CaPoWriMo 2.01

A good gambol with gossip

As a topping is energizing- a tip-

To tweet a twoosh is not tough

Know when you’ve said enough.

Communal Cricket

The Match yesterday gave us a chance to watch it together, on social media. We hollered audibly, and made sure we were heard by our friends on Facebook and Twitter. Although many status updates were an expression of our excitement, they also gave us a chance to do something other than twiddle our fingers while the boys in blue did their part.

Games watched at home in childhood, in college in common rooms, and at work in conference rooms all melded together, as all the people we shared these moments with were on social media. We could exult over a stylish shot, groan in despair when a catch was dropped, and pray together when times were tough.

Otherwise, the internal energy would have no outlet and may have resulted in more heart attacks :)

The Vicious Circle of Social Media

Social media is logically the best way to learn about what’s happening in social media. There’s something constantly happening in this field. We feel like we always need to be plugged in, otherwise we may miss out on something important.

Just like poets are often the audience for other poets, social media too is populated with social media experts, who advise techniques for blog creation, for instance. Voila, there’s their blog. It’s a bit like the only people who get rich from self help books are self help authors.

This also remind me of college classes, where we analyzed texts. It’s a cottage industry, producing material to criticize works, by past products of the system. The consumers are the current students of these courses.

I’ve learnt many useful tips regarding social media, from social media enthusiasts, who I found on social media platforms. But, too often I come across posts for the newbies. So sometimes I feel these are to make sites content heavy.

We pick and choose who we track on social media. On Twitter, it is an effort to stop following someone, once you start. You only do it if the volume of tweets is too much, or the quality dips significantly.

Let’s only write what we would like to read?

All I Really Need to Know, I learn on Twitter

The other day, someone asked me, “Which class are you in?” I smiled, explained that it had been a while since I finished my education. But that interaction got me thinking. Does learning stop when we leave school? Is education ever really over?

Now we have a tool to help us through life. Search engines can seem impersonal, and sometimes we may question the veracity of the information. On Twitter though, you can find answers to most questions. And since they are by actual people, you can follow up with them for clarifications, supplementary questions, or hand holding

Why not use Facebook? I feel that is our comfort zone, because we are particular about who we add as our friends. They may know as much as we do, particularly if the subject is esoteric. Tapping experts on Twitter is a better bet.

Facebook reminds me of a swimming pool, where groups of friends do their own thing. You smile, wave, laugh with each other. It’s for the good times. Twitter is this vast ocean you can drown in, or learn to swim in.

Good luck.

IWD

Happy Women's Day. The argument has been that if women want equality, why do they also want a day set aside for them? The fact remains that women are still exploited all over the world, so I think in this context, if initiatives around these women are helped by this day, then we should definitely mark this day.
Wikipedia informs me that this was originally International Working Women's Day. Originally a Socialist event, does it still have teeth, on the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day? Let's not limit it to wishing each other, celebrating womanhood, and meeting galpals.
When I was a child, it was a distinct mental jump to watch women in managerial roles on cable TV- Star World soaps and the like. Gradually, as I saw women achieve more, be as good at tasks which were considered male, I internalised the fact that we've arrived.
Womanism still resonates more with me than feminism. Sometimes, catfights prevail over better sense. But I still think we've come a long way. I still don't like the fact that #bootyappreciationday is trending on Twitter worldwide now. Let's get it off the charts!

Note to Myself

I've learnt a lot from the Open Forum on Saturdays (1-2 PM) at Kornash. It's fun connecting it with Psychology classes in school. Heat and tempers rising are related, so need to be careful now:)
Acceptance- the past is past. It can't be changed. Accept that, and move on. Don't let it poison the present, and worse still, the future. Although it is important to vent, once that's done, it's time to move on.
Internal chatter- read an article in Femina on how music helps drown it out.
Karma- if people have forgiven you in the past for similar incidents, return the favor. Even if they haven't, you can pay it forward.
Depending on others for help can only be temporary. It's important to internalize lessons, so that you don't repeat mistakes.
I still love the definition of learning we studied in psychology class in school- Learning is any relatively permanentchange in behaviouras a result of experience.

Speed sales

Fighting with plump aunties for salwar kurtas that will make me look like a Christmas tree, as early as 10 AM, left me drained. The exhilaration of getting bargains was cancelled out when I discovered that my credit card would not work- cash please! So I went to withdraw money.

