Thursday, October 20, 2011
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
oh the bonnet...
Reveling in British period drama.
- Mansfield Park
- North & Sound
- Wives & Daughters
- Downton Abbey
- Jane Eyre
- Upstairs Downstairs
- Brideshead Revisited
and the usual suspects - Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Emma
God bless BBC and their TV adaptations!
- Mansfield Park
- North & Sound
- Wives & Daughters
- Downton Abbey
- Jane Eyre
- Upstairs Downstairs
- Brideshead Revisited
and the usual suspects - Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Emma
God bless BBC and their TV adaptations!
Thursday, July 07, 2011
see you in therapy...
Harry Potter is Over. See you in therapy - reads a placard at the London World Premiere of the final Potter film. That quote triggered in me, a major bout of Harry Potter Nostalgia.
-Discovering the pleasure of reading for the first time.
-Realizing that words can move one to tears, laughter, deep emotion and pure joy.
-Learning what being 'lost' in something meant.
-Finishing off each of the seven books in one-go all-nighters.
-Waiting restlessly, for years together, for the next book in the series to come out.
-Dissing the movies whenever possible for not being faithful enough to the books.
-Wondering how on earth could the movies ignore what I thought were the most entertaining characters - Fred & George.
-Staying militantly devoted to the books, to hell with the million dollar spectacles.
-All-nighters on the Internet to reach out to other potter maniacs.
-The joys of mugglenet and leakycauldron.
-Disbelief at Dumbledore's death. Weeks later, still refusing to believe that it actually happened.
-Defending Snape's innocence despite all evidence to the contrary, just because Dumbledore trusted him. Dumbledore can't go wrong. He simply can't.
-Sweet vindication when Snape's truth is revealed finally.
-Having a hangover that lasted for weeks after each book.
-Defending Rowling when she revealed Dumbledore was gay and loving it.
I am the Harry Potter Generation.
We grew up with the books. They are such an integral part of our lives that we cannot fathom life without it.
Thank you J.K Rowling.
-Discovering the pleasure of reading for the first time.
-Realizing that words can move one to tears, laughter, deep emotion and pure joy.
-Learning what being 'lost' in something meant.
-Finishing off each of the seven books in one-go all-nighters.
-Waiting restlessly, for years together, for the next book in the series to come out.
-Dissing the movies whenever possible for not being faithful enough to the books.
-Wondering how on earth could the movies ignore what I thought were the most entertaining characters - Fred & George.
-Staying militantly devoted to the books, to hell with the million dollar spectacles.
-All-nighters on the Internet to reach out to other potter maniacs.
-The joys of mugglenet and leakycauldron.
-Disbelief at Dumbledore's death. Weeks later, still refusing to believe that it actually happened.
-Defending Snape's innocence despite all evidence to the contrary, just because Dumbledore trusted him. Dumbledore can't go wrong. He simply can't.
-Sweet vindication when Snape's truth is revealed finally.
-Having a hangover that lasted for weeks after each book.
-Defending Rowling when she revealed Dumbledore was gay and loving it.
I am the Harry Potter Generation.
We grew up with the books. They are such an integral part of our lives that we cannot fathom life without it.
Thank you J.K Rowling.
Monday, June 27, 2011
paradiso...
"I can't look in the mirror"
"It's the mirror that is broken"
"No it is not" - Jack turns away.
-----------------------------------
Every frame in the movie Cinema Paradiso looks like the director sneaked in to your mind and painted your romanticized view of a little Sicilian hamlet, on to the screen.
btw,
Anyone else thinks Jacques Perrin, who plays the adult Toto, could pass off as Colin Firth's brother?
No, seriously, anyone?!
"It's the mirror that is broken"
"No it is not" - Jack turns away.
-----------------------------------
Every frame in the movie Cinema Paradiso looks like the director sneaked in to your mind and painted your romanticized view of a little Sicilian hamlet, on to the screen.
btw,
Anyone else thinks Jacques Perrin, who plays the adult Toto, could pass off as Colin Firth's brother?
No, seriously, anyone?!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Saturday, April 02, 2011
can now die in peace...
the No. 1 Test team.
the No. 1 ODI team.
the WORLD CHAMPIONS.
Sachin has a world cup. And an entire generation of Indians can now die in peace.
