Hey.

I’m now going to be found at My New Blog. That’s also WordPress.

I won’t be posting here anymore. I’ll use my account for commenting on your blogs though. Ciao!

Things are getting… dynamic… that is to say, they’re moving a little bit faster than I’m prepared for.

I’m supposed to be doing something for myself, but I don’t have time and energy for it. Neither actually.

THF is in Bangalore, but I don’t think we’ll be able to meet up anymore. Work just got weirder. I’m not blogging my work stuff just yet, you know.

Played a bit of table tennis again today.

The point about physical exhaustion is that a good night’s sleep and a huge mug of mom’s tea will cure it. The point about this situation is that the former is improbable while the latter is impossible.

The point about mental exhaustion is that a good night’s sleep and a huge mug of mom’s tea will cure it. The point about this situation is that it would not have arised had either been available.

Tired and out of time.

I think I have a unique work graph, and I suppose it’s about to get… uniquer, so to speak, on Monday.

The thing is, I just ended my participation in one project, and… well whatever. It’s work.

Anywhu.

Where did I leave last time, it’s been more of the same.

Football: Wednesday was us playing with the remainder of the Infosys Official Team – good workout. I didn’t score, and I was having a bit of trouble in the rest of the things as well, but I was better than atrocious, so it was okay.

Saturday was lethargic due to sunlight, but I scored, if I may say so myself, a brilliant swivel snapshot while off-balance and falling over, and then a first time toe-poke between the defenders legs past a standing (specialist) goal keeper.

There was more of that shopping business over the weekend. Damn it this is meant for parents to do, not us!

Anywhu. The Infy quiz mailing list owner was over using my computer while I slept off/read Thud! by Terry Pratchett. We’re doing some quizzes for Infy’s recruitment team… uh… work stuff again.

Also, THF is over here – he got thrown out of his house by his folks and amazingly lacked the money to call to Delhi as well. Students…

Anywhu, it’s late, I’m tired, and a huge frightening person is going to use an old mattress in the drawing room.

Obviously, tomorrow must be Monday.

Good-nightey…

No not the faulty RAM that ruined my last free summer vacation.

Not the CD ROM drive that would first declare a new CD to be unreadable, then later scratch it.

Not even the computer that gave me an “account locked” 6 times in a row [18 total attempts, at every third failed attempt it gets locked, then you ask the company's internal IT support to unlock it].

No.

This is freaking insane. Why did I update Kaspersky? Why? The first ‘boxed software’ I bought that wasn’t a game or an encyclopedia CD, and it explodes in my face.

My Blog Is A Security Threat? To Me?

My blog is blocked at work by Websense. Here by KIS’ sense. This is nonsense!

HALP!

Unlike Amrika, Indian leaders didn’t consider choosing a date for the Independence day such that over the years it would fall on Fridays/Mondays more often than Tuesdays to Thursdays.

So this Friday-Sunday has been pretty unique. Features:

1. In the weird hope that I would be on project, I hadn’t applied for leave. So I didn’t go home.
2. I had planned to go to a quiz, which we didn’t because it was in Chennai and we didn’t have tickets.
3. On Thursday I travelled for two hours and 15 minutes from office, 17 odd kilometres away to a relative’s place after staying a bit late at the office. Got dropped off at 11 after a nice home-cooked meal.
4. Then I couldn’t go to sleep. Just couldn’t. No reason. Tried to, but I didn’t feel the need. I decided I’ll go to sleep when I’m about to drop, and started watching whatever video clips were at hand. Scrubs Season 1, as it turned out.
5. At 6 am, I felt embarrassed that the Sun was up and I hadn’t slept. So I did.
6. Woke up at 1pm, and the day is waste. I don’t remember much of Friday anyhow. Happy Independence Day, I guess?
7. Saturday started with football – I got 2 goals out of 5 chances missing two sitters again. And a penalty. Even though the goal size was half the usual, still. But link up play was getting better, though my positional sense is still screwy – needs work.
8. Then I went off shopping, redeeming the quiz coupon. Walked for 2 kms more (after already playing for an hour and a half sandwiched between equally long walks – makes it 6 kms for a day). Picked up some necessary stuff.
9. Today, again I visited relatives. Again I went for shopping – me hate shopping! But I picked up the Team India Football shirt I’ve been trying to find for a year! And it’s only Rs 650 (60% off the sticker price! WOO!)
10. So here we are, having spent a tonne of money. I want less time spent shopping and all, and more time watching Tee Vee!

Edit: Walked 4+ kms today as well. Sigh. Tired.

In conclusion: Moms should do this shopping business, and we should get to sleep off weekends.

