There’s a great book store in Hyderabad and they keep many books which I haven’t beheld since school days.
I have nearly completed all the Anne of Green Gables series and I want to add more to my collection of coming of age books or children’s books. But not the absolutely kiddo ones.
Can I have some suggestions of books which one ought to have in their collection? I’m going back today to look for some by Katherine Paterson and Judy Blume if they have any.
The best thing is that they have books by many American and Brtitish authors also who were famous pretty much only in their community and did not reach the heights of JK Rowling.
Let’s see what I can unearth today.
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Oh god!! I met such a funny creature today. Make that 2 funny creatures.
2 students from the University of Warangal (or some place that sounded like that) were in my institute for a sales promo.
They came around to me and tried to sell me an aggregate britannica (which the lady first called britannia) and then a dictionary.
I said no for the britannica first and then the 200-words-a-minute woman whipped out the dictionary and told me that I shudn’t lose the chance to buy this book because it didnt just give the meanings of words, it gave DEFINITIONS also.
Everybody….go “oooooooooooh”.
And then the guy who was with her tells me that Ma’am this book also has a thesaurus ‘built in’ and a thesaurus is a book which tells us what “words are called in other places’. Seeing my “wtf” expression he hastened to explain that other places meant if we were using the word to describe something and didnt want to use that same word because it was not glamorous enough,
WHO is god’s name gave them this training in salesmanship?
Btw, that’s not all- apparently the dictionary also would tell me “where the word came from” and “how many parts it has”.UH HUH!
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Hrishikesh Mukherjee passed away last night.
It’s weird but I’d never thought much about film makes. I mean, movies don’t get made by themselves but in India there is so much hype around the actors as such that most others involved in the movie tend to get overshadowed. Among those who made a mark and made it decisively was HM.
His movies also had the song and dance routine but not the meaningless 1500 costume changes and inanity that has been in many Hindi movies over the years.
I’ve been watching his movies over and over again for so many years now and each time I’m left with a feeling of “Now that’s a good movie!” Golmaal , Chupke Chupke, Guddi, Kisise Na Kehna have all been favorites for years on end.
Last night the NDTV guys had a tele-interview with Rajesh Khanna and were asking him about his relationship with HM and it was generally expected that he give some decent soundbytes and like a jackass he turned the talk towards himself and how he entered into politics and mentioned HM only once or twice during the entire time.
I’m not saying people have to be tres erudite but you were called upon to share your feelings and thoughts about someone who is no more. Not about your transition from actor to failure-as-a -politician.
The tv channels will now start airing a lot of his movies during the next week or so and I intend to catch up with most of them.Good, unpretentious cinema. They sure don’t make them like that anymore. That lineage of Manmohan Desai, Prakash Mehra, Basu Chatterjee is slowly vanishing.
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This essay has been doing the rounds of emails and forwards for a long time now but it’s hilarious each time you read it.
Posting it here for those of you who haven’t been assaulted by Biharism yet.Indian CowHE IS THE COW. “The cow is a successful animal. Also he is 4 footed, And because he is female, he give milks, but will do so when he is got child. He is sacred to Hindus and useful to man. But he has got fourlegs together. Two are forward and two are afterwards. His whole body can be utilised for use. More so the milk. Milk comes from 4 taps attached to his basement. horses dont have any such attachment . What can it do? Various ghee, butter, cream, curd, why and the condensed milk and so forth.Also he is useful to cobbler, watermans and mankind generally. His motion is slow only because he is of lazy species. Also his other motion.. gober is much useful to trees, plants as well as for making flat cakes[like Pizza ] , in hand , and drying in the sun. Cowis the only animal that extricates his feeding after eating. Then afterwards she chew with his teeth whom are situated in the inside of the mouth. He is incessantly in the meadows in the grass. His only attacking and defending organ is the horns, specially so when he is got child. This is done by knowing his head whereby he causes the weapons to be paralleled to the ground of the earth and instantly proceed with great velocity forwards.He has got tails also, situated in the backyard, but not like similar animals. It has hairs on the other end of the otherside. This is done to frighten away the flies. -
I got to know of Rob Zombie and the oeuvre of his works courtesy the Good Samaritan (pbuh) and I started off with the Devil’s Rejects. It got me curious enough to want to watch the movie that started it all. But alas…it splattered, and how!
