Google's next assault on MS

It's called Chrome. As explained in the instruction guide, this new web-browser promises improved speed and responsiveness.

It's been years since I used IE. Firefox is almost second nature. Yet, I'm looking forward to try my hands on Chrome - I like the name :P!

Google's first screenshot of Chrome

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Rushing through

Million things happened over the last week. Here are a few, that didn't go unnoticed -

1. McCain picks Palin (OH. MY. GOD.)
2. Mamata Banerjee steps in to rescue Bengal farmers (ROTFL!)
3. Sheru provokes Munnu for a fight and accepts defeat even before they begin (Nope. They're not pedigree dogs.)
   
4. Aai sits through 'Rock On' and actually enjoys the story-line (The ONLY 40+ person in the entire theatre!)
5. I manage baking some 'Carrot Cake' (and that's not what Sheru and Munnu were fighting over - hmpf!)
   

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I guess you have to be Indian...

...is just one of the comments posted on this site. No offense taken. I hope none given either :).

Imagine shopping at your favorite mall - dabbling with 'this-piece-or-that', or eating-out at your favorite restaurant - relishing every 'sinfully-tasty-bite', when your neighbor's phone goes - "condom, condom"! Damn! I'd choke!

*rolling on the floor, laughing*

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Self-inflicting torture machine

Ever seen this episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S? Yes, this -



Well, if you thought epilators were better - take my word for it - they're worse! WAY, way, worse! Atleast waxine doesn't go - 'one-at-a-time'!

In other news, here's the cover-page for the latest edition of Sports Illustrated -

Mamma mia

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R. I. P

LeRoi Moore (September 7, 1961 - August 19, 2008),
Founding Member, Dave Matthews Band

"It's always easier to leave than be left" - Dave Matthews, DMB

Agree.

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The Economics of Love

Of late, I find a lot of my friends talking investments, returns, bonds, shares and all other buzz words associated with the 'economics enchilada'. I guess it's the age. I've done my bit too, I must admit. And I'm willing to go all the way to get my wise returns.

So while on the topic, I'm browsing other blogs and as usual, find interesting stuff on Amit's blog. Economics being the current state of mind, I am directed to this page.

Gyaan from this view point, makes it SO much simpler for a numbers crazy person, doesn't it?! So all the young-at-hearts - go invest! Wisely, if I may add.

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Food for thought - 6

"Who would the 'believer' be without the 'unbeliever'?"

- Stillness Speaks, Eckhart Tolle

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Ironies?

A few days ago, news channels broadcasted the verdict on how a young couple were banned from aborting a 25-week old fetus. They aired discussions between a large divide - from doctors, to priests, to law-makers. Apparently, the court thinks the couple and their gynecologist were unable to prove that the child would face a substantial health risk. Honestly, I'm speechless.

During the same time, I came across this news article. A perfectly healthy child, almost pushed into substantial health risks, by another couple, elsewhere. Now I'm flabbergast!

If you're thinking - different country, different rules, different people - hold that thought right there. Just this one time, overlook boundaries, rules, systems; and maybe ask yourself - is any of this making sense?! If yes, help me understand. If no, where are we going wrong?!

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Gardening Bouts

I'm not a plant-person; animal-person - yes, but not a plant-person. Someone wants me to tend to dogs, cats, horses, birds, if I get lucky - snakes, wild cats, primates, etc. - I'd do it without a blink; plants - and I'm a complete dodo - no offense to the bird. Aai on the other hand is a vehement plant-person. You can find her singing to them at times! She treats them like her own babies!

Over the last two days however, we've had some role-reversal. She's been cleaning up after my dogs, and me - getting my hands dirty in her garden. No, we're not in a mother-daughter bonding phase, it was more experimental - for the lack of a better word. I think her intention was to keep her garden clean. And mine, to explore earthworms. I've enjoyed it - I must admit. I can't say the same for her...

The part that made me sit down and make this post, is our common weakness for cleaning. Yup, cleaning. We both enjoy it tremendously. Infact, Ujji has gone far enough to say - "If you were tied up with some mafia crowd tai,... you'd make a perfect handler"... From animal-person to handler - Hmm... quite a transition you think?

On a side-note, here's something that's been playing in my mind over-and-over again -



Incase you're interested in the originals... here they are -
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

P.S: Happy Friendship's Day!

