Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Schlumming

Slumdog Millionaire has been in the press so much, one simply had to watch it. It began in media res, with cliffhangers following on cliffhangers. The twist of a personal connect to the questions asked on the game show was innovative. Jamaal junior stole the show. I found the accents of the teenagers jarring. The second half was more typical masala. Well made, good acting and tight direction, this film took the viewer on a fast paced ride, with screeching tires as it came up against corner after corner of the protagonist’s experiences. Sharply veering, twisting this way and that.

Look, Ma- No Words!

The Painted World, a Czech play at the Bharat Rang Mahotsav of NSD, was magical. The actors used puppets, painted in white luminous paint ( I guess) to create a feeling of suspended animation and flow.

White flight

Clouds below billowed
Flecks of cotton flowed.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Xmass

Park Street was crowded but lit up well, as was Theatre Rd. Am beginning to feel that Facebook is the only place where dislocated junta belongs- many times run together there- school, College...
Shoppng with mom was interesting- prices should be written large in order to be read by longsighted people. We drank free trial soup but resisted the offer in favour of soup made with fresh tomatoes.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Yaagh

Saw an awful play by Feisal Alkazi called Chaal. Based on Talented Mr. Ripley, it had simultaneous events on stage, flubbed lines and incomprehensible time jumps. Very unlike his usual work.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Zila Khan


Jogging again. Hear a peacock call today. Apples and oranges now form breakfast. The Zila Khan performance was good. I like Sufi songs. Her voice is very flexible. Sounds of Isha was also very good. They had some unusual instruments.

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Day 1


Aargh! Nothing's working. My Excel sheet got me less than 1 grand, adopt a plot got me less than half a grand. At least the gyan I read about being able to identify with MCs came in useful, as it led to my abandoning my adopted plot. I felt like writing a humourous story, so I've started that, but it's not funny so far.. and less than half a grand.

Have discovered I write in bursts, by the seat of my pants. At least poetry- even if it's just about my day- has that theme. But it's fun to be able to put keyboard to screen. Now all I have to do is say something meaningful:)

But it's a huge kick to see that dot on your graph- you've already done a grand, and are more than half way through to the next one!

Of course having bonsais is a bit of a downer when the idea is to grow a plant...let's see..

Maybe I can develop the plot as the story goes along..I love it when the story surprises you.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Novemberthon

Am doing Nano. Wish me luck.

Thank you.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Up some dates

Hungarian music tap tap

Magic of Broadway rap

Diwali Mela melees

Play by Israelis

Columbian concert calls

If rice permits, to halls.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Mephisto's Manifesto

I'm really enjoying and learning a lot at the Muse Online Writers' Conference. Writing a novel no longer seems that scary. Using Excel to plot it, is the way I prefer to use Excel:) Although trying to blog everyday has helped me discipline myself as a writer, the flip side is that while writing sometimes, my blog style comes to me sometimes.

Still, I've managed to plot my novel's outline, logline and main characters' characteristics. I'm going to get down to writing everyday now, even if it's only 500 words a day- so that in some months I will have something substantial to look at.

Another spur is a coaching session with one of the writers at the conference- to discuss my problems with her, I need to write and have problems first:)

Although I read that core competency is at work in writing too- which is why Eliot is known more for poetry- it's difficult to imagine him as a novelist- at least one novel is in everyone.

As a couple of people a couple of years ago told me to write a book, I think I need to.

Last time I started, I ended up with a short story.

This time, I'm observing life around me from a writing point of view. Also, looking at writing differently- analysing while reading: why does this description work here, how has this author managed to hold reader interest.

All this also impacts my life- if a character is supposed to develop by the end of a novel, one does think of how one has developed(or not) over the years.

I had also forgotten writing's function of cohesion- now when I try to string my story together, I see the connections more clearly. Still have to get around to the imagination bit though.

In that sense, my poetry draws from life. I'm planning to experiment a bit with form now. Let's see.

Hopefully, putting this up will further motivate me to get going.

You hearing me, subconscious?