While the Devil’s Rejects was tautly made and isn’t deliberately titillating per se, ‘The House….’ is very much of that ilk.
The Firefly family are sadists, cannibals and the kind of “people” who have elevated suffering, pain and mutilations to an artform.
But what I did NOT expect was a host of other characters who resemble the Creature from the Black Lagoon and Swamp Thing to crawl out from the nooks and crannies and remind me of Jason and Crystal Lake.The movie is unhinged to say the least. Sheri Moon’s high-pitched and inane laughter each time she strikes a blow and terror into her victims was grating on the nerves and very typical of a deranged individual and terribly B-grade Elviraish movie-type as well. Those days when the evil doctor or the crazed psychopath lets loose that ‘spine-tingling’ all-important maniacal laughter are very passe and ineffective.
Sure, if you watch Boris Karloff or Christopher Lee doing it, it still makes sense because they’re from that era where movies were made in a particular fashion and evil had to conform to the stereotypical notions of being bad, ugly and scary.But this movie seems more contrived and the dark humor forced. Maybe more so because it centers around Halloween’s Eve and Halloween itself and every sick freak who thinks himself the devil’s incarnate or worse is out in full regalia and trying to harness his powers and invoke the spirit of darkness, under the full moon. I mean c’mon….is cliched what you were aiming for Rob?
But the movie’s been shot well and especially parts where the victims are being dispatched are shown in a manner which isnt grade A slasher. But the weirdass line-up of half-dead hellish assistants that the Firefly family keeps on hand is laughable!. One guy actually seemed like a cross between Predator and an unmasked Jason.
All in all? It was boring and so not up the expectations. Go straight for Devil’s Rejects…this one will entertain only the very avid Zombie fans or those who can deal with gore and entrails and sadistic perversions 24/7.
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It’s time to bitch about the lil beasties again aka my students.
I’d run out of the feedback forms that they fill out after the mock interview sessions.
I’d told the bunch to meet me in a while to pick up the papers.
The interaction with one particularly bright person went like this-STUDENT-MA’AM, WHAT IS THIS FORM FOR?
ME-THAT’S THE FEEDBACK FORM FOR THE INTERVIEW…WAIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!
STUDENT-YOU SAID IT’S THE FEEDBACK FORM SO I WAS FILLING IT UP.
ME-WITHOUT APPEARING FOR THE INTERVIEW? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CRITIQUE?
S-WHAT’S THAT MA’AM?
M-NEVERMIND….ONCE YOU ARE DONE WITH THE INTERVIEW, ASSESS HOW IT WENT AND WRITE ABOUT IT ON THE FEEDBACK FORM.
S-MA’AM IF I RATE IT THEN WHAT WILL MR.******** (interviewer) DO?
M-HE’LL ASSESS YOU AND GIVE YOU MARKS *which you don’t deserve, you single-celled organism* AND THE OTHER FORM IS FOR YOU TO RATE THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW MODULE, RATE IT AND OFFER YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS, IF ANY. THEN DROP IT OFF IN THE FACULTY MAIL BOX ON THE 1ST FLOOR.
S-SHOULD I DO THAT NOW BEFORE I GO FOR THE INTERVIEW?
M–YES! PLEASE SUBMIT THE FORM WITHOUT WRITING ANYTHING ON IT. GOOD IDEA. EXCUSE ME WHILE I GO JUMP OUT THE WINDOW!!!
I’m going to keep a track of this guy and find out where he lands a job and send anonymous mails to his boss about his superior intellect.
Anyone order a brain freeze here folks?! -
The last two months have been stressful and thought-provoking to say the least. It’s also been one about making choices, small and large and it’s been about implementing the same.
Last night I finally got the ball rolling. Let’s see how far it goes and whether it rolls over some people in the process.