-------------------------------------------------------
If 1983 inspired millions of Indians to dream, this victory will endow generations with self-belief.
There is after all a world of difference between going in as underdogs and winning it as favorites.
We beat all the good teams enroute. Dhoni and Yuvraaj sail us through the final. The captain hits the winning runs.
Perfect script.
Mr. Dhoni, take a bow. You are our best captain ever.
-------------------------------------------------------
And yes, I ended up in tears.
Seeing Sachin, Yuvraaj, Haribhajan, Shewag, Dhoni and others in tears was overwelhming.
the No. 1 ODI team.
the WORLD CHAMPIONS.
Sachin has a world cup. And an entire generation of Indians can now die in peace.
-------------------------------------------------------
If 1983 inspired millions of Indians to dream, this victory will endow generations with self-belief.
There is after all a world of difference between going in as underdogs and winning it as favorites.
We beat all the good teams enroute. Dhoni and Yuvraaj sail us through the final. The captain hits the winning runs.
Perfect script.
Mr. Dhoni, take a bow. You are our best captain ever.
-------------------------------------------------------
And yes, I ended up in tears.
Seeing Sachin, Yuvraaj, Haribhajan, Shewag, Dhoni and others in tears was overwelhming.
Friday, April 01, 2011
the package deal...
the joy of a cricket series has always been a combination of good cricket being played, nail-biting finishes, Sachin doing well, the build-up to a match in print and TV and ofcourse the postmortem. And it's the same as we count down the hours to the World Cup Final. India vs Srilanka.
The experience is incomplete without pouring over the newspapers (websites now) for any related article. I just have to read what everybody who has anything to do with cricket has to say. Can't blame me when it's the only thing I can get my mind to focus on. Having finished reading every article in every newspaper/website national/international that I can think of, watched every related program on every channel, I am still hungry. I even finished Guardian's OBO and BBC's 'as it happened' coverage of India's Quarter and Semi final matches, even though I watched those matches live.
Give me more!
cold analytics, impassioned babble, nostalgic whirlpool, over the top worship, an outsider's view of India's obsession with cricket, outlandish phrases, unsuccessful attempts to capture the mood, excuse to go hyberbole, Sachin's greatness, Indian cricket team's burden of expectations...
Give me more!
commentary, features, opinions, editorials, blogs, analysis...
Give me more!
I have to remain sane for atleast another 12 hours.
The experience is incomplete without pouring over the newspapers (websites now) for any related article. I just have to read what everybody who has anything to do with cricket has to say. Can't blame me when it's the only thing I can get my mind to focus on. Having finished reading every article in every newspaper/website national/international that I can think of, watched every related program on every channel, I am still hungry. I even finished Guardian's OBO and BBC's 'as it happened' coverage of India's Quarter and Semi final matches, even though I watched those matches live.
Give me more!
cold analytics, impassioned babble, nostalgic whirlpool, over the top worship, an outsider's view of India's obsession with cricket, outlandish phrases, unsuccessful attempts to capture the mood, excuse to go hyberbole, Sachin's greatness, Indian cricket team's burden of expectations...
Give me more!
commentary, features, opinions, editorials, blogs, analysis...
Give me more!
I have to remain sane for atleast another 12 hours.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
just like...
Good ol' days when...
a India vs Pakistan match meant feverish excitement and air thick with anticipation. The whole country could not think/talk/eat/drink/sleep anything else. Newspaper columns, TV panel shows, drawing room discussions - it was everywhere and made an expert out of everyone. It replaced the 'em movie chusav recent ga?' as the first go-to phrase after the obligatory hello, in those awkward breaking-the-ice conversations.
After a long time, it seems like the buzz is back...
It's the Indo-Pak World Cup semifinal baby!
One also hopes that, after the match we manage to retain some semblance of dignity and restrain should the result be unpalatable.
a India vs Pakistan match meant feverish excitement and air thick with anticipation. The whole country could not think/talk/eat/drink/sleep anything else. Newspaper columns, TV panel shows, drawing room discussions - it was everywhere and made an expert out of everyone. It replaced the 'em movie chusav recent ga?' as the first go-to phrase after the obligatory hello, in those awkward breaking-the-ice conversations.
After a long time, it seems like the buzz is back...
