I just finished watching the HBO mini series (10 episodes): "Band of Brothers". It was released in 2001, but I could get my hands on it only a few months back.
I have seen a lot of war movies, but this is the one which showcases all the aspects of war and is the best among what I have seen. It tells the story about "Easy Company", who are US army paratroopers fighting in the 2nd world war.
It is truly entertaining and revealing. IMDB rating: 9.6 Big thumbs up :)
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
The eagle lands back in its nest
After a rather comfortable journey in an AC 3 tier compartment with 10 other partners of crime, I finally returned back home. Accompanying me was my monitor, two speakers, keyboard, mouse, UPS, an airbag and a suitcase. Our luggage occupied most of the coach and some of it was even spread under the seats of innocent co-passengers in the other coach.
Our departure at the station witnessed a grand farewell party comprising of our batchmates and some juniors. All of them were used as "coolies" and I'm thankful to them for saving us a lot of money :)
But seriously, it was not too tough for me to leave my friends waving, while the train moved on. Don't think that I'm insesitive or anything. The fact is that I was too tired to be nostalgic.
Another thing with me is that, these things take a lot of time for me to sink in.
So anyway, I'm back in Delhi. I have broadband. I'm keeping myself busy. And I'm as sharp as ever. Envy me!!
Our departure at the station witnessed a grand farewell party comprising of our batchmates and some juniors. All of them were used as "coolies" and I'm thankful to them for saving us a lot of money :)
But seriously, it was not too tough for me to leave my friends waving, while the train moved on. Don't think that I'm insesitive or anything. The fact is that I was too tired to be nostalgic.
Another thing with me is that, these things take a lot of time for me to sink in.
So anyway, I'm back in Delhi. I have broadband. I'm keeping myself busy. And I'm as sharp as ever. Envy me!!
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Goodbye Cochin
I leave in another 3 hours (or so) for Delhi. It was a hectic end to an otherwise relaxed four years. The end had a trip to Bangalore, 3 sleepless nights, a few interviews and a probable job offer. I wish I could write more, but my fingers fail me and so do my eyes.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Rohit nawab ka bahaduri kartab
Some people sing. Some people dance. Some people play the guitar. Some people collect stamps. Some people collect coins. Some people sleep. Some people travel.
I... well... I .. stop trains B-)
I... well... I .. stop trains B-)
Goodbye Auto
Murphy's Law:
Rohit's corollary:
Auto's train was scheduled for a 12:45 pm departure from Erankulam. We were already late when we left the house at 12:20 pm. The journey to the station usually takes 40 minutes, we had only 25 B-)
We had Sujit Nair behind the wheel, the person who learnt driving when he was only 13 years old. I was at the co-driver's seat providing general navigation and abuses to the passing-by-slow-moving-drivers.
We reached Vytilla junction at 12:30 pm. It really seemed an impossibility that we would be able to reach on time. The traffic was slow moving and we had three more signals to compromise. But then all that was for the usual folks, we were blessed.
On enquiry an innocent bike driver revealed that there was another stealth route to the south station, which went from below the Kadvanthara flyover. We took that route and reached the last platform of Ernakulam South station. The clock read 12:45 pm.
We took all the luggage from the Zen and put it on the ground. Sujit went to park the car, while I took Auto's rucksack (which arguably weighed around 20 kilos) and Auto carried one suitcase and one cardboard box.
We were at the entrance when there was this announcement:
We had time... or so I thought.
I burst into a slight jog (I couldn't run due to the weight of the rucksack), jumping and dodging passerbys, trolleys, weighing machines, trains, engines, railway tracks, dogs, people's excreta. (This was the part where Job Bon Jovi's "It's my life" was running in the background) I crossed one platform by jumping the track, then another by going through a train. The next platform though, had a train on it and all the doors were closed. I was forced to take the "flyover" (for lack of a better expression). Auto was following me somewhere, but I couldn't see him behind me. As soon as I reached the top of the "flyover" there was another announcement, which sent shivers down the Auto's spine:
First in Malayalam, then in Hindi and then finally in English. By the time I started descending the steps of platform number 1. The engine had already blown the horn !! The train started moving. ("It's my life" was still running inside me) Bam ... I landed on the station. The train had gathered speed, but Auto and Sujit were nowhere in sight.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Enter bullet time
.
.
.
.
I knew what I had to do. It was not a decision which I took after a lot of thought. It was more like killing a mosquito which is sucking your blood. You just look at it, register, and kill it. It was like that.
I had to pull the chain !
I got into the train (Rucksack still on my shoulders) reached for the first chain in sight. There was a bewildered gentleman reading a newspaper whom I conveniently ignored, while I pulled the chain. The whole train shivered at the might of my hands. The train came to a sceeching halt. The reading uncle looked even more tensed. I got down and Auto came running down the steps along with Sujit. We packed him in, and asked him to vanish before the squad comes ;)
We wished him a very small goodbye before the train started on its way, once more.
The squad was clueless, after all they were struck by the master-chain-puller-of-the-east, they were looking under the AC compartments when the chain was pulled elsewhere.
