tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-363807312024-02-07T03:05:19.623-08:00Blah Blahsometimes nice, sometimes crazy, most times boring....but a place where I rant my thoughts, bemoan country affairs and rip apart lives and movies. all ye reading, thou hast been warned~!the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-27596621668743342462009-05-15T22:55:00.000-07:002009-05-15T22:57:13.059-07:00where are the journalists??where are the journalists when we really need them??<br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2009/may/07/monbiot-climate-change-evacuation<br /><br />and for some happy reading, a succinct piece on the mani phenomenon:<br />http://brangan.easyjournal.com/entry.aspx?eid=3299165the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-59273518970155284532008-09-30T23:16:00.000-07:002008-10-01T00:03:30.334-07:00Is ATP a hoax and other updates<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Brilliante Award</span><br /><br />First, thanks to <a href="http://dosamma.blogspot.com/">Ladybird</a> for giving me the brilliante blog award. She gives it to me hoping that it would prompt me to blog frequently. Thanks Ladybird for that diplomatic nudge.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Breaking News</span><br /><br />And after some extensive investigation, lead by my colleagues, we come to the conclusion that <a href="http://tamizhpenn.blogspot.com/">Asal Tamizh Penn</a> (ATP) is a hoax and much of the blog is fiction. At least she is not a journo with TH claims the majority of the population surveyed. Though I just cannot believe it, all evidence points <span style="font-style: italic;">au contraire</span>.<br /><br />I have to tell it for this writer - "hoax" or otherwise - she/he/whoever wrote extremely well, and could weave stories out of the most mundane activities like eating curd rice, drawing room discussions and picking up an aunt from the railway station.<br /><br />Yet, I never liked ATP for her stereotyped of north Indians, her obsession with gothrams amidst other things. But, who am I to judge her blog, its hers, or his, or whose ever.<br /><br />But still it was a bit scary to read her blog, because I cannot in a very naive way imagine journos as anything but open minded and objective. (Yes, I can hear you laughing.)<br /><br />Though some office pals are enraged and are calling for blog ethics, I on the other hand believe in<a href="http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1066"> Sakshi Juneja's</a> succinct byline - to each, his or her own.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Blog fodder</span><br /><br />Gloria Steinem and Zuheir Hammad <a href="http://nymag.com/anniversary/40th/50664/">in conversation</a>, a link via <a href="http://mekhala.blogspot.com/">Mekie</a>. She sure reads a lot every day.<br /><br />And this amazing <a href="http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1066">illustrations</a> on the CERN experiment. I know everyone knows about PhD comics but I cant help but marvel at their brilliance. After all, what many write in 4000 words, these guys sum up in five comic strips! Pure genius.<br /><br />Some day, ah...someday, the news industry will catch up.the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-89509749525306644952008-09-10T00:36:00.000-07:002008-10-01T00:00:48.662-07:00the rain in spain and other phonemesI take it you already know<br />of tough and bough and cough and dough?<br />Others may stumble, but not you,<br />on hiccough, thorough, laugh and through.<br />Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,<br />to learn of less familiar traps?<br /><br />Beware of heard, a dreadful word,<br />that looks like beard and sounds like bird.<br />And dead -- it's said like bed not bead --<br />and for goodness' sake don't call it deed!<br />Watch out for meat and great and threat<br />(They rhyme with suite and straight and debt)<br /><br />A moth is not the moth in mother,<br />nor both in bother, broth in brother.<br />And here is not a match for there,<br />nor dear and fear for bear and pear.<br />And then there's dose and rose and lose --<br />just look them up -- and goose and choose,<br /><br />and cork and work and card and ward,<br />and font and front and word and sword,<br />and do and go and thwart and cart --<br />come, come I've hardly made a start.<br />A dreadful language? Man alive.<br />I'd mastered it when I was five.<br /><br />(author?)<br /><br />~~<br />via a forward, does anyone know its origins?the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-86327153069591234432008-08-25T03:47:00.000-07:002008-09-02T04:00:07.015-07:00Laloo knows bestHa, the Indian politician knows best. Now, you know why he/she does not speak real issues but about him/herself and all about his/her glory.