Last time I got suits from here, they were useful. People keep getting married unexpectedly, so at least this way I won't have to scramble for suitable outfits. Sale shopping is best done in twos- so that one can hold the fort while the other scouts around/tries the outfit/finds a mirror which has some face space.

Had to keep taking rounds, as discarded stock was put back on the racks. A useful filter is to dog someone whose taste you like, so that you can pick up the ones that don't fit her/she doesn't like on second thought.

Speed dating must be similar. Instant decisions have to be made, before the kurta in question weighs your arm down. In both cases:)

The Death of Blogging, the Birth of Twitter

Read an article today in the New York Times on how blogs are dying. The younger generation prefers Twitter. Although Twitter's great for sharing links and thoughts, it's not as satisfying as a good long blog post I can get my teeth into.
Twitter's a Hi! and a blog's a how are you? the one that friends can take half an hour to answer. If Twitter's 20-20, a blog's a Test match.
A blog tells you more about a person, the way she thinks, speaks, and writes. In a tweet, I'm always conscious of the fact that I have only 140 characters. Reminds me of the STD calls earlier.
A blog can be thought similar to a magazine, while a tweet is akin to a newspaper. Although Twitter may be more social, a larger ego boost, what will you tweet about? That's where a blog can come in.
Although I still believe brevity is the soul of wit, short blog posts seem like a good compromise between a tweet and a post which is closer to article length.

V- Day

Valentine's Day. A day we singles regard with dread. The very air seems sickly sweet, mocking us as we breathe in.
I remember the hicks who used to invade K-nags when we were in College. I warned my brother to be careful (he's in Delhi for Valentine's).
This year, a friend got a rose on Rose Day. Airtel informs me that today is Propose Day. The run up to V-day is gaining mileage this year, the supporting cast getting airplay as V-day fatigue sets in.
We used to go out in a group on V-day, in College. I like the Ebay ad---self-love, self-indulgence, so what if no one sends you gifts.
I don't think love really needs a day. It's on our minds 365*24*7 :)

So simple...

Sounds right...will try. Weight loss focus hasn't worked so far, focusing on health may!

this seems doable...

Next time, I'm fighting myself...will just eat :-)

So true...from Holy Kaw!

Data which proves what we've known...TMI

Is my favorite acronym now- Too much Information! So what if a tweet is 140 characters, have you tried adding the tweets you read in a day?

Facebook and Eliot

To prepare a face to meet the faces we meet...

Tweet tweet, i know you have another woman...

On the perils that twits face...

To women over 30

I take it back. I liked Turning 30! It was eerily similar to my life so far. Loved the bai...she reminded me of Malti di. OMO...I miss you. She does cry a lot in the movie, something which is tough to understand for someone who hasn't gone through that level of heartbreak. Saw a woman protagonist I could identify with after a long time.
It's a more important issue for singletons still, I think. If you are well set on the career ladder, totting kids, or happily married, this milestone isn't so scary.
What if you're alone, stuck in a job you dislike, unhappily unmarried? It's all in the head. We all know people who are unhappyily married, who whine even if they are well set.
We should be more than what we do, or who loves or doesn't love us. Rather than living in a vaccum, waiting to be filled by a job or a significant other, we should fill it ourselves, bit by bit, minute by minute. And before we know it, it will become a habit.
I know some wonderful thirty plus women who are single. Some say men feel threatened by their success. Others are vertically or horizontally different. Still another is the stereotypical man hater.
How have they coped? Some are single in the city, others live in parents. Still others live in the same city as their parents, but separately.
They're all great fun to be with. More so than many married women i know, who can only talk about their children, maids, and houses.
We do maid talk too, and house talk. Some of us are close to nieces, nephews, and strange kids.
While I'm on the subject, I know some fantastic 40 year olds, people in their fifties, sixties, and twenties.
What do they all have in common?
Cognitively, they're as fresh as children.
When I was twenty, thirty seemed a long way away. I promised myself I would write a novel by then. So far, i have a few short stories. I'm already planning goals for the next decade.
40's the new 30.
The twenties are for dreaming. I think the thirties are for rediscovering those hopes, and working towards making them come true.
We've learnt to be more self reliant, but also realise we need people. Occasionally.
Even physically, age reflects what you think.
yours,
29+