I, obviously, due to my ninja training, vanished away without trace.
On retrospect, it was a good thing that we didn't have too much time to say goodbye. The lesser time, the lesser emotional we get. The lesser emotional we get, the lesser uncomfortable we feel.
Although I did give Auto a goodbye gift. I gave Auto the gift of knowledge. The knowledge that he is not a 21 year old bed wetter, but a 21 year old victim of a master prank.
I hope he liked my gift :)
Anything that can go wrong will go wrong
Rohit's corollary:
Indian railways will always run on time, when you are running late.
Auto's train was scheduled for a 12:45 pm departure from Erankulam. We were already late when we left the house at 12:20 pm. The journey to the station usually takes 40 minutes, we had only 25 B-)
We had Sujit Nair behind the wheel, the person who learnt driving when he was only 13 years old. I was at the co-driver's seat providing general navigation and abuses to the passing-by-slow-moving-drivers.
We reached Vytilla junction at 12:30 pm. It really seemed an impossibility that we would be able to reach on time. The traffic was slow moving and we had three more signals to compromise. But then all that was for the usual folks, we were blessed.
On enquiry an innocent bike driver revealed that there was another stealth route to the south station, which went from below the Kadvanthara flyover. We took that route and reached the last platform of Ernakulam South station. The clock read 12:45 pm.
We took all the luggage from the Zen and put it on the ground. Sujit went to park the car, while I took Auto's rucksack (which arguably weighed around 20 kilos) and Auto carried one suitcase and one cardboard box.
We were at the entrance when there was this announcement:
"Train number 2617. .... Ernakulam - Hazarat Nizammudin... Mangla Express.... is on ... platform number.... 1"
We had time... or so I thought.
I burst into a slight jog (I couldn't run due to the weight of the rucksack), jumping and dodging passerbys, trolleys, weighing machines, trains, engines, railway tracks, dogs, people's excreta. (This was the part where Job Bon Jovi's "It's my life" was running in the background) I crossed one platform by jumping the track, then another by going through a train. The next platform though, had a train on it and all the doors were closed. I was forced to take the "flyover" (for lack of a better expression). Auto was following me somewhere, but I couldn't see him behind me. As soon as I reached the top of the "flyover" there was another announcement, which sent shivers down the Auto's spine:
"Train number 2617.... Ernakulam - Hazarat Nizammudin... Mangla Express.... will leave shortly from Platform number... 1"
First in Malayalam, then in Hindi and then finally in English. By the time I started descending the steps of platform number 1. The engine had already blown the horn !! The train started moving. ("It's my life" was still running inside me) Bam ... I landed on the station. The train had gathered speed, but Auto and Sujit were nowhere in sight.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Enter bullet time
.
.
.
.
I knew what I had to do. It was not a decision which I took after a lot of thought. It was more like killing a mosquito which is sucking your blood. You just look at it, register, and kill it. It was like that.
I had to pull the chain !
I got into the train (Rucksack still on my shoulders) reached for the first chain in sight. There was a bewildered gentleman reading a newspaper whom I conveniently ignored, while I pulled the chain. The whole train shivered at the might of my hands. The train came to a sceeching halt. The reading uncle looked even more tensed. I got down and Auto came running down the steps along with Sujit. We packed him in, and asked him to vanish before the squad comes ;)
We wished him a very small goodbye before the train started on its way, once more.
The squad was clueless, after all they were struck by the master-chain-puller-of-the-east, they were looking under the AC compartments when the chain was pulled elsewhere.
I, obviously, due to my ninja training, vanished away without trace.
On retrospect, it was a good thing that we didn't have too much time to say goodbye. The lesser time, the lesser emotional we get. The lesser emotional we get, the lesser uncomfortable we feel.
Although I did give Auto a goodbye gift. I gave Auto the gift of knowledge. The knowledge that he is not a 21 year old bed wetter, but a 21 year old victim of a master prank.
I hope he liked my gift :)
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Broken
Auto is leaving today afternoon. Mangla Express, the train which has ferried us so frequently, will carry him to Delhi. Its not like I won't meet him hereafter. Au contraire I will surely meet him in Delhi when I reach there in a few days, but our gang has officially started to break.
I would like my Grammy home delivered by tomorrow :D
We drift away like soap bubbles,
beautiful and fragile,
blown away by the winds of time
I would like my Grammy home delivered by tomorrow :D
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Dribbling
We had never taken any snaps in the basketball court. So, today, me and Pylee (yes, the one with no hair) forced Bhattu to take his camera and come with us to the court.
Most of these photos are taken in real time... well.. not all of them.. ;)
Most of these photos are taken in real time... well.. not all of them.. ;)
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Gangster
Gangster is a good movie .... if you watch it silenced and with eyes closed.