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Junk night

Dinner consisted of -

• ek masala-puri
• ek allu-tikki
• ek paani-puri
• ek bhel-puri
• ek aattaa-ladoo
• ek veg-grill sandwich
• ek watermelon juice (less melon, more water)

My stomach feels abused...

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Quirk : An idiosyncracy

Tagged by Deepti.

Tag Rules (hmm... this is new) -

1. Link the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs, letting them know that they have been tagged

Here goes -

1. Everytime I enter a restroom, I HAVE to turn on the lights; no matter what time of day it is
2. When in deep thought, my tongue folds backwards - halfway through; pretty much like a frog
3. Even as a child, I'd put all my might in holding a pen/pencil. Result - I have a corn on the first knuckle of my right hand, middle finger. Now it's pretty much a cushion for my writing instruments
4. Curling-up in bed, I cradle myself to sleep by rocking the lower half of my body
5. I always note the last page number of a book I pick-up to read
6. Everyday I wash one handkerchief - whether used or not; I change to a new one everyday
   

phew!... Done! Following people tagged - Smini, Sudi, Santosh and Anushree/Pooja. Two others will have to be non-bloggers. Jump in and leave yours on the comments section guys :)!

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Goodbye to blackouts?

Let me begin with - Yay! We've finally got the verdict on the confidence vote! - And while I'm not proud to have witnessed the way this vote was won at the Lok Sabha, it's comforting to see some of our MPs have a sound mind on their shoulders. Why the Left front has been so adamant about scratching the deal, is anyone's guess. I'm just glad there'll be less arguing on which equipment stays on and which not (our UPS is a shame to it's kind!).

As P. G. Wodehouse would put it - 'Cheerio, for now!'

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Going Musical

Baba's always been musical. You can find him humming to himself when he's in a REALLY good mood. And music soothes him. I think I get that part of me from him. After presenting Ujji with books for his birthday, we were discussing other gifts we could've bought him. We came up with musical instruments. Honestly, Ujji's not someone who'd go buy some such thing for himself. So it would've been a good gift. And that got me thinking.

I've always wanted to buy an instrument for myself. And thanks to Baba's musical gene, I've made them buy me stuff earlier :). However, over the last 3 years I've given myself reasons not to do certain things I want to - buying an instrument is just one among them. Ujji's birthday kinda broke that spell.

After much experimenting, researching and thinking, I realized, saxophones need too much room in your lungs. So do flutes (don't go by the sheer size-difference between these instruments). Mine barely help me breath normally! Baba suggested the sitar. And while it's a really good suggestion, I don't see myself sitting with a sitar after the first few times (and I wouldn't want to see an instrument lying around, unused). Aai went back to casios... I'd love to play a piano someday, but then the mind goes to... "Nah... Not something I'd buy for a LONG-long time". So it's the most common instrument - the guitar. Hmph.

I have nothing against the instrument, except... everybody wants to play the damn thing! Looking at it's pros, though - It's affordable (at this point), it's something I can take along wherever, I can learn it by myself off the internet and most important... I think I'll look good on it, Heh! So there, I'm buying a guitar.

P.S: I might just mention this - the idea of an instrument occurred to me 'coz a friend mentioned he bought a guitar. This was a few days before Ujji's birthday. Now I'm thinking - is that why I'm buying a guitar? Hmm. Well, if it's so... so be it! I'm still buying one. Wish me luck.

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Month packed with Birthdays

Yesterday was Ladi tai's and Ujji's birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, guys!!). While the day was more or less a usual Sunday, there were some unexpected guests and good food. The highlight of the day was my brother going missing :D!

Ujji's gift from us. Thanks Deepti, it's after you mentioned these

It so happened that Baba's car had a dead rat in the AC system and there was absolutely no way Aai was going to travel in that vehicle (Heh!) We were suppose to meet Ujji at CMH and have some junk for dinner (not Baba, ofcourse; he helped himself with some leftovers...) So Aai and me rode on my gaadi, while Baba came along in an auto-rickshaw. After dinner, Ujji wanted to take Aai home on his Pulsar (which she always avoids; she thinks I'm a safe driver/rider *grinning*). Me and Baba rode back on my gaadi. So by the time Ujji started back to the institute it was almost 11:15 - 11:30 pm. He had an early lecture today and so nobody insisted on him staying back.

One hour later, my parents are frantically trying to reach him on his mobile to confirm he's reached the institute. Some strange man picks up his mobile, is rather rude, doesn't tell who he is and cuts the line. Aai gets all hysterical, Baba looks worried and I'm thinking - Wow! You really getting yourself into trouble this time, bro!