Maya, the Screen

Turning 30! is to be avoided. Wish the same was possible with actually turning thirty. A thought- mental age differs from physical age, like kairos differs from chronos. There is good kairos and bad kairos- by which I mean, events which give us pleasure and events which sadden. The latter is better from a growing point of view, but not one we submit to willingly.
Reading The Penguin Edition of The Upanishads, specifically the introduction. Got interested after listening to Parthasarthy speak on the Isha Upanishad. Prefer these to self help books, which nag. The Upanishads merely glory in the joy of God, wanting you to experience the same. Treating others as if we were all one, what a simple way to do good! More as I continue on the journey.
We live as we dream. Alone. Conrad.
Inner life must be lived alone, like we die alone. From the afore mentioned introduction.
Poetry and religion are even more similar than psychology and religion. So even more interesting to me! Reading a book I felt like marking after a long time.
Both must be felt, and are tough to describe. Another line I liked from the introduction- poets make the abstract concrete. So do the Upanishads.
It's a pity religious questions make it tough for them to be taught in school. With a science driven world, we just haven't kept up. We can't declare ourselves obsolete. Technology will just have to wait while we understand ourselves.

Happiness is a sum of many things. One of them is being needed. You can be needed if you work at something you're good at. I have a dream. A dream with deadlines is a goal. Resilience gives you faith that you can achieve your goal. Here's hoping, knowing that yes, I can. Affirmations help too.

The polo final was an unforgettable experience. Barefoot, turbanned Manipuris in red and green put up an exhibition match. Then Black Gold played the White Knights. Dashing horses, Sandy Cash ( who we later discovered went by the more prosaic name Sandeep Kashyap) and the other players shouting with raised mallets made it exciting. The thud of the horses' hooves, the thud of our hearts as we tried to spot where the ball went, kept us jumping in our seats.

Upping the stakes

Airtel sent me an SMS today saying that I have been subscribed to a Baba Ramdev pack and I should call this number to unsubscribe. Spam is one thing. Spam that needs you to take action another. I hope this doesn't become a trend.
After calling the number, the voice asked me whether I was sure I wanted to unsubscribe. Cheeky !@#$%.

sivamani

Went for a performance by Sivamani. He made it interactive by playing on a suitcase and a water camper. Pulsating beats, which resonated with heartbeats.

Metros in metros

Just took the metro. Crowded even in the middle of the day, the Calcutta metro needs a makeover. I realised it was unsafe after I got on. Survived the brief ride without incident. Ladies only compartments like in the Delhi metro would help. The windows were half down too.

Mirchians

Mirch was watchable. A hazard of short stories is that they are episodic, specially when they are one after the other. Identification with a character for a sustained period of time becomes difficult. The stories from Panchatantra and Decameron were folk tale like in nature. Would be tough to incorporate the superstitious attitudes the twists in them hinged on, in modern stories. Unless, of course, magic realism was used. The third story's denouement seemed a little weak logically. I liked the last story's comic elements which Boman Irani personified. Women viewers would naturally like the agency taken by the protagonists in all the stories. They all revolved around verbal dexterity rather than brute strength, thereby confirming another stereotype. Still, even considered as tales by themselves, they were fun. That's what going to the movies is about at the end of the day.

Gair Zaroori Log was a gair zaroori play.
Yaar Bana Buddy was painful. The actors went on ad nauseam about a Rs. 1 crore ghada. The title tune was tacky TV serialish. Very against the tone of other plays in Nandikar's annual festival lineup.

never knew Ecuador was so rich in birds

I want to go to Ecuador!

Main hoon don...

Blue Footed Booby, Ecuador

Attended a folk dance performance from Ecuador. Liked a mask with a long tongue hanging out. Also a snake dance where the men and women wore outfits which had strings of beads hanging from them. Another dance had men engaging in mock sword fights. Sparks flew from their blades. Several dances saw women swirl their long skirts. The last dance revolved around hopes for happiness of a child who had died. Even the various regions of Ecuador seemed different in their dance forms. Looking at these dances, trying to link them to the ones here so that they seemed less alien, I thought perhaps that is how foreigners try to make sense of our culture. The music too was very soothing and lilting.

Enjoyed a much needed break to Mumbai. All refreshed now. Highlights included the Anish kapoor show. I didn't realise many of his famous works which are housed in America would be exhibited here too. Mehboob Studios served as an ideal host for the works. The studio walls as reflected by the sculptures formed mesmerising patterns. These sculptures are new. They seem alive, fluid, changing with every person who looks at them. It's intiguing to wonder how these particular effects- of making the viewer's image upside down when she moves away from the sculpture and the oppposite when she moves towards the sculpture works. Being part of art, what more could the viewer ask for? Anish kapoor has cleverly leveraged this insight in his work.

