just doing an image search for the poster to this movie, thinking to myself, Jake Gyllenhaal? Really? But check this out. The dude has buffed up! I'm a big fan of the videogame and I have yet to play The Two Thrones but this is EXACTLY how the Prince looks in the game. Love it.

9. The Wolfman: I've seen the trailers and I'm not terribly excited by this one. I loved the classic 1924 and 1941 versions. But Benicio Del Toro's version doesn't seem to bring anything new to this, I feel. Let's see. It is a remake after all. I'll hold judgement on this one.

10. Gulliver's Travels: Jack Black is back as Gulliver. :) Enough said.

11. Predators: Okay, so I didn't hate the AVP movies but that's because I wasn't going in with any expectations. This is a Robert Rodriguez movie. The story involves a group of the toughest humans alive abducted and taken to the home planet of the invisible super-hunters. Pursued through the strange alien jungle they are picked off one by one until only one survives. I think there's a rumored cameo from original Predator star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

To be continued...

Movie Review : 2012

2009-11-25T20:36:00.002+05:30

So, I did it. I watched 2012. And you know what? It wasn't as bad as everyone said it was going to be. I mean, come on. It's a Ronald Emmerich movie. If stuff isn't blowing up for no good reason (or in this case, very flimsy reasons), then THERE'S NO MOVIE. But before you read any further, please do leave your common sense at the door. Such foolishness as "reason" and "science" shouldn't ruin what would otherwise be a great doomsday film.

So, yes, we were warned. 2012 was supposed to be the date the Mayan calendar ended. But do you know who discovers the first traces of Armageddon?? Is it the Americans in New York? Noo. It's a very sweaty Jimmy Mistry with an atrocious accent in Indian Astronomical Institute, which is, I have to say located in a run down, dilapidated shack, which is where ALL our Indian research institutions are located. In the outhouse. (DAMN YOU, SLUMDOG! DAMN YOU TO HELL!!)

Anywho, so Mistry tells new ~~black~~ African-American (after all, we don't like to stereotype or be prejudiced do we? DO WE??) dude, Chiwetel Ejiofor (from other end-of-the-world classics such as Tsunami: The Aftermath and Children of Men). Chiwetel, let's call him Chi for short, tells the US President AND THEN AMERICA STEPS IN TO SAVE THE DAY. Jesus. And here I was, thinking that this movie was going to be like all the others. :P

So, they build Arks and John Cussack finds out about them and outruns, and I'm not making this up, (why would I, when everything I've said so far is so believable) the sinking of California, the volcanic eruption of the Central United States and how could I forget, an ash cloud traveling several hundred miles per hour. He then lands in the Himalayas, sneaks aboard an Ark just when the water hits. And then they live happily ever after... hahaha... just kidding. The Ark door is stuck open, water is rushing in, everyone's going to die unless he saves the day. Again. And THEN, they live happily ever after. (Not everyone, just the 10,000 people aboard the Arks)

So, the movie is an apocalyptic one. There are a lot of cool special effects that MUST be watched on the big screen. Trust me, it's not going to blow you out of your seat if you watch it on your TV or computer.

Having said that, please, Ronald Emmerich, please consult a scientist, or even a third-grader. There are no such things as "mutant neutrinos". There are regular neutrinos and then there are neutrinos with an X chromosome thus giving them special powers. I'm kidding. There are no MUTANT NEUTRINOS. The basic particles of the Universe aren't going to change on December 21st, 2009, microwave the Earth and then suddenly switch back on December 22nd, 2009. (When the flood ends and the magnetic South Pole is in Wisconsin).

Woody Harelson has a very funny cameo and his "online blog" was the funniest thing in the movie. A close second was Danny Glover getting smushed by the USS John F Kennedy. Oliver Platt is pretty okay as a conniving politician.

I say, watch it once, and if you have a big screen, then bring out the DVD again for a "End of the World" Movie Marathon.

Oh, yes. Jimmy, the guy who saved (a bit) of the world doesn't get picked up and isn't given a seat on the Ark. So, I end this by saying... DAMN YOU, SLUMDOG! DAMN YOU TO HELL!!

Me no gotum Computer

2009-11-25T18:55:00.001+05:30

Yes, I don't have one. A computer. "Ah," you might say, "how then, are you blogging?" To which I would say, "BEEFCAKE! BEEFCAKE!"

So, I only have a computer at work and my laptop at home went to the Service Center in the sky and I have bid it adieu and given it a worthy send off. This means I kicked it, screamed at it, pleaded and finally broke down in tears.

Now, this is quite a problem because I've always had a computer. (By always, I mean 4 years). And now, I feel quite disconnected from things. Which is kind of cool cause I'm always complaining about wanting to be disconnected but it is quite unnerving to be actually computer-less. I'm learning to rely only on TV as a form of entertainment, reading (books!) as a way to get information and I have yet to revert to the ancient art form of communication known as letter-writing but I feel I'm on my way there.

(This cartoon has nothing to do with anything but I thought it was priceless :) )

But I do realize that I miss one of my closest friends online, Wikipedia. Man, it's impossible to imagine how much I depend on that one website. Anything and I do mean anything, I want to know, I just key it in and spend the next two hours reading either related links or something completely random that just popped in to my head whilst reading. It's time for my Did You Know section. (I created said section just now)

"It was launched in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger and is currently the largest and most popular general reference work on the Internet."
"According to Alexa and comScore, Wikipedia is among the ten most visited websites worldwide. Of the top ten, Wikipedia is the only non-profit website."

I love the fact that I can search for anything from : poop to rocket science to Chandamama (a very Indian childrens' magazine). And for a person who just loves to wiki, it's a pleasure. I keep jumping from one topic to the next, often forgetting what I originally came to the site for.

Another online indulgence lately is this. Blogging. I'm getting to read some great blogs in the time I spend blog-jumping. I've met some interesting people, thanks to IndiBlogger. There are a lot of good blogs, some interesting ones and some downright sad. But hey, to each their own and I'm sure there's loads of people out there who'd find practically some aspect of everyone's blog interesting. And the best part is, you can pick and choose who you follow and who is on your wavelength. Here's where I'm going to give a shout out to some new blogs I've liked on the way: Magali, Roshmi & Daniel.

And the thing is, I get the urge to blog at the oddest time and I've got to scratch that itch right away. I'm not the "remember it and do it later" kind of guy. I just type as I feel it. Not having a computer is cramping my style.

So, conclusion is that I need to get a PC and stat. I'm a huge gaming fan, evidenced by my uber-cool, albeit, small collection of awesome games:

X-Men : Rise of Apocalypse

Fantastic Four

Age of Empires III

Age of Mythology

Assassin's Creed

Hitman : Blood Money

Prince of Persia : The Two Thrones
Prince of Persia : The Warrior Within

Now, the fact that I need to insert them in to a PC to play them also requires me to own one. I'm seriously thinking of checking out this baby. The Dell Alienware series of Laptops and PCs for game freaks. I present to you:

How beautiful are these machines? Really! And the Laptop specs are:

Hard Drive Capacity 500 GB

Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit

Display Size 17

Cache Size 12

Maximum Memory 8 GB

Dimensions:

Height 2.11 in

Width 15.98 in

Depth 12.65 in

Weight 11.68 lbs

Display:

Video Memory 2 GB

Display Size 17 in

Display Type LCD Display w/ Glossy Screen

Max Resolution 1440 x 900

Aspect Ratio 16:10

Video Chipset NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260

Imagine how awesome the Desktop would be. :D And then I found out that they're priced at... Rs.191,658.55

Yeah, so since I'm not spending close to Rs.2 Lakhs on a computer, I'll settle for a normal, run-of-the-mill PC. :( Suggestions are welcome.