<br /><br />But seriously, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/drew-westen/why-voters-say-they-dont_b_117238.html">a great piece</a> on American psychology and why Obama can still lose.<br />(courtesy: the office email grapevine)<br /><br />And in the same political vein,<br />this time Indian;<br />another <a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080724/jsp/opinion/story_9590922.jsp">great take</a>,<br />though stale.the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-6860219854579609592008-08-25T00:32:00.000-07:002008-08-25T03:58:41.626-07:00happy dayYesterday - sunday - felt so long and so good. Wonder why? Maybe it was the long, lazy morning chat with grandparents after ages or aunt's fresh pineapple juice or mum's <span style="font-style: italic;">aloo channa</span> or simply because I filed away papers carefully, de-cluttered my shelves and concurrently my head.<br /><br />To top the day, I watched <span style="font-style: italic;">Godzilla</span> with siblings (was too scared to watch it at theatres when it first released) and the second part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Days_%282007_film%29">Happy Days</a> (courtesy: JJ). A dish about <span style="font-style: italic;">Happy Days</span>: It was not good, it was not logical or perfectly made, even though it comes from the director of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anand_%282004_film%29">Anand</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godavari_%28film%29">Godavari</a>. Yet, the film is worth all the cliches: heart-warming, fresh, feel-good and beautiful. Though a bit of the college stereotype, it took both sis and me with a wave of college-days nostalgia and sis suddenly felt old. Not me!<br /><br />I loved the Tyson and Shravanti angle of the story and am still humming its <span style="font-style: italic;">"Arey rey, Arey rey"</span>. Just been reading up on its making and the film has an impressive resume: fresh actors from internet auditions, five filmfares and Mickey J Meyer's music. It is highly recommended, even for NGs (non-golts). <span style="font-style: italic;">Happy Days</span> was dubbed in Malayalam as well. I am determined to watch the film again, this time from start.the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-46075876474224515902008-08-07T04:32:00.000-07:002008-08-07T05:22:15.793-07:00Sigg SigmaThe Swiss fellas seem to do everything to perfection, look at their <a href="http://www.sigg.ch/">Sigg </a>bottles. Such beauties. With a throat that beats sore grapes, I need to drink warm water as much as possible. Quite impossible at an office that beats your old fridge. I would actually be conserving energy if I choose to stock veggies at my desk.<br /><br />And now that the reason I browsed for these <a href="http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://siggwaterbottlesbestprices.com/wp-content/uploads/image/Sigg%2520Water%2520Bottles.jpg&imgrefurl=http://siggwaterbottlesbestprices.com/sigg-water-bottles-best-prices/&h=280&w=280&sz=7&hl=en&start=8&tbnid=8ou6EVS_Icg87M:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsigg%2Bwater%2Bbottle%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG">beauties</a> is out of the way. Let me moan some more and make this a perfect post. Its so hard that I discover them today when last week I was repeatedly telling my sis that I dont want anything from Bern; and another cousin who didnt know what to send me from LA because I have all the cosmetics that I dont want.<br /><br />But here it is people: you want to get me something in future, just look up Swiss stuff. And while you're at it, an army knife too if you please. These guys really know about the good life. Sis says that even the char woman at her office wore nothing but designer stuff everyday and yes everybody in cheese country drives a merc - she naturally felt like she ought to wipe tables instead.<br /><br />She is going to Singapore again this weekend. Lucky thing. I hope she again misses her bday at home, I wont have to make her the gift I have been planning for <strike>months</strike> year now. In the meanwhile is there anything that she can bring me, that I wont find in globalised chennai managaram?the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-83474186129610456132008-06-30T23:39:00.000-07:002008-08-08T00:07:56.560-07:00Hey riddle diddleWhat nonsense! "<em>No, it makes sense, I am seriously searching nonsense."