Out of bounds

Watched the play Out of Bounds recently. Very episodic, with the protagonist delivering monologue after monologue as different characters, as if to say, "Hey, look at me! Look how I can juggle so many different characters!" Funny in parts.

I enjoyed Anurupa Roy's puppetry workshop at Seagull even though I could attend only one day.
We learnt about the different kinds of puppetry, such as the ones she used at her show the day before- shadow, cutouts, figures etc. Puppetry called ravanchitra is popular in South india. It is named after Ravan as Ram being divine, doesn't have a shadow! We collected objects from the roadside to see what they would look like when a overhead projector would be used to project them on screen. I picked up a chakri- a leftover firecracker from Diwali. It worked well as a snail when projected. We then composed small stories under a minute using the objects we had found, in groups of 5. A tattered cloth looked beautiful on the screen. So did flowers, water in a transparent bottle, a hairclip. It was fun to imagine, be children again. We then attempted to make puppets from transparencies, cardboard and paper. We had wire and thumbtacks to create joints for our puppets. We were given three stories to stage. First we had to create a visual storyboard. This let us know at a glance what props were required for a scene. The next day we were to introduce colour using cellophane. Sigh. I wish I could have attended the second day too. Ah well, at least I got a glimpse in another world.

I quite liked Anurupa Roy's Anecdotes and Allegories. Puppets were the stars in this production. Babar, Humayun and Akbar's histories were told. Tiny puppets in doll houses were projected on a screen for Babar's story. Humayun's story was told with shadows and Akbar's with cutouts. I did feel that the accented voiceover if in Hindi instead of English, would have matched better with the material. Also, the few parts of the play which were in dialogue stood out. More such parts would have strengthened the subaltern perspective. All in all, a very different play which was worth attending.

Miss Daisy drives herself

Learning how to drive is enjoyable. From first gear to second gear, to reverse gear today, it gives one a feeling of immense power to be able to handle an object bigger and heavier than oneself. To actually move, be able to direct where one is going with a deft flick of the steering wheel…ah what comfort.

Unit Asia's jazz concert was enjoyable. Lighting was used to mirror the change in musical tempo. A Thai, a Malay and Japanese came together to create lilting music.

Liked All About Women best at Airtel's Lifestage theatre festival. Evam's 5 point someone adhered too faithfully to the book. Project S.T.R.I.P. was too like a skit on environmental issues to be enjoyable. Gentlemen was too risque. God- I didn't like the script much. The Leela Tapes did not vary pace.

Melange 2010

I quite enjoyed Melange 2010, which saw six musicians- Nishat Khan on sitar, Trilok Gurtu on percussion, Larry Coryell on guitar, Lily Haydon on violin, Frank Martin on keyboard, Itai Disreali on bass guitar.
Nishat Khan served as the focal point as he was centre stage. As the distinctive India instument player too, he stood out.
Trilok Gurtu used South American instruments among others to conjure up sounds of a storm.
Lily Haydon managed to make the violin sound more angry than mournful.
I liked the fact that the musicians got sounds out of their instruments which I had not heard from these instruments earlier.

Week 3 weigh in

Slowly but surely
Will win this race hopefully
Even karela feels good
TC tempts, will I be wooed?
Behind target, so think not
Gymming in full swing
Triple time spent there
Next week the alarm's ring
Must be heeded.
A change of work refreshes
Albeit for a while, destresses.

Week 3

this weight loss business is Sisyphean
Yo yo like, bounce off the walls lean
In dreams alone. Minor aberrations
Leave their accusing mark in lamination
On scales that weigh, assign justice blind
This Spartan existence, I myself remind
Will lead to better things, but as fruit appeals
Chocolate truffle cake, pizza and garlic bread repel,
My social life shrinks, with water alone to drink
The end seems far, far away. Gym feels good
Getting up's a pain, but I like the bed of wood.

WAR

It goes on, it will go on
Like life. Worth living?
Some argue otherwise.
Lighter in body, if not in mind
Gram by gram, try to rewind
To a slimmer waist, now a waste
memories of bhujiya downed
Invisible masses piled up
To inch towards unhealthy.
Hiking homewards, only to rebound
It is to be hoped I stay mentally sound.
Amen.

Week 1

Double dose of dal
Double effort low cal
No fruit so far
The acid test- the weekend
Is near.

