Showed a strange affinity for coffee bars today. Though the coffee itself may suck, the ambience is killer. Excellent for catching up with friends, old or new. Barista, Barista, Cafe Coffee Day. That was my schedule for the day.
We collected the invites for our alumni meeting, my school mates and me. Yeah, i had class later, but damn, they never let me go. Wasted out at the coffee shoppe, Yari Road. I ended up paying :( but heh, i guess once in a blue moon i should chip in...
I was meeting Anupama after a long time. The last time she was in town, my bro was all set to fly off to Russia. So i couldnt met her, and didnt really talk either. Well, i should consider myself a little luckier this time. She called me. Sure, it was after one month of being in town, and sure it was because she was bored and she suddenly remembered she had my number, but what the hell, i'm not nitpicking...
Anywez, this was round two of my coffee day. Progessing and getting better.
Man, i spent most of my time discussing political ideology and a lot of what would be construed by other people as "nothing". But damn, it was a fun session of "nothing". Man, i was enthralled by tales of NLS. Law suddenly seemed a lot more fun. Doesnt mean i'm gonna cut back on lawyer jokes though...
This was where's we'd met the last time. That was probably about a year back, if i remember correctly (and more often than not, i dont, atleast not dates). Heck, we sat at the same place we did last time. Deja vu, like some voodoo. So i gave her King's.. ummm.. %@%$... cant recall. Anywez, she got me some stuff to read too. I can tell you what, but then i'll have to kill you. I dont think you'd like that.
We left sometime later, wandered around, and ended up at Cafe Coffee Day. Heh, still seems so damn funny when i think about it. From one hub to the next. I dont even know if there's any difference in their coffees, but who cares! I never have any out there, not when mom makes some of the best coffee this side of the moon.
And then, talking to her is such a lot of fun. i can say some of the most inane and confounding things, and i can rest assured that i wont meet a blank stare. That is something i'm not quite used to, so i'm often at a loss. Aah what the heck, learn and evolve.
Like while we were waiting outside for her friend to pick her up, we had a talk on whether it's worse to purposely ignore someone or to simply not be bothered at all to the extent of not even acknowledging them. Before you say a word, it's not the same. Think about it...
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Group?
I reflect back to the fracas that happened during Byte-IT 2003, our college fest, the first edition. When i was primarily the one raising a racket. Due to a few, handful of people taking all the decisions that would affect all the others. I didnt like it.
Now, i see a similar thing hapenning. All the work has been designated and assigned by a few people. Half of the group do all the work, and the other half do not care. Once again, i feel like an outsider.
I reflect back to the beginning of the project, when i was aprehensive working with such a big group. I did manage to quell those thoughts, but maybe, i should never have been a part of the group. I do not fit into big groups, especially when it comes to work.
i guess i'm a loner by nature, no two ways about it.
Now, i see a similar thing hapenning. All the work has been designated and assigned by a few people. Half of the group do all the work, and the other half do not care. Once again, i feel like an outsider.
I reflect back to the beginning of the project, when i was aprehensive working with such a big group. I did manage to quell those thoughts, but maybe, i should never have been a part of the group. I do not fit into big groups, especially when it comes to work.
i guess i'm a loner by nature, no two ways about it.
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Fans And Passion
I've been wanting to get this out for quite some time. We have a lot of rock music lovers around, a lot more than are actually represented on online forums. Most of them just listen to international bands and stay away from the local scene. I guess the music on the local scene really isnt good enough to draw new fans in. Bands may cry about the lack of support, but they need to clean up their act before they can draw any new blood in.
What i'm trying to say is, things dont become good with people patronising them, but rather, people patronise things that are good.
And it's high time our local "rock-gods" understood that.
What i'm trying to say is, things dont become good with people patronising them, but rather, people patronise things that are good.
And it's high time our local "rock-gods" understood that.
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Killing Spree!!!
Xan Kreiger ate dust today. Yes, i ran though him without giving him even a chance to fight back. Ofcourse, i used god mode for the last four challenge rounds, but that was because i'd gotten pretty bored by then. No really, it wasnt because i was getting my ass kicked, no sir, it wasnt so.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Yet another fruitful competetion
Yowza!! We won again!! And this time we won proper!!