</em><br /><em></em><br />The authors of <em>The Tenth Rasa - An Anthology of Indian Nonsense</em> probably had this conversation N-times as they travelled across India to collect its multi-hued nonsense. But what fun! And everyone is accomplice, from Tagore to Vaikom Basheer to Gulzar to Tenali Ramalinga who leaves me in splits with his <em>Meka tokaa? meka toka meka (Goat ta-tail go-goat goat tail). </em><br />Naturally we all love the foodie ones best:<br /><strong><em>Idli-Pom</em></strong><br />Idli lost its fiddli<br />Dosa lost its crown<br />Wada lost its wiolin<br />And let the whol band down,<br /><br /><strong><em>Explained</em></strong><br />Idiyappam keeps yapping<br />Puttu plays golf<br />Uthappam's my girlfriend<br />Mutthu's real name is Rolf.<br /><br /><strong><em>Frankie</em></strong><br />I love Frankie, you love Frankie<br />Obviously, there is some hanky-panky.<br />Frankie's not a little boy<br />who lives down the lane.<br />He's a fat and juicy roll<br />with a kebab for a brain.<br /><br />Then there is the bathing hymn:<br /><strong>Sounds just like my mum on a sunday morning</strong><br />Om havum bathum namaha<br />On the body applyum oilum namaha<br />Scrubscrubum namaha rubrubum namaha<br /><br /><strong>This like me</strong><br />Glugglugum namaha blugblugum namaha<br /><br /><strong>And this like my brother</strong><br />Om niceum cleanum namaha<br />Bring out sum snacksum namaha!<br /><br />The book is a soofer treasure. It has nonsense picked from hindi cinema (wait, that doesnt make any sense), urdu poetry, folk tales and rhymes. Then there are the absolutely hilarious takes on Ramaswamys and a take on the tamil "marma naavals". I am not upto any semiotics at the moment, but for more details, <a href="http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/005263.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tenthrasa.blogspot.com/">there</a>.<br /><br />haia, haha, heengheengheeng,<br />none of these mean anything.the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-18196243740318937382008-06-28T04:00:00.000-07:002008-06-28T06:34:17.734-07:00<strong><em>The fringe benefits of failure, and the importance of imagination</em></strong><br />- Joanna Keane Rowling's address to Harvard graduates.<br /><br /><em>I have one last hope for you, which is something that I already had at 21. The friends with whom I sat on graduation day have been my friends for life. They are my children's godparents, the people to whom I've been able to turn in times of trouble, friends who have been kind enough not to sue me when I've used their names for Death Eaters. - <a href="http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2008/06.05/99-rowlingspeech.html">read more.</a></em><br /><p> </p><p><strong><em>Whirligigs by Paul Fleischman</em></strong></p><p>A simple, slim, poignant, heart-warming, high-school story. Whirligigs meanders self-discovery pretty well, except for one part on a street sweeper, which seems unconvincing enough. As the book evolves and comes to a fitting end, I made up my mind to pass the book on as Brent, the hero, does with the exchange bookshelf (not so easy for me, gifted by a favourite cousin) to someone who needs it.</p><p>In the true spirit of whirligigs, which passes a smile onto someone. <a href="http://www.paulfleischman.net/works.htm">A warm read.</a> </p>the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-33190053669629036602008-06-18T03:11:00.000-07:002008-06-18T05:09:32.280-07:00<p><strong><em>PDF converter<br /></em></strong>For people like me at the laggard end of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_innovations">Roger's bell curve,</a> this <a href="http://www.doc2pdf.net/converter/">PDF converter</a>, must save a lot of time battling to make documents. Thanks to Madhu.</p><p><strong><em>Short Story</em></strong></p><p>And Madhulika Liddle's <a href="http://madhulika-liddle.sulekha.com/blog/post/2005/04/a-suitor-for-saraswati.htm">'A suitor for Saraswati'</a> is a delightful light read. Also by her <a href="http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/uploads/documents/morningswim.pdf">'The Morning Swim'</a>.</p>the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-47118477757708339082008-06-18T02:14:00.000-07:002008-06-18T03:19:41.796-07:00I am not a Pink, but I like this RedI have not discovered my political thought yet. I do work for a Left-inclined magazine but cant even be called a Pink. Why such a disclaimer? Because in post-lib India, I dont want to be defending anything to a high-end mnc/techie pal.<br /><br />I just like some and then dont like many in a quaint way. My thoughts change depending on my mood to Vandana Shiva, calvin and hobbes, street food, <a href="http://www.sewa.org/gsmscf/main.asp">SEWA</a>, M17 bus, <a href="http://www.tehelka.com/">Tehelka</a>, kalamkari paintings, Wikipedia, detesting chennai autowallahs, <a href="http://www.pudiyador.org/">Pudiyador</a>, udipi sambar, BBC, early morning marina visits, BSNL, bhavra mann, <a href="http://www.kvic.org.in/v4/homepage.asp">Khadi bhavans</a>, rip van winkl-esque sleeping to Suzlon.