Day 3

Lost one and a quarter
So far. May not show garter
Wise but gives hope
To trudge on, cope
Am actually liking the fruit
Specially when it bears fruit.
Week one of mental exercise too
Begun, coupled with gym to blue
Drive away. Work wise redrawing
Shapes too. Let's see what the better half
Of this year has in store for this calf.
or should it be these calves?

Day Two

Fruit so far
Scales later
In the week
Mountains of flesh to melt
Gym in this heat swelt
Not happening. Bus did
the needful. await lunch now
the ways meals were and how.

Why Diet is spelt with a Die

Day One

Fruit so far
Hollow inside
Aar ya paar
Gym beside
Woe betide
Flesh, melt already
Am tired of teddy
Type face,
Also body.
Water, zero calories
Is my companion
rotis, begone! Wary
Am I of carbs. When
My diet plan
Has sprouts, veggies
With elan
A spanner in the works
Are spices, choc lurks
In my fridge to combat it.
Distributed to combat
Temptation. Half a kilo
Down, many more to go.
The journey of a sixty five kilos
Begins with a single gram.
Ram Ram.

Taramandal had good acting and direction but the script was a series of skits. Music was great.

Right turn

Ranjit Kapoor's Wring Turn at NSD was excellent. Perhaps an adaption of an English play, it was contemporary in lingo. The acting was natural. The stage was well used, the poster design was professional and the music was brilliant.

Behind every great love story, is a great lie

I quite liked LSD- very different. It has the Blair Witch home video feel. One character was Delhi to the core. The three stories were also interwoven well. The music was great. The hattrick!

Dilli Ka Shayarana Andaaz

Truly a magical evening. The dramatised readings from a new novel had us riveted. An Urdu translation of The Last Mughal followed. It sounded much better than the original English version. 1852 Delhi was not much different from the Delhi we know and still love today. Sweltering summers, hookah wallahs who emerge in the evening..." Hum Dilli wale chatpate khane ke liye hi to yahan rehte hein."
Agreed.
Ghazals in a melodious voice followed- Yeh na thi hamari kismat by Ghalib, followed by Zafar, Daag et al.
I promptly bought the novel and am waiting for the Hindustani translation of The Last Mughal to be on sale.

Teddy

http://www.ted.com/talks/srikumar_rao_plug_i

Up in the air

I quite liked the movie, with it's wit, dark humour and action. Realistic, relatable and different.

Gorgeous Giraffes

The Giraffes at Select City Walk as part of Bon Jour India was wow. 18 feet tall pink giraffes, with one person being the back legs on stilts and one in the front. The front person manipulated the neck with strings. The clown said में दुनिया में सबसे महान हूँ with great glee. The opera singer sang Tintin style:) Fireworks, confetti, hoops of fire, cranes added to the carnival effect.

Junked on the book fair this Sunday. Bought six books, two of which are non fiction. Can't wait to read them, but have to:)

Music washes away
The dirt of the day.

Darling Pudding

The Maharajah of Gaipajama
Little knew of a girl named Nora.
Quiet looking, crabby Cancerian
Happiest when solo aquatican
Whether washing clothes, self or home
Cooking too, watching cells grow, roam
Guitar girl, threatens to flash a Chink churi
Incommunicado often, but does jadugiri
Knowing problems before they arise.
Is it science or is it art?
I just know she’s smart.
Babe with brains, Catholic queen
Hail Mary! I’m glad she’s ever been.

The F People

Friends are gifts from above
Unwrapped with years, love.
They view us with unjaundiced eyes
Ever ready with solutions, spies
Who divine problems we hide
Artfully from ourselves. Beside
Forcing us to confront scary things
Which once spoken, demand enactings.
Work too, so long live old friends.

Nine Months

When we first met you were another's

I didn't want to share, bothers

But when I heard you're cheap

I took you without a peep.

We met in the dark

When I told others, they barked.

Questions that should've come to mind

How much you were of a bind.

You seemed welcoming, you felt right.

I liked the envy you attracted on sight.

Played hard to get, although not

I wanted you to be my scene, i got.

Moving in, moving on

Just us two, the sun

Learning how I liked you to look

Though getting there, a while took

You brought out parts of me

Good ones, that were latent, see

I basked in the sun, the surprise

Of friends who thought we'd never cruise.

Sometimes you get on my nerves

But that's so as we stay long curves

The hours on the clock. I always

Return to you, so I can hear nays

Yeas in my head, drown the days.

