Indy, I miss you!

Mixed emotions! I was glad to be inside the theater when the credit rolled in. The nice first shot with Elvis Presley playing in the background. But soon the expectations and the excitement died out. I kept waiting for the fun to begin and when it did, It was too late and I just wanted the movie to get over.

So what is the problem with a movie I had been waiting for so many months? Well, to begin with the script just seems to be recycled from the plots of old Indiana Jones movies and there is a worn feeling of been there, done that. 20 years and tons of money should have been enough for Mr. Lucas and Spielberg to come up with a solid, genuine script that could capture the spirit of true Indiana Jones dangerous archaeological adventures but it is so predictable with just a few twists and turns. Movie sometimes tries to be more clever than the script has scope for. Editing is not consistent, performances are not inspired, direction is half-hearted. The dialogues lack the punch that i loved in previous Indy movies.

The film does pick up in the last 40 minutes and to the credit of the movie, some action scenes are actually quite good but overall I sorely missed the adrenaline rush of Raiders of the Lost Ark. But probably its unfair to compare. Nothing would equal the magic of ROTLA!

Maybe I had high expectations from the movie and that is why I feel so let down. But anyone who has not seen the previous three movies or is not familiar with the legend of Indy, should like the movie.

So lower your expectations and go watch it for Harrison Ford!

Quick Post - Go browse!

Weekend is such boring days. You spend the whole week thinking about stuff to do and finally when Saturdays dawns on you, you dont feel like doing anything... But thats alright. I did get to do something. Working on a project but I dont see it finishing any soon. Maybe by next week.

I wanted to write about Life of Pi. But I have decided to give it another read before I write about it. Meanwhile I have started reading 'The Last Jet Engine Laugh' by Ruchir Joshi. Lets see if it can keep me pulled for long!

I also wanted to write about Indiana Jones which I saw yesterday. I might write in a couple of days when I get over my disappointment.

Have been browsing a little and here are some of interesting links

www.dontclick.it
You dont have to click to navigate through this site. Interesting experiment.

http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/

http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/books/search
A nifty tool that recommends you books you can read based on a title you have liked. Give it a try!

http://www.drewflaherty.com/
Great designs

http://uncyclopedia.org
A spoof on wikipedia. Few entries can make you laughing out loud. Check the one on George Bush. You can always trust him to make you smile.

http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/
very very interesting website. Must be visited

http://ffffound.com/
Some truly amazing photographs & designs

http://www.alextrochut.com/
Portfolio of Alex Trochut

http://www.librarything.com/
A little dated interface but pretty good functionality. i have got an account on it.

http://artofmanliness.com/2008/05/14/100-must-read-books-the-essential-mans-library/
A list of 100 must read books for men. I dont entirely agree with the list but to each his own.

Its supposed to rain for the next 2 days! Lets see.

Earth, Galaxy and Indiana Jones

Its late and its already Friday. Lot of things have been happening...

Assignment went off well. But I still need to work on it for final presentation. There goes my weekend.

I did some research on packaging waste for my assignment and the results were predictably astonishing. All of us know how the excessive wastage, plastic pollution and general public's lack of participation in recycling programmes is killing the earth. But still we dont accelerate our efforts to do something about it. We still accept plastic bags every time we go to buy groceries. I have seen people in stores asking for more than 1 plastic bags to carry 2 pints of milk which I think is sinful unless they reuse the bags.

I used to think that things would be different in developed countries than back in India since there is more awareness and education about the issue, but its not true at all. Things might be a little better with all the systems of recycling in place but for some reason the people are still not inspired enough to make use of it which is such a pity.

The evidence of accelerated poisoning of the planet are in front of us. People are complaining of changing climates, hundreds of thousands are dying in cyclones, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and we still happily drive 1 blocks to buy a cigarette emitting deadly carbon in the very air that we breath(lets forget the cigarette for a moment). I dont think that our grand children(if they survive despite the mess we are creating) will never forgive us for driving our gas guzzlers to the grocery shop next block when we could have just walked or cycled.