Have another Pangea Day

2009-11-23T18:51:00.000+05:30

Ok, so here I was sitting and racking my brain... hahaha... one sec, sorry to digress but I just did a quick google search on whether it's "racking" or "wracking" and this is what it threw up. :) Thought it was funny. Can't believe someone did a language/etymology check on it.

Anywho, so, supported by randomhouse.com, I was "racking" my brains to remember this event I'd seen on TV purely by chance on May 10th, 2008. It started out with a few short movies being played, a few world music artists doing their thing and it was so totally engrossing that I watched it and went online for it for the next 4 hours.

The event i'm talking about is Pangea Day. Let me pull up a quote on what it is about:

"In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that — to help people see themselves in others — through the power of film."

And truly, it was incredible. There were films of all sorts, shot by Phone Cams, amateur cinematographers, cartoonists, animators, from India, the West Bank, China, Cuba, the US of A, Darfur and so so many more. I thought that of all the film festivals, of all the "Days" declared and celebrated, this one was the most powerful, moving and it connected the most with me.

As I was watching through the night, I realized that literally millions of people around the world were watching, blogging and commenting on the powerful, beautiful films that were being shown on the screens in real time. Now, other than the Oscars, very few events can claim live viewership but as I was leaving comments on the website, simultaneously, hundreds of comments kept getting posted moments after mine with practically the same message: "I understand the message you're trying to convey."

There was this one film about a girl lying on her bed finger-dancing to a tune and it seemed so simple an activity until the last few seconds when the camera pans out and the girl leans back in her wheelchair. A simple act that suddenly carries so much weight just because the girl can't dance the way her fingers can. It was called "Dancing Queen".There was another film about refugees in Sierra Leone who, in the midst of such heart-wrenching devastation, formed a music group to play for the rest of their camp-mates and called themselves "Refugee All Stars". A boy who comes back to his native Cuba after going to the States to work, the movie is called "The Americana Project". A walk down memory lane to look at the beauty of the country that was Lebanon, before the conflicts and before the bombs fell. You can see all these on the website. And please do. These are just some of them that I remember. There were funny movies, sad movies, thoughtful movies and then, just movies for the heck of it.

It was the dream of a young Lebanese filmmaker, Jehane Noujaim. It was her vision that the world be united if for just one day through the magic of film. And man, did she ever make that happen. There were screenings happening simultaneously in New York, Cairo, Bombay, London, Kigali, Rio and there were speakers from all around the world who said in one voice that it was time to forget borders and politics and just move past all that.

One of the most touching moments of the night was when this lady and this man walked on to stage, hand in hand, and told us their story. The man was a Palestinian who's brother had been killed in one of the incessant conflicts that broke out on the West Bank. He had nothing but hatred in his heart for the Israelis who had taken away his family. The woman was the mother of an Israeli soldier who had been killed by one of the rocket attacks into the West Bank by the Hezbollah. They stood there, together and asked that if they, mortal enemies who from before birth were taught to hate the other, could forgive and see the sorrow of the other side, why couldn't everyone else?

I loved every moment of it and I've been waiting for another Pangea Day to happen since. But it hasn't. So, it is my genuine request to Jehane to not stop what she started because she did a wonderful thing and there are very few lights that shine that bright before going out. Keep it alive.

You have GOT to read this :)

2009-11-23T14:04:00.001+05:30

I was blog-jumping and I saw this article on a dude's blog:

http://www.isamansworld.com/2009/05/cruise-coast-of-somalia.html

I'm not going to give it away but I can think of a few people who'd sign up for this. Vini being first on my list. :)

Work, Life & the Craziness in between

2009-11-23T12:08:00.005+05:30

I keep wondering to myself sometimes if I'm a workaholic. And the truth of the matter is, I don't know. A "workaholic" is defined as: A person who feels compelled to work excessively. Do I feel compelled? I don't know. I'm not compelled but at the same time, I'm definitely not a slacker.

I have this habit where, every birthday, I find a few moments to myself and I talk to myself. Some might call me "crazy" or "schizophrenic" to whom I say, we are not. But in this conversation with myself, I try to look back and talk to me a year ago and again with me a year in the future. To my past self, I give him a brief of what the past year was like, the highs, the lows and the in-betweens. To my future self, I ask the same questions I've just answered. How will my next year be? Will I achieve what I wanted or will everything turn completely on its head and have me heading in a completely new direction (as has happened a million times before). And I try to see if I'm happy with the direction I'm heading in. And it's a tough call.

I'm definitely not where I thought I'd be when I was 28. Due to some tomfoolery in my teens, I changed course several times in the past decade, each one more bewildering than the last. I'm not a person who has everything laid out and planned years in advance. I have found that such planning is nothing but a monumental waste of time because nothing and I do mean nothing, ever happens the way you intend it to. So, I smile and try and take it a day at a time and hope that wherever I end up, I'm content.

But that brings me back to my initial question about being a workaholic. The reason I ask is because nowadays, I find myself working insane hours. 14 hour days are commonplace and working weekends is not unusual. I do enjoy working hard because I need to make up for lost time. Due to said foolishness, I've lost a bit of time goofing around instead of being productive. And I don't regret too many things because regret, like planning, is a waste of time. I, however, do intend to reach my goals in the same time-frame that I'd set for myself. So, I work hard, cut myself very little slack and put my head down and just go for it. And I'm not doing too badly. In December 2006, I started working (really working) as an entry-level editor, got promoted within 6 months and have gotten myself a considerably higher position (Project Manager &Business Development Manager) with good pay, today. And I don't plan on stopping now, either. I'm ambitious and not ashamed of it. I do plan to drive hard and fast to reach the stars, literally. (One of my dreams was to be an astronaut. Being bespectacled, the only way I can achieve that now is if I buy my way into space)

But in the process, I've got a very dull, boring life. And I'm not a dull, boring person. I was super-adventurous and spontaneous and a million other things that I've forgotten now. And I don't want to. I want to grab life by the horns again and do the stuff that truly made me happy. Traveling, Outdoorsy-stuff, going places just for the heck of it, that kinds of stuff.

I want to be able to enjoy life while making the headway that I want to, professionally. That's a difficult balance to strike but I need to learn how to do it. The problem is, I don't want to compromise on either so I guess I'll need to figure it out.

Something I found on another blog, that I thought was super apt. :)

Top 10 Signs you're a workaholic

Ten: You don’t understand what people are saying on the phone, because you’re zoned into a screen where you have 10 windows open that you have to either, revise, proof read, or reformat into a 16 column table and email to someone in the next 3 minutes.

Nine: Lunch time gets exciting when you order a pathetic sandwich and get to eat it on the center meeting table.

Eight : You tell your husband/wife, you’ll be home in 10 minutes, for lunch but hours later, you’re still knee-deep in work and you’re no where near packing up…to go have dinner.

Seven: The guy who empties the trash cans at the end of each day, has to wheel you and your chair aside to get to it, because after seven ‘excuse me’s’ you still had no idea how he snuck up on you. He then asks you to lock up on your way out.

Six: You email your colleagues little to-do notes, reminders and annoying task-like assignments, at midnight, instead of going to sleep and telling them tomorrow--in person.

Five: You feel guilty when you’re sick, on vacation, or dying.

Four: You dream that you’re being chased by members of senior management holding papers in their hands, and questioning your loyalty to your job. You hide in a milk box.

Three: Your boss shoo’s you out of the office on his/her way out.

Two: When you go home you talk about work, your colleagues, how you have so much to do tomorrow while your spouse silently slips into a coma. You don’t notice.