It's the Indo-Pak World Cup semifinal baby!
One also hopes that, after the match we manage to retain some semblance of dignity and restrain should the result be unpalatable.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
scrape through, tie wow, shock loss and thrill win
They are saying, England doesn't deal in dull matches. That, if you have tickets for an England match, you will get your money's worth. And that they are single handedly making these early stages of world cup heart-stoppingly exciting.
Right no?!
Originally posted @ 200*
Right no?!
Originally posted @ 200*
Friday, March 04, 2011
cheat code
Fiery passion also allows for infinite patience.
It's the easiest way to judge how much you love doing something, no?!
It's the easiest way to judge how much you love doing something, no?!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
to do : check - check
Attend a Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performance - check.
(@ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley)
Paragliding - Check
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
tut tut...
I find this social pressure to bubble with excitement, froth happiness and rollick in contentment during each waking moment, deeply distressing.
Let my morose, lost & lazy self - just be.
Let my morose, lost & lazy self - just be.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Fan of
I am high on political satire these days.
.....................................................
Been watching.,
127 Hours
The King's Speech
Legends of Fall
John Q
Good Will Hunting
Paris, Je T'Aime
Eat Pray Love
Super Size Me
Food Inc
The Colbert Report
Real Time with Bill Maher
Charlie Rose show
............................................
Reading.,
The Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson
The Best of Lonely Planet Travel Writing
Political Essays of Hume
The White Mughals - William Dalrymple
..................................................................
There are few things that get me as excited as a book sale does.
Pick anything for a dollar! Enough to make drool.
.....................................................
Been watching.,
127 Hours
The King's Speech
Legends of Fall
John Q
Good Will Hunting
Paris, Je T'Aime
Eat Pray Love
Super Size Me
Food Inc
The Colbert Report
Real Time with Bill Maher
Charlie Rose show
............................................
Reading.,
The Thunderbolt Kid - Bill Bryson
The Best of Lonely Planet Travel Writing
Political Essays of Hume
The White Mughals - William Dalrymple
..................................................................
There are few things that get me as excited as a book sale does.
Pick anything for a dollar! Enough to make drool.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
mad or what?!
Travel means different things to different people. Visiting places, getting-away, seeking stimulation - it maybe one, none or all of these. At the very least we want to be able to tell a decent story about it, once it's over.
There are of course lots of stories out there and 'sigh' , 'wow', 'Oh, how I wish', 'I have to do that before I die', 'THAT, I can not do' are usually my inspired reactions.
And then there are those that make you go 'who does that?! It's bollocks'. Stories that force you to reconsider the reasons for which people travel. While you struggle to see the point of putting oneself through all that, someone else might be silently nodding - 'getting' it intuitively.
Here's a story that made me go 'mad or what?!'
There are of course lots of stories out there and 'sigh' , 'wow', 'Oh, how I wish', 'I have to do that before I die', 'THAT, I can not do' are usually my inspired reactions.
And then there are those that make you go 'who does that?! It's bollocks'. Stories that force you to reconsider the reasons for which people travel. While you struggle to see the point of putting oneself through all that, someone else might be silently nodding - 'getting' it intuitively.
Here's a story that made me go 'mad or what?!'
Monday, January 17, 2011
it's the bank this time...
Wikileaks will soon 'out' thousands of high profile swiss bank account holder details. It is said to include details about high profile individuals and companies from all over the world.
One can't help but be a tad bit disappointed if no Indians will be exposed. Sad, but that seems to be the only way there's any chance that we will find out about the billions of black money stashed away in the Swiss banks.
Pressure has been building on the Indian government since the past few years to co-ordinate with the Swiss government and expose the black money, but nothing has materialized yet. It's not hard to see why, since a major expose would implicate people across the party lines. Not to be left behind of course are the high ranking bureaucrats and industrialists.
One can't help but be a tad bit disappointed if no Indians will be exposed. Sad, but that seems to be the only way there's any chance that we will find out about the billions of black money stashed away in the Swiss banks.
Pressure has been building on the Indian government since the past few years to co-ordinate with the Swiss government and expose the black money, but nothing has materialized yet. It's not hard to see why, since a major expose would implicate people across the party lines. Not to be left behind of course are the high ranking bureaucrats and industrialists.
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