The Jawaharlal Intercollegiate Shield, i believe, was the proper name. A big, huge, freakin' shield. It was great carrying it around, all over the place, and into college. Too bad there weren't a lot of people around, but what the heck!! Sajitha's getting it to college tomorrow, and i'll be taking it home for a day. Heh, will proudly parade it around to all, and hopefull, like Jerry Pinto said, it will attract a lot of feminine attention. Then again, in our college, you never know it that's a good thing or not..
The competetion itself wasn't really much of a real competetion. There were just three teams. I'm thinking the reason for low participation these days, may probably be an overkill of events and fests, but then again for every student who participates, there must be atleast ten who are waiting for their chance. I guess there isnt much inter-departmental communication happening in colleges these days.
Btw, the topic was "Capital Punishment Is The Best Deterrent For Heinous Crimes". I spoke for it, and my partner spoke against it.
The Jawaharlal Intercollegiate Shield, i believe, was the proper name. A big, huge, freakin' shield. It was great carrying it around, all over the place, and into college. Too bad there weren't a lot of people around, but what the heck!! Sajitha's getting it to college tomorrow, and i'll be taking it home for a day. Heh, will proudly parade it around to all, and hopefull, like Jerry Pinto said, it will attract a lot of feminine attention. Then again, in our college, you never know it that's a good thing or not..
The competetion itself wasn't really much of a real competetion. There were just three teams. I'm thinking the reason for low participation these days, may probably be an overkill of events and fests, but then again for every student who participates, there must be atleast ten who are waiting for their chance. I guess there isnt much inter-departmental communication happening in colleges these days.
Btw, the topic was "Capital Punishment Is The Best Deterrent For Heinous Crimes". I spoke for it, and my partner spoke against it.
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Gutterment
I'm really disillusioned today. There was a time when reading a newspaper would have been entertaining. Not anymore. All it serves in doing now is raising one's blood pressure to heights previously unheard of.
The first page of the TOI itself showed the incompetence and sheer apathy of our government. The savages who vandalised the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute last week, were only held on bail. No doubt, they will be out within a week. No one in the government has bothered to condemn the attack. Instead, those fuckwits have gone ahead and banned the book by James Laine. Such a kneejerk and ignorant reaction i have not seen till date. Apparently this is an open invitation to legions of chaos. If you do not like something, burn it down. The government will side with you.
Then i turned the page and read about the rickshaw union calling for a strike on the 20th, for an increase in fares. This is as hypocritical as the government's stand on freedom of speech. It saddens me to say this, but the actions of a few taint the whole. With rampant unchecked rigging of meters, plus an increae in fares, looks like bus no 11 will be used a lot shortly.
All directly related to the budget. While electronics and travel and similar shit is now cheaper, as usual all the price of essentials has been hiked. Long live our gutterment.
This pretty much spoiled the morning for me. Ended up observing only bad shit. Some executioners hacking a tree to death. A sadistic BEST driver-conductor combination not willing to wait one second for a guy who ran 5 minutes to catch the bus. Fukk, i decided to doze off, or i'd have been a wreck by the time i got to college.
The first page of the TOI itself showed the incompetence and sheer apathy of our government. The savages who vandalised the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute last week, were only held on bail. No doubt, they will be out within a week. No one in the government has bothered to condemn the attack. Instead, those fuckwits have gone ahead and banned the book by James Laine. Such a kneejerk and ignorant reaction i have not seen till date. Apparently this is an open invitation to legions of chaos. If you do not like something, burn it down. The government will side with you.
Then i turned the page and read about the rickshaw union calling for a strike on the 20th, for an increase in fares. This is as hypocritical as the government's stand on freedom of speech. It saddens me to say this, but the actions of a few taint the whole. With rampant unchecked rigging of meters, plus an increae in fares, looks like bus no 11 will be used a lot shortly.
All directly related to the budget. While electronics and travel and similar shit is now cheaper, as usual all the price of essentials has been hiked. Long live our gutterment.
This pretty much spoiled the morning for me. Ended up observing only bad shit. Some executioners hacking a tree to death. A sadistic BEST driver-conductor combination not willing to wait one second for a guy who ran 5 minutes to catch the bus. Fukk, i decided to doze off, or i'd have been a wreck by the time i got to college.