And the number One reason is…

One: You don’t have time to blog, but when you do, you’re so tired that all you can come up with is this lame top-ten crap. You find the typing keyboard sounds soothing.

Just a post

2009-11-17T14:17:00.002+05:30

My recent spate of blogging comes after months (I think my last post previous to this set was February) of doing absolutely nothing constructive in the writing/blogging space. Now, is this because I've suddenly rediscovered the love of the written (or typed) word? No. Sadly, it's because my stupid office internet blocks all the fun pages or the pages where I waste the most time, namely Facebook, Gmail or... ok, fine, they blocked Facebook and Gmail and I didn't know where else to go.

It's kind of sad and now is the first time I'm thinking about what an absolutele waste of time Facebook really is. Would I stop using it after realizing that? Probably not. I feel the need to exercise, on a daily basis, the strength of my Mafia, my prowess as a farmer or my skill as a mariner in the multitude of games that FB offers as a means to kill whatever remaining braincells that TV didn't.

But in simpler days, before I had my laptop, internet or even... my cellphone.... yes, there were days before the cellphone (I think my generation are the only people who'd be able to say that. ) when I didn't have all these distractions and I would just do something silly and mundane like reading or writing or going for a walk. I think that's how the great epics were written. I think the Iliad was written thus:

TRANSLATION:

Ajax : Hey, Homer. Why the long face, foo?

Homer : It's that stupid Trojan kid... Hector. Keeps making fun of me. What sort of a name is Hector anyways? Keeps saying D'oh and stupid shit like that. God, I hate that kid.

Ajax : Chill, Holmes. Let's go play naked javelin again. I promise I won't aim for your backside.

Ajax walks away laughing

Homer : *I'm going to write a story about that idiot Hector and how he gets his ass whooped by Greeks. "Troy is impregnable" he says, "We'd kick your ass in a war." I'll show him. Him and that stupid country which sounds like it should be a sperm receptacle*

Hence, was written one of the most memorable epics of all time (along with it came another great invention, the condom.) Historical sources site that similar bullying/hazing incidents were responsible for the Ramayana, the Epic of Beowulf and also, hitherto unknown books such as the Icelandic saga, The Wrath of Arinbjörk and the Ivan the Terrible biography, Ivan the Momma's Boy (written by his brother, Yuri).

I wonder how much creativity was lost to the world because of the advent of the idiot box.

There are some absolutely brilliant writers, artists and such still out there though. As a relatively newbie blogger, I'm discovering that there are some great sites out there which are absolutely hilarious, like Krish Ashok's, some with some amazing art, like Abhishek Singh's. I am, of course, neither a brilliant comedian nor am I a great artist, but I'll keep posting my two cents worth every once in a while and see where it takes me.

Now, back to work.

A New Project

2009-11-17T12:04:00.001+05:30

So, it’s a Monday afternoon and I have a half hour in between one important work thing and the next. I need a breather anyways.

I just spent a semi-nice weekend. The “semi” part cause I had to work on Saturday giving presentations and what not. But working one day a weekend is a step-up from the previous weekend where I spent all weekend preparing said presentation. The nice part was where I went to my SW’s place, relaxed, ate good food, played Scrabble (got my ass kicked), went for long walks and spent time with my cutie-pie, darling, sweetheart, crunchy puppu…. Ok ok wait. I’ll show you a picture. Here she is and tell me she’s not the most adorable thing on God’s earth.

So, yes, I’m relaxed and feeling pretty good about the week ahead. I have a lot of things I need to do but I’m not going to do them just yet.

About 9 years ago, a friend of mine and I started a very ambitious project. TIME Magazine had just published its 100 Greatest Books of the 20^th Century. The list I’m linking you to is the updated list as of 2005 because I can’t find the old list. But no matter, the list is mostly unchanged but for a few entries. There are a lot of lists out there but we took TIME as a reliable, reputable source and even if it weren’t the greatest books ever, it’d still be a start.

So, my friend and I, let’s call her Pillary for anonymity’s sake. ;) Pill and I decided that, as enlightened individuals, it was our duty to go through this list and read each book. Initially, we got off to a great start and we did read quite a few of them. Well, actually, I think it seemed like quite a few but now that I’m looking at the list, I’ve read only 5… which is kind of sad. Anywho, work and life and everything else got in the way and I’m afraid, for my part, have fallen back on my good reading.

So, I’ve decided that I have to reinitiate this project with just a few adjustments. I’ve now decided that I’m going to go through the list, in no particular order, and am going to publish book reviews of each of the books I read. I shall place them under the title of:

Greatest Books Review – [Book Name] - #

which will essentially give you an idea of which of the 100 I’m on. (Until I can think of a better name. Suggestions are welcome.)

I’ll get on this right away and at the rate of one book a week, should be done in 2 years. I've already read a few of the books, as mentioned earlier, but I'll have to re-read them in order to give you a good review. Although, my post on the Chronicles of Narnia (at least the latter half of the post) will serve as a review for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I've also read 1984, Catch-22, Catcher in the Rye, A Clockwork Orange, Lolita, Midnight's Children and of course, my favourite comic/graphic novel, Watchmen. I'll go through them all again.

I’m going to take this chance to plug one of my favorite book stores in the city, Blossom’s. It’s been around for a few years I think and you can get a load of great books there at very, very cheap. And if you’re the kind who doesn’t like to keep old books, they buy back at 50%. So, its win-win and they have an awesome collection of books. It’s on Church Street right down the road from Java City and I love that place.

So, wish me luck and happy reading.

Movie Review : I am Legend

2009-11-13T19:19:00.008+05:30

I know I’m always slightly late in my movie reviews but unlike regular movie critics who in their boring “prompt” way review and critique a movie right after its release, I tend to take my time and do it at liesure when I happen to see a movie on TV. :)

For instance, last night, after coming home from a hard day’s work, I turned on HBO and there was I am Legend. The fact that the movie boasts a cast of 2 for almost 80% of its running time is something that I love. If you’ve read my previous post on Benjamin Button, then you’d know that I’m a fan of movies with quiet, yet strong performances. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’d watch a Megan Fox-filled-Autobot-beat-Decepticon-stopping the end of the world movie in a heartbeat. But these types of movies (Legend and Benjamin Button) are the movies that move you. I don’t feel the hairs on my arm raise watching Shia yell at Optimus.

To give you a little bit of history about the concept behind I am Legend, we need to go back to the book that spawned the movies. To quote Wiki, “I Am Legend is a 1954 science fiction/horror novel by American writer Richard Matheson. It was influential in the development of the vampire genre as well as the zombie genre, in popularizing the concept of a worldwide apocalypse due to disease, and in exploring the notion of vampirism as a disease. The novel was a success and was adapted to film as The Last Man on Earth in 1964, as The Omega Man in 1971, and as I Am Legend in 2007…”

At first, before I’d known this, I’d loved the movie but wondered what the title was about. To know this, you have to understand the book. The Robert Neville of the novel isn’t a scientist; he’s just a normal man who happened to survive. And the survivors in the book are vampires, instead of zombies. In the novel, he sets about hunting and killing as many of these vampires as he can find, considering it his human right to try and destroy this new scourge that took mankind. But unlike the movie, the vampires of the novel aren’t soulless, bloodthirsty creatures who kill for the hell of it. They are still essentially human inside and come to terms with their new vampirism and consider it a part of life. They then go about rebuilding society as a vampire society. And Neville, in his crusade against all things vampiric, is the monster. He’s the odd one out in the world where the new “normal” is to be a vampire. The hunters then go after the “monster” to kill the thing that is hunting them. The irony is not lost on Neville and before he dies, he laughs and says, “[I am] a new superstition entering the unassailable fortress of forever. I am legend."