Everybody knows what we need to do. I would still list them for my own reference once again.

• Reduce: Say no to excessively packaged products. Avoid buying over packaged goods. Buy 4 pints of milk rather than 2 pints to reduce containers going out.
• Reuse: Reuse anything that can be reused. Plastic containers can be used in garden or for any other purpose. Be creative(thats what my assignment is about and I may write about it when I finish it).
• Recycling: Follow the local system of recycling.

Other things:

• Use a jute/cloth bag while shopping for grocery or anything. Refuse plastic bag.
• Walk, Cycle, use public transport as much as possible.
• Switch to environment friendly vehicles.
  
• Conserve energy. Switch off lights.
• Save water. Think before turning the tap on for bathing, shaving, brushing teeth, doing dishes, washing clothes. Be conscious. Water is limited.
  
• Educate children. Make them go green and do their bit.
  
• Plant more trees in your garden.
• Think before printing 4 lines of email on a fresh paper.

I have gone over the internet and visited various websites and I think everyone should try it to start understanding the issue.

Its now or never. I would like future son/daughter of Anoushka and Haardik to remember me for leaving the legacy of green earth so I am gonna do my best about ensuring that.

Hmmmm... what else?

We wasted some time on Wednesday evening watching a Chinese circus. It was, well, just like a circus. Thankfully there were no animals in it. I think it was sponsored by China so there were references to Chinese ancient history, traditions and ofcourse oncoming Olympics. Though I enjoyed the nice Chinese song with singers doing their over the head swinging acrobatics.


I somehow like the consumer psychology class in school. I sit fascinated listening about the theories and trying to makes sense out of it. And it does.

I also finished The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I enjoyed it tremendously. It is a shame that I have not read such books. Utterly shameful!

The book is so much fun, quirky and has got so many layers. I was laughing out loud reading the hugely funny one-liners. Ah, the idea of mice running the earth- makes you think from a different perspective. I found the whole concept of looking for the answer to life's big questions like who we are? etc... disguised in a colorful, fantastic roller coaster. I am not sure though that I would like to see the movie. I am afraid it would not be that much fun!! And seeing things in front of you kills the joy of discovering things written in between the lines. While reading, you read so much which the author has not written... ummm.. am I making any sense?

I started "Introducing Chaos" which is based on the study of, well, Chaos. Its a part of the Introducing series, so the book 'introduces' the various theories and concepts related to the science of order, deterministic systems, edge of chaos and many more related topics without going into details. I first got interested in Chaos having read about the Butterfly Effect. I found the study fascinating and I am gonna read some more detailed books.

I am looking forwarding to going for Indiana Jones. Friday(today?) for sure! I am more excited having read the positive reviews from the Cannes screening. Anyways I am an Indie fan. Having missed the theatrical release of all earlier Indiana Jones movies, there is no way I wont be in the queue.

Have a long weekend coming with Monday being the Bank Holiday. Need to finish off assignment and save some time for other things.

Google doodle celebrates 125th birthday of Walter Gropius

Walter Adolph Gropius born in Berlin, Germany in 1883. Studied architecture(but received no degree), went on to found Arts and Crafts School in Weimar, which became the world-famous Bauhaus. Here, Painting, sculpture, photography, industrial design, cinema, and architecture were all taught under one philosophical umbrella. Walter was influenced by the writings of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The protagonist of Ayn Rand's famed novel Fountainhead(written in 1946) Howard Roark, was believed to be based on Frank Lloyd Wright(though both denied this)

Walter insisted on using modern technology and material in his designs such as glass and steel. His unusual quintessential urban architectural form was termed as "architectural socialism" and the school was forced to move to Dessau. He later shifted to England and eventually to United States in 1937. Taught architecture at Harvard University and designed many architectural landmarks before dying in 1969.

