Hold on to your butt, we are takin you to the new domain.
and uh...if we don't, why don't you just click this here link vixdom.com/pov
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Moving on...
After much deliberation, this blog is moving on.
You can now visit your second most favourite blog of all time at our new location. Any guesses where? Okay.... how about you just google the blog name and see if anything new turns up.
The Blogspot address is not going anywhere for now. I plan to keep it alive for a couple of months till I am sure the kinks are worked out in the new place. Hopefully by vixdom's next birthday we would be in our new diggs.
If you are using a feedreader (like google reader) to follow this blog (and I know for a fact that 11 people are) then you might want to add the new URL too (if u manage to find it through google).
oh..and btw, vixlist is moving too.
And it would really help if you dropped in a your thoughts about the new blog.
You can now visit your second most favourite blog of all time at our new location. Any guesses where? Okay.... how about you just google the blog name and see if anything new turns up.
The Blogspot address is not going anywhere for now. I plan to keep it alive for a couple of months till I am sure the kinks are worked out in the new place. Hopefully by vixdom's next birthday we would be in our new diggs.
If you are using a feedreader (like google reader) to follow this blog (and I know for a fact that 11 people are) then you might want to add the new URL too (if u manage to find it through google).
oh..and btw, vixlist is moving too.
And it would really help if you dropped in a your thoughts about the new blog.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Monsoon Magic
The human body, they say (they being the people who made the Liril ad) is 99% water.
Maybe for us Indians, its a wee bit higher 99.2% perhaps. How else would you explain why the rains bring a smile to every one of us. Sure, you have plenty of rational reasons to look forward to the monsoons. If they are't timely and sufficient, it results in a bad crop that agricultural season, which results in higher prices, which ultimately leads to the stock markets crashing. And supposed fringe benefits like better power production from our Hydel plants are also in the list. I say supposed because even after the best monsoons, we end up having power cuts during summer. Every. Single. Year.
But when the first drop falls on your cheek, you do not consider all the above stuff. Its as if (to be filmi), the rain completes you.
I am not aware of any other culture which such a vast collection of 'rain songs'. Its almost like a baptism that every heroine needs to go through - her own rain song.
Anyways, I personally can (and probably will) spend hours looking at the rain - as it drips from the leaves, as it fogs up my window, as it seems to slow down around the bright street lights, as it makes the comforting 'ssshhhhhh' sound while I snuggle in bed.
In my 'younger years' (can't believe I said that), I used to have a crush on a (different) girl every monsoon. I remember at least 5 monsoon crushes I had. And after the third time, I realized the trend and started looking forward to the rains, and perhaps subconsciously triggering the need to have a crush 'for the season'.
I will end this schoolboy essay by saying that, I know that as the season progresses, and messes with a few weekends, and causes the roads to be fit only for horseback, I will start cursing the season. But I hope the monsoons never cease to be magical.
Maybe for us Indians, its a wee bit higher 99.2% perhaps. How else would you explain why the rains bring a smile to every one of us. Sure, you have plenty of rational reasons to look forward to the monsoons. If they are't timely and sufficient, it results in a bad crop that agricultural season, which results in higher prices, which ultimately leads to the stock markets crashing. And supposed fringe benefits like better power production from our Hydel plants are also in the list. I say supposed because even after the best monsoons, we end up having power cuts during summer. Every. Single. Year.
But when the first drop falls on your cheek, you do not consider all the above stuff. Its as if (to be filmi), the rain completes you.
I am not aware of any other culture which such a vast collection of 'rain songs'. Its almost like a baptism that every heroine needs to go through - her own rain song.
Anyways, I personally can (and probably will) spend hours looking at the rain - as it drips from the leaves, as it fogs up my window, as it seems to slow down around the bright street lights, as it makes the comforting 'ssshhhhhh' sound while I snuggle in bed.
In my 'younger years' (can't believe I said that), I used to have a crush on a (different) girl every monsoon. I remember at least 5 monsoon crushes I had. And after the third time, I realized the trend and started looking forward to the rains, and perhaps subconsciously triggering the need to have a crush 'for the season'.