Next weekend: The business of cleaning your room up. _gulp_

No connection between title and post. Again.

After about a week of undersleeping (close to 2 hours per day) I was worried about the Landmark Quiz which happens annually on Independence Day (today) in Chennai. On Thursday evening, I had a meeting setup for very late, so it was hard juggling things around.

But both the meeting and trip to Chennai stod cancelled and I went off to meet my relatives in this city.

The bus from office started at 7.15 and deposited me at the stop at 9.30. For a journey that usually takes 1.30 hours on poor days.

:X

After which I was dropped back home at 11.

I couldn’t go to sleep.

Till 6 am, I was awake, just 2 steps away from sleep all the while.

At 6, I finally forced myself to drop off. And fell asleep instantly. Woke up at 1.30 pm.

Tomorrow morning is football – let’s see what goes on tomorrow, because today was a colossal waste of a day, but I’ve relaxed completely.

Today.

India won the AFC Cup 08 4-1, in Delhi, with Delhi boy Sunil Chhetri scoring a hat-trick.

I played another 5-a-side after work (it ended 11-5, with me scoring 5 out of 11 ).

Later.

I will be moving this blog soon.

Get ready to bring your links up to date.

I’m now one of the last people on the planet to see The Dark Knight.

A quickfire review after watching it on IMAX.

Before I get in: I stand by this: it is my first opinion after watching it once.

Plot: Brilliant. Just amazing. The twists, the tunrs – it’s pin point accuracy and sublime work.

Editing: Superb. Top notch.

Action: Wow. Maybe too less of the sequences? Maybe. But action wasn’t coming in from every angle – it only happened when the story had action in it, as opposed to fight scenes for fight scenes’ sake.

Direction: Christopher Nolan’s directing (in my not very humble but quite uneducated opinion) has always been about underacting to balance the complex storyline – like The Godfather in that respect I’d say. Here however, too much was done. I wanted to see a bit more drama and intensity – this was Batman fer crissakes!

On Batman: Not enough screen time I guess, but enough for the story. (Which has been a consistent behaviour – whenever Nolan has seen something that enhances his movie, he has done it, regardless of what stood in the way.) Err, his Batman-voice? It’s not really good. No. Honestly, no. Anyway, in a sort of ironic way, it heightens your belief in his acting ability – he’s Batman, we believe him.

On The Joker: Very well done. Not as dark and sinister as I’d expected, and not as insane. But so far better than the earlier attempts that there’s no point n discussing them. Again, I wonder if it was Nolan’s direction at work.

On Two-Face: Weaker than either of the two leading lights. But yeah, a HUGE improvement over the earlier acts.

Story: I don’t really remember the comic books (time for a refresher course – Watchmen will be coming soon ) but I’d stay it stayed close to the spirit. Definitely.

Issues: For my money, Dent became Two-Face rather easily. The Joker wasn’t as sinister as I’d hoped. The plot had it’s weak moments, but things like The Joker’s time in the jail cells being interrogated – priceless. What everyone missed out on wasn’t the fact that the Joker as dangerous – it was that his base motivation was anarchy! And that’s after about 20 minutes of footage explaining just that. And another thing – IRONY – the Joker was created chaos/anarchy by using a hell lot of planning. Hello? Anyone?

Anyhow – I guess I need to watch the DVD version to really enjoy the deep corners (did anyone see ‘The Scarecrow’ getting captured? I didn’t figure out it was the Scarecrow getting caught at the start! Audio was kinda screwed up methinks – entire movie’s audio had the distorted feel to it.)

Great visuals. Great acting. Great overall.

Little issues mean it’s not a 5/5. I’d say 4.5 out of 5. (And if I can be picky, 4.3).

Final last summary: Brilliant, but certainly not the best film ever. Over hyped to death, best film of the past few years that I have seen.

Hyderabad. 12 hour journey after running from office (after having a tricky few days). One day rained out completely, but got to spend time with relatives. The other mainly about The Dark Knight, and met a friend from work. 12 hour journey back. Jokes both ways as another fellow blogger from work had booked the bus tickets.

Whatever happened to the usual weekend plan of football, then sleep, then sit around!

Hyderabad is a beautiful place. Go visit!

My name isn’t important. Well, I may be the smug protagonist, but my earlier name is not important. My new name is. Which will soon become clearer.

Everything else, however, won’t.

* * *
The last clear memory I have is that of falling asleep after running home, more tired than usual. I slept off. I remember, hazily, being jerked awake by some noise, but too tired to actually do anything about it.

In the darkness, a thump, and I crumple onto the bed.

* * *
I wake up again. My head hurts. It’s still darkness. Fade out, again.

* * *
How much time passes, I don’t know.