Saturday, January 10, 2004
Sauce And Biscuit - Highlights Of The Brabourne Trophy
I won the consolation prize today, at the 62nd Brabourne InterCollegiate Elocution Competetion, held at the Ismail Yusuf college.
Consolation, n. A solace; alleviation of misery; what helps to cheer; what gives comfort.
What?? I should be offended! But i'm not, as i also got 250 bucks as a, heh, consolation. Heck, makes me wonder how much the winners must have got.
The highlights of the day were ofcourse, not what happened on-stage, but rather, what was happening off-stage. I got some samosas in a plate, and promptly spilled the sauce/chutney syrup all over my pants. it was brought to my notice by a slight wetness in the seat of my pant, and looking down, a saw a thin line of sauce. Thinking that's all it was, i wiped it off. When i got up ever so slightly, to look at the chair, i was horrified! I was sitting in a sea of sauce!! It soon penetrated right upto the interiors, if you get what i mean. And just then, we were asked to get up and sit in the front row. Talk about bad timing. I was so greatful i had worn black jeans. I could just imagine having to scoot about on my rear all day long if i had worn those cream trousers, like i had originally planned. I spent the rest of the time thinking if this was how females felt if they had their periods...
And biscuits. I nearly choked on the one i was eating when they announced my name for the, uh, concolation prize. Heheh. I was totally caught off guard, very clumsily kept aside my bag and plate, and went onstage to collect the price, hoping my hands were clean enough. Hope the audience didnt notice anything out of the ordinary.
The competetion itself was over quickly, with 12 participants. I suppose most colleges were busy with the NAAC thing, which explained the low turnout. We were given 7 topics, two hours before the event. I spoke on "Mall Mania", the only one to do so, while Sajitha, my team-mate, spoke on "Empowerment Of Women's Rights". The others were "Sachin And India", "Today's Food Habits", "Peer Pressure On Today's Youths", "Terrorism Destabilizes The World", and "Unlimited Growth On A Limited Planet". No one spoke on the last one.
The dude who came first, spoke on food habits, and the dude who came in third spoke on Sachin and India. They were both from St.Andrews, and they won the overall token trophy, third time in a row for the college, and second time for the dude who was numero uno. Infact, our chief guest for the evening, Jerry Pinto, had won the individual prizes three times here, and the team trophy twice.
Consolation, n. A solace; alleviation of misery; what helps to cheer; what gives comfort.
What?? I should be offended! But i'm not, as i also got 250 bucks as a, heh, consolation. Heck, makes me wonder how much the winners must have got.
The highlights of the day were ofcourse, not what happened on-stage, but rather, what was happening off-stage. I got some samosas in a plate, and promptly spilled the sauce/chutney syrup all over my pants. it was brought to my notice by a slight wetness in the seat of my pant, and looking down, a saw a thin line of sauce. Thinking that's all it was, i wiped it off. When i got up ever so slightly, to look at the chair, i was horrified! I was sitting in a sea of sauce!! It soon penetrated right upto the interiors, if you get what i mean. And just then, we were asked to get up and sit in the front row. Talk about bad timing. I was so greatful i had worn black jeans. I could just imagine having to scoot about on my rear all day long if i had worn those cream trousers, like i had originally planned. I spent the rest of the time thinking if this was how females felt if they had their periods...
And biscuits. I nearly choked on the one i was eating when they announced my name for the, uh, concolation prize. Heheh. I was totally caught off guard, very clumsily kept aside my bag and plate, and went onstage to collect the price, hoping my hands were clean enough. Hope the audience didnt notice anything out of the ordinary.
The competetion itself was over quickly, with 12 participants. I suppose most colleges were busy with the NAAC thing, which explained the low turnout. We were given 7 topics, two hours before the event. I spoke on "Mall Mania", the only one to do so, while Sajitha, my team-mate, spoke on "Empowerment Of Women's Rights". The others were "Sachin And India", "Today's Food Habits", "Peer Pressure On Today's Youths", "Terrorism Destabilizes The World", and "Unlimited Growth On A Limited Planet". No one spoke on the last one.