I will end this schoolboy essay by saying that, I know that as the season progresses, and messes with a few weekends, and causes the roads to be fit only for horseback, I will start cursing the season. But I hope the monsoons never cease to be magical.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The greatest physical force
Inertia. - The resistance of any object to any changes to its current state.
*That* dear reader, was the only thing that caused the longest break this blog has ever seen. But in a world where everything from climate change to the financial meltdown to the BP oil spill is attributed to complex causes, shouldn't we be glad that the cause of this is just so damned simple.
laziness.
But of course, I did link my twitter, facebook, Gtalk status and this blog together, such that every spittle that came out was broadcast across.
I also have this other excuse for not being around. I can claim that I am working on an idea which if/when it is rolled out, will change the blog. In a big way..... and no it's not a template change. Not just rather.
Anyway, now that we have a post longer longer than a tweet would allow, we can safely say that the 'blog hadtaal' is over and having had my sip of lime juice, I am ready to get this blog back to 'normal'..whatever that was.
*That* dear reader, was the only thing that caused the longest break this blog has ever seen. But in a world where everything from climate change to the financial meltdown to the BP oil spill is attributed to complex causes, shouldn't we be glad that the cause of this is just so damned simple.
laziness.
But of course, I did link my twitter, facebook, Gtalk status and this blog together, such that every spittle that came out was broadcast across.
I also have this other excuse for not being around. I can claim that I am working on an idea which if/when it is rolled out, will change the blog. In a big way..... and no it's not a template change. Not just rather.
Anyway, now that we have a post longer longer than a tweet would allow, we can safely say that the 'blog hadtaal' is over and having had my sip of lime juice, I am ready to get this blog back to 'normal'..whatever that was.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Life would be a whole lot more fun if we all ended our sentences with '...but first roo roo' (Ref: http://goo.gl/1dgV)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Monday, June 07, 2010
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Save money!!!
Just figured out how I can save $$$ spent on watching Bollywood flicks.
Just read the comic version on the vigil idiot.
At least this way ever move is entertaining.
Just read the comic version on the vigil idiot.
At least this way ever move is entertaining.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Interview to avoid a Vamp's ire
Okay.... You know I hate doing these kinda posts, but I have been given the opportunity to weasel this post as a 'gift' for someone. And me being the cheapo that I am, I would not pass up a chance to save head-racking time thinking of a gift idea and also some valuable $$$. So here goes ...
1. The first movie I remember being taken to was in Ranchi, and it was 'Dharam Kanta'. Don't ask me anything beyond that. I was a sweet 4 or 5 year boy who faithfully slept whenever I was taken to a movie.
The first actual movie I remember seeing in a theater was 'The Fox and The Hound' - a Disney animated movie in Sangeet 70mm.
2. Ya, I am missing someone right now. And no points for guessing who. Little Tvish is sleeping and just 20 minutes ago I was at my wits end trying to get her to sleep, and now I can't wait till morning to see her smile at me and gurgle.
No wonder Sandhya says she is jealous.
3. Current fav. album is 'Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya'... by ARR of course. A rocking tamil album after a very long time. And my pick from that is 'Aaromale'.
4. The last person I spoke to on the phone? Sandhya. Was chatting with her while walking back after a chai session with the guys. But I am guessing she slept thru the conversation since she was sleeping and holding the phone to her ear when I came back.
5. To paraphrase Shatrugan Sinha in ... I forget which movie. When God was handing out talent, I was out playing 'chann kabbadi'.
But I really wish I could write...real well. Unlike the drivel you read on this blog.
6. Top 3 foods? Rasam Rice, with Sepankezangu. And Hyderabadi Biryani.
7. No. Haven't bungee jumped. Don't wanna. Sounds as exciting as...snorting heroin. Basically...doesn't excite me.
8. I dreamt about visiting our old Krupa Complex flat last night. Very strange. And also about this real old person who was my Grandpa's friend. Go figure.... I have no clue why. And I usually don't remember my dreams but this time I did because it was so vivid.