Weekends are ours. In day's many moods

I travel though you, cleansed of falsehoods

I make you up when friends come

So you're praised, so me, hon bun.

When I think of leaving you

When you cold shoulder me, dew

Returning to one that I shared

We are no longer me and you. Bared

New clothes I can be myself

You're hot when needed, cool help

Entertaining friends when they stay

When I must share you, for days.

Now that you're part of me

I don't resent the care you need. Identity

Ours is fused. You'd be different

Without me as I would. No lament

For the missing link. We have each

other. Flat you may be, teach

You have to give. You suit me just

Fine. I look in you now, lust

Imbibed, expelled. You know me inside

Out, just as I do you, house wife bride.

Sometimes when I'm too tired to move

I let my marks on you stay, remove

Them later, although only my eye

Falls on them. I please myself by

Keeping you neat- even if I am not.

A bientot.

Writing down my bones

There is bright, warm light streaming in through my window. It falls in a rectangular, sectioned pool on my marbled floor, warming me while I sit on my bed. It merges with my yellow bedspread.Like a shy bride, I cannot look directly at the sun.
Today there is light. The light coming through my door has no such grid. It falls freely, a rectangle big enough to cover me as I write. It doesn’t come everyday and when it comes it is not warm always.
I can cross the grid on the shadow of the window easily; it’s the other way round with real life problems. My mind magnifies them, when in reality they can be crossed.
The window light is about six feet by three feet. It cuts up the tiles even more. I saw a section of light in my kitchen, as if it was being carried by an invisible pipe.
The window’s the vessel through which the sun pours in, filtering, sieving it before it hits me. As I look at it through my hair, I see strands of my hair too seem lighter. The light moves, forcing me to move my bed too, like a sunflower I too am a sun follower, I flow where the sun flows.

Plotting

I am so excited about my WIP! Holly Lisle's tips on plotting worked like a charm- for the first time ever, I have a plot! Yay! I read the tip, think it sounds too complicated, do it like she shows me, and it works. Last night I wrote for 45 minutes, probably the longest I've done prose for. Didn't bore myself either, in fact surprised myself. Not knowing where I was going had led to dead ends in the past. This way, I wrote 400 words- one scene. This DIY author is highly reccomended. I used her free ebook on plotting.

Media

Also watched Medea in Italian at the same venue yesterday. There was a three floor tall construction on stage, from where some of the actors declaimed their lines. Cloth fluttered from the sides to give a ship like effect. The shadow play on the back wall of the stage brought the tragedy to life, as the actor hung from her harness. Another death had the actor standing on a white sheet, the corners of which actors pulled while he moved. A smaller sheet of red on this sheet was pulled out gradually, so that he seemed to be drowning in a pool of blood. Indian music, dance added to the innovation of this production.

Kamaal

Watched Habib Tanvir's Kamdev Ka Apna, Basant Ritu Ka Sapna at the NSD Theatre Festival on Saturday. From the title to the script, Tanvir has done a marvellous job of adapting Shakespeare's A Midsumer Night's Dream in Hindi, with lines in verse. The actors of Pyramus and Thisbe spoke in Chattisgarhi but the music and dancing kept us riveted. The Wall stole the show, keeping us in splits.

Period Piece

I liked Sherlock Holmes, although it was more a Guy Ritchie version of Holmes than a Doyle version. Was surprised to see how much I've forgotten about the stories. Ritchie's got London of that time to a T. The supernatural elements reminded me of Doyle's interest in the occult. Holmes and Watson are action heroes, twisting in the superbly weird convolutions of plot Ritchie's known for. The cinematography stayed in my head long after the credits ( written beautifully in parchment with sketches) had rolled.

Took a chance at the NSD theatre festival- Bharat Rang Mahotsav and got tickets for Johnny's Midnight Goggles on Sunday. Although the performance began half an hour late due to a technical snag, it was well executed. The story was a little thin. The celloist put up a one man show, singing too. In the open forum after the performance, a lady pointed out that the imaginary land connoting evil in the play, ended in stan. The actor promised to change it for the 9 o' clock show to something ending in shire or ham:)
Also managed a ticket for Naseeruddin Shah directed The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, which had a twist at the end.
Yesterday, I saw Strange Lines, which was...strange. The Indian spoke about India, the Swiss about Switzerland, while images danced on screens behind them.
Capped it off by walky talky from NSD to AIIMS. Google Maps says that's 9.3 km. Wouldn't have believed I could do that on such a cold night.