I’m suddenly wearing a black shirt and black pants. Why?

They’re taking me to the O-Ray Cull. O-Rays are harmful, and this chamber will remove the radiation sources from my body. No one said it was part of my brain.

* * *
I come out, angry and in shock. For days, I would feel a numbness, and inexplicable lack of something I can’t quite claim I had, and I don’t know what, or where, but it’s gone now. Is it better now? Worse? I can’t say. But for now, I fall into the darkness again.

* * *
I wake up.

I’m at a kung-fu fight. I’m fighting. Against… me?

I’m good! But I’m better. I beat me to a pulp. To within an inch of life. And I lose by a knockout.

* * *
This they had called The Steeling. Earlier the name was Confer Ming, but since the Administrator Ming had long ago retired, and they couldn’t “confer” anything, they used a cooler, less appropriate name.

They now know I am ready. I have defeated my worst enemy – me.

* * *
Now I am – The Won.

As opposed to The Lost, you see!

* * *
Did I mention I’m now a confirmed employee? Apparently, I’ll be getting an email soon.

It’s been raining for 1.5 days straight, no signs of letting up.

I usually enjoy the rain malarkey, but I need to go buy stuff, go to a museum, watch a movie…

*sigh*

Yesterday, I went to a quiz organised by an advertising agency, after working hours.

Went to Ulsoor road, found the place.

The quiz was organised in a small conference room meant for 10. It squeezed in about 23 people: Organizers and 10 teams.

The winners were from a college: NLSIU (Law school).

We were second. We got gift vouchers for our effort while the winners got iPod shuffles.

Crucial points:

• Every participant who lasted the distance got a free pen-drive bracelet (1 GB) courtesy quiz sponsor Colors (Viacom channel in India)
• There was free snacks (Lay’s), free soft drinks (Mirinda and Coca Cola, which caused a headspin which lasted till I slept off) and free beer (in red and green cans – I don’t drink, and I was the only one there who didn’t)
• Our team name was (cooked up on the spot) Balaclava.

Today, I played football – Soccer Saturday is now having alternate Wednesday practices.

Scored 2 out of 8 (4-4) missing 2. Stamina issue showing up, plus I played on a full stomach. :S

Also, fell down, bruising hand and with a deep cut @ knee, but not to worry, as the cut is covered by a gash.

Also, some movement on the career front after eleven weeks of sitting idle. Good or bad, time will tell.

Till later then, I bid you, adieu!

Won’t be playing for next two Saturdays.

Today it was 5-a-side.

We lost 5-6. I scored 3 from 9 chances, 3 wide, 3 saved, 3 scored – 3×3 = 9.

Ball control, acceleration, first touch and shooting need work.

Later!

“No.”

“What? Look it’s possible…”

“What~no way man.”

“Hey~All I’m saying is that she might be interested in you.”

“Bleeding hell! Stop it you moron. Just because you’re obsessed about being a desperate-yet-dateless wonder, that doesn’t mean you’ll extend your delusional universe to all your friends as well. Stay away from me.”

“Well, she stares at you often enough…”

“As she would at a car accident, a tree in the road, the cubicle in the corner of the room and, in fact, you. A collection of absolutely random, useless objects of no importance.”

“Bah! But her expression…”

“Is one of pure nothingness.”

“Aha! So you did notice.”

“Oh come one you ridiculous little man, We work in the same office spaces. Of course we’ll run across each other.”

“Uh huh. Is that why her friends have been asking questions about you?”

“I swear you’re getting dumber by the minute. I’ll help you understand. We were in a book store. I knew an entire shelf. They thought I was an employee and asked me questions. I explained I wasn’t. They got embarassed and kept apologising for half an hour. Now shut up. I’m eating.”

“Oh look look! She’s staring at you again!”

“Dude. She’s staring at you. My back is turned.”

“Yeah, but the angles…”

“Oh not the angles bit again! PLEASE God no! NO!”

“Hyperbolic, much?”

“Yeah well, if you can be a stuck record…”

“Well give me one good reason why she wouldn’t go for you…”

“No.”

“See, I knew it. You’re just too chicken to…”

“NO! I just don’t want to shatter this little delusion you’ve built up.”

“Explain.”

“No. I’m your friend. I don’t want to break your puny mind.”

“You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Ye-e-e-e-s.”

“Aw come on dude!”

“Okay man. It’s like this. She’s a MacGufifn in a really bad novel/short story in which we’re side characters. When this scene is put into the novel, before I advance, the scene will change and the hero will enter, stage left.”

“…”

“I’m sorry dude, but you asked me to do it… sleep well.“

I’ve been busy. Sort of.

Bought two more books I won’t get to read before the new year.