9. Yes. Thrice. (And this question is the reason why I was avoiding putting in the questions too)
10. Well, the first thing I am going to do after answering these questions is shoot an SMS saying 'Your present's online'. After that I will take a close and long look at Tvish before snuggling next to my wifey who would have something to mutter to me am sure. :)
11. Yes. I am probably the happiest person in the world right now.
Monday, February 08, 2010
My Rules III [Updated]
In the glorious tradition of Bollywood movies adding a song after the first week just to spite the first-day first-show viewers, I know have an 'extraa rule' for the '2nd Grand Day' of this post.
For previous lists of 'My Rules' visit here and here
All right, its been almost 6 months since I told all the jerks out there how they can make the world a better place for people like me.... no no..make that 'for me'.
1. This goes to the media.
Stop attaching the word 'gate' to every stupid scandal. Its been three decades since Watergate..and that was in the USA dumasses... Not just is it stupid, but most of your viewers probably do not even know what Watergate was and must be wondering what the frick is this about...
2. And this to the TV people.
Stop airing 'Indra - The Tiger' already. Seriously. I dare you to switch on your TV right now, and it is probably playing on some Hindi network. And while we are on the topic, I know you probably heard my conversations with friends when we gushed over how we would never ever get tired of watching 'FRIENDS' re-runs. Well..we were wrong. Its been going on long before I hit puberty...and here I am now with a kid and this this is still running??? And while still on the topic, Seinfeld is *still* funny. Here is an idea, bring back M*A*S*H.
3. Shahrukh - This one is for you.
Yep! I know someone told you and it is probably true that you are very popular in Pakistan. So its understandable that you want to suck up to them. But they watch pirated copies of your movies so you aren't getting one single Pakistani Rupee from the other side of the border, so don't go about trying to please them by saying the Pakistanis should have been in the IPL.
What? You were actually serious about that? Oh..my apologies... if only there was a way you could have put your money where your mouth is..if only you owned your own IPL team and could have bought them...if only...
4. And not to stray from Bollywood.
What's with the Hindi movie industry's obsession over the September 11 attack in the US? Is that the worst tragedy we know about? First it was Naseer Saab's directoral debut - Yun Hota to Kya Hota, then New York last year, and now SRK with MNIK.
And then these people get pissed off if we call them 'Bollywood'. Pah!
-----x-----
I did have one more rule to spit out, but I glanced around and saw a book on the table. A dust covered paperback with a white cover, and a small rainbow on the upper left hand side.
I love the hour or two of halfsleep on Sunday mornings. Its something one grows to love right from the first Sunday after joining school. This particular Sunday morning was no different, except that it was. My halfsleep was broken by the twin beep of an incoming SMS. Picked up my phone from under my curiously twisted pillow (one of the mysteries of life I suppose). It was a message from Nimish.
The only messages Nimish ever sends are the ones that strike him to be gloriously funny for some reason (they usually bring a faint smile to most)
This message was terse.
dude. salinger is dead
Punctuationswere never his thing.
My first thought was not shock. Not remorse. It was ironically Holdenish. I thought.
"Oh gawd! Now facebook and twitter would be flooded with morons quoting him as their status message."
My second thought was.
"Hmmm.. I wonder which quotes I should post on Twitter and as my Google Talk status..must avoid quoting Catcher...all the other morons would be doing that."
I remember when R K Narayan passed away. I remember actually feeling sad. But now, I searched myself and just did not.
It's not like he was prolific and his staying alive would have given me few more books to read...naah..that old coot hadwritten published four books and that was that.
And thank goodness for that...else I would have difficulty packing when I travel.
????!!!!!!
p.s. My current Google Talk status is "The most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid"
For previous lists of 'My Rules' visit here and here
All right, its been almost 6 months since I told all the jerks out there how they can make the world a better place for people like me.... no no..make that 'for me'.