Mmandarmani

Had a very restful break this time in Cal. the two long weekends saw get triple the days off that I had taken:) Mandarmani beach was beautiful- you can drive the car on the beach. Our hotel too was on the beach.
Takes me a week to get used to being at home with family. Missing my folks now.

Inglourious Basterds

I really liked the film. The subtle menace of the lead villain, the build up by the New York Times Review, the unique experience of watching a film by a living legend on the big screen, in real time. The cinematography was excellent, the circling shots, the music, but I thought it could have been better edited. It was fun giving Hitler what he should have got.

Singing Singapore's Praises

It started with a Singapore sling

Learnt, lived, loved the fling

With the city, the seminars, the speakers.

Neat and clean roads laid out, Sentosa stunned

In the habitat of fishes & dolphins plunged.

Veg sushi Vietnamese, dessert before second course

No space for the second dinner, अफसोस

We spiders wove our way through the agencies network

Tattooed, watched an MD dunked topless, smirked

Awards were glitzy, glammy, and afterwards

Purplehaired, we sat on the purple sofa

Rupee room, Clarky's beat a desi dil

Where we danced the wee hours till

Red carpet withdrawal syndrome struck

A world exposed to, I want to go back

To that time, place, people that's fading away

Not letting me be, when I see the snaps gay.

Rain pain

Feel like writing an essay on a rainy day, like we used to in school. Should've stayed in Gurgaon yesterday, or at least left my laptop in office. Got lucky- took an auto to Ladosarai, walked to Ahinsa Sthal, took a relatively empty bus which stood at Ahinsa Sthal for half an hour, but then gethered speed. There was waterlogging along the way, but managed to reach office in two and a half hours- pretty decent.

Attendance is low though. Left my bag on a bus, but a Good Samaritan pointed that out.

A Sing a poring we will go

I am so excited about attending Spike! Was shortlisting seminars, planning where to go in Singapore, what to buy. Santa Singh's definitely come early this year:) Am saving up money, although there isn't much time. Hope I can extend my stay. Looking forward to networking, experiencing Singapore by night, the awards, the workshops, the talks, the accents...

Weekend with a wham

The Medicine Show was very refreshing yesterday. Venue mismatch continued, but I guess performers' comfort comes first. The stand up comedy had us in splits.

Sang at All Sports Bar- Always by Bon Jovi. Karaoke solo is something else- you stop for breath and realise the voice has stopped. I barely knew the lyrics too, so was feeling very born in the USA types.

Made papri chat- hunger will work wonders. Was good and felt a sense of achievement too. Motivation to entertain.

Crystal gazing

Crystals--the scientific back up could have followed the experience. i did feel lighter afte encountering them. Sometimes too far out though. Obsidian and smoky quartz's suitable for screen grazers...here I come.

@#$%

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_pink_on_motivation.html

hi namaste नमस्ते

Baarish

Went for the play reading The Strange Case of Billy Biswas. The strength of the book lay in it's descriptions, which highlighted the lure of the jungle. From a dramatci perspective, it slowed down the action.

I liked The Blue Umbrella- the umbrella was indeed very beautiful. The tale was engaging too, not merely for children.

The muppets at the Monsoon Festival were also riveting.

I also enjoyed An Inconvenient Truth- although there were too many images of Al Gore for my liking. The screening was in a smaller room than the auditorium where The Blue Umbrella was shown, the people were less and so too hopefully were the carbon emissions:)

Check your carbon footprint on climatecrisis.net.

The music program in the evening was also very refreshing- with Suchet's shamanic drum and other previously unseen, unheard and unknown instruments.

Kartik Baul's music was lilting in parts.

We rounded off the evening with wine on the house, courtesy the American centre:)

Serious Play

Western classical

The music program at IHC yesterday was very refreshing for the soul. Also a refresher with French and Italian guessing. Didn't have the same impact in English:)Worth the long ride.

I

Caferati's Godawful Poetry Fotnight- a baker's dozen of days- begins today.

Well, Godawful poetry to me would mean forced rhymes, trite emotions and just generally...bleh.

http://caferati.blogspot.com/2009/08/son-of-godawful-poetry-fortnight-19th.html#3758941225409206053



Godawful Poetry Fornight has begun
Time to let blessedly go, tum tum.

Kaminey liked, like called to like
Earfuls the next day, let's strike.

