Monthly Archive for September, 2007

Good Times?

Published on September 17, 2007 in These thoughts of mine. 7 Comments

There’s this new channel – NDTV Good Times – on Tata Sky thats trying to do a desi version of Discovery Travel & Living. While I find the latter fascinating, the new channel tries to catch up with interesting names for shows such as Heavy Petting where the host is bent on ‘petting’ pets heavily; one show called French Connection – where a French chef (along with his French cap) is imported all the way from Paris to whet up magical french cuisines.

There was an informative show yesterday called Bringing them up – where ‘them’ pertains to kids – and the bittersweet joys of letting the kids fly from the nest. Also watched one Cooking isnt Rocket Science where they actually light a rocket pataka and it zooms out into the sky before the show. Huh? The rocket I had in mind didnt have a fire cracker in it.

The only thing I understood from the show was that it was co-sponsored by Mr. Vijay Mallya of the ‘Kingfisher’ UB Group. Hence the ~good times~ in the name. Otherwise, its a decent effort that could do with some more innovation. In the meantime, I stay loyal & proclaim that there no living like Discovery Travel & Living!

About the Indian Idol

Published on September 14, 2007 in These thoughts of mine. 3 Comments

About a week ago, I wanted Prashant Tamang to be voted out of the Indian Idol race and let a better singer win. Half the people I know disagreed vehemently with me. They accused me of being disloyal to the Himalayan pride and that I could spend my phone balance smsing PRASHANT at 52525 instead of talking about things that I had no clue of.

I had nothing against the guy except that I thought Amit Paul was a much better singer.

Then, the last Indian Idol episode showed glimpses of the participants’ triumphant return to their home towns. Prashant Tamang arrived in Darjeeling with thousands of his fans and supporters gathered about his vehicle chanting his name. He was wearing a Nepali cap of honour and I must admit, he did look dashing. The episode showed him entering his house and being embraced by his loving mum who spoke encouraging words to him in Nepali. Listening to her, I was struck by how much even I wanted him to fulfill her dreams.

I believe sometime before in one of the shows, Prashant Tamang was asked what would he buy for himself with all the cash if he becomes the Indian Idol. He answered that he would buy a bike since that had always been his dream. Call me a sucker for sob stories but I felt instantly mollified at my earlier stand of how I didnt want him to win.

So now I support both contestants, although I might support Prashant a little bit more. May the best man with the maximum sms win!

Really No Good!

Published on September 14, 2007 in No good. 2 Comments

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I never thought the monsoons would wreck so much havoc this year. Not only did a major landslide cut off only the national highway for days at a go, smaller nevertheless effective landslides kept occurring in and around the entire capital, thereby blocking routes and stranding people. The only good thing was I got one day off since one small merciful landslide blocked the road to my office too.

I never knew that trees lining the highway would be a bad thing. Not only did old, gnarled trees fall down and across the road (once again) blocking traffic and causing never-ending traffic jams. And the water supply to my house is cut off cause one stupid tree fell on it. And the internet connection supplied by the indifferent BSNL at my office conked out a week back and graced us with its presence only today.

 Its good to be back online after a long time (seems like a long time anyway) I should be around henceforth unless the rain gods deem otherwise and unleash another set of horrific rainfall my way.

Dr Frasier Crane

Published on September 6, 2007 in just. 4 Comments

Elliot (who sounds like a kid): Well, you see Dr Crane, I have a problem. I’m a salesman…
Frasier: Ah, a salesman? How old are you?
Elliot: Forty-three.
Frasier: Forty-three?
Elliot: Yes.
Frasier: Now let’s be truthful.
Elliot: I’m forty-three.

Frasier: Elliot, we were not born yesterday. Clearly you are just an adolescent, trying to prove to your little friends how clever you are by getting on the radio. But you know what you are really doing, you’re taking time away from people with real problems.

Elliot: Hey, I’m forty-three. I was born in New Providence. I have a very young sounding voice that people make fun of all the time.

Frasier: Oh, I’m so sorry, Elliot, that was very insensitive of me.

Elliot: Ha! Gotcha, Dr Doofus!

Chak De India

Published on September 6, 2007 in Life as it happens and No good. 4 Comments

By the way, the India vs England sixth ODI yesterday was awesome with a fairy tale victory led on by Robin Uthappa. That India could win the match wasnt even worth hoping by the time MS Dhoni got out was what I thought. But with the last two boundaries, I couldnt help jumping for joy when India won with 317-8.

I dont know a lot about cricket but I thought the Man of the Match should have been given to Robin Uthappa and not Sachin Tendulkar for his 90 something runs. Shouldnt the match-saving guy get all the credit?

The Library

Published on September 6, 2007 in Book worm point of view. 2 Comments

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Probably one of the little joys of my life right now is the Institute’s Library purchasing an oh-so-large number of best sellers, recommended by most of us book-worms here so that one gets to issue novels and read them at any given point of time.

I am just about to finish the entire Jeffery Archer collection after which I plan to endorse Wilbur Smith. Albeit, some of his earlier books had put me to sleep, Warlock is THE book to read. WS brings ancient Egypt alive with the great Pharohs in all their grand regalia – in a nutshell, Warlock is superb.

In the line-up is Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and the rest of his works. I need to strictly re-read Adams for I have forgotten most of the story. I wont say the same for The Fountainhead by Ann Rand – I cant seem to re-read it although I have already been explained about the book by Rand supporters here ;)

Managed to happily re-read the entire collection of Tintin and Asterix. These days, the library is my favourite place to be. Back in my own college, the private library in town used to charge a hefty 20% on each book not to mention astronomical delay-fines which we gladly paid for a chance to read good books.

I guess one of the reasons why I like my job is because of The Library. And life is good.

Abe’s words

Published on September 6, 2007 in Good things. 2 Comments

A letter from Abraham Lincoln to his son’s teacher. I liked it.

“He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just and are not true. But teach him if you can, the wonder of books.. but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.

In school, teach him it is far more honorable to fall than to cheat…..

Teach to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him he is wrong.

Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone getting on the bandwagon…

Teach him to listen to all men; but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad… Teach him there is no shame in tears.

Teach him to scoff at cynics and to be beware of too much sweetness.. Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to highest bidders, but never to put a price on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob.. and stand and fight if thinks he is right.

Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient.. Let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will have faith in humankind.

This is a big order, but see what you can do. . He is such a fine little fellow my son!”

Happy Teacher’s Day

Published on September 5, 2007 in Life as it happens. 5 Comments

Its always nice being appreciated on Teacher’s Day. This time, we faculty members are going to take the stage for a change and deliver a few rocking performances. That should be fun; more interesting that a normal day for us as below:

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The red-eye

Published on September 4, 2007 in Life as it happens. 7 Comments

This is the time of the year that Conjunctivitis rules supreme in most of my classrooms. Many of the students roam around with red eye(s) and its literally a sight for sore eyes indeed! I make it a point to tell these doofuses that this red-eye is infectious, that is if they didnt know that already and that they should wear eye-ointments to prevent gifting it to their other friends.

Thankfully none of the staff members have contracted the red-eye from the students yet. I shun all red-eyes to the back of the class for my own safety although I am not aware if that violates human rights principles – you can never be sure these days – Only thing I hope I dont get that stuff… or else!

The Bridge

Published on September 4, 2007 in These thoughts of mine. 2 Comments

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Some time back, me and two of my gal pals went for a drive to this Bridge. It was a pretty much silent and peaceful place. By the time we all finished gossiping, it was dusk and when I did remember enough to remark casually that this bridge is supposed to be haunted at night, we were all out of there in a flash and reached home in 5 minutes :D

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