Friday, February 29, 2008

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Ultimate at Ahmedabad



So our two day trip to Ahmedabad finally happened last weekend.

We did play with the Ahmedabad and Delhi teams, had an awesome time interacting with everyone out there. Such selfless people they were - each and everyone of them.



Made a lot of friends, networked a bit.

Manu has written a very very long post about what happened on the two days in Ahmedabad.

You can read it here

http://rhapsoder.blogspot.com/2008/02/first-ultimate-frisbee-nationals.html

I was thinking that I should write something, but then I felt too lazy.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Poem: Remembrance


She left
the fortune seekers land
was waiting for her

pangs of regret
pangs of love
deep within her
heavy heavy heart

puzzled and bemused
he stared at the monitor
waiting to hear
just waiting to hear

days had passed
with no response
he felt helpless
hope was a ray of light

one day she wrote
"when i open my eyes
to that beautiful view,
i see her standing tall on liberty island,
the next thought is you"

he vowed to himself
to get there once
genuflect and say thanks
his life now had
a new french connection

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Pin number reversal

I got this piece of text as an email today from a friend.

This goes like "in case of being confronted by a robber at the ATM, if you enter the ATM Pin in the reverse, the system while dispensing cash as it does normally, recognizes it as an emergency and triggers an alert to the police"

Wow, amazing technology eh! Well, after the umpteen number of jokes that comedians from yesteryear till the latest ones today, have made, on the Tamil Nadu Police, did you ever imagine that this would work?

Even with the best law and order system, this wouldn't work because this system has not been implemented at all.

So this is yet another URBAN LEGEND.

Half the people will take time in typing out the number in reverse order. That action would by itself be a clean give-away to the thief. He'd be thinking - "What the heck is this guy doing, fumbling with keying his ATM Pin?" That'll be a total give-away!

But, having said that, there is actually a technology that has been developed by Joseph Zingher in the US called SafetyPIN, that can exactly do what the hoax email claims, but none of the banks have implemented this.

Comign back to the reverse PIN, thats a logical flaw by itself. What if someone had a palindrome type PIN number?

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The preparation

This story is about office stuff. Certain parts might look a bit exaggerated for the reader, but it truly isnt like that.

Introducing the main character - so, I have a friend in the office who works with another project team. By nature, she is a very innocent and sweet person. Its her first job and she is all energized to do anything and everything - the go-getter kinds.

But you know about big organizations, right? At times, they have a strange influence of the government. Things happen a bit slowly. People sit around a bit, taking their own sweet time.

Our lady was very annoyed with what was happening. In her team, she was the youngest and she wasnt getting the "state-of-the-art work" and any travel. If there was any travel, then arranging for a visa took most of the time. Dont get me started about the visa desk. That's another post. Anyway, past is past.

Then she got into a very good project with a bank. She worked really hard, put a lot of effort into contributing to the project, along with her manager who was working with the client.

Travel dates got fixed. It was decided that she'll be at the client's office for more than a week. The excitement began. She got herself new clothes - the kit allowance was used effectively. Tickets were getting blocked.

Meanwhile, she gets an email/call telling her that she should have a "preparation call". More excitement. She quickly straightens out the presentation deck and then also gets ready an elevator pitch, just to create the right impression - sends it out to the people concerned. Running in her mind are thoughts - ok, we'll be discussing our game plan for the next week, what our presentations are going to focus on, who are the people we are going to meet, what kind of future work can we pitch,... a host of things like that.

The preparation call begins. Questions are coming from the other side - Have you got your tickets? Has peoplesoft been updated? Did you find a good hotel? Also, make that coconut oil bottle a 500ml one, instead of 250ml. By the way, you are coming only for 10 days, which means less clothes to carry, so can you get more stuff - like sweets, sambhar powder etc?

In her mind ("oh my god! is this preparation"?)....

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

There is no substitute

I was amazed by the title of this movie. It said "Kaalai - There is no substitute."