The dude who came first, spoke on food habits, and the dude who came in third spoke on Sachin and India. They were both from St.Andrews, and they won the overall token trophy, third time in a row for the college, and second time for the dude who was numero uno. Infact, our chief guest for the evening, Jerry Pinto, had won the individual prizes three times here, and the team trophy twice.
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
New Year's Meal..
I cooked my first meal of the new year today. Wait, i made that masala rice yesterday. Hmm, but that as with my mom lording over me, so it doesn't count. So yes, today i cooked my first meal of the new year - mixed sabji for the afternoon. Actually, it was meant for the night too, but with the people dropping in today, it didnt last.
Without much ado, here's the recipe -
potatoes - 5
onions - 3
carrots - 3
beans - about 30
a few garlic pods.
And spices as per your liking.
Peel all the vegetables, chop them up into cubes/pieces/however-you-like-it. Put them all into a big cooking vessel. Pour about six spoons of oil. Heat. Stir. Add spices. Add salt. Keep stirring. Add a few more spoons of oil. Stir some more. Cover it and let it cook. Smell it. Serve. Eat. Enjoy.
Without much ado, here's the recipe -
potatoes - 5
onions - 3
carrots - 3
beans - about 30
a few garlic pods.
And spices as per your liking.
Peel all the vegetables, chop them up into cubes/pieces/however-you-like-it. Put them all into a big cooking vessel. Pour about six spoons of oil. Heat. Stir. Add spices. Add salt. Keep stirring. Add a few more spoons of oil. Stir some more. Cover it and let it cook. Smell it. Serve. Eat. Enjoy.
Friday, January 02, 2004
Into The New...
Wow, what a start to the new year! Days should be like this, carefree and stoned. Nights too. Yup, especially when you're lying outside the bathroom half the night.
We also had a pre-new year's party celeberation. "Once Upon A Time In Mexico". A full two months after my birthday, and a month and a half after Danny's, we treat the gang to a movie. On the 31st morning. Hey, like they always say, better late than never, huh?
And i must be one of the minute minority who liked Eva Mendez more than Salma Hayek.
We also had a pre-new year's party celeberation. "Once Upon A Time In Mexico". A full two months after my birthday, and a month and a half after Danny's, we treat the gang to a movie. On the 31st morning. Hey, like they always say, better late than never, huh?
And i must be one of the minute minority who liked Eva Mendez more than Salma Hayek.
Thursday, December 18, 2003
Movie Log
Being at home sick would have been a a real drag if it weren't for a few good movies i got to watch...
CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND
George Clooney's diretorial debut. Been wanting to see it for quite some time. Couldn't catch it in the theatres. Got it at home. It's got some real awesome performances. Sam Rockwell is great as Chuck Barris. George Clooney is dead on, and Drew Barrymore chips in too. Though they could have gotten someone else for Julia Robert's role.
At times, i couldn't really follow what was going on, but it did make for interesting viewing. Some of my friends who saw it in the theater couldn't really understand the movie, and i guess you do need to have a certain idea as to what the movie is about, before watching it. And some familiarity with american game-shows wouldn't hurt either. Here's the story. Chuch Barris was a game-show producer, very successful. In his autobiography he claimed the CIA recruited him as a hitman. he killed about 33 people. Simple enought.
The movie has some real offbeat pacing. Barris's rise to fame is portrayed pretty fast. And way too much time is devoted to his bed-time habits, if ya catch my drift. His recruitement could have been more impactful too. But hey, the direction's great! Very entertaining. Makes me wanna read the book..
MATCHSTICK MEN
This one, i just finished it. Had seen the trailer for it when i'd gone to see Terminator 3, and it seemed pretty intriguing. And the was prety damn good. Heck, it was so good it would probably blow your socks off if you wore any..
Nicholas Cage. Man, can this dude act or what! His neurotic, eye-twitching con-artist role is so deftly handled it's hard to believe he's just acting, and that off screen he's just a normal everyday dude. Sam Rockwell as his partner, very understated. Very cool. and finally Alison Lohman (that her name?) as his 14 year old daughter. Very expressive and very convincing.
The story? Cage and Rockwell are conmen. Cage is kinda neurotic. Rockwell gets him a shrink, who convinces Cage to get in touch with his wife, whom he left 14 years ago. She wont meet him, but the daughter will. And then his world turns upside down.
