Gizmo--viral-techno story!

Die-Hard 4.0
Sounds more like my software version. Perhaps, that was the idea behind it! A lot of techno hacking identity, gizmo play, and virtual terrorism. Pretty gripping for 2 hours but then it sinks down as though its been too much!

Trivia found funny(Couldn't be a spoiler though) : Hackers were being assassinated by downloading viruses on their systems.

Was that an awareness cult that folks downloading stuff could potentially be downloading a bomb that could blow them up!

Freak! Asking for a break!

Awes of a pathetic service

BangaloreOnlineFlorists.com, evidently has a pathetic website! Lot of idiosyncrasies.

Problems:

1. The name says Bangalore Florists but the number published on their website is a phone which is answered by a Bengali who hadn't a clue of Bangalore's geography.
2. Their website(picture attached) says "Still taking delivery for 10th of July when the date is far passed it"
3. The website is ugly and the products are erratically priced.
4. Its been more than 24 hours since I placed an order and the order hasn't been placed as yet!


It is understood in this era of outsourcing, franchising and cost cutting, it does make sense to diversify and integrate businesses, but customers shouldn't be as misguided as this.

On calling the customer support, the response was they aren't responsible for such mishaps, since they can't keep changing it!

Is this a taste crisis

I remember having this fetish to watch Sivaji. Gosh! that was such a big showdown!

Mood: Dejected...

Reason: Can such a costly movie be soo pathetic!

Remedy: Need another day off to recover from my distress!

..ps... Colors signify more of an expression!

A joyous walk - Saar- Pass

The Himalayas, getting closer to was always a longing. Trekking i consider a long walk and have always wanted to do two treks each year, so that I wouldn't consciously need to put in efforts to cut down a few chubs.
One of the first adventures, that I must have taken to take my brother along to something I hadn't seen earlier, but then adventures need to happen at its best.

Sujay introduced me to this idea of going for this trek. The information published wasn't completely sufficient and since it was the first time with YHAI, I was pretty anxious!

11 days of trek, 14,000 ft(or at least close to), the Himalayas

Before the entire saga began, there had to be some commotion of not being confirmed with place on the trek, and so did it happen! Couldn't blame India with not being rapid and failing to understand that a bank can be instructed to send a recipient a DD... perhaps, the first time could always help! I had sent the trek authorities a snail-mail saying my bank had already sent them a DD and that they should confirm our(My brother's and mine) subscription for the trek!

And then, after all the initial obstacles of finding how to get to Kullu from Delhi, a few small tiffs with rick speedsters and private bus drivers we finally managed to sleep through to Kullu. Kullu itself was amazing with regards to the climate and the landscape! We had to report to this place called Kasol, and so we did at around mid-noon!

To my surprise, there were more than expected people from all over India, emphatically from Maharashtra. I wouldn't want to debate over the subject whether they're more on for treks and the likes but they were in bigger numbers! The base camp was very picturesque, the river Parbati flowing beside, a the ranges high above with a aura of ecstasy! Picturesque they were and so they were!

Having had to gear up for some initial warm up and an introduction to Rappelling and Rock Climbing it was Day 3 that we all took off to the first camp.

Resuming after a real long hiatus! Let's test some memory

Day 3 - we started off with a rooftop bus journey to the spot where we'd start trekking. Observationally, Himachal is a beautiful picturesque place, with roads rope narrow!! The buses need more experienced drivers than do pilots who land planes on runways like that of Mangalore. Trekked up to Gunna paani, wasn't too tiring as we were very enthusiastic to walk and do the trek. The camp site was being taken care of an amateur astronomer, a resource person who told us quite a lot about galaxies and star gazing. Intersting, but could continue inculcating that as a hobby... I'm probably better counting stars which i never see!

Day 4 and 5 were similar, reaching altitudes of 10000 feet was something very lung fillingly memorable. The camps were again well organized, and the food though mostly of potatoes was still very edible.

Day 6 was perhaps THE most memorable day. Every body fine and calm and still enthusiastic, till the storm struck. A life time experience, i wouldn't suggest everyone should undergo. Chronologically, the visibility reduced to 1 foot, and then suddenly everyone's rain sheeters were all flying helter-skelter. The weaker-sex, were mostly in tears and due to their emotional binding and comfort climbing they were more than shocked. All men, i must promote the category of boys to men, because they at least acted like men, took responsibility very maturely, catering to assist women by carrying their rucksacks, and dragging them through the climb. The terrain was totally icy, and snow fall hadn't stopped. People were slipping and falling but nevertheless everyone was walking towards reaching the camp, hoping that it was always just round the corner. Tilla Lottni was where we were heading.