From the beginning, this movie was complete chaos. You can understand what I mean when I say this - "You cant get any hint of the story till the intermission". I dont know whether it was the intention of the screenplay writer or the director, but its such a tragedy that no effort was made to keep the storyline a bit synchronous. There is also too much, what the tamil movie industry calls "BUILD UP" for Simbu. WHY?



Three people with the name Jeeva get introduced at various points during the first quarter of the movie and we get no clue of what these people are upto. Each one hates another - well this is also not known or rather unclear for sometime. Then there are some random fights - dont bother who gets involved in the fight. Its one of the Jeevas.

Who are the Jeevas - One of the Jeevas gets shot at by cop Jeeva. So we dont have to know who he is. The hero kidnaps the daughter of the cop Jeeva and threatens him. The hero is the next Jeeva.

Simbu as the hero in this movie is totally insane. He has completely lost his acting talent. He was much better in his previous movies. Take Kovil for example. He was quite a good actor. In this movie, all he does is, talks like a filthy idiot and acts like a clown. He sings as well - one song which translates as "little devil", he calls his lady love like that. I wonder who'd call their partner a devil. And this song is no different than the Yammaadi Aatthaadi song in Vallavan. Same tune. If the music director is different, then you know who copied.

Vedhika as the lady in the lead just hangs around with skimpy clothing. I am 100 percent confident that other directors will think twice before signing her for the next movie. She can be the item number queen for 2008. With a hip size of less than 26, trying to look like Yana Gupta in certain angles/positions, and with no acting skills, she can best fit the one song category of girls.



The director is Tarun Gopi. And apparently, he is the director for the Vishal damager movie Thimiru. See similarities now? Hero comes to city from a village. A woman is the gang leader for the thugs.

Lal is the policeman, but totally doesnt look like one. He sports a stubble almost throughout the movie, looks are umkempt. Absolutely pathetic.

Sangeetha is definitely sexy. Although she kinda plays the god-mother role, her part pouty lips attract your attention.

The best part of the movie is the end, where Simbu is blocked by 10 people who dont want him to kill the villain. Simbu struggles fiercely and then comes the comparison with a raging bull during the traditional "jallikattu*". His feet prod into the ground and then we see the legs of the bull doing the same. Then we see an angry face trying to break free. Next is the bull furiously shaking its head.

Until this scene in the movie, I never understood why the movie was Kaalai. The director made his punch finally.

*jallikattu - similar to the bull-fighting in spain. happens in tamil nadu villages.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Singapore Night Grand Prix

Singapore is having its first formula one race this year in September and its going to be a night race. Thats like too much excitement.

The circuit is around the Marina Bay area - and if you are familiar with Singapore, it goes through Raffles Boulevard, St Andrews Road and Anderson Bridge.

Here is a simulation of the whole circuits. You can see a number of straights and lots of overtaking opportunities.

I think its going to be an amazing race.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

What word?



You lock the door of your house, and then walk about 50 meters on the road and then suddenly you get this feeling - "Have i locked the main door? Or did i forget". So you walk back to check.

Same with your car, you know that you've used the remote and pressed the LOCK button. But then after walking a few yards away, you still get this feeling - "Did it actually lock. Let me check it once more."

Is there a word to describe such a thought in your mind? I am not looking for standard OED words, but there must something like the sniglets.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Poem: His Pet


Without any fear
and immense delight
he found his new friend
who'd be his best companion ever!

every morning
at the call of the birds
he would run to the door
and shout - "Blacky!!!"
at the top of his voice

only to see
the thumping of the tail
one big hug
to the patient saint bernard
for him, this big buddy
was just like a soft toy

lazy afternoons
were always at the doorstep
with a parle in hand
he'd place his head
right on its neck
thinking it was a bolster

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Spark of Fire

I have been listening to Bharathiyaar (the greatest tamil poet ever) songs lately, especially "Suttum Vizhi Chudarthaan". I have this CD that I got - Sikkil Gurucharan's voice with Anil Srinivasan on the piano. When the song begins, it feels like a pleasant rainfall in your heart.