<br /><br />Though not in that pedestal, I also like Rossana Rossanda's <a href="http://www.newleftreview.org/?view=2708">'Comrade from Milan'</a>, some wonderfully penned memories of war time and how it felt to be 15 and 21 in 1939 and 1945. Some of her other writings like <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/7972">this</a> and <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/10580">that</a>, have impressive co-authors. I love this piece sent by <a href="http://mekhala.blogspot.com/">Mekhala</a> ages ago. Some day if I visit Italy and she is still alive, I want to look her up.the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-52227909152068302312008-06-15T23:44:00.000-07:002008-06-18T05:15:37.077-07:00On a lighter note<strong><em>Red Signal:</em></strong><br />Stuck in a train reading a heavy tome on globalisation for eight hours....it isnt exactly Asok Bhattacharya's preferred mode of travel. But the CPI(M) leader was forced a taste of his party's own medicine in a bandh-derailed train. <a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080606/jsp/frontpage/story_9372545.jsp">Feel good article. </a><br /><br /><strong><em>What's showing in your city today?</em></strong><br />Google lists with a simple enter key all the flicks playing in your city. <a href="http://www.google.co.in/movies">Aint this cool??</a> (Oh well, maybe I am just discovering it late.)the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-8250152385725108992008-06-15T23:19:00.000-07:002008-06-18T05:11:10.806-07:00State of fear<p>Weird things happen in Chennai (I dont know about other metros). </p><p>Why did that guy leave me his number at Pizza hut, while the others in his gang stared me like that? </p><p>Now, who sent this guy to hit hard on my hand and bum when the harmless me was walking on the road and he on his bike? </p><p>I remember my roommate visibly scared running towards the house we stayed at around 11 in the night saying that a guy on his bicyle tried to sexually harass her. And the very next week she was followed by a group of four people in a car till our house....</p><p>Some days later when we thought the place we stayed was not safe and decided to move to another other place, we happened to come late to the house once after a late night food festival assignment, and one guy followed us begging to spend some time with him.....we felt the insecurity, which was far terrible than the thought that we are helpless.</p><p>Hating Chennai was not the solution, we knew....but what was the solution, we didnt know. But initially I felt unsafe only in the place I stayed. But the present area, the places I go for reporting and even the most familiar place to me in Chennai - my cousins place where I stayed for more than three years - everywhere seems unsafe for me now just for being a woman.</p><p>Its shameful for all of us if a girl has to walks on the road holding her hands against her breast to protect herself from the sex-starved bastards...</p><p><strong><em>- renitha is a journalist based in chennai. She plans to work as an activist in gender and children-related issues - CSA and empowerment.</em></strong> </p><p>Update: I have seen that <a href="http://www.tulircphcsa.org/">Tulir</a> does some amazing work on CSA-related issues and there is the <a href="http://blog.blanknoise.org/">blank noise project</a>, one of the few places where you get to hear the dissonances. Tulir has a great quote from Einstein: "The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil but because of the people who don't do anything about it."<br /></p>the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-57061315741881304272008-05-21T02:58:00.000-07:002008-05-21T03:15:03.943-07:00Thank God, I am Indiana guest blog on Khuda Ke Liye:<br />~~<br /><br />i dont know why, but in spite of not feeling upto stepping out, i decided to watch Khuda ke Liye on its last show at Chennai..<br /><br />for the uninformed, KKL is a Pakistani film that has won rave reviews all over the world, and was finally permitted to release in India..sadly because we Indians live in such fear of communal hatred rousing our cities into violence, the ads for the film dint even feature in the papers.. as a half muslim myself, i urge EVERY muslim to watch this film and understand how fragile our relationship with the world community is and how easy it is for our people to fall prey to what we can only dismiss as 'fundamentalism'..and as a half-hindu, and more importantly, as an Indian (and Muslims make a large part of our demography) i urge EVERY Indian to watch this film and decide whether we want to make the fallacy of reducing every Muslim to a beard touting, skull cap wearing terrorist..