The dialogues of the movie are cheesy and too predictable. The story of the movie is actually not that bad, but the performances of the actors was not upto the mark (except Gulshan Grover who makes a special appearance). The leading lady's voice is comparable to that of a sick buffalo. Shiney Ahuja (The Gangster) has few lines in the movie and they go something like:
1. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarggggggggggggggghhhhhh
2. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
3. Mai tumhare bina zinda nahi reh sakta :(
4. Mummmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
He has the usual hindi-film gangster kinda role: look pissed and break everyone very nicely.
The few stunts which the movie has are actually nice and authentic. I quite enjoyed seeing Emran Hashmi having a crate of bottles broken on his head.
It could have been a good movie, you just need to change a few actors and dialogues.
The dialogues of the movie are cheesy and too predictable. The story of the movie is actually not that bad, but the performances of the actors was not upto the mark (except Gulshan Grover who makes a special appearance). The leading lady's voice is comparable to that of a sick buffalo. Shiney Ahuja (The Gangster) has few lines in the movie and they go something like:
1. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarggggggggggggggghhhhhh
2. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
3. Mai tumhare bina zinda nahi reh sakta :(
4. Mummmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
He has the usual hindi-film gangster kinda role: look pissed and break everyone very nicely.
The few stunts which the movie has are actually nice and authentic. I quite enjoyed seeing Emran Hashmi having a crate of bottles broken on his head.
It could have been a good movie, you just need to change a few actors and dialogues.
The final 8
I will try not to sound like Amitabh Bacchan from Deewar.
Today I have the best friends I have ever had, a really nice place to live, a well paying future job, the best whiskey (DSP Black) in our house(which I can drink whenever I want), a car and 2 bikes for conveyance, a ton of new good movies on my computer, the best songs which are there, a color phone, internet, television, a swiss army knife, my darling PC, an ideal weight, no exams, no tensions to worry about, beautiful weather (compared to other places), greenery everywhere,a lovely breakfast and a nice lunch.
This is how life should be.
I have everything which I could ask from God.
Everything.... but just for 8 more days.
Today I have the best friends I have ever had, a really nice place to live, a well paying future job, the best whiskey (DSP Black) in our house(which I can drink whenever I want), a car and 2 bikes for conveyance, a ton of new good movies on my computer, the best songs which are there, a color phone, internet, television, a swiss army knife, my darling PC, an ideal weight, no exams, no tensions to worry about, beautiful weather (compared to other places), greenery everywhere,a lovely breakfast and a nice lunch.
This is how life should be.
I have everything which I could ask from God.
Everything.... but just for 8 more days.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Man on fire
When you start working in an Indian IT firm they really put your ass on fire. I just got evidence to prove it.
The following clip shows what TCS guys call "Fun @ Work". Video courtesy my dear brother.
The following clip shows what TCS guys call "Fun @ Work". Video courtesy my dear brother.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Done.. finished...over.. 100
4 years ago... May 12, 2002
I was recovering from a viral fever which I had caught while giving the Karnataka CET exam and the trip from Mysore->Bangalore-> Palakkad didn't do me any good.
The entrance exam was supposed to be held in some school which had really red walls. The exam didn't have negative marking. We sat on wooden chairs and desks and filled up the OMR sheets. That's all I remember about the CUSAT CAT entrance exam.
That was four years ago. This is today.
My 4 year ordeal has finally come to an end with a paper called Real Time Systems. Call it coincidence, divine intervention or something else, but my (our) association with this college has been exactly 4 years long.
Its been one beautiful joy ride, these four years.
I was recovering from a viral fever which I had caught while giving the Karnataka CET exam and the trip from Mysore->Bangalore-> Palakkad didn't do me any good.
The entrance exam was supposed to be held in some school which had really red walls. The exam didn't have negative marking. We sat on wooden chairs and desks and filled up the OMR sheets. That's all I remember about the CUSAT CAT entrance exam.
That was four years ago. This is today.
My 4 year ordeal has finally come to an end with a paper called Real Time Systems. Call it coincidence, divine intervention or something else, but my (our) association with this college has been exactly 4 years long.
Its been one beautiful joy ride, these four years.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
75
3 down 1 more to go. Come Friday and I will be facing the last exam of my college (hopefully).
Its really going to get over.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Reclaiming the system
I'm usually skeptical when people say that the whole Indian system can be changed for the good, but then I'm cynical about most things.
This, though, was an impressive stunt. Who would think of chasing a cop? The roles reversed.
Got it from Gaurav Sabnis blog.
Among other things, 25 % of my exams are officially over. Today's was quite lengthy and there was a gradual degradation in the legibility of my answer sheet. In the end, I was even forced to draw free hand (without scale) diagrams due to lack of time. But then.. In the end.. it doesn't even matter... haa hahaha.. Oh, I kill myself sometimes.
This, though, was an impressive stunt. Who would think of chasing a cop? The roles reversed.
Got it from Gaurav Sabnis blog.
Among other things, 25 % of my exams are officially over. Today's was quite lengthy and there was a gradual degradation in the legibility of my answer sheet. In the end, I was even forced to draw free hand (without scale) diagrams due to lack of time. But then.. In the end.. it doesn't even matter... haa hahaha.. Oh, I kill myself sometimes.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
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