1. This goes to the media.
Stop attaching the word 'gate' to every stupid scandal. Its been three decades since Watergate..and that was in the USA dumasses... Not just is it stupid, but most of your viewers probably do not even know what Watergate was and must be wondering what the frick is this about...
2. And this to the TV people.
Stop airing 'Indra - The Tiger' already. Seriously. I dare you to switch on your TV right now, and it is probably playing on some Hindi network. And while we are on the topic, I know you probably heard my conversations with friends when we gushed over how we would never ever get tired of watching 'FRIENDS' re-runs. Well..we were wrong. Its been going on long before I hit puberty...and here I am now with a kid and this this is still running??? And while still on the topic, Seinfeld is *still* funny. Here is an idea, bring back M*A*S*H.
3. Shahrukh - This one is for you.
Yep! I know someone told you and it is probably true that you are very popular in Pakistan. So its understandable that you want to suck up to them. But they watch pirated copies of your movies so you aren't getting one single Pakistani Rupee from the other side of the border, so don't go about trying to please them by saying the Pakistanis should have been in the IPL.
What? You were actually serious about that? Oh..my apologies... if only there was a way you could have put your money where your mouth is..if only you owned your own IPL team and could have bought them...if only...
4. And not to stray from Bollywood.
What's with the Hindi movie industry's obsession over the September 11 attack in the US? Is that the worst tragedy we know about? First it was Naseer Saab's directoral debut - Yun Hota to Kya Hota, then New York last year, and now SRK with MNIK.
And then these people get pissed off if we call them 'Bollywood'. Pah!
-----x-----
I did have one more rule to spit out, but I glanced around and saw a book on the table. A dust covered paperback with a white cover, and a small rainbow on the upper left hand side.
I love the hour or two of halfsleep on Sunday mornings. Its something one grows to love right from the first Sunday after joining school. This particular Sunday morning was no different, except that it was. My halfsleep was broken by the twin beep of an incoming SMS. Picked up my phone from under my curiously twisted pillow (one of the mysteries of life I suppose). It was a message from Nimish.
The only messages Nimish ever sends are the ones that strike him to be gloriously funny for some reason (they usually bring a faint smile to most)
This message was terse.
dude. salinger is dead
Punctuationswere never his thing.
My first thought was not shock. Not remorse. It was ironically Holdenish. I thought.
"Oh gawd! Now facebook and twitter would be flooded with morons quoting him as their status message."
My second thought was.
"Hmmm.. I wonder which quotes I should post on Twitter and as my Google Talk status..must avoid quoting Catcher...all the other morons would be doing that."
I remember when R K Narayan passed away. I remember actually feeling sad. But now, I searched myself and just did not.
It's not like he was prolific and his staying alive would have given me few more books to read...naah..that old coot had
And thank goodness for that...else I would have difficulty packing when I travel.
????!!!!!!
p.s. My current Google Talk status is "The most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid"
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Aman kiss Ass a?
I read the Deccan Chronicle, not Times of India. So when I saw an ad on the TV, where people across the border (read Pakistan) and Indians play a game of dumb charades to communicate a Radio Song Request, I had no clue about 'Aman ki Asha'
Those of you who know me personally also know that I am a huge fan of Mahatma Gandhi. Even when it was fashionable to be a Gandhi hater. I believe in peace not for lofty humanitarian ideals, but because it makes sense. Economic Sense. While watching me shoot zombies to bits you would hardly suspect that a rabid supporter of peace is wielding a Hand Cannon and a Machine Gun with so much panache.
Considering all this, why do I hate this renewed attempt at fostering peace with our neighbour?
Gandhi said "Nonviolence and cowardice are contradictory terms". I am hard-pressed not to categorize our constant attempts at peace with Pakistan as anything but cowardice.
Back when I was in school/college, there was a lot of criticism against peace with Pakistan because of the 'hurt of partition'. The generation affected by the partition just could not forget what they had gone through and could not bring themselves to forget it. I never understood that stance. Doesn't it make sense to forget the past and move on?