At 12:30am, Aai - half-heartedly yet determined - sat in the same car that was stinking of a dead rat and Baba drove all the way to the institute. I was home, incase he called us on the landline. 45 minutes, one worried friend and an even more worried uncle later, Baba informs us all that his bike is outside the hostel and our man's happily sitting in his friend's room, celebrating his now-gone birth-day and completely oblivious to the fact that he was suppose to inform them he's reached the institute!

Aai almost slapped him (earlier today, when I asked him if she did (?), he said - In her dreams...), Baba as usual, gave him a stern warning and I asked him to kick himself twice for me :)...

All in all, Ujji's 23rd birthday was quite a day for Aai and Baba. They're gonna laugh over this years from now, when Ujji's kids ask them about his forgetfulness.

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Food for thought - 5

"Imagine the universe beautiful and just and perfect.
Then be sure of one thing:

The Is has imagined it quite a bit better than you have.
The original sin is to limit the Is.
Don't."

- Illusions, Richard Bach, Delacorte Press, New York, 1977

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Celebrating Nadal's first

A rightly deserved win!

In other news, we've been trying to locate my gaadi keys the whole day, only to learn Aai slipped them into the trash along with her garden kachraa...

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Regular conversation

M: ah
back
m: crapping is it?
M: who won wimbledon womens?
m: venus
M: no - was playing game with someone else online
thoo..
m: :D
M: anyway
m: what you support serena?
either of them waste... how did it matter?
M: yeah
m: tomorrow will be fun
M: true
yeah
m: if nadal is in form
M: yeah, but i dont mind either of them winning
exact opp of today
m: hehe...
would like to see nadal win
but i kinda doubt it
M: that too..
m: he's better off skidding on clay
M: funny he is
m: watte ass!
M: used to have big crush on him
then i saw more of federe
m: haha...
federer is good boy
M: yeah..
m: nadal nice ass... :)
M: very!
and he keeps drawing attention to it
m: totally man!
M: by scratching, or pulling his pants up
m: yeah
Sent at 11:33 PM on Saturday
M: i'm off to sleep now
yaaaaaaaaaaawn
m: wokay
Sent at 11:35 PM on Saturday

M is offline. Messages you send will be delivered when M comes online.

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I am:

...completing Santosh's tag
I think: I ponder over thoughts too much
I know: gaallees from 5 different languages (mostly Indian)
I want: to live with Cheetahs, a Falcon, couple'a Orangutans, some Stallions, a dozen-odd dogs and a Python
I have: a lot'a hiccups about how life's played out itself so far
I wish: I could be a bit more 'on-the-face' at times with some people
I hate: fanaticism of any kind
I miss: LA times
I fear: my mind winning over my heart
I hear: my dogs complaining about their meals everyday
I smell: stale by 4pm
I crave: for freedom from my thoughts
I search: for too much spiritual gyaan
I wonder: what those two little baby-crows on our coconut tree are doing this very minute
I regret: letsee... that... and that... and that... and that... and... nevermind...
I love: ME
I care: a rat's ass about Tom, Dick or Harry
I am not: a feminist
I believe: in love
I dance: fairly well by myself
I sing: everytime I'm asked to; no much bhaav required
I cry: without a whisper
I don’t always: play by the rules
I fight: only with my brother
I write: my grand-prarents rarely - almost never (*sigh*)
I win: accolades for my patience from many
I lose: to my brother ALWAYS (*hmpf*)
I never: read a novel twice; unless the first time was a bouncer
I always: manage to find common ground with everybody in a group
I confuse: Venus for Serena & Serena for Venus, among the William sisters
I listen: to every word my mother says and grumble
I can usually be found: reading on my terrace
I am scared: of lizards
I need: to get out and do all the things I've listed in my mind
I am happy about: how I've turned out

Thanks Santosh. This was fun :).

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TADA!

For all those who might not know, (or might know and forget) tomorrow I complete 28 wonderful years of my life in this physical form (Heh!). So go ahead and wish me; make my day! Life's too short not to have people sending good wishes your way and I'm reminding you guys a day earlier :)!

Just so I don't forget - Happy Birthday Pranjal :)!

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Highlight of the day

Salon, Jelebis and this -



Heh!