Now, the movie tried to incorporate its own interpretation of “Legend” and they did this in an alternate ending that was shot for the 2007 movie. In this ending, the movie deviates during the last few minutes where the Darkseeker leader doesn’t keep running mindlessly into the glass wall. When Robert Neville keeps yelling that he can cure them all because the Darkseeker woman is now visibly human again, the leader walks up to the glass and with his hands, smudges the figure of a butterfly. At this, Neville looks at the now cured Darkseeker lady and sees a butterfly tattoo on her shoulder (or arm, I forget). He then realizes that the leader and this woman are a couple and that he’s being hunted for their version of love. He then wheels the table out where the woman is lying and the leader and the other seekers take her and leave them alone. The leader looks at the wall of pictures where Neville’s failed experiments are and then Neville realizes that to them, he is the monster and not vice-versa. He then takes Anna and Ethan and escapes to Vermont with the cure. He then realizes that he is a legend, for discovering the cure that can save humanity and a legend amongst the Darkseekers for being a monster.

While this was not the chosen ending, which would have been the happier one (which is why I’m guessing it didn’t get picked for the movie, for seeming too optimistic), this ending is, however, the one that resonated most with the title. Here, Neville realizes the nature of the beast that is now him.

I must say though, that Will Smith was excellent (yet again) in this movie. His expressions and sorrow made you feel the weight of grief that’s on his shoulders. Also, being a die-hard dog lover, I absolutely adored Sam and his role in the film and shed a tear (yes, yes, I cry during some movies) when he died.

Also, I thought having New York, rather than Los Angeles (as was in the book) was a great move. Not because everything happens ONLY to New York (Godzilla, Asteroids, Alien landings, etc) but because the sight of the “City that never sleeps” completely deserted and overrun by the wild sets an amazing contrast for the film’s tone.

It makes you kind of wonder what you would do if you were ever in the same situation. Would you find the will to live on knowing that you are the last human on the face of the planet? I don’t know if I would. I thought that if the world was empty, I’d travel till I found my perfect place and live out my days there in whatever fashion I could.

Writer’s Block

2009-11-12T17:04:00.004+05:30

I was recently going through Wikipedia (the best thing to happen to the internet since Tim Berners-Lee… all the geeks in the house, can I get a WOOT WOOT!) and reading up on one of my favorite authors, Isaac Asimov. And he has written this massive body of work most of which is awesome. Some of his best work is, of course, the world famous Foundation Series. But all his short stories are where my interest really lies. He has been called, and I quote “…one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited about 500 books and over 9,000 letters and postcards. His works have been published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal System (the sole exception being the 100s: philosophy and psychology).”

Now I don’t know what the Dewey Decimal System is and I’m too lazy to click on the link to find out but either way, it’s impressive. As a kid, I was always a voracious reader and it used to be my favorite hobby and pastime barring everything else. I used to devour books by the dozen and never get tired and my favorite thing to read was always science-fiction. And in science-fiction (called sci-fi for short), Asimov had the ability to transport me from my home or school in Saudi to distant star-systems where humans had conquered the galaxy, robots strive to save humanity from themselves and galactic empires fall and rise.

The beauty of Asimov’s heroes (and some have criticized him for this) is that they face insurmountable odds and come out on top through a last minute ruse or a well-laid out plan that the reader is not privy to until the absolute last moment. As a kid, nothing could be greater and I thought it was magic.

I was reading one of the last books published by Asimov before his death in 1992 called Gold. In this, there are letters from him to readers or editorials from when he was Editorial Director of Asimov’s Science Fiction. He explains to his fans and detractors how the concept of story-telling is such a natural, simple and exhaustively complicated thing all at the same time. The story flows naturally from within and you always tend to think that what came that naturally and creatively must of course be published if it’s any good at all. The editorial pen is a writer’s worst enemy, he said and he was, as is every other writer, no exception. At one point, he had re-written a particular story 29 times over 9 years before it got published. And this was after he was the world famous Isaac Asimov.

I’ve always wanted to write a book and I thought that it would either be science-fiction or history or something fictional that had both elements. At times, I think to myself that it can’t be THAT hard and at other times I think it’s an exercise in futility. The thing is, I’m capable of writing spontaneously and directly from my head or heart (whatever’s dominating my thoughts at that moment) and really don’t feel I can lay down complex plot lines and interweave character development in to it. I’m the guy, who while watching a movie, constantly tries to figure out the twist in the story while it’s running and when I get it right (which is 50% of the time) I give myself a pat on the back and tell myself that hey, I could’ve written this. But in true fact, guessing other people’s stories out isn’t rocket science.

Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code was a good book. It wasn’t great, it wasn’t mind-boggling, it was good. While reading it during the hype it had created, I was being overly critical of the book poking holes at the weak twist at the end, and stuff but to be honest, I loved the way he married history, mystery and intrigue in his story. His brand of Faction is something that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Another friend of mine recently turned writer though his story is somewhat different. He lost a loved one not too long ago and as a sort of release; he used to blog about his day to day life and how he was coping with it all. This blog was a way to tell his loved ones and friends that he was ok and life was moving on. But it had the inadvertent side-effect of becoming almost an online support forum for people who’d been through similar experiences. The blog grew till it had almost a few hundred thousand clicks a month and it caught the attention of some publishing houses who asked him if he’d like to put his experience into a book. He took it and he’s in India right now writing and he was telling me how easily writing came to him because everything he had to say was in his head and it was all experiences he’d gone through so there were no plots, story devices, nothing. It was just what happened to him on a day to day basis. Before he submitted the first part of the book to his editor, he told me he was worried that it would come back with a note saying, “Thanks but we’ve thought about it and the book deal is off” But of course, they didn’t and he is now writing on, hoping to be done in the very near future. Once his book hits the stands, I’ll let you know what I’m talking about.

But his type of writing and this blog type of writing is something that comes as naturally as breathing. The question is who wants to read it. I guess, one of these days I’ll have to sit down, make an outline and figure out what genre I’m going to write and a basic premise. Let’s hope that happens. Because once all that’s done, that’s not even the hard part. Finding people to print what you have to say and finally, finding people who want to read it, that's the clincher.

Bully in a China Shop

2009-11-12T11:01:00.012+05:30

It is a historical fact that Empires never last. The Egyptian Empire, the Hellenists, the Romans, the Incas and the Mayans, the Mongols, Napoleon, the British, the National-Socialists of Germany and well, that’s just the major ones that everyone knows about. Every country has their own history of countless smaller kingdoms and feudal chiefs who strove to conquer as much land as possible in order to make a name for themselves and expand the borders of their countries to span vast distances. Examples include Indian empires like the Maurya, the Kalinga, Carthage and Troy of antiquity, the Persians, the Zulu kingdom in the 1800s amongst others. History is rife with examples of the same.

The thing is even though some of these people, the Generals who head these campaigns are students of history and military tactics of old, for instance, Napoleon studied Alexander the Great and the Carthaginian general Hannibal in great detail and used some of their tactics on the battlefield, everyone seems to overlook the teeny fact that none of these empires exist anymore or many of them didn’t last much past the conqueror’s lifetime. The strong exceptions are, of course, the Greeks, Romans, Mongols and the British. They had Empires that lasted centuries. However, they all came crashing gloriously down taken down by a variety of things, like barbaric hordes, disease, dissension, popular revolts, etc.