That's the same question I asked myself when I saw the 'Aman ki Asha' ad.
Sure, I can forget the partition happened. Because it happened well before me, and I have not been affected by it. I suppose by the same logic I can forget the first two wars with Pakistan (especially because my excuse for a research, i.e. Wikipedia, leads me to believe we were responsible for one of them).
And going by my earlier statement, I had to forget even the recent past. The past I had lived through. That included Kargil, the numerous terrorist attacks (which sadly I have lost count of), and even the recent one in Mumbai where we captured thelone terrorist, gunman, innocent bystander who has the same DNA as the terrorist by a freak of nature.
Sure let me take inspiration from Aamir Khan in Ghajini and erase every bit of our past with Pakistan. But can I erase the present? If I forget anything ever happened, would I still want to be 'brothers' with a nation that is regressing backwards in time at frantic pace, a nation that is still the main hub of Terrorism Outsourcing., a nation that has no semblance of democracy?
I am not for war. No. That is not what I am saying at all. I would want us to be internally secure, that means taking down all the 'sleeper cells', and the Maoist threat (which is actually more worrying right now) and then just ignore Pakistan. No animosity. No friendliness. Like the way I treat my annoying neighbour who clears his throat and spits from the balcony every single day.
Which is why the whole incident with the Pakistan cricketers being ignored in the IPL auction made me laugh out loud. Especially Afridi's statement
And those of you who say Sports and Arts should be kept away from politics... just give me one good reason.
Those of you who know me personally also know that I am a huge fan of Mahatma Gandhi. Even when it was fashionable to be a Gandhi hater. I believe in peace not for lofty humanitarian ideals, but because it makes sense. Economic Sense. While watching me shoot zombies to bits you would hardly suspect that a rabid supporter of peace is wielding a Hand Cannon and a Machine Gun with so much panache.
Considering all this, why do I hate this renewed attempt at fostering peace with our neighbour?
Gandhi said "Nonviolence and cowardice are contradictory terms". I am hard-pressed not to categorize our constant attempts at peace with Pakistan as anything but cowardice.
Back when I was in school/college, there was a lot of criticism against peace with Pakistan because of the 'hurt of partition'. The generation affected by the partition just could not forget what they had gone through and could not bring themselves to forget it. I never understood that stance. Doesn't it make sense to forget the past and move on?
That's the same question I asked myself when I saw the 'Aman ki Asha' ad.
Sure, I can forget the partition happened. Because it happened well before me, and I have not been affected by it. I suppose by the same logic I can forget the first two wars with Pakistan (especially because my excuse for a research, i.e. Wikipedia, leads me to believe we were responsible for one of them).
And going by my earlier statement, I had to forget even the recent past. The past I had lived through. That included Kargil, the numerous terrorist attacks (which sadly I have lost count of), and even the recent one in Mumbai where we captured the
Sure let me take inspiration from Aamir Khan in Ghajini and erase every bit of our past with Pakistan. But can I erase the present? If I forget anything ever happened, would I still want to be 'brothers' with a nation that is regressing backwards in time at frantic pace, a nation that is still the main hub of Terrorism Outsourcing., a nation that has no semblance of democracy?
I am not for war. No. That is not what I am saying at all. I would want us to be internally secure, that means taking down all the 'sleeper cells', and the Maoist threat (which is actually more worrying right now) and then just ignore Pakistan. No animosity. No friendliness. Like the way I treat my annoying neighbour who clears his throat and spits from the balcony every single day.
Which is why the whole incident with the Pakistan cricketers being ignored in the IPL auction made me laugh out loud. Especially Afridi's statement
And those of you who say Sports and Arts should be kept away from politics... just give me one good reason.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Wooow! Let's do that again...NOT!
Apart from the Jackson family, and AP politicians I am not sure too many people can claim a very eventful 2009.