I've been down and
I'm wondering why
These little black clouds
Keep walking around
With me
With me

It wastes time
And I'd rather be high
Think I'll walk me outside
And buy a rainbow smile
But be free
They're all free

So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home

I look around at a beautiful life
Been the upperside of down
Been the inside of out
But we breathe
We breathe

I wanna breeze and an open mind
I wanna swim in the ocean
Wanna take my time for me
All me

So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home

So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home

So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home

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Connecting with self

I've been reading a lot on the Law of Attraction and it's various sub-laws, over the last few months. In order to get myself in-sync, I've even tried meditating. But I guess you really need to learn the basics from someone who's well-versed in the subject. I've been meaning to approach someone for the same. As the law might have it (Heh!), I found myself at the Art of Living, International Center, Bangalore.

Spent the weekend attending one of their courses. Liked what they had to offer and absolutely enjoyed the tranquility of the place. I think I'm going to find myself visiting this place more often.

Ofcourse, there is the occasional irritation of having to see people flock in dozens to touch Mr. Ravi Shankar's feet or seek his blessings (arrgh..), but that's for a fraction of a second. Look around and understand what he's trying to communicate, and none of that irritation persists :)!

*Photo courtesy - Discover Bangalore

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Food for thought - 4

"Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something."

- Randy Pausch, Professor, Carnegie Mellon

(w.r.t road-blocks one faces)

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Finally - Once

After a long, LONG wait, I finally manage to get my hands on this movie. A simple story, repeated a million times over maybe; and told in the most beautiful way! Icing on cake - the music!



"how often do you find the right person?!... once"

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Mystery solved

Rains are such joy. Hot pakoras, steaming coffees, warm quilts and couches...*sigh* absolute BLISS! Oh and there's the hot water bath! Although, for a few days now, the hot water faucet's been gurgling out some weird stuff. Last few days I've been seeing a lot of feathers in my bucket! While I didn't want to admit, at the back of my mind was a thought that maybe - just maybe - I'm dealing with a...! (Hey, I'm just really good with my imagination, so don't squirm!) I let the thought pass. And the feathers. They kept appearing. Today, I found a leg. With claws. One leg. (I told you my thoughts turn to reality! )

We spent the whole morning cleaning tanks - underground sump, cold water tank, hot water tank... and nothing... phew. There was not a single piece of evidence that it was a bird. But I swear I found a leg! So we decided to drain all pipelines. And nasty as it may sound - bit-by-bit, degenerated chunk of flesh kept finding it's way out through the hot water faucets. YUCK!

Now, the big mystery is - how did it find it's way into the water?! No tank is open. All have solid covers - metal or stone ones. There's absolutely no way some stupid bird flew down and got caught! The verdict?! - BWSSB (Bangalore Water Supply & Sewage Board).

And the verdict was unanimous.

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Suggestions Required

Santosh's dad sent him a list of books. He's trying to figure out which ones he should buy for his old man. I've read just one from this list - A Beautiful Mind - and was hoping you guys might suggest some from these -

1. Fermat's Last Theorem - Simon Singh
2. The Code Book - Simon Singh
3. A beautiful mind - Sylvia Nasar
4. The Man who loved only numbers - Paul Hoffman
5. The Victorian Internet - Tom Standage
6. Fingerprints - Colin Beaven
7. Can Reindeer fly? - Roger Highfield
8. Mendeleyev's Dream - Paul Strathern
9. Snowball earth - Gabrielle Walker
10. The fifth miracle - Paul Davies
11. Strange beauty - George Jonson
12. The Cogwheel Brain - Doron Swade
13. The making of the atomic bomb - Richard Rhodes
14. Chaos - James Gleick
15. Flatland - Edwin. A. Abbott
16. A Mathematician's apology - G. H. Hardy
17. Our final century - Martin Rees
18. The surgeon of Crowthrone - Simon Winchester
19. The Pahntom Tollboth - Norton Juster
20. Roses In December - M. C. Chagla
21. Artificial Intellegence and Natural man - Margaret. A. Boden
22. Dimensions of creativity - Margaret. A. Boden
23. The Philosophy of Artificial Life - Margaret. A. Boden
24. Swami Rama - Swami Ajaya
25. The Traditions of The Himalyan Masters - Pandit Rajamani Tigumant
26. The Emperor's New Mind - Roger Penrose
27. Theories of Everything - Joh. D. Barrow
28. Don't You Have time to Think - Richard Feynman
29. Narrative - Fredrick Douglars
30. Autobiography of a Fugitive Negro - Samuel Ringold Ward
31. The Fugitive Blacksmith - J. W. C. Pennigton

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