Let’s just look at two modern day empires. The Americans and the Soviets. We, of course, don’t refer to them as empires anymore. We call them “Superpowers”. The Soviets, despite being a technologically advanced nation, lasted from 1917 and the Russian revolution to the fall of the Berlin^thChina, IndiaBrazil come into their own and are becoming more influential in the world stage. wall and the collapse of communism, a mere 20 years ago. (The day before yesterday was the 20 anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall). The power of the Americans is quickly waning as well. The economic stranglehold that the West had over the world is loosening as countries like and

Despite all these facts, people still try to conquer (militarily or economically) other nations and people in the misguided attempt to impose their will on others. Take China, for example. They have become a force to reckon with in this day and age. Here’s just some data, courtesy of Wikipedia (Long live WIKI!)

GDP US$4.32 trillion (nominal; ranked 3rd; 2008)
$7.8 trillion (ranked 2nd)

GDP growth 9.1% (2008; official data)

Inflation -1.2% (Jan-Aug 2009 average)

Population below poverty line 10% (2004)

Labour force 807.7 million (2008)

That just pure numbers but let’s translate that into facts. They have over 80% of their population working and only 1 in 10 people are below the poverty line. Their inflation is negative and also, they are one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world. What about their military. Well, this is where Wiki puts them:

Active personnel approximately 3,440,000 (ranked 1st)

Reserve personnel 1,200,000

Its regular forces consist of 2.3 million personnel, with an additional 800,000 personnel in reserve, making it the largest active standing army in the world, and second largest in terms of army personnel. Currently 40% of the ground force divisions and brigades are either armoured or mechanized to deal with potential threats. The PLA Ground Forces has and continues to undergo rapid major upgrades and re-structuring to deal with future land warfare, with front line troops, special forces, and marines given priority in receiving newer modern weapon systems

PLA Navy

Size 250,000 personnel
58 submarines
77 principal surface combatants
84 amphibious warfare ships
~387 coastal warfare vessels
~31 mine warfare vessels
~370-480 landing craft
~150 auxiliary/support vessels

This is a “developing nation”. I wouldn’t want to look at it when it’s developed.

And the beauty is they’ve done it under the rule of communism which the west said was a decadent, completely corrupt and impractical system of governance. According to most people, about a decade ago,

China

’s runaway population would be it’s biggest concern as they’d have to figure out what they’d have to do with, meaning, feeding them, clothing them, training them, etc.

And what did

China

do, it arrested growth and then turned practically its entire population towards one goal, making the country a power house economically. Every company in the world wants to do business in

China

because of the huge potential market that’s sitting there, ripe for the picking.

Now, when a country gets that big and that powerful, that fast, it kind of goes to their head. And when it goes to their head, they do stuff like Tienanmen Square with absolutely no fear of repercussions. Not that other countries don’t do the same. India has its Godhra,

Cambodia

has the Khmer Rouge, etc. But

China

is so capable of turning tyrant with no checks and balances, so easily that it’s scary.

When a massacre or some such tragedy occurs in any country, the people rise in revolt or outrage and hopefully bring the guilty to trial. But what do you when the government is a supposed democracy with a one-party system and no opposition. The military is the agent of the single party and applies their decrees with swift and brutal precision.

Recently, China’s been making a nuisance of itself to

India

and its neighbours. There have been border skirmishes. Now, do I mean, they stealthily and under cover of darkness, crept into India and left? Oh, no, no… Chinese troops and trucks rolled over the border in bright daylight, some 5 kilometers into Indian territory, scribbled their names on some rocks, took pictures and left.

India and China bristle over politics, purr over trade

Globe and Mail - ‎Oct 21, 2009‎

But then, can

India

anger this behemoth to its left while having to deal a terrorist haven on its western border? That’s honestly asking to be between a rock and battering ram. But

India

should be decisive and bold in its actions; otherwise, it becomes a door mat for the Ajmal Amirs of Pakistan and Chinese cross-border soirees.

The reason I bring this up is that China is at the cusp of becoming the next superpower (read Empire) that will truly be one the likes of which the world hasn’t seen since Alexander. They have a massive economy to the tune of a few trillion dollars with which to wage war (metaphorically, of course). And if they actually do wage war, it would be World War III, and it would be a sight to behold.

Only a strong, tempered yet bold position in the face of China’s little indiscretions will halt the Dragon from assuming that it can do anything and get away with it. Now, India’s no slouch in the world economy at this time. As the headline above indicates, India and China while growling at each other over

Tibet

and the Dalai Lama or over disputed border territories would ever make the mistake of angering the other side so much so as to affect trade. There’s just way too much of the other that each country wants, be it business, exports or expertise.

So, India, you have the chance to make a stand here and now against the rumblings of the Chinese. They do not take well to subtlety. If they don’t see a measured response, trust me, they will push all your buttons until you have no choice but to act.

Sick as a...

2009-02-16T21:54:00.005+05:30

I honestly feel like I’ve got a combination of the pneumonic, bubonic, baboonic and a couple of other variants of the plague. My nose and throat have taken turns the past few days making me feel like shit. No sooner do I spend a couple of hundred bucks buying medicines for one type of irritation with either of them, they switch and then change the root of the issue. For instance, I started with an itchy nose with the sniffles. The logical buy would be an anti-allergic antihistamine with an inhaler. A few minutes after said purchase, my throat decides to turn into sandpaper making every breath and swallow seem like nails on a chalkboard. I buy a throat irritant soother and I’m gulping it like it’s going out of style. Then my nose tries to see if my tissue can compete with the Lady of the Mist and does a Niagra. I, of course, am no “wet behind the ears” run of the mill pill-popper. I respond immediately with decongestants. What’s the next course of action? I get ready to audition for the part of the third Tuberculosis patient from the left in some B-grade Middle Ages movie or of course, one of my favorite movies, Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail.

The Dead Collector: Bring out yer dead.
[a man puts a body on the cart]
Large Man with Dead Body: Here's one.
The Dead Collector: That'll be ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: What? Large Man with Dead Body: Nothing. There's your ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: 'Ere, he says he's not dead.
Large Man with Dead Body: Yes he is.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not.
The Dead Collector: He isn't.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm getting better.
Large Man with Dead Body: No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment.
The Dead Collector: Well, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I don't want to go on the cart.
Large Man with Dead Body: Oh, don't be such a baby.
The Dead Collector: I can't take him. The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I feel fine.
Large Man with Dead Body: Oh, do me a favor.
The Dead Collector: I can't.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, can you hang around for a couple of minutes? He won't be long.
The Dead Collector: I promised I'd be at the Robinsons'. They've lost nine today.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, when's your next round?
The Dead Collector: Thursday.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I think I'll go for a walk.
Large Man with Dead Body: You're not fooling anyone, you know. Isn't there anything you could do?
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I feel happy. I feel happy. [the Dead Collector glances up and down the street furtively, then silences the Body with his a whack of his club]
Large Man with Dead Body: Ah, thank you very much.
The Dead Collector: Not at all. See you on Thursday.
Large Man with Dead Body: Right.

It doesn't help that i'm like a friggin' baby when I'm sick. I am now on Antibiotics, Antihistamines, Decongestants, AuntiPetunia, Lozenges, Cough Syrups, Antipyretics, Analgesics and an entire experimental drug line from Pfizer.

By the way, this is a picture of me taken 5 minutes ago...

I need TLC.

"You can buy your hair if it won't grow

You can fix your nose if he says so

You can buy all the make-up that mac can make

But if you can't look inside you

Find out who am i, too

Be in a position to make me feel so damn unpretty"

Oh, yeah, some tender lovin care wouldn't go astray either. :| I'm rambling. I'm off for my enema. Too much info? I think so.

Movie Review : The Wonderful Case of Benjamin Button – Redux

2009-02-10T20:37:00.009+05:30

I’ve had a lot of people ask me why I thought the movie was great. Most people told me that they thought the movie was boring. Too long, too slow, so, why did I hype it up to be so good? I just thought I should give them a little explanation.