Achievements on a sunny Sunday

Weekend Achievements so far:

• Woke up
• Brushed my teeth
• Thought about assignments

Other major achievements:

• Checked out the meaning of grumpy. Checked the mirror. I am grumpy :-[

Achievements I am proud of:

• Finished Life of Pi. Will write in detail about that.
• Started The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Hooked so far.
• Chatted, laughed, sang with Anoushka, Haardik and Shalu.
  
• Learnt so much about monetizing a blog. Why not try?

BTW, everyone loves raymond. i am just one of everyone.

Now bring on that assignment!

Capitalism and Lap dance

A day in office sometimes can seem like eternity. Sometimes it just blinks away. Today was something in-between. Highlight was the group lunch in an Italian joint down the road. I was trying to get my pronunciation of the dishes right and checking the ingredients to avoid anything resembling animal/bird flesh. Settled with Tuna salad. Is fish an animal? Bird? Hope not. Think not.

We started at 1PM and the lunch was supposed to be for an hour, strictly to end at 2PM but of course went on till 3.30PM. Its a culture thing. People don’t go to an eatery to merely eat. Its to meet, discuss, plan, laugh, share, argue, fight and in some cases, murder(bad bad teenager!). Luckily, we just discussed. About a lot of things in the world. His life, His wife, His kids, His grandsons, His music, His paintings, His girlfriends, His vacations, His next vacation plans, His plans for His next birthday and other mundane concepts like gays and lesbianism.

Ofcourse there were some active participants, some passive and some semi. Yes, I was one of the passive ones. Probably due to my gender. Cant help it. Can I?

After a few too many drinks, He was flowing. Favourite subject- making money in London. I hate to say but I did get fascinated. "London is the best city to make tons of money. People are lazy and not too much inspired. Befriend them, drink with them, go to pubs with them, talk business and they would like you to do everything on their behalf". Advocacy of capitalism was unabashed. "One has to enjoy every comfort money has to offer. Best of homes, best swimming pools, flying to exotic locations with even more exotic company and what not. These things are here to be enjoyed and one can only enjoy these when you have sacks of money. So go solo. Be your own boss. Kick your job and boss. Only then you can make it".

Sipping my Latte, I was admiring His honesty and frankness. Though I might not buy his theories of blatant materialism, how many bosses tell their handful of employees over pasta and digestive cocktails to quit their jobs and start something on their own? Recession notwithstanding.

Rest of the day was dull. Back home, mates had plans for… er.. late night visit to a well-known Gentlemen’s club in central London. For anyone who has never been to one, well, whatever you have heard is true! Somehow people like me, like us have no place there. Awkward and uncomfortable, we ran away, strolling through Piccadilly Circus we hailed a cab and got home.

Hey, central London glows in the night! Though I do not think I will venture out when I am alone. A museum, library or river bank will do much better. Hell! Its weekend already. Assignments!!!

Portobello Road, Pi and Freud

Woke up with irritating tiny trickles of rain on window panes which changed into thick bashing as I sat in my train towards Wimbledon. Persistent attacks from clouds rattled against my train's windows while I was lost in Pi's world.

It was Freud again in class with some more fascinating theories. Am I conscious or am I floating in a reservoir of subconscious feelings, memories and urges??

After the class and some idling on net, I decided to go to Portobello Road instead of going home. A quick glance at the google map and a 10 minutes walk took me there.

No rains, pleasant weather- a little dull but redeemed by lovely smell of freshly washed leaves.

I did not know that there was the world's largest antiques market on Portobello Road(though its only on saturdays). I liked what I saw a lot. A narrow, winding lane with stalls selling antique tidbits, jewelery, kraft and books etc. The weather was perfect to roam through the charming thoroughfare.

I will be here again and again... specially when it rains.

I felt as if i was walking through The Mall road of a north Indian hill station. Shimla?

Input + Memories = Now! :) QED