I think its more to do with the lyrics. Non-Tamil readers please excuse. This song has created such an impact over the last few weeks that I decided I must write a post to try and bring out, perhaps the untold.

It brings out feelings of love and passion in such a beautiful manner, you'll understand when you read till the end.

suttum vizhich chudardhaan kannammaa sooriya chandhiraroa
vattak kariyavizhi kannammaa vaanak karumai kolloa
pattuk karuneelap pudavai padhiththa nal vayiram
natta nadu nisiyil theriyum natchaththirangaladi


The poet usually takes the reference of Kannamma, who in this song is young lady and a graceful lover.

He is amazed by the gaze of her eyes - compares that with the sun and the moon. The light from the orange sun during an early sunrise which is comparable to fire or the bright moon on a full moon day - both bring so much brightness to her appearance. Her round black eyeballs, for him, reminds of the darkness of the skies. Her sari, dark blue in color also signifies the night, but studded with diamonds is like the stars that decorate the beautiful night. In effect, he tells that her appearance is as enthralling as a sparkling night sky.

soalai malaroliyoa unadhu sundharap punnagaidhaan
neelak kadalalaiyae unadhu nenjilalaigaladi
koalak kuyiloasai unadhu kuralininimaiyadi
vaalaik kumariyadi kannammaa maruvak kaadhal kondaen


The colorful flowers in the garden. Imagine the sunflower that glows in the spring when the rays of the sun fall on its petals. Now imagine her smile - it brings out a brilliance and refulgence. The waves of her heart is now compared to the sea. Here it refers to the fluctuations of the thoughts. Her voice is sweeter than the sound of the koel. Oh virgin beauty, I am charmed by my love. Here, the end is a flawless declaration of love. Its the nascent love that when told, reflects on her smile, makes her heart waver and leap with happiness.

saaththiram paesugiraay kannammaa saaththiram aedhukkadi
aaththiram kondavarkkae kannammaa saaththiram undoadi
mooththavar sammadhiyil vadhuvai muraigal pinbu seyvoam
kaaththiruppaenoadi idhu paar kannaththu muththam onru


You speak of rules, but why do we need rules? Rules are only for the people who are impatient. The inner detail here is - our love is full of passion, so why should there be a boundary. The poet questions Kannamma and ensures that he gets her attention completely. Under the auspicious presence and acceptance of the elders, the marital procedures shall be conducted, but that will be later. Will I be waiting, look here, a kiss on the cheek. We can see the shift of impatience here. The poet initially tells that rules are for the impatient. Kannamma is aware of the poet's impatience and hence she has her rules, but the poet calls her twice here and tries to change her mind. For him and his deep love for her, she is already his. The wedding is just a ritual for the sake of the society.

In all this, we can see that the poet wants to express just pure love for his Kannamma. He is not bothered about the society because he has made up his mind already. His love is uncontrollable and flows like a stream as the song begins.

Friday, February 01, 2008

Chennai Ultimate goes National

The dates have been decided - its the 23rd and the 24th of February 2008.

A team from the Chennai Ultimate Frisbee Club would be visiting Ahmedabad to play a inter-city tournament - Chennai, Ahmedabad and Delhi.

Ahmedabad has had an ultimate team for quite some time now. Its part of an NGO called Indicorps. The website is www.indicorps.org

Delhi Ultimate is mostly people from the embassy and others who have come back to India.

And then we have the Madras Machaans who are all enthu to go and rock.

Starting today, we've had drills and concentrated practice sessions. We have just about 3 weekends to play with each other, observe and understand each other's moves. That would give us an intuitive approach towards the game. I am reminded of Kabir Khan's dialog about team spirit. We have the right people and the talent. We just need to be TOGETHER.

I am all excited. I have canceled all my plans, not just travel, till the 24th. I am going to be on an overdose of frisbee for the next few weeks.