<br /><br />for those who arent interested in the politics of the film, or the issues it raises, there's something for you guys as well.. the music is FABULOUS..a fine blend of hindustani classical to western jazz and very indo-pakistani Atif Aslam kind of music..the girls in the film are lovely.. the Pakistani girl is a replica of Sonali Bendre, and the American girl is attractive in a very innocent kinda way.. both the leading men are great and fit their roles perfectly..and they look good too *wink*<br /><br />but again, about the film..i left the theatre thanking God silently for making me an Indian..freedom alone means nothing-being able to study or work-it alone is NOT freedom..what i enjoy today is my freedom of spirit, the freedom of choosing whether i want to be hindu, muslim or an odd combination of both (or neither)..<br /><br />and for those Indians who believe that all muslims are communal, rigid in thought and judgemental, i have news for you..SO ARE YOU!!! by default you become all of that when you defame them and stereotype them so..<br /><br />i am half -muslim and i can honestly and bravely confess that my muslim side of the family do want me to settle with a muslim boy, want me to raise my kids muslim and would like to see me a little more religious than i am right now..but again, i'm quite sure every other family, Muslim or not-wants their children to be raised the same way as them, would like their kids to marry spouses of the same caste (leave alone religion) as them..the phenomenon is universal..nothing singularly muslim about it..<br /><br />i am able to say this with the confidence that i can get away with it..because very rarely am i seen as 'Muslim'..I'm seen as some kind of free spirit who has strong opinions sometimes and expresses it..but for a second if you could read this entire mail and believe that any total Muslim, say a Sameera or a Suraiya had written it, your perception about them and this mail would be very very different..and i admit, so would mine..and thats the sadness of it all..<br /><br />In a nutshell, enjoy the movie..maybe you might be inspired to write a piece as well..<br /><br />- Reshma<br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Author info:</span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Reshma is a specialist in fiction, films and motor RJing. In her free time, she is a writer and a management executive. Reshma can be contacted at Sathyam Cineplex if she is not driving down to it.</span></strong></em>the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-71281722561777683722008-05-21T00:20:00.000-07:002008-05-21T00:42:23.254-07:00Tata NoNo....Update:<br /><br />Seven blogs a day are talking about the environmental impact of the Dhamra project. And more than 70,000 Tata customers have written to Ratan Tata, asking him to relocate the project....we need to save the ridleys and a sensitive ecosystem.<br /><br />The project's banking agent is also reconsidering the project because of the environmental impacts. Wow! We can do something here. If you want to leave a message, write to Greenpeace and <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/india/turtles/light-a-candle?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Signers&utm_campaign=Turtles?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Signers&utm_campaign=Turtles?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Signers&utm_campaign=Turtles">Light a candle </a>.the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-31869409428417406842008-05-21T00:15:00.000-07:002008-05-21T00:20:23.198-07:00I am gonna ask for more....Turning twenty-four?<br />You got to ask more!<br /><br />Life is devilish, often crazy;<br />Whirl around 'til you're dizzy.<br /><br />A'int running any race,<br />Don't forget any cheerful face.<br /><br />Around the world you hop,<br />Your folks wave from the top.<br /><br />Ancient footsteps on the pristine sand,<br />Many a friend follows the wedding band.<br /><br />Let's hit the old highway by morning;<br />Drinking the red wine as we're rolling.<br /><br />- mekhala writes this for a bday wish, aint it the best?! By the way, I didnt like red wine when I tried it long back at a pal's wedding. Maybe I should try it again, this time, rolling!the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-57621440874159260562008-05-09T00:43:00.001-07:002008-05-09T00:46:36.110-07:00An open letter to Ratan Tata<p>Greenpeace alerted me to this and is collecting mails to make Tata listen, and we are sure that Tata will, if we make ourselves heard. </p><p>~~</p><p>Dear Ratan Tata,<br />Many tell me that the Tatas are generally supportive towards social causes. </p><p>Conservationists such as Shyam Chainani respect JRD Tata for his understanding and for not holding any personal grudges, when similar projects were vetoed. I am referring to the way in which the Colaba Uran bridge proposal was reconsidered 30 years ago. </p><p><br />The proposed Dhamra project in Orissa will destroy one of the last nesting sites of the Olive Ridleys, and with them an entire ecosystem will be lost forever.