I am going on a holiday! Well, not exactly a holiday but to collect data for my research dissertation (one step towards being accepted as literate by my dad), but I am still excited. No newspaper cramming in the car/bus. No homey-duties, no hospital visits, no orkut and gmail to check, no books to catch up, no messages, no calls.......no so many things.
Wow....I am really looking forward to this. Ofcourse, I am still waiting for my questionnaire to be sorted out by my guide and have to worry getting the right research clusters, still I am chill.
I have got a new recorder/player/pendrive all rolled into one and am contemplating either changing my phone (1100) or its battery. In short, I am all enthu.
I am also surprised that I got such long leave, despite not even finishing one year with the company. generous, I say!
adios!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Media Headlines of 2007
A forward that had me in splits.....I hope I get to write atleast a few like these, the readers' will get their money's worth.
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
[No, really?]
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
[Now that's taking things a bit too far!]
Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?
[Not if I wipe thoroughly!]
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
[What a guy!]
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
[No-good-for- nothing' lazy so-and-so!]
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
[See if that works any better than a fair trial!]
War Dims Hope for Peace
[I can see where it might have that effect!]
If Strike Isn't settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
[You think?]
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
[Who would have thought!]
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
[They may be on to something!]
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
[You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?]
Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
[He probably IS the battery charge!]
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
[Weren't they big enough?!]
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
[That's what he gets for eating those beans!]
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
[Chainsaw Massacre all over again!]
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
[Boy, are they tall!]
And the winner is....
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
[No, really?]
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
[Now that's taking things a bit too far!]
Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?
[Not if I wipe thoroughly!]
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
[What a guy!]
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
[No-good-for- nothing' lazy so-and-so!]
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
[See if that works any better than a fair trial!]
War Dims Hope for Peace
[I can see where it might have that effect!]
If Strike Isn't settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
[You think?]
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
[Who would have thought!]
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
[They may be on to something!]
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
[You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?]
Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
[He probably IS the battery charge!]
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
[Weren't they big enough?!]
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
[That's what he gets for eating those beans!]
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
[Chainsaw Massacre all over again!]
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
[Boy, are they tall!]
And the winner is....
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Chewing Cud
Simply put the word "review" in your search engine along with your other topic terms to find articles of this type on the Internet or in an electronic database. The bibliography or reference section of sources that you have already read are also excellent entry points into your own research.
- Unarguably one of the best research tips that I have come across. But I took no risks, I first tried it on blogosphere with some amazing results. Ah, well.....research can wait.
Dr. Mosi's Kral is a must read link on the trail of viruses and on the art of how to hold up drinks. Quite like Krish Ashok and sometimes even better. No offence there to Jalsa and Jilpa, I simply revere it.
Anything sells on a day when you are stuck in office because of rain, but to be honest, this one does have its own little nuggets.
PhD comics - it says it all, for anyone who has photocopied the same book twice without realising, will know what it is to Pass with High Difficulty.
Lazy Geek meets samanth subramaniam circa his IIT times. Unfortunately Samanth's writing these days are too frontline-ish, I can no longer read them. Son of Bosey is still in my league.
There is something about lalita, quite like a poignant telugu poem.
Get your cartoon done or gift one, it doesnt matter, it all goes towards saving the near extinct, Panthera tigris.
Thought process is nothing much to think about but makes quite a read - particularly its Ugadi wishes and the Noodle revolution - makes a read.
Fellow Singleton, and I am quite impressed!
This is so madras, so iyer and so funny. As most of my childhood was with these geeks, I know the feeling. And in the same vein, NRI maami.
A tibetan for tibet's sake and satire.
Thulu has a script and loads of poetry in its blood....spilt here, but better out than in.
Saffron Tree makes you want to pick up a book and settle near a window.
And a green cousin of the slightly dysfunctional mutineers. And more green, this time, damn good with ground realities and satire.
Inspiring stories of rebellious people who change wrongs.
Am yet to volunteer with the blank noise project or tulir for that reason, hope this reminds me.
Local flavour and free verse that is nice here.
There is no point to this, its simple punditry, poetic and about chennai photowalks.
For once, I didnt feel like editing a blog. The Chennai Metblogs is all about the city I love.
Senior, neenga vaalga! I still remember with gratitude how he was generous about his comments on our first journal.