Boredom wars with logic here
How to writers keep me there.

Maids and cooks made havoc
Gym gayi, cleaned bugs adhoc.

Ageless aunties

Artful, artless aunties attacked
My attempts at guessing their age.
Lively, full nautanki, lip smacked
Glossy, faces with character's page.

Does it matter?
Endless chatter
Outside, inside, besides
Aging gracefully's better
Than not aging at all.

Babes with serene, seraphic expressions
Aunties with wide eyes, mock innocence
Bejamin Button
Has competition.

The weekend that was

Liked Curious Case of Benjamin Button and also Love Aajkal. Good to see a hindi movie trying to be more realistic. The contrast seemed sharper when compared to the 60s typically filmi love story. Only when the movie is over do you realise how wafer thin the storyline was.

Also read the Science of Influence via torrent- good read; a change in environment leads to a change in behaviour...very true.

Saturday night bacardi fun...I do still have a life:)Homedulgence.

Shopped more...USI always has pickable stuff.

AAAA Future Of Planning Zj

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

AAAA Future Of Planning Zj

View more documents from Zeus Jones.

Was checking out the open course ware at MIT online today...the philosophy section. Tough to follow- seem to be saying the obvious once you've waded through the jargon...

Also read some of their lectures on writing short stories-useful stuff- but tough to follow--bit like how I would feel if someone asked me to paint:)

Enjoyed the performance by Shaw's Corner on Sunday at the Habitat.

The concert there by Swaratma on Saturday was also good. The lyrics were social cause related and the music was very danceable-- very different from the usual Hindi music available. The guitarist singer switched from English to Bihari with complete ease.

The YP seems a tad yuppie--but as long as good work is being done, why crib.

Went shopping at sales on Sunday after a long time- felt very very good.

Mehendi rang layegi...

Was fun having a friend over on the weekend.

Final Poll- Please answer in the comments section- Thanks !

Post Awareness Survey:
1. In India, is it possible to get Braille on your visiting cards? Yes/No
2. Do you know of an organisation called Esha – People for the blind? Yes/No
3. Would you like to/have u visited the Esha website?

The Road Behind, Now, Ahead

Am reading the Road Less Travelled & Beyond by M.Scott Peck. Says a lot of things which make sense, although he focusses too much on The Man Above for my taste.

The need to think, is something which most people neglect to simplify their lives. The capacity to tolerate uncertainty is also a skill which may come with time.

The willingness to welcome pain as an opportunity to grow emotionally is also something we shirk. What's the point of studying something we are good at? True. For a change, yes.

More as I continue reading it.

Other gems I picked up at Landmark- Adland; Truth, Lies & Advertising; Crowdsourcing.

Courtesy a small discount voucher from Citi & my points.

Some consolation for a wasted trip to Gurgaon on Saturday- the meeting scheduled there ended up being in Delhi.

Habitat movie

To kill a mockingbird- the movie- is much tighter than the book. The book had it's own charm, a bildungsroman of Scout. Gregory Peck as the restrained Atticus Finch stole the show. He picked up an Oscar for this role. Stein auditorium was as packed as when Harry Potter 6 was premiered.

Uncoupling

Was reading about families today- and how couples are complementary. That is both the source of the attraction and also the frustration.

It's nice when what you think is borne out by science- all conflicts can be resolved positively if both parties wish to work at the problem.

Also, with children we tend to go off at the other end- behave at the other extreme from how our parents treated us if it was a dysfunctional relationship- but it is suggested that one goes back to the original characters- the parents- and is more assertive with them.

Esha- for the blind

When we walk in the dark, we feel helpless. We also empathise with those who must live their lives in darkness. I remember my batchmate, pankaj, who was visually challenged, but still got a first division in the first semester of business school. He spoke with authority, and sensibly. he was finally placed with IBM and is now happpily married and a father too.

Who are the blind people who have touched your lives? Helen Keller, Stevie Wonder, John Milton...

Esha, an organisation for the blind, attempts to sensitise us to their world- they organise the printing of Braille visiting cards, theatre workshops run by the blind, accessibility audits for organisations to evaluate how blind friendly they are.http://www.braillecards.org/I've seen one of these Braille visiting cards, but I just thought it was an innovative design...I didn;t realise that it was Braille.

Tactile maps- green velvette paper to signify forest cover etc- is another interesting idea ocvered in their blog http://eshabraille.wordpress.com/

There's a science to the nebulous feeling of being happy