Brad Pitt is a great actor. Whether it be comedy (Burn After Reading), drama (Meet Joe Black), thriller (Se7en) or action (Fight Club). He is versatile and doesn’t get half the credit he deserves. I’m not talking about the sexiest man alive or the man who adopts the most children but for his skills as a thespian. Opposite him is one of the most graceful, elegant and powerful actresses since Grace Kelly, Cate Blanchett. She’s breath-taking either as an Elven queen in Lord of the Rings or as the immortal Katherine Hepburn in Aviator.

When you put these two together in Benjamin Button, you get a performance that will leave you yearning for more. The strength and hopelessness of their short-lived love teaches you a very important lesson. “It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.”

It might sound a little cliché but it’s true. Benjamin knows he has to journey through life alone and that no one can share his unique view of the world but the strength of their love keeps drawing him back to her again and again and again. And as I’ve said before, they share a brief liaison, but that keeps him going. And well, he trusts no one but her to take care of him as he is unable to care for himself as a toddler.

And the best part of the entire thing is, how understated the acting is. I love movies where there are no grand emotional scenes or hysterical, tear-jerking climaxes. I love movies where the mood and tone of the actors say all there is to say about their feelings. Legends of the Fall and Meet Joe Black were two such movies. In both, he said so little but then again, he didn’t have to. Anthony Hopkins (another legend who I can’t say enough about) and him just spoke to each other or didn’t but we always understood exactly what was going through their minds. Pitt conveyed both the sense of power as well as the vulnerabilities of being Death in Joe Black while Hopkins was the man who knew he had so little time but had to make his life and legacy count.

And this is the type of movie that Benjamin Button is. You believe he’s a child in an 80 year-old body or that he is an old man in a teenager’s.

For those of you who like action and screaming and CGI, this isn’t your cup of tea. This is just a very unique, very strange love story of a very curious man.

I'm a Dork

2009-02-09T20:27:00.010+05:30

I just found a picture of myself online that I didn't even know existed. I can't remember when this was taken or what the context was.

Can you tell which one's me? ;)

Movie Review : The Wonderful Case of Benjamin Button

2009-02-08T16:41:00.005+05:30

If there ever was a wish that most people make, it is that they stay young forever. Or even have the chance to grow young again. And if there ever was a story that make you think twice about that, that’s the story of a man who had no choice in the matter. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the tale of a man whose life is inexplicably linked to a clock. A clock made by a father who is so heartbroken by the death of his young son, that he makes it tick backwards. It was almost as if the man, by simple act of making this clock, was willing time to reverse itself and give him his son back.

This is a wonderful story, so eternally tragic and sad. The loneliness and the heartache of a person who’s destined (some might say, doomed) to grow younger while everyone around him ages normally. Benjamin Button is born with the body of an 80-year-old. He is abandoned by his father at the steps of an old age home and is taken in by a caring, sweet woman who looks at him like God’s gift. It is thought he wouldn’t live very long but then, he starts aging. Backwards. Every year that passes sees Benjamin grow just a little bit stronger, a little younger. And then, of course, as there is in every story worth telling, he falls in love. He meets a young girl, Daisy, who comes to visit her grandmother at the same home he is in. And he lives his life by one very simple tenet, “You never know what’s coming.”

This movie was the first one in a very long time that made me stop and think. It’s every person’s role in life to live a certain way, experience all that life has to offer and grow old, hopefully with someone else that you’d love to grow old with. And if you’re lucky, you die with them. Maybe to go on to a better place and maybe not. This is the way that things are meant to be. But then again, men are never ones to accept their fate and make their peace with it. It is in every fiber of our being that we don’t like to lie down and accept anything. This is a fight that’s been going on through the course of our existence. The search for the Tree of Life, the Fountain of Youth, some elixir that would magically let us live forever. The quest to be immortal is as old as our species itself. And whether it will be achieved is something that only time will tell. After watching this movie, I’m not sure I want to find the Fountain or any elixir, for that matter.

Benjamin’s life is tied to that of just one other person, Daisy. She is the only constant and he keeps meeting her at different junctions in their lives, her growing up and him heading in the other direction. The only time they can truly be together is when they meet in the middle. They’re both around 40 when they decide they can be together and share a life, even if it is for short period of time before the unfortunate fate that is his sends them in different directions. Because, while growing young is all well, you must understand that the same thing that people try to avoid in growing old happens again. You forget to walk, you forget how to take care of yourself and finally, you can hold yourself up. Age is a fickle thing in any direction. It’s actually true when they say that you leave this world exactly how you come in to it. Vulnerable, helpless and dependant on the care of others.

This movie is a definite must see. Brad Pitt as Benjamin Button and Cate Blanchett as Daisy portray the pain of living such a life with so much grace and understated brilliance. The narrative takes you to all the important junctures in his life, most of them involving Daisy. And his attempts to live a normal life, fully knowing that there’s nothing normal about it, is heart-wrenching. I hope Pitt does win the Academy Award for this film because it is truly deserved.

If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all…

2009-02-05T23:02:00.010+05:30

It’s been a while since I’ve heard this line. The last time I heard it said, a cute little animated bunny was saying it in a movie that I didn’t watch because I was shocked that Walt’s animators thought it was cool to kill a doe.

But it’s apt for the mood I’m in right now. I just read a friend’s blog and I realized something. I have a big mouth. I mean, it’s a normal sized mouth with a tendency to say stupid, insensitive things at times. Not that I intentionally was mean to someone but sometimes you don’t need to be purposefully jack-assy in order to get on someone’s nerves. Saying the wrong things at the wrong times can do it as well. And this is a realization that comes to me once in a while. And I try to be good about it.

I’m a decent judge of character and I’m normally very tactful. “Wait!” you might say. “Didn’t you just make up a word (“jack-assy”) to describe yourself not one paragraph ago, you crazy, self-contradicting son of a bitch??” To which I say, “Patience and all shall be explained. Oh, and for all those who swore at me, a virus is downloading on to your computer as you read this and the lights will go out… now.”

…

Did it work? Are all the cussers gone?

Anywho, for those of you who don’t know me, I’m pretty good with being polite/diplomatic when I have to tell someone I don’t know too well, something harsh or even mildly difficult. But the flip side is that I’m also very sarcastic. Most of the time, the sarcasm is funny but then sometimes, it’s incessant. I try to control myself but it’s hard.

The thing that most people aren’t good with, and I know this from experience, is knowing when to shut up. How many times have people put their foot in their mouth and swallowed up to the knee? Well, the logical answer would be one (since said person would then choke to death as something the size of a leg would definitely press the trachea until… well, you get the picture.) but people do it a LOT. And it drives me nuts. But the more difficult thing is to realize when you’re doing it yourself. You’ve got to kind of realize that sometimes, sarcasm is just annoying. Not funny, not entertaining, it’s just plain irritating.

So, resolution... strike that... decision #1 for the New Year is know when to shut up.

Also, to my friend who I might have annoyed, I’m sorry and you know I love ya. PS: In case all you OTHER friends think it’s you, her name starts with a P and ends with an A and rhymes with Hissy. Now, the retards reading this are going, “Wait, so the name is Pissya?” Shut up. She’ll know. That’s all that matters.

On to happier topics.

I just finished reading The Chronicles of Narnia the other day. All seven of them. And they are awesome. I mean, they were written purely as kids’ books but honestly, they rock. And don’t worry; my description will go a little beyond sounding like a pre-pubescent boy from the ‘90s.

C.S.Lewis was actually a good friend of another favorite author of mine, J.R.R. Tolkien. They actually had a little literary group called The Inklings. First off, love the name, even if I have no clue what it mea… WAIT A SECOND! INKLINGS! Like -

“Do you have an inkling of what’s going on, old chap?”