And these have helped me a bit or by two bytes.
A London post that I like, maybe because I am reading Bryson.
And something useful for once on blogosphere, must pass it on to my aunt.
And thus I spent a lean day at office, the rain outside added to the flavour.
- Unarguably one of the best research tips that I have come across. But I took no risks, I first tried it on blogosphere with some amazing results. Ah, well.....research can wait.
Dr. Mosi's Kral is a must read link on the trail of viruses and on the art of how to hold up drinks. Quite like Krish Ashok and sometimes even better. No offence there to Jalsa and Jilpa, I simply revere it.
Anything sells on a day when you are stuck in office because of rain, but to be honest, this one does have its own little nuggets.
PhD comics - it says it all, for anyone who has photocopied the same book twice without realising, will know what it is to Pass with High Difficulty.
Lazy Geek meets samanth subramaniam circa his IIT times. Unfortunately Samanth's writing these days are too frontline-ish, I can no longer read them. Son of Bosey is still in my league.
There is something about lalita, quite like a poignant telugu poem.
Get your cartoon done or gift one, it doesnt matter, it all goes towards saving the near extinct, Panthera tigris.
Thought process is nothing much to think about but makes quite a read - particularly its Ugadi wishes and the Noodle revolution - makes a read.
Fellow Singleton, and I am quite impressed!
This is so madras, so iyer and so funny. As most of my childhood was with these geeks, I know the feeling. And in the same vein, NRI maami.
A tibetan for tibet's sake and satire.
Thulu has a script and loads of poetry in its blood....spilt here, but better out than in.
Saffron Tree makes you want to pick up a book and settle near a window.
And a green cousin of the slightly dysfunctional mutineers. And more green, this time, damn good with ground realities and satire.
Inspiring stories of rebellious people who change wrongs.
Am yet to volunteer with the blank noise project or tulir for that reason, hope this reminds me.
Local flavour and free verse that is nice here.
There is no point to this, its simple punditry, poetic and about chennai photowalks.
For once, I didnt feel like editing a blog. The Chennai Metblogs is all about the city I love.
Senior, neenga vaalga! I still remember with gratitude how he was generous about his comments on our first journal.
And these have helped me a bit or by two bytes.
A London post that I like, maybe because I am reading Bryson.
And something useful for once on blogosphere, must pass it on to my aunt.
And thus I spent a lean day at office, the rain outside added to the flavour.
Monday, March 24, 2008
My very own Marks and Spencers
Handloom clothes I can live with….. also breathe, like and flaunt. So, it doesn't matter that my mum labels kurtas, "retired man's outfit" or my aunt or grandmum curse me, as they mean high maintenance (seperate washing, starching, ironing). I just find myself in them.
In the hope that out of sight would turn into out of mind, they seldom send my "koni pai" (a sack) dress species' for ironing and and stove them out of my sight. So I often dig cupboards like a miner to find my kurtas.
There are some great places to shop for airy handlooms and cottons – fabindia is not for the monsoons, unless you want to leave a colourful trail and its outfits fade faster than you can say "new dress". Ladybird and other friends have reported experiences, where maids look down upon their mistresses' poor dressing sense.
Anokhi is good for its stitching and designs but expensive. Ditto for temple towers and kalpadruma. Though it is my dream shope there some day and and wear something without the guilt of having wasted almost a month's-salary. Middle-class values are thicker than fashion statements.
However, one gets quite a deal at places like Gurjari, Rajasthali, Lepakshi and Boyanika. The State Khadi Gramodyog Bhavans are good for kurtas that are austere-looking, comfy and sturdy even after 10 years. Their flowery wrap-around skirts (full and half length) are quite classy too – graceful vegetable dyes and ghera lines.
New Nalli is another one stop for most handlooms and at just slightly more expensive rates than Gurjari, you get a great ambience, personal assistance and paneer-perfumed air. And there is Apco for its colourful and rich pochempalli sarees; even the khadi houses store a good collection of them. The best is, one can be assured of value for money here.
Outside madras managaram, I liked the Dilli Haat (delhi) and a friend's shopping from the Dakshinapan in Calcutta. Ofcourse, all this means burning some months-long savings….but then I do it just once a year.