But despite the kind of indecision and uncertainty that still prevails now, I got one of the few GOOD, SOLID nights sleep last night; it’s been evading me for a while now…
Sheesh, the kind of turmoil that takes place before things finally settle down is EXHAUSTING!
And I am due for a BREAK!!! -
The fear psychosis is setting in pretty rapidly.
With people of Arabic “look”, origins and speech being asked to deplane from flights to pacify other passengers, people being arrested in the name of damage control; I think more wtichhunts are on the way.
I hope a neo-McCarthyism doesn’t spring up. One era of his was bad enough.
There’s so much of distrust around these days particularly at the sight of a beard or a turban or the sound of a foreign tongue that people have begun to lose their ability to stop and think and just prepare to go into offensive mode.
Why talk of others? There was a time when I have travelled throughout Western India extensively, at all odd times of day and night and never have been overwrought. But last night when I had to travel 5 kms in a rick, I opted to let 2 of them go by just because there were 2 guys including the autodriver.
Every other day there’s an article in the paper of some woman being found murdered or assaulted when she’s going back home, going to work…anything!
There is no set pattern to even crime anymore. Pretty much everyone digs in and gets their hands dirty.
I mean I’ve been antsy a few times while travelling in autos because the I caught the autoguy staring at me in the mirror. Maybe he just likes to look but it made me wary and feel unsafe.
The solution (if there actually is one) is to not let suspicion get the better of us and make us paranoid and at the same time to pay heed to the frisson of fear and doubt that may creep up. Unless you keep checking to see if someone’s following you or not, then your inner voice of caution should carry you well in life.
What a state of things… -
Pixar people are bar none, geniuses!!
Just came back from seeing CARS!! . That’s right, it took a while to come to Hyd’bad but it did and it was worth the wait. Had taken the mater along and she loved it too.
This movie really cuts across age groups and genuinely makes people sit up in their seats and eagerly wait for the next moment.
You won’t ever feel you are watching inanimate objects in a mere cartoon flick. Randy Newman has again scored an imminently listenable soundtrack and the new rendition of ‘life is a highway’ isn’t bad at all. It isn’t Tom Cochrane, but really not bad at all.
There are parts in the movie where you begin to feel that it isnt animated at all and is actually a live-action one. The characterizations are laugh-out-loud funny and touching at times too.
The gruff judge, the buck-teeth towtruck and the hubba-hubba Porshe and the entire riot of characters just make it worth watching again and again.
I know I’m excitable but this movie induces that “wow-whatta-great-movie-and-total-paisa-vasool” feeling totally!The best part of Pixar animated films is the short film that preceeds the actual movie. Some of these have gone onto win Oscars as well. And this one is great too!
For those of you who havent seen either yet, go NOW!!
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Arise my children and read the latest interpretation of the Word of God. I can’t believe no one’s brought a class action suit against the website for liberally peppering the Gospel with F***s and what nots..
I. Thou shall not have any other Gods before me.
Heh, I wouldn’t think God would be such an attention whore but if I can live a sin free life, I’m willing to not put any Gods before him. Apparently though, humans and animals fall into the “Gods” category and we can’t put them in front of God either. So, all you little gang bangers idolizing Fitty are nothing more than heathens and evidently all that bullshit about cows being so holy isn’t really true, according to Commandment #1. Fair enough, I’m good with this so far.
II. Thou shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.
Goddamned, motherfucking skippy! Everyone knows you shouldn’t pull these shenanigans and I simply did to impress another man with my false strength which is part of the reason you shouldn’t be doing the shit to begin with. Fuck me in the ass and call me Sally, if I didn’t just abuse Gods’ name because I’m suspicious of my own integrity, stability and masculinity and my cowardice within told me I wouldn’t be struck down immediately. Ain’t that some shit? Point taken, though.
III. Remember thou keep Holy the Sabbath Day.
Motherfucker, what? I can’t be entirely sure but I think this is just fancy talk for you should go to church every Sunday. According to good ole number 3, you can’t follow the other nine Commandments without allowing time to spend with JC on a specified day and because evidently, we need the discipline of a specified day because we need that kind of discipline. I could also go for a dominating broad, tying me up, pinching my nipples and slapping my ass, every now and then too.