“No, and stop talking like that…”

Inklings! I swear to god, I just figured it out. Like just this second when I was writing it out.

Right, moving on.

Imagine being part of a group like that. Your best friend will go on to be one of the most beloved Fantasy writers of all time and he goes on to create a language in his books. You yourself don’t do so bad with books that will later spawn movies with some British children you’ve never heard of. But imagine the ideas that must’ve been thrown about in that forum.

CSL -

“Hey Tolkie*, I’m going to have Talking Trees as characters in my books and just to be obvious, I’ll just call them “Talking Trees”.”

JRRT –

(to himself) “Trees that talk? Not bad… but jeez, come up with a better name than that. Anything’s better than that… which reminds me, call my E.N.T. My throat’s really… wait a minute… ENTS! Haha. I’ll show him.”

(to CSL) “Sure thing, Lew*. That’s a great idea! Jolly good show and all that. Tea?”

(* These nicknames are not verified by historical sources)

But I’d love to be a part of something so… creative. I think it would be refreshing to sit in a circle with like-minded people and create something that’ll endure.

The Chronicles are exactly as the name suggests. Sweeping tales of bravery, loyalty, and good takes a beating and come back to smack bad right up the ass. And in seven books, Lewis has managed to tell a story from Creation to Judgment Day. And they’re not heavy books with complex characters and back-stories that read like War and Peace. They are simple children’s books that have children as their central characters and adventures that any child would love to dream of.

Now, the only part of the books that I had a little trouble with was the fact that it read like the Disney version of Christianity. Every action is steeped in religious overtones. See, Lewis turned atheist at a very young age and then rediscovered his faith around the time he started writing. And this reflects very strongly in his writing. His allusion to Aslan as Christ is none too subtle.

Nonetheless, the books are a pleasure to read. For anyone who has watched the movies first, you’ll find the books so much simpler but that’s the beauty of it. Whist Lord of the Rings was a masterpiece of writing that can have no equal, they are not children’s books. The Hobbit was but not the rest. LOTR could never be translated in all its glory to the big screen because of the sheer scale of such an endeavor. Peter Jackson ran the risk of making a 12 hour movie if he were to include every aspect of the original book and even then, be left wanting. But the simplicity of The Chronicles gives us the liberty to dream even bigger and make the enchanted world of Narnia our own. You could never do that with Middle-Earth because the history and the story of it is complete and even thinking of reinventing it is unthinkable. Tolkien's world is sacrosanct. But in Narnia, you can create your own adventures with characters from your own imagination and take it where you may. The Chronicles only ever claim to tell a very small part of this story.

For those of you who haven’t read them, please do. You’ll be taken back to a time when you were a child and your imagination was limitless. Oh, and please read them in the order they were meant to be read in and not the order of when they were written.

Chronological/Reading order:

The Magician's Nephew
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Horse and His Boy
Prince Caspian
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Last Battle

You will not be disappointed.

A Little Security Goes a Long Way & Movie Review : The Perfect Storm & The Omen

2009-02-03T23:43:00.007+05:30

Well, it's a new year. Again. I can't believe it. Again.

I know I keep saying this every new year that the past year went by in the blink of an eye, etc, etc. But that reminds me of something someone once said. Apparently, when you're a child, say, 5 years old, a year is essentially a fifth of your life and hence seems like forever. The older you grow, the smaller the fraction becomes and when you're 20, or in my case, 28, the percentage is miniscule. So, going forward, every year is going to seem shorter and shorter...

There, I think I've actually gone and depressed myself some more.

You must be wondering what the title has anything to do with anything and in true form, for the most part, it has nothing to do with most of the post. But I found out today that I've got my position (at work) quite secure for at least a while longer. I've been reconfirmed as a Supervisor and have been given an additional team to handle. Which means that in these dire times when there's nary a job to be had, I've got some sense of permanence with respect to work.

That actually makes me feel a lot better about a lot of things. The downside is, of course, that there will be no pay hikes, bonuses, etc, but the upside is that I have a job from which I can even expect pay hikes. :) So, I shan't complain anymore about that.

As I type this out, The Perfect Storm is playing on TV. The part where he's squat in the middle of the damn storm and actually trying to push through a wave that looks like it belongs in Deep Impact. Which of course, is adding to my happy mood. This makes me wonder if, in that situation, I'd keep going or just say, "Hell with this shite." and just settle down to die. I mean, what about hopeless situations makes us fight through clinging on to just the slightest chance of hope. And thar she goes... I'm sorry. For those of you who can't see my TV at this point in time, the Andrea Gail just sank like a rock after fighting through what was apparently the worst storm in history. The funny thing is, when I was in Newfoundland, I had a few friends who were sailors (the fishermen kind, not the catamaran kinds) who knew the crew of the Andrea Gail. Many other ships were lost that night and they still speak about it in awe. Men who went up against the earth-shattering might of nature and lost. But they were men who were just trying to feed their families. I guess in these cases, self-preservation just goes out the window when you're trying to do what's best for the ones you love.

OKAY. That's enough on that happy topic. I've realized that the way I'm going, this blog will be a big hit with anyone who's supremely high and hence think they need to discuss the finer nuances of human nature or those who're contemplating suicide. No more.

Happy thoughts, happy, cheery thoughts...

...

Jesus. This is tougher than I imagined. It's not exactly easy to switch moods, eh.

Right. Why do I even bother.

And do you know what movie is on now? Just guess... Okay, I know you're reading this and are probably not going to guess. The Omen. The original, in case you were wondering. Anti-Christ and all. :) I should honestly turn the bleeding TV off when I write.

This kid is waaay scarier than the new Omen child. Where do they get these freaky looking kids anyway? Don't their parents get a little freaked out? Imagine having your child (potentially the Anti-Christ) standing at your bedroom door, in the dark, with the light behind him, looking at you in the middle of the night...

Reason Number 284 for not having kids. One day I might be bothered to tell you the other 283 reasons but not tonight. Now, red-assed baboons are attacking the car with the kid.

Today is not the day for happy posts so I’m just going to give up trying and get to bed. And of course, watch the kid murder everyone.

Cheerio.

Alone at home with time on my hands

2008-12-17T20:28:00.000+05:30

If you didn't guess, the title gives you a pretty good idea of where I stand, and subsequently, why I'm writing. This is the most I've updated a single blog, EVER! Since I'm so excited by this new development, you can also take a wild guess as to how thrilling my life must be.

I've got a good job, good friends, a nice place, and absolutely nothing to do. Which drives me up the friggin' wall. I'm seriously considering getting myself a hobby or 10 to keep my time occupied. Which brings me to another problem. Bangalore is a nice city in India. Actually, you know what, let me retract that. It's got nice weather and the people are more open-minded than I'd get out in the villages and that's what makes it nice. Otherwise, the streets are over-crowded, traffic is a nightmare and life in general is just dull. There's absolutely NOTHING to do in this place. Wait, I lie. If you're a raging alcoholic, this place is gold. At last count, it had 2347982374928347 bars or some such and pretty much nothing else. Since, I, being the great guy that I am, have given up my sinful alcoholic ways, I stand before you, a very bored and uninteresting individual.

There are actually a few things that I can do, if I have the patience to drive an hour and a half to cover 6 kilometers. I think I'll take up archery, wall climbing and German. I think Archery is damn cool. I always think of Rambo (yes, I know, not William Tell or Robin Hood) blowing up some poor sop with a pound of C4 at the tip of his very cool arrows. And while such a situation might not present itself in your everyday life, I still think it'd be pretty damn cool. Wall climbing... well, let's just say it gives me a rush, and also, I like to pretend I'm Spiderman. German just sounds so damn sexy. Okay, not when you have Hitler foaming at the mouth, but when you listen to an educated German person talk, it sounds like poetry. Actually, that applies more to Gaelic, but I seriously doubt my chances are very good of finding a Gaelic language center in this city. Maybe when I'm in Scotland or Ireland.