In the hope that out of sight would turn into out of mind, they seldom send my "koni pai" (a sack) dress species' for ironing and and stove them out of my sight. So I often dig cupboards like a miner to find my kurtas.
There are some great places to shop for airy handlooms and cottons – fabindia is not for the monsoons, unless you want to leave a colourful trail and its outfits fade faster than you can say "new dress". Ladybird and other friends have reported experiences, where maids look down upon their mistresses' poor dressing sense.
Anokhi is good for its stitching and designs but expensive. Ditto for temple towers and kalpadruma. Though it is my dream shope there some day and and wear something without the guilt of having wasted almost a month's-salary. Middle-class values are thicker than fashion statements.
However, one gets quite a deal at places like Gurjari, Rajasthali, Lepakshi and Boyanika. The State Khadi Gramodyog Bhavans are good for kurtas that are austere-looking, comfy and sturdy even after 10 years. Their flowery wrap-around skirts (full and half length) are quite classy too – graceful vegetable dyes and ghera lines.
New Nalli is another one stop for most handlooms and at just slightly more expensive rates than Gurjari, you get a great ambience, personal assistance and paneer-perfumed air. And there is Apco for its colourful and rich pochempalli sarees; even the khadi houses store a good collection of them. The best is, one can be assured of value for money here.
Outside madras managaram, I liked the Dilli Haat (delhi) and a friend's shopping from the Dakshinapan in Calcutta. Ofcourse, all this means burning some months-long savings….but then I do it just once a year.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
singing in the rain~!
Rains make me poetic, I have to either write or atleast quote.....here's something that caught my fancy while browing on the Indian Summer Rain. Jeet Thayil, celebrated Indian American writer, brings out the sounds and flavours of a complex Indian rain. Heady visuals indeed.....
~
Oyster-tongue, mangrove maw, the river's rawsour breath, its moist air encumbered with mud,mad with waiting, with grief, ready now to shedupwards its uncoiling of earth's dry dirt-thirst,ready to exhale the season's held-in vertigo,so every fur and scurry must pause in a poseof praises and prayer, as the safe-sided contours of Kerala blur to a dazed stillness before the chaos of wind;in the small rain something fierce stirs the river's grim, single-minded currents, furrowedby history's keel, trawled by the spinning sleepers fallen to its revolving arms - even the changefulriver knows this change will turn vast systems awry - then the true rain begins: random power,endowed with shower of bounty, whips wind,shreds vine, cracks bark, mangosteen, jackfruit,slaps the baby palm, uproots lemon and tapioca,flattens the cowering tufts of pineapple, then dousesthe world in torrents of self-cycled water, maddenedby sea-rhythm and pounding heartless thudfor unclocked hours, a constant torment of delugeslow on the green land, the river, the annihilated air- snakeholes flooded, monkey and woodpeckermute, cats made fearful, cattle clustered -the houses funnel a rush of worried water,water plumes through its own wet world, fiercein its dream of water, and water made flesh by water,a perfect craze of water, the mother of water,of water creatures born from the water in this line.
- Jeet Thayil
~
Oyster-tongue, mangrove maw, the river's rawsour breath, its moist air encumbered with mud,mad with waiting, with grief, ready now to shedupwards its uncoiling of earth's dry dirt-thirst,ready to exhale the season's held-in vertigo,so every fur and scurry must pause in a poseof praises and prayer, as the safe-sided contours of Kerala blur to a dazed stillness before the chaos of wind;in the small rain something fierce stirs the river's grim, single-minded currents, furrowedby history's keel, trawled by the spinning sleepers fallen to its revolving arms - even the changefulriver knows this change will turn vast systems awry - then the true rain begins: random power,endowed with shower of bounty, whips wind,shreds vine, cracks bark, mangosteen, jackfruit,slaps the baby palm, uproots lemon and tapioca,flattens the cowering tufts of pineapple, then dousesthe world in torrents of self-cycled water, maddenedby sea-rhythm and pounding heartless thudfor unclocked hours, a constant torment of delugeslow on the green land, the river, the annihilated air- snakeholes flooded, monkey and woodpeckermute, cats made fearful, cattle clustered -the houses funnel a rush of worried water,water plumes through its own wet world, fiercein its dream of water, and water made flesh by water,a perfect craze of water, the mother of water,of water creatures born from the water in this line.
- Jeet Thayil
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