Awkward day in many senses.

This footballing, quizzing guy is in the hospital – let’s wait for him to update. Send him your wishes.

Tomorrow’s football again. Little mercies, yea?

Listening to this song on and off.

Just forgot a nice story-conversation. Damn.

I’m okay. How are you?

Sometimes.

Sometimes you feel trapped. In an episode of twilight zone.

Every day at 6 pm you get that feeling of deja vu. You know you’ve been here already. Some things are different, the details, but the plot is the same.

Every yesterday melts into today and overflows into your tomorrow.

As if you’re re-living the future yesterday.

Or something.

You know that you dropped the tie on Tuesday because it’s not required from Wednesday.

You know that you pulled out the jeans on Thursday, because Friday is casuals day.

But still.

Every day at 6 pm you think: I didn’t buy shoe polish today. Must do that tomorrow.

Every day at 9 pm you think: Damn, I’m repeating myself.

Every day before you sleep, you think: Where did all my friends go?

Every day.

There’s a feeling of an odd detachment to life that comes after a long while – A sort of out of body experience where you can see yourself do stupid things but you’re so engrossed in the film that you dare not disturb the actors.

It follows a feeling of choking and claustrophobic scratching at the door. Of clutching at straws while you’re underwater.

It’s called cabin fever. You’ve stayed indoors for so long, you don’t know what the sky looks like.

Though you go every Saturday to play, and every day take the bus to and fro, it’s not enough.

Honestly, it’s not.

Something must give.

Because the pressures of daily life are not something you’re resigned to. You don’t like doing the little things that need doing, because there’s no motivation. Where’s the motivation? Where’s the motivation? There’s the motivation. Behind the curtains, runing away, the pitter-patter of it’s tiny feet as it runs away from you like a little nephew.

Buy groceries. Buy stands. Buy sheets. Buy clothes. Clean room. Clean computer. Clean bags. Arrange closet. Not exactly chores you should be afraid of. But there you go.

What does it matter if you don’t have enough hangers? What does it matter if you don’t have enough shirts? What does it matter if your watch lies unrepaired? What does it matter indeed, when you lack the two things you most desire: time and money?

What does it matter that you have enough of both, but the rut you’re in, makes you a zombie who stares at something resembling a colored wall all day, beats up pieces of plastic, stuffs his face and sleeps? What does it matter?

Every day at 6 pm you think: I didn’t buy shoe polish today. Must do that tomorrow.

Damn it.

Please?

Today, I went to play football.

I walk from 80 feet road in Koramangala (all Bangalore) to a rather large shopping mall called Forum and cross over to the other side, where I get a pick up from the captain to the company grounds.

Then after the match I get a drop at the same place and another 15 minute walk back.

Today, at the Soccer Saturday practices, I scored 4 of the 17 goals in the game, all clean strikes. Good movement, a bit of trouble tracking back, but good positioning and tackling. Most importantly, stamina is going up. Now I can last the entire practices with only the half time break.

So, when I was coming back, I got a phone call.

Live bomb found, and defused at Forum.

Currently, the city of Ahmedabad is almost besieged.

You know what? The chinese have a proverb: May you live in interesting times. Original source (from Douglas Adams’ H2G2 project).

****Lack of words. ***Lack of words. **Entry truncated. *Go home everyone.

The city was rocked by serial blasts this afternoon.

Suspected militants of a fundamentalist organisation blablabla…

2 people are dead while they were doing routine daily work, several injured.

I give to you, the Indian idiot.

Idiot 1: We must make the suffering people with Indian passports understand our message!
Idiot 2: Let’s blow people with Indian passports up!
Idiot 1: Yeah!!

India, where people blow up their own countrymen to make a point about their own countrymen. Unlike other countries where people are protective of their fellow citizens, here…

Nope. I can’t say anything more about the freakin’ insanity of people.

Idiots. Bunch. Of. Idiots.

Many people said, “It’s a really good thing the blasts were small and only two people died from 8 blasts.”

2 people died… Just stop there. Two. Gone. Because they went grocery shopping?

FUCK. THIS. SHIT.

No more running. No more hiding. No more looking back anxiously.

No more chasing shadows. No more running in circles. No more wild goose chases.

No more adventures that end with warnings.

Time to plant your feet. Time to stand your ground.

Time to face your worst enemies. Your worst fears. Your worst nightmare. Yourself.

Time to stand up and be counted.

Time to brace for collision.

Time to stop the sword of Damocles as it dangles above your head.

Time to stop the hammers of the Gods of Aesir from striking repeatedly.

Time to stop the little pin pricks that would slay even Golaith, for he would notice not.

Time to grow up. FAST!