I should take these things up. I should take them and go back to updating my blog once a year like I used to when I did have a life.

Not that writing here is not therapeutic. It is. But once I'm done, I have no idea what I'll do next.

To piss me off even more, I just found out some moron stole my very cool beach shorts and superman t-shirt. So help me God, if I see anyone walking around in this neighborhood wearing anything similar to that, they'll have a very angry Indian man on their ass. I don't know why I say "Indian" man, considering I'm in India, and that's not exactly a rarity. I don't care.

I think I shall have a beer while I do this. Just to calm my nerves. Hold up.

Aah sweet nectar. There. Feeling better already. A nice Kingfisher Draught will always hit the spot.... No? Nothing? How the hell do all these people make a bomb advertising on the net? I need to get myself some sponsors. I think I'll use Yahoo! Search Marketing for that....

No, still nothing. Fuck it.

So, anyway, I'm sitting here, sipping my beer and I'm wondering if I should put something down actually worth reading. Now, I seriously doubt anybody who's stuck around for long enough to read this far is actually going to care but I'm feeling generous.

I was watching Schindler's List the other night and I went online after to look him up and he was a real hero. He saved 1100 odd Jews during the Holocaust. He was awarded the title Righteous Among the Nations, an award given to non-Jews who helped save Jewish lives during World War 2. The man spent every penny of his fortune to keep these people safe from the SS and bribed the Germans to turn a blind eye to his Jews while they massacred hundreds of thousands right next door in the Krakow Ghetto. He was actually penniless after the war because he'd spent all his money saving them. And he died pretty much penniless.

The thing is, he wasn't a great man, a noble man (though you think he must be). He was just a good person who started out thinking that saving people meant business wouldn't suffer (most of the Jews he saved were workers in his factory). But he held on to the decency of the act while all around him, normal Germans signed up with the Nazis and continued butchering people as if they were cutting bread.

And I think to myself, is that a satisfying life? Did he die a happy man, despite his almost penniless existence for the next two decades, in the knowledge that he'd helped save so many people? I don't know.

An excerpt:

The writer Herbert Steinhouse, who interviewed Schindler in 1948 at the behest of some of the surviving Schindlerjuden (Schindler's Jews), said

“

Oskar Schindler's exceptional deeds stemmed from just that elementary sense of decency and humanity that our sophisticated age seldom sincerely believes in. A repentant opportunist saw the light and rebelled against the sadism and vile criminality all around him. The inference may be disappointingly simple, especially for all amateur psychoanalysts who would prefer the deeper and more mysterious motive that may, it is true, still lie unprobed and unappreciated. But an hour with Oskar Schindler encourages belief in the simple answer.

”

Just that simple. But did he feel fulfilled. I don't know. Would I have done the same thing in his position? The simple, un-thought of answer would be, "Yes, of course I would. What kind of person would I be?" But think about it, really. Would you have the courage, the will to do things completely contrary to every behavior shown by every person around you. I'd like to think I would. I'd like to think I would, not for nobility, not for greatness, not for a place in history but for the simple reason that I'd want someone to save my life if I was helpless. I'd like to afforded that respect. To be given a chance to live out my life had the world not gone completely insane.

I hope that such a day would never come, but you never know.

I am a complete believer in the fact that, goodness or human decency comes in the form of simple acts. Feeding a hungry dog, not ignoring the old, homeless people who sit on the side of the road, in picking up a piece of garbage instead of complaining about it. It might not make a big difference, but they all add up. They add up and if you have one person in a thousand (and I'm being realistic) do something like that, that's 6 million good deeds. And that makes a ripple. I know that when there's a catastrophe or a disaster, people come together to help each other, but if there's that innate human goodness, that decency in all people, we shouldn't just exercise it at the worst possible moment.

Don't give up your life, give away all your money, move to the mountains to live the life of an ascetic. Just do your one good deed once in a while and you'll make a difference. You're causing a ripple.

I like movies that move me. Not very many do, but the ones that do, I like them. I'll probably not watch Schindler's List again for a while, but this is one thing that I'll take away from it. Hopefully, that means something to someone.

Sigh... I got a little more carried away than I'd expected. But it makes sense. And that's the most I can hope for at the end of the day.

Will keep drinking my beer.

Cheers.

One of those days...

2008-12-17T20:26:00.000+05:30

Okay, so I suck at giving very apt and cool titles to blogs. I see some people who just naturally know how to title or label something and it's perfect! You think, "Hell, I wouldn't call that anything else in a million years and I wouldn't have thought of it, either." Well, I'm not that creative. I'll probably name it Blog for March 27th. Which brings me to people to whom famous quotes are credited. Does anyone honestly believe that Neil Armstrong got off the Eagle and thought of saying, "One small step for man..." I can just imagine his first words must've been, "HA! Up yours, Buzz!" or "Holy Heck! This is just dandy!" If you think about it, there must've been a whole team of people working on it for months. I can just imagine the rejects, "US 1, Russia ZERO!" Either way, it'd be cool to spontaneously come up with crazy quotes, but it's highly unlikely.

Today actually has been just one of those days. I went to work, did stuff, played foosball, did some more stuff and came back. I was chatting with a friend earlier but now, I'm just writing. And writing's a good release for me. When I can think of nothing else to do, I should start penning the crap that pops into my head. To no end and not as a means to get anything done. I love that feeling, actually. Doing something with absolutely no reason but to do it.

I'm badly in need of a shave. I have laundry to do that I just can't get myself to finish. I should probably make myself some dinner. But I don't think I'm going to do any of those things. I'm watching The Office and I must say, Steve Carrell is priceless. Going to go do that. Ciao.

CK says, "What do I want? Well, it's quite simple really..."

2008-12-17T19:59:00.002+05:30

I think my sole purpose in life right now is to bring Sexy Back. It's true. Well, okay, fine. Not bring it back. It's to get sexy in the first place. It's the most annoying thing in the world to NOT be sexy. Not that I'm obsessed or anything. In fact, to be quite honest, I've never given a damn about being sexy. Nor have I cared if anyone thought I was or not. But lately, it's been bugging me. So, I've decided to bring it.

I've always been called names. Those names mostly being "cute", "dweeb", and of late, "tubby." The first is not so bad, unless it sounds almost like a consolation prize. "He's hot!! I'd do him... err, you're cute. Don't worry about it." So, I've decided to become the do-able guy.

"But CK!" you might say, "How do you plan to achieve this quite ridiculous goal?" And I'll tell you... Well, it has to do with a LOT of exercise, getting fit, getting a makeover (and not what you see on T&L with those two weird English chicks. I'm talking about Queer Eye for the Straight Guy kind of makeover.), and of course, parading around so that people KNOW I've had a makeover. No point getting one and just sitting at home. I'm going to walk up to people I normally don't hang out with and ask for paper clips or something equally inane and wait for them to give it to me and if they still don't notice it, I'll ask for pencils and all forms of stationery till I get the reaction I want.

So, THAT ladies and gents, is the plan. I'm on Day 2 or "Operation Bringing Sexy" (Back has been omitted for aforementioned reasons). I'll tell you how it goes when I'm on Day 30.

Wish me luck! And of course, if you see me doing an exaggerated/awkward swagger and asking for office supplies, PAY ME A FRIGGIN' COMPLIMENT!