<br /></p><p>I, as a loyal customer of Tata, request you to relook into the project and consider the environmental costs. I am sure, the project can be relocated at a place where these costs are much lesser. Please look into it.<br /></p><p>Yours truly, </p><p>Romila Sudhakar. </p><p>~~</p><p><a href="http://www.flonnet.com/fl2506/stories/20080328250608100.htm">Here</a> is what conservationists like Chainani have to say about the Tatas. </p>the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-63560825643615216652008-05-08T01:27:00.000-07:002008-05-08T01:30:48.729-07:00I will be beary beary happy!An amazing forward that I had to post.<br />~~<br />In this life, I am a woman.<br />In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear.<br />When you're a bear, you get to hibernate.<br />You do nothing but sleep for six months.<br />I could deal with that.<br />Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid.<br />I could deal with that too.<br />When you're a female bear, you give birth to children (who are the size of walnuts) when you are sleeping and wake up to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs.<br />I could definately deal with that.<br />If you are mama bear, everyone knows you mean business.<br />You swat anyone who bothers your cubs.<br />If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too.<br />I could deal with that.<br />If you are a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling.<br />He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.<br />Yup, gonna be a bear!the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-68090336566114593732008-05-02T01:32:00.001-07:002008-05-02T06:25:24.972-07:00Burp!Oh yes, I am going to go out for dinner. Actually, someone is organising a treat and I am to join on the condition that I suggest the perrrrrrfect place for an eclectic mix of veggies, chickentarians and a german with a sensitive tongue.<br /><br />Being an eating-out primitive, I outsourced knowledge from an office pal. And this one is a real treasure, she can hold fort over an entire lunch session going on about the nuances of hilsa cooking! Now, of what use is it to precis-write excellent gourmet insights into an LMS (thats what my messages are popularly known as)?? Ergo, I offer my accquired expertise:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/04/04/stories/2005040400030300.htm">Bella Ciao </a>- authentic Italian, cheesy and terrace seating. A winner from what I hear despite the price (400 a meal) and its location (choked Nungambakkam high road). Benjorang on TTK road sounds to be similar.<br /><br />For Japanese and Vietnamese food, I am told there are places like Akasaka, Lotus and Dahlia. And there is the wide spectrum of chinese places: dragon motiffed, dark ones where we can hardly read the menu and are forced to order gobi manchurian from memory - to authentic chinese places where the meat is hardly cooked. These guys forget that our taste buds were conquered long ago by our north-east brothers who finely balance namma patti's garam masala with dollops of ajinomoto.<br /><br />Places like Wangs Kitchen, Golden Dragon and Chinatown are somewhere in between. There is also Sigri above Mainland China, which I am told is good.<br /><br />Once upon a time, I worked on some ads for Copper Chimney, and I cant forget that as a client, they were made in bad taste. Eden on the other hand gives some nostalgic memories as an intern and yes, their menu card is a writer's delight.<br /><br />If you feel like ghooey sabjis and gheey rotis, there is Peshwari (Cathedral road), Tandoor, Kabul and Basera (nearTiruvanmiyur). In Basera, you can eat on tree tops! Now, that is something I must lobby for, even if it means having to arrange for transport.<br /><br />For mallu food, there is Tharavad and Kumarakom, but then what will veggies like me eat at these places?? Nibble on the banana leaf?? Sorry people, no Karimeen curry for you'll. The same goes for Bong food, not so popular in the city. Must be the mustard. My sis once had to painfully control her puke after a fishy dish until her host finally left the table. Sorry bong pals, no offence here, I love your sandesh and rosogollas. My bong friends btw generally swear by <a href="http://www.indianfoodforever.com/eating-out/restaurants/chennai/bayleaf-restaurant-chennai.html">Bayleaf</a> in Gopalapuram, when they feel like a quick, homey, mustard fix.<br /><br />I am really tempted to try Aiwo adjoining Barista (Nungambakkam High Road), for its buffet on a conveyor and tempting names of dishes. Krish Ashok has a nice <a href="http://krishashok.wordpress.com/category/sappaadu/page/2/">blog</a> about it. The best part is that your buffet comes in a conveyor belt and at just 200 for a person. Clear winner!