The year began with a Bang! Just a day after my birthday, I was one among 50k (including 'ghost' employees) witnesses who had a ring side view of apna Saccham sinking. A few weeks of excitement were followed by a couple of months of uncertainity, gloom, doom...and loads of fun (hey...the teacher and the principal are busy with school inspection... we are going to party, so what if the exams are next week...right???)
And what followed the uncertainity, gloom and doom? Well, we did get to know what is going to happen to us. And we did not like it. It was apparent that me and my whole team would be among the many to be 'let go'.
And the economy being what it was, I was recieving an average of 1.3 job related emails a month. And they were for jobs like crash test dummy, and ear shaver for Laloo Prasad.
So here I was in a sinking ship, in shark infested waters, and don't forget that we were expecting a baby at that time. And to make matters worse, all this tension did nothing to reduce my weight. I weighed as much as I ever did, and my sleep? If anything I was sleeping longer hours.
If there is an award for the luckiest jhastard of 2009, I deserve at least to be nominated. Seriously!! (touchwood touchwood)
The roller coster ride continued...and the 2nd half was the fun part.
While many of my colleagues and friends had their luck deserting them, I got a job from Microsoft no less!! And what's better than joining Microsoft you ask? Its leaving it for an even better prospect. I know many reading this blog would not agree that my current job is better, but this is my life, my career, and my blog...so I know best! :-)
So while people had to undergo some of their worst career phases, I ended up being where I dreamt of going. And seemingly in one fell swoop!
But the best was yet to come...
Good things...no amazing things come in the tiniest of packages!
I knew it was going to be fun. But didn't realize it would be so awesome. Giving me hours of pure fun non-stop! Teeny Tiny thingy!!
:)
I am of course, referring to my lil Nintendo Wii
Jokes apart, My favourite moment of 2009 was on 31st. When the tiniest member of my family was full of New Year spirit and screaming and giggling like her tiny screws came lose. Maybe she knows things are going to be even better in 2010. Or maybe she knows that it doesn't matter.
In 2009, we became a family. And that made it possibly the best year ever.
The year began with a Bang! Just a day after my birthday, I was one among 50k (including 'ghost' employees) witnesses who had a ring side view of apna Saccham sinking. A few weeks of excitement were followed by a couple of months of uncertainity, gloom, doom...and loads of fun (hey...the teacher and the principal are busy with school inspection... we are going to party, so what if the exams are next week...right???)
And what followed the uncertainity, gloom and doom? Well, we did get to know what is going to happen to us. And we did not like it. It was apparent that me and my whole team would be among the many to be 'let go'.
And the economy being what it was, I was recieving an average of 1.3 job related emails a month. And they were for jobs like crash test dummy, and ear shaver for Laloo Prasad.
So here I was in a sinking ship, in shark infested waters, and don't forget that we were expecting a baby at that time. And to make matters worse, all this tension did nothing to reduce my weight. I weighed as much as I ever did, and my sleep? If anything I was sleeping longer hours.
If there is an award for the luckiest jhastard of 2009, I deserve at least to be nominated. Seriously!! (touchwood touchwood)
The roller coster ride continued...and the 2nd half was the fun part.
While many of my colleagues and friends had their luck deserting them, I got a job from Microsoft no less!! And what's better than joining Microsoft you ask? Its leaving it for an even better prospect. I know many reading this blog would not agree that my current job is better, but this is my life, my career, and my blog...so I know best! :-)
So while people had to undergo some of their worst career phases, I ended up being where I dreamt of going. And seemingly in one fell swoop!
But the best was yet to come...
Good things...no amazing things come in the tiniest of packages!
I knew it was going to be fun. But didn't realize it would be so awesome. Giving me hours of pure fun non-stop! Teeny Tiny thingy!!
:)
I am of course, referring to my lil Nintendo Wii
Jokes apart, My favourite moment of 2009 was on 31st. When the tiniest member of my family was full of New Year spirit and screaming and giggling like her tiny screws came lose. Maybe she knows things are going to be even better in 2010. Or maybe she knows that it doesn't matter.
In 2009, we became a family. And that made it possibly the best year ever.
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