IV. Honor thy father and mother.
Okay, I can go along with this, except for the fact that my father is a fucking cunt bag who gets shit from me for being a douche bag for most of the time I’ve known him. So what if you were supposedly cool when I was a baby, guess what, fuck head, I don’t remember that shit, bitch. On the other hand my mother is a Saint and I was put in her by the Lord himself without her actually having intercourse. My brother on the other hand, well, that dumb bastard was adopted after my mother found him outside of the church and being the Saint she is, brought in his ignorant, can’t graduate on time because I think I’m cool but I’m really a stupid cock sleeve, ass. So, honor your moms and pops because it will stabilize your thinking and help your rationalize the order of things, or some shit like that.
V. Thou shall not kill.
You’d think that this one might be the easiest of all to follow but y’all see motherfuckers getting their wigs split on a daily basis for no apparent reasons. According to this Commandment, only the good Man above can take the life of us humans. Sounds reasonable enough but I don’t really think people know how they will re-act when faced with life altering events, then again, everyone, everywhere has been told that killing is not right but all you fuckers watch the news and read the papers. However, let’s try not to be killing folks and we should all be good with this one.
VI. Thou shall not commit adultery.
Doh! Personally, I don’t think my love of pornography should affect the way God sees me. However, homosexuality, lesbianism, abortion, pornography and all other promiscuous endeavors all fall into this category and go against creating man to begin with. Sorry fags, but your butt escapades aren’t going to cut it, up in this Commandment but don’t feel bad because my pornography habit will probably keep me in sin for the rest of my time. God-damn, ah fuck wait, Gosh darn it, I don’t know about you fuckos but this Commandment here is starting to push shit. No pun intended.
VII. Thou shall not steal.
I plead the 5th and was forgiven for my sticky fingers at my last confession. However, mostly everyone has had some shit stolen from them and that shit doesn’t feel good for one second and from way back in the day, every last one of us was taught that this shit here isn’t right. On a side note, is anyone interested in a set of 100 spoke Daytons?
VIII. Thou shall not bear fair witness against thy neighbor.
Here we go again with the fancy, smancy biblical talk. Basically, all you infidels and Yentas who go around gossiping and/or trying to darken another mans name will eventually have to answer to Him. Apparently, those who sin against this Commandment will more than likely sin against the others. So, you fuckers don’t be gossiping or talking bad about motherfuckers because it shows ego, jealously, contempt and lack of self discipline and can very well make you catch an ass whipping as well.
IX. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
Seriously, even if you’re single? Nevertheless, it doesn’t get too much easier, than don’t fuck your neighbors’ wife or think about it for that matter. That sucks because I’ve jerked off twice while writing this sonofabitch, thinking of my neighbors’ wife. Oh well, at least I didn’t cum in her mouth when I was thinking of her, at least not the second time. Pretty much, we’ll all be good with this Commandment if you don’t allow your thinking or lack of self discipline to weaken you or another who belongs to another. In even easier terms fuckos, don’t be fucking bitches who are married. Still though, if a broad tells me she’s getting a divorce and is fucking, more than likely I’m fucking, that’s just me, though.
X. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s goods.
Well, with this one God says he is the Lord of all things and this rule applies to all he has created. Geesh, no reason to start getting all high and mighty now or should I say higher and mightier. Notwithstanding, you fuck faces need to start understanding you must earn your profits and not to be frivolously borrowing shit and not accounting for it. In font we can all understand, don’t be fucking with other folks money and fucking with their ability to make it because you fuckers are weak or something like that.
I don’t know about any of you but these 10 little rules seem a tad bit hard to follow on a daily basis. By the looks of it, I live deeply embedded in sin and feel that if these are the standards that I’m going to be judged by, I’m probably fucked. Oh well I suppose, I was kinda leaning towards the belief that aliens came down and made us anyhow.
In it for the wine,
Waiting for the thunderbolt from the heavens above any moment now.