I found it hard to believe that after meeting her dad for the first time in 14 years, and girl could relate to him so easily, but that's explained in the ending. And whoohoo!! What a knockout of a conclusion!! it was great!! Totally made up for the relatively slow pace of the movie. And if anyone's wondering what Matchstick Men stands for, it means conmen.
CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND
George Clooney's diretorial debut. Been wanting to see it for quite some time. Couldn't catch it in the theatres. Got it at home. It's got some real awesome performances. Sam Rockwell is great as Chuck Barris. George Clooney is dead on, and Drew Barrymore chips in too. Though they could have gotten someone else for Julia Robert's role.
At times, i couldn't really follow what was going on, but it did make for interesting viewing. Some of my friends who saw it in the theater couldn't really understand the movie, and i guess you do need to have a certain idea as to what the movie is about, before watching it. And some familiarity with american game-shows wouldn't hurt either. Here's the story. Chuch Barris was a game-show producer, very successful. In his autobiography he claimed the CIA recruited him as a hitman. he killed about 33 people. Simple enought.
The movie has some real offbeat pacing. Barris's rise to fame is portrayed pretty fast. And way too much time is devoted to his bed-time habits, if ya catch my drift. His recruitement could have been more impactful too. But hey, the direction's great! Very entertaining. Makes me wanna read the book..
MATCHSTICK MEN
This one, i just finished it. Had seen the trailer for it when i'd gone to see Terminator 3, and it seemed pretty intriguing. And the was prety damn good. Heck, it was so good it would probably blow your socks off if you wore any..
Nicholas Cage. Man, can this dude act or what! His neurotic, eye-twitching con-artist role is so deftly handled it's hard to believe he's just acting, and that off screen he's just a normal everyday dude. Sam Rockwell as his partner, very understated. Very cool. and finally Alison Lohman (that her name?) as his 14 year old daughter. Very expressive and very convincing.
The story? Cage and Rockwell are conmen. Cage is kinda neurotic. Rockwell gets him a shrink, who convinces Cage to get in touch with his wife, whom he left 14 years ago. She wont meet him, but the daughter will. And then his world turns upside down.
I found it hard to believe that after meeting her dad for the first time in 14 years, and girl could relate to him so easily, but that's explained in the ending. And whoohoo!! What a knockout of a conclusion!! it was great!! Totally made up for the relatively slow pace of the movie. And if anyone's wondering what Matchstick Men stands for, it means conmen.
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Viva La Government
It's really infuriating to see how our government works. Efficiency and productiveness must be the last things on their minds. The question of any semblence of order never even arises.
I became eligible to vote two years back. I didn't care much. However, my mom wanted to get my voter's card made. Fine by me. She needed to get her card changed, and we could get two new ones made, one for me, and one for my brother. It wasn't much of a problem getting the form. The cleck at the centre in Andheri was actually helpful. I remember commenting something to the effect of "I'm shocked!", to my mom on the way out. Well, i didn't know the meaning of shocked.
We had to come back to this school near our house to submit the form. So we go in, pretty happy, as there was no crowd, and our fear of having anything to do with the government slowly evaporating. And then we find out that our building's name wasn't there on the voter's list.
Let me run that by you again. Our. Building's. Name. Wasn't. There. On. The. Voter's. List.
We cease to exist officially. This sucks!! This was so fucking infuriating!! They wanted us to go back to the head office and get things sorted out there. Screw this!! I mean, fuck, four years later, when the next elections come around, i probably wont even be around the country anymore. I'm not gonna waste my time and energy running around to sort out this bureaucratic mess. Especially when there isn't one single party or candidate even worth voting for.
Viva la fucked up government!!
I became eligible to vote two years back. I didn't care much. However, my mom wanted to get my voter's card made. Fine by me. She needed to get her card changed, and we could get two new ones made, one for me, and one for my brother. It wasn't much of a problem getting the form. The cleck at the centre in Andheri was actually helpful. I remember commenting something to the effect of "I'm shocked!", to my mom on the way out. Well, i didn't know the meaning of shocked.
We had to come back to this school near our house to submit the form. So we go in, pretty happy, as there was no crowd, and our fear of having anything to do with the government slowly evaporating. And then we find out that our building's name wasn't there on the voter's list.