Reached the camp to find out two out of 4 tents had been pulled down by the rains. 11,500 feet and there were organizers and cooks waiting to cater. This must all go to the credit towards the Youth Hostels Association organizers. We were served with tea and soup to keep the fluid flowing, and when the storm subsided one of the tents were pulled up. Though it was still wet, people weren't complaining too much, because nature had shown them what its colors were. Food served was hot and tasty, I am out of words in appreciation for the efforts that went in!!

The next moring was expected to be the last of the inclines, to reach the glorious 13,800 feet, cross Sar-pass and slide over the other side. There were incidences of "Can't do anymore!", "Can i walk back the way i came", "I can't walk anymore, can i be airlifted"! But then the group leader spoke everyone into completing the trek , and the pep-talks did work!

Next morning, we rose at 3, for a reason that we needed to cross Sar-pass before the sun rose, or else, the snow would melt and it would be even more slippery. It wasn't as dark as you would think, and the air was ammazzingly pure. It was a lovely morning and folks started inclining leaving behind memories of the tortorous previous day. After having achieved the pinnacle climb and altitude, klicking snaps in all angles, the decline hadn't yet begun!

Walking in the snow wasn't easy at all. Good boots saved my foot and grip, and so did a good pair of sunglasses to avoid being sun-blind! Biskeri top was the tallest cliff we had to climb and while doing that i thought i'd almost fainted, its was hard to breathe because of the altitude, and we were short of water, so everyone was desperate for rest and water.

Right in time, we were in for the most entertaining part of the trek, the sliders, we were to slide down a kilometer and a half on our bottoms on ice. Chilly, frozen and numb was what my arse said when i rose after the slide!

The rest of the two tents were cool too, very picturesque and a lot of fun indeed, Bhandak-thatch was a very beautiful camping site, and we did a lot of talking after having done the trek closing to success.

Day 10 - we were on our way back to the base camp, before a hot spring bath at the sikh temples in Manikaran!

Overall, the trek was very joyous though painstaking, very well organized and guided, and the landscape was simply amazzing. A few selected photos linked

Sar-pass is a must-go trek.

Using Windows Live Writer!

Interesting! The usage of the Web2.0 paradigm seems to be really happening!

Windows Live Writer seems to be bridging the Web and Desktop realities! Another one like Dekoh

Wondering whether my posts get uploaded properly

Waiting to Watch Sivaji - The Boss

Not because I'm a huge fan of Superstar Rajnikanth, and not because my name also ends with -kanth. Curious to see why he's charged Rs. 20 crores! And why people are gung-ho about this new flick!
Mood: Weekend! Looking for a girl friend!

Movie: The Holiday

Claimed to be a a good date movie, but for good ol stags, its still goes will some good Sula Wine and Pizza! Not a very interesting story, quite a blend of English and American lingo's and backdrops, pretty women, and quite some dragged weeping! Overall some good time pass.

courtesy@imdb

Recent Addictions

Two recent addictions!
1. Playing Chess on Zapak!
This has been Sandeep's influence ;) Though it has caught up big time on me, I've no regrets. Life has seen quite some change, and I'm assuming for the better!

2. Troubling Rishi, day in day out! Its become an observed pattern. But then, younger brothers do suffer these traumas yeah! Every elder sibling would second my thought. Then again! I did show him the Taj Mahal

Sugarred...

The new flick Cheeni Kum is an sumptuous flow of comedy and wit. Amitabh Bachchan would give the very young a flare of his charm. Good entertainment, and certainly a movie to watch for a light hearted wishful laughter!

Dekoh... wishful sharing!

Touring till my limbs ache

Many places and short durations... Wondering at times... after hearing stories from Ashith after his worldwide tour in an attempt to reach India safely and legally, amusing though painstaking!

Many places and short durations...longer durations... amusements... excitements... people never spoken to in college and end being the only other person in that town you know... trip to the barber shop... acclimatising to the circumstances of not having made an appointment for a haircut... being directed to destinations which hold sumptuous history and worth watching... trying to get into the gentleman's club... not being allowed to get in for not displaying an identity on demand... first time kinds with snow and wind and adversely low temperatures... running out of cigarettes and not wanting to shell out a half days wage for a pack of one... Tasting variety foods... closing in variety to cod and chips... Being entertained by the cabbie who was excited that he was going to holiday in Goa... Helluva time... 30 days... Swindon...