<br /><a href="http://krishashok.wordpress.com/category/sappaadu/page/2/">New Yorker</a> again on the advice of blog guru Krish Ashok sounds quite tempting, maybe I will get the chickentarians to treasure hunt for a leg piece in the salad bowl.<br /><br />Personally, I love masala dosa at Saravana Bhavan and authentic Udipi sambar. But I guess, one must occasionally go to places where we are forced to curse under our acidic breath for an hour as the chefs decide where to shop. I must remember my pattani sundal and tehelka for company.the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-34767711622191587002008-05-01T23:35:00.000-07:002008-05-02T00:22:53.784-07:00Someday, I want to hit seventy, look forty and yet feel twenty.Now the years are rolling by me.<br />They are rocking evenly,<br />I am older than I once was<br />Younger than I'll be, that's not unusual.<br />No, it isn't strange<br />After changes upon changes<br />We are more or less the same<br /><br />- Simon and Garfunkelthe other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-294420934032112332008-04-18T01:22:00.000-07:002008-04-18T02:11:31.006-07:00No entryYou cant drive-in into Woodlands anymore....I feel a dull pang for the leafy place that wooed our hearts and gastric juices. Actually, more than the food, it was the ambience that drew the salesman, college-kid, uncle and humble celebrity.<br />I can bet on their delicious upuma that atleast 1o businesses would have kick-started everyday at their place. The ambience was so addictive. Over those steaming hot coffees, so many plans from starting creches to HR consultancies have wafted over.<br />Woodlands was the heart of the city in many ways....so many kalyana alliances have been worked out there, a friend of mine chose woodlands for its onion oothappam and and friendly green, when she had to meet her prospective father-in-law. Her choice of place alone bowled over the finicky physics professor.<br />I have always wanted to do a photo-feature of the place - its non-interfering waiters who let us spend an hour over a podi masala dosa, the uncles and aunts who would click their tongues, relishing poori kilangu, at the stella gals and loyola boys meeting there after college, the sales guys striking a mini-lunch deal, the journos sulking over coffee and looking for stories, the occasional celeb face driving in with a chauffeur who would get the order, the school kids recharging with juices between school and swimming lessons and so many more..........<br />It was probably never the same as it was in the 70s and 80s - the ultimate place for a light evening meal - but it was still very special for all of us who grew up on bribes of channa bhatura and ice-cream at woodlands if we had to spend an afternoon reading at the american library bank opposite.<br /><br />P.S: the state horticulture society has reclaimed the lung of a land, but given the state's record in turning heritage buildings into steel and glass high-rises, I have no hopes of seeing a lal bag a la bangalore.the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-89378930043557228322008-03-29T03:47:00.000-07:002008-03-29T03:59:53.322-07:00Republic of Blah~!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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />I am also surprised that I got such long leave, despite not even finishing one year with the company. generous, I say!<br />adios!the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-72370764721143801512008-03-28T00:10:00.000-07:002008-03-28T00:15:16.454-07:00Media Headlines of 2007A 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.<br /><br /> Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says<br /> [No, really?]<br /> Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers<br /> [Now that's taking things a bit too far!]<br /> Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?<br />[Not if I wipe thoroughly!]<br />Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over<br />[What a guy!]<br />Miners Refuse to Work after Death<br />[No-good-for- nothing' lazy so-and-so!]<br />Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant<br />[See if that works any better than a fair trial!]<br />War Dims Hope for Peace<br />[I can see where it might have that effect!]<br />If Strike Isn't settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile<br />[You think?]<br />Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures<br />[Who would have thought!]<br />Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide<br />[They may be on to something!]<br />Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges<br />[You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?]<br />Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge<br />[He probably IS the battery charge!]