Need to work together again..:)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The New Century & the Dark Side of Globalization

Attended the 2nd Annual Penguin Lecture. This time the speaker was Lord Patten. As he too spoke on globalization, I had trouble keeping his and Friedman's lecture of last year straight. His wit kept us in splits throughout. The cocktails at the British Council rounded off a very pleasant evening.

Comic relief

Watched Namak Mirch- 4 short Urdu plays- hilarious. The Stein auditorium was packed. They covered a wide gamut of subjects- from matchmaking to taking digs at shayars to superstitions.

Comedy seems to go down well with Delhi.

Friday, October 03, 2008

An Old Friend Outgrew Me:(


Observed a virtual sabbath yesterday. Got an insight in the life of a chef today. Learnt how to make tomato rice yesterday. Also put a face pack which is supposed to get the wearer married faster (!) and watched Kidnap- Imran Khan's looking good.

Monday, September 29, 2008

To b-school

And Oblige
by Dorothy Parker
When I've made a million dollars—it may take a year or two
At the present rate of speed that things are going—
There are various little matters that are somewhat overdue,
And the prospect, at the moment, isn't glowing;
But as soon as I've a million, as I started in to say,
Life will be, I take it, gloriously happy;
For already I am planning to expend it in a way
That will be, if I may say it, rather snappy.
I will charter me a taxicab of cheery white and brown,
And you'll never catch me glancing at the meter!
And I'll make a little tour of all the milliners in town;
And the question is, Could anything be sweeter?
Just for stamps and lunch and cigarettes, each morn I'll draw a check
For a thousand dollars, payable to bearer,
And you'll hear the pearls a-clanking, as I drape them on my neck.
It occurs to me that little could be fairer.
It is true that a million doesn't take you very far,
And it's hard to find another when you've shot it;
But I'll blow it like the widely known inebriated tar,
For I want to be a good one while I've got it.
So the minute I've a million, I'll go right ahead and spend,
Though it doesn't last me more than over Sunday.
In the meantime, though, I wonder, as a favor to a friend,
Could you let me have a dollar—say, till Monday?

Gwendolyn Brooks


a song in the front yard
I've stayed in the front yard all of my life.

I want a peek at the back

Where it's rough and untended and hungry weed grows.

A girl gets sick of a rose.
I want to go in the back yard now

And maybe down the alley,

To where the charity children play.

I want a good time today.
They do some wonderful things.

They have some wonderful fun.

My mother sneers, but I say it's fine

How they don't have to go in at quarter to nine.

My mother, she tells me that

Johnnie MaeWill grow up, to be a bad woman.

That George'll be taken to jail soon or late

(On account of last winter he sold our back gate).

But I say it's fine. Honest, I do.A

nd I'd like to be a bad woman, too,

And wear the brave stockings of night-black lace

And strut down the streets with pain on my face

Friday, September 26, 2008

Now & Next

Feeling wide awake after some filter coffee today morning. Have to go traipsing around Delhi for a friend.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Yesterdemain



Watched a contemporary dance performance by Rashid Ansari yesterday. I liked the Japanese sword fighting sequence too. I was pleasantly surprised to see my College Math teacher Nandita Narain singing. She did some bird whistles too. Did sound like the earth bursting in spring- they were some instruments I had not heard earlier.


My heart is yours


What good is advice


I have drunk poison


What good is sugar


They say tie his feet up


What good is that


When it is my heart that's crazy?


'Tis true, 'tis pity. 'Tis pity, 'tis true.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

The weekend so far

Am catching on in french class. Had a great time at a friend's farewell- got great threads, junk jewellery, curtains, kitchenware:) Went to Dariba to buy anklets for her. Am now planning my next trip:)

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Kairos


Big Brands & Facebook: Demographics, Case Studies & Best Practices

From: charleneli, 11 months ago





Just updated the PPT with demo data from Facebook.


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Kairos


Social network websites: best practices from leading services

From: faberNovel, 9 months ago





This document provides a general background for understanding social network websites and the study of online matchmaking websites and business network websites

This study is only the first step. Distributed under creative commons license, it should be completed and improved through the contribution of external experts, firms and web users as major moves in the industry are expected to occur in the coming months



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