Thanks to the itch of not having traveled in a plane for quite some time a looking for a timeout... Indian cheapest flight... Air Deccan... destination Delhi... budgetting... place to stay... good friends place... nice place... Red Fort... Qutub Minar... Safdarjung tomb... South and North Block... Raj Bhavan... Lok Sabha... hep Metro... not so hep as those in London though :P... awesome monumental structures... with a sense of belonging... Hilton and Martini... not too good as that of James Bond... faffing and banter... nostalgic old times... good times and bad... stoned and drunk... nice and short... 2 days... Delhi...

Another itch, attending a Bengali wedding, and of course a thirst to see the land of the so called intellectuals, communists, politically superior, whore land of South east Asia... didn't get a chance to get close to that though... Kolkatta... dismayingly filthy... scary looking haunted houses... multiple means of transportation... drag ricks, metros, trams, Yellow Ambi cabs... in more than abundance... Victoria memorial... Howrah Bridge... Ramakrishna Math, Belur... hallucinatingly serene... Vivekananda temples... boat rides to Dakshineshwar... bargain and fights with taxi drivers... Marriage of course, traveled 2200 kms and didn't attend the marriage because it was they got married too late in the night... and I'm not too happy with the Yellow cabs... Another friend... college mate... good fun... afternoon beer and fish... nostalgic times again... whoz getting married... who's screwing whom... opinions... no imaginations please... Sahara pranam... 3 days... Kolkatta...

After having shuttled between Hyderabad and Bangalore for 3 years and once across the border this must have the busiest and enjoyable month, counts in for 3 weekends of travel... leaving for bangalore this weekend... waiting for boss to sanction more leaves...

Glorifying begging as a profession

A usual complaint by many concerned about the social welfare about a state is that there are too many beggars, homeless, destitute whichever adjective describes better! A non-versatile profession but there are surprisingly some who've made their way through it as well.
Interestingly, this article from the ET which marks the trend of another very old profession, the article also throws some light on aspects of lifestyle and attitude.
I sure don't want to make a generalization that beggars are getting richer which wouldn't otherwise change your mind of not dropping a buck at the traffic signal the next time.

Media Transformation - Blog-woe-sphere

With the not-so-pleasant experiences with shopkeepers for they dont treat you with the expected consideration, with economists for leveraging exorbitant taxes on what you meagerly earn, with bus services for the presumptuous attitude for not providing you seats they promised, with unworthy traffic policemen for catching you and making a quick buck out of no mistake of yours along with surmounted harassment... The list of woes is a never-ending one.
Each time this happens, I've always wanted to go back home and write to the media, and make aware people, but countered it with the easy going nature of indian editors who manage the editorials column for biased political issues!

Sharath, apparently has kicked out the misconception by being acknowledged by Shashi Tharoor! I'm inspired to put in all my woes and issues out here, and punch in a few well-known names for them to get recognized!
Peek in here for the most published article for this day on reddit

Christmas: A reason for time-off

An additional holiday was just that mattered this Christmas, and since it was clogged along with the weekend, there had to be some traveling around done.

NagarjunSagar - AP Tourism's blatantly boasted tourist spots where the main tourist attraction is closed because of the scare of terrorists. Perhaps, its a welfare measure not understood really well. A good 4 hour drive, and this was the first time when i realized that driving could be stressful, it was a Diesel Ambassador! Fun all the singing and sternly taking each one's trip in order!

Ethipottala Falls - turned out to be another frustu stop since the crocodiles had stepped in before us and claimed their existence! Appreciated that the tourism authorities did as well respect the conundrum of disallowing people to override nature's creation to live its own.

Hit the roads back to NagarjunSagar but the day didn't favor us too well since we were late to board a launch that would have driven us to something more worthwhile! However, opportunities never to be missed, caught a coracle ride to make up for that!! sing-along the ride was extremely entertaining.
Rested the droopy eyes for an interval before i hit the steering to cover the terminal journey leading home! Day filled with fun, venturing to better!!

PS: If you dont like driving, and like sitting behind comfortably on loong drives, the AMBY is the car. If you love driving then "think twice" before you dare the AMBY

Questions of humility

Quite a lot of couples do find their ways different in due time of their marriage. Perhaps, its the convenience of taking the other half for granted, or presuming virtues and over looking expectations. Human attitude being the most unpredictable and indecisive, cant be honed to expect the needful at the needed hour.