Let me run that by you again. Our. Building's. Name. Wasn't. There. On. The. Voter's. List.
We cease to exist officially. This sucks!! This was so fucking infuriating!! They wanted us to go back to the head office and get things sorted out there. Screw this!! I mean, fuck, four years later, when the next elections come around, i probably wont even be around the country anymore. I'm not gonna waste my time and energy running around to sort out this bureaucratic mess. Especially when there isn't one single party or candidate even worth voting for.
Viva la fucked up government!!
Saturday, October 25, 2003
Home sweet home!
That's right, no place like it. No matter where you go, no matter who you're with, ultimately, no other place feels like home. Ofcourse, spending time at my grandparents' place isn't too bad either, feels like i'm at a holiday home, heh. No work to do, just sleep and watch tv all day long..
I'd taken some books and stuff to study too, but i think from the next time i'll keep the junk at home.
I'd taken some books and stuff to study too, but i think from the next time i'll keep the junk at home.
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Separation...
I finally put my jeans in for wash. They pushed me past my breaking-point, and that is no small feat. My Lee Coopers. I'll miss them. They've been my companions for the last month and a half. Hope they're back soon. I need to wear them tommorow.
Monday, October 20, 2003
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
It was pretty lonely coming home today. For the last couple of months, there had always been someone at home. I step in today, and all of a sudden i realise i'm alone once again. Bro in Russia, grandparents back in Thana, and mom, at work. Kickback to the days gone by, when i used to lap up any time i got to spent alone. Adapt and change, i guess.
I watched Se7en. Pretty damn good movie. And one kick-ass of an ending. Brad Pitt aint too hot on my list, but damn, he makes some good career choices. Snatch, Spy Games, Fight Club, Kalifornia. Definetely among some of my best...
I watched Se7en. Pretty damn good movie. And one kick-ass of an ending. Brad Pitt aint too hot on my list, but damn, he makes some good career choices. Snatch, Spy Games, Fight Club, Kalifornia. Definetely among some of my best...
Monday, October 13, 2003
Saturday, October 11, 2003
Well, we just got back from the airport. Kapil's flight was on time. They got in pretty easy. Plus no duty on the excessive weight. Till Delhi atleast. So that's good for them. For the moment..
Boy, what a massive turnout at the airport! All his college buddies, school mates, and even friends from our area had turned up. As it is, the last few weeks had been like one giant party for him. Friends over all the time, him out at their place, dinner invitations, like, wow, that's living it up!!
Anywez, mom, the grans, and me, we waited at the airport till about 6. Even Swarna waited with us. She was crying almost as much as mom. Not me though, no crying on joyous occassions.
Boy, what a massive turnout at the airport! All his college buddies, school mates, and even friends from our area had turned up. As it is, the last few weeks had been like one giant party for him. Friends over all the time, him out at their place, dinner invitations, like, wow, that's living it up!!
Anywez, mom, the grans, and me, we waited at the airport till about 6. Even Swarna waited with us. She was crying almost as much as mom. Not me though, no crying on joyous occassions.
What a mad-house!! People all over the place, swarming like the bees over a drop of necter. Everyone had come to meet my bro. And as usual, they came late. So they ended up staying late. And hence, left real late. Leading to us sleeping real late.
We had some kirtans at our house, and most of the people didn't know that it was planned. But they still liked it pretty much. However, i'd say the food could have been better. People seemed to devour it like there was no tommorow, but not me. Maybe i'm more fickle than most people.
It's morning now, and we couldn't sleep late. I had to get the final packing done for my brother. We should be leaving for the airport by about 2:30. His flight is at 5:40, and Pushkar's pop is operating the flight to delhi. So it's gonna be cool for them..
We had some kirtans at our house, and most of the people didn't know that it was planned. But they still liked it pretty much. However, i'd say the food could have been better. People seemed to devour it like there was no tommorow, but not me. Maybe i'm more fickle than most people.
It's morning now, and we couldn't sleep late. I had to get the final packing done for my brother. We should be leaving for the airport by about 2:30. His flight is at 5:40, and Pushkar's pop is operating the flight to delhi. So it's gonna be cool for them..
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