<br />New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group<br />[Weren't they big enough?!]<br />Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft<br />[That's what he gets for eating those beans!]<br />Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half<br />[Chainsaw Massacre all over again!]<br />Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors<br />[Boy, are they tall!]<br />And the winner is....<br />Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Deadthe other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-16337523643613828122008-03-27T03:22:00.000-07:002008-03-27T05:12:17.966-07:00Chewing Cud<em>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. </em><br />- 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.<br /><br /><a href="http://ranjitwarrier.blogspot.com/">Dr. Mosi's Kral </a>is a must read link on the trail of viruses and on the art of how to hold up drinks. Quite like <a href="http://krishashok.wordpress.com/">Krish Ashok</a> and sometimes even better. No offence there to Jalsa and Jilpa, I simply revere it.<br />Anything sells on a day when you are stuck in office because of rain, but to be honest, this <a href="http://maxdavinci.wordpress.com/">one</a> does have its own little nuggets. <br /><a href="http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php">PhD comics</a> - 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.<br />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. <a href="http://bosey.co.in/">Son of Bosey </a>is still in my league.<br />There is something about <a href="http://lalitalarking.blogspot.com/">lalita</a>, quite like a poignant telugu poem.<br />Get your <a href="http://www.save-tiger.blogspot.com/">cartoon</a> done or gift one, it doesnt matter, it all goes towards saving the near extinct, Panthera tigris.<br /><a href="http://thotprocess.wordpress.com/page/2/">Thought process</a> is nothing much to think about but makes quite a read - particularly its Ugadi wishes and the Noodle revolution - makes a read.<br /><a href="http://www.stochastica.net/">Fellow Singleton</a>, and I am quite impressed!<br /><a href="http://ghanshyamsays.blogspot.com/">This</a> 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, <a href="http://nrimaami.wordpress.com/">NRI maami</a>.<br />A <a href="http://aquadreamer.blogspot.com/">tibetan</a> for tibet's sake and satire.<br />Thulu has a script and loads of poetry in its blood....spilt <a href="http://itulu.blogspot.com/">here</a>, but better out than in.<br /><a href="http://www.saffrontree.org/">Saffron Tree</a> makes you want to pick up a book and settle near a window.<br />And a <a href="http://www.badlani.com/blog/http://mutiny.in/">green cousin </a>of the slightly dysfunctional mutineers. And <a href="http://environpro.blogspot.com/">more green</a>, this time, damn good with ground realities and satire. <br />Inspiring <a href="http://www.fracturedearth.org/">stories</a> of rebellious people who change wrongs.<br />Am yet to volunteer with the <a href="http://blog.blanknoise.org/">blank noise project </a>or tulir for that reason, hope this reminds me.<br />Local flavour and free verse that is nice <a href="http://www.withinandwithout.com/">here</a>.<br />There is no point to <a href="http://www.selectiveamnesia.org/">this</a>, its simple punditry, poetic and about chennai photowalks. <br />For once, I didnt feel like editing a blog. The <a href="http://chennai.metblogs.com/">Chennai Metblogs </a>is all about the city I love. <br /><a href="http://mdeii.blogspot.com/">Senior</a>, neenga vaalga! I still remember with gratitude how he was generous about his comments on our first journal.<br />And these have helped me a <a href="http://www.amitverma.com/">bit</a> or by two <a href="http://nexuz.in/">bytes</a>.<br />A <a href="http://www.ilovethesmoke.blogspot.com/">London post </a>that I like, maybe because I am reading Bryson.<br />And something useful for once on blogosphere, must pass <a href="http://aavaas.com/">it</a> on to my aunt. <br />And thus I spent a lean day at office, the rain outside added to the flavour.the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-12568081525841912692008-03-24T01:33:00.000-07:002008-03-24T01:55:10.541-07:00My very own Marks and SpencersHandloom 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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.the other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36380731.post-49904698477166468192008-03-13T23:10:00.000-07:002008-03-13T23:14:24.227-07:00singing 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.....<br />~<br />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.<br />- Jeet Thayilthe other romilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17880794899535786751noreply@blogger.com1