I was indeed preparing a pre-requisite list to see that the better half I would choose fulfills each of these. Glad to bump into a public opinion posted on the NY Times.

Reading more reasons to breakup

Don't chew with your mouth open

Predominantly, most of us choose to be unaware of the etiquette's that follow disciplined eating, for a reason of prefering to be ignorant. Attitude or general awareness, they sometimes are a cause of misery to fellows company you share during the meal.
One which I often get annoyed is with people chewing their food without closing their mouth. It sometimes enforces me to stop eating, on trying to understand what makes me feel so conscious, its the cracking intolerable noise that irks my nerves. At times, I've questioned people's integrity and the parental values, but then I understand its got very less to do with any sort of values. Perhaps, its one of those mystics which need to be imbibed personally.
Well, the gab-grab is accepted but with a certain aura, for its not only you who's enjoying the meal, there are others as well you sure would be disturbing!

UnAmusing traffic sense

In succession to this blog I've sought that traffic on the Indian roads are just because of lack of general awareness. The immediate effect was an accident I had last night for no fault of mine. That's a well acclaimed excuse but I own it up completely.

Wished people seriously get aware of the fact that everyone can move smoothly and quicker if the traffic was much organized.
Thought this helpful

Rotting Taste Buds

Are my taste buds rotting or is it something queer with the rank listers at the box office! A quick peek on the movies recently released and the public reviews seemed probably a revealation of an outcome not really mature.

Movies like Omkara , received unfair reviews despite it being one of the intelligently filmed ones, to go along with is Corporate. Saif's acting has gone way beyond adulations. A show stealer with his trendy (it was indeed) outfits, and filthy language, and much better role than the pink boy in Salaam Namaste! The story lines, enactment, cinematography, direction all of which deserve accolades don't seem to be receiving the appropriate audience to appreciate its apt display. On the other hand, a movie like Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, receives all the hype and amusement, though being a non-entertainer. Is this the outcome of a stereotyped audience who jus can't digest the nuances being pulled in, the creativity enamoured!!

Wake up crowd! Its time we matched ourselves globally!

Honker Maniac

Placidly Seated on the eighth floor, and unfortunately by a windscreen which isn't soundlocked, I wonder why people are so excited to honk their lungs out. Perhaps, it's instinctively Indian. An allegation of course because the same set of Indians dont honk if they're driving when they're on the roads of Dubai, Singapore or any other country. Is this an action to display a sense of belonging, or is it taken for granted that they can do so for having paid an exorbitant tax!!
I'm begun imagining, what if horns were banned in India, rather, I'd be pleased if horns were banned for a few days jus like the blogs were banned!! Peaceful would be an understatement then. It isn't really difficult, its more of a lifestyle cult these days.
Existence in a not so fast city like Hyderabad has got me to be concerned, I empathize the state of those in either Mumbai or Delhi!! Perhaps, those unacustommed to following traffic rules, or those who're perpetually in a hurry need to be insinuated with some sense as to when to honk, or do they think they're the only ones who drive!!
Accordingly, driving the roads of Dubai, though one faces the lumps of getting packed in a traffic jam, one hardly notices the annoying honkering all around. Its understood that, there is a jam upfront and the nuisance needn't be multiplied!! Moreover, its a nasty remark on another when one honks o'there.
I sometimes wonder what the extent of globalisation should be!! Should it gyrate only around industries, politics, and economics or shud it shudder itself to smaller captivities like this!!
Hmm... cotton plugs come of help this day!! My bike's horn has gone for a toss thanks to the bike getting drenched in the rains!! Am i not glad Jason's annoyed too

Indulgence Helps

It's been a while since I've worked sincerely, and this honest confession I wudn't make in front of my boss. Perhaps, my priorities were different, perhaps, I didn't want to work, perhaps, Orkut was that big an excuse!!

Distraction and dillusion are rather cognitive pests that rupture productivity and lot of business as well. Maturity is a cat-call then, and thats why these aren't accounted for during the estimates that are prepared during task scheduling.
I'm out of it, trying new things, the way they should be, rugged and dedicated!! I'm counting on every move I make, and every breath I take!! An involuted messaih has cradled a desire to display social ethics and determination!!
I'm glad the awakening happened this early, I shouldn't be complacent though...