Photography

Well its been long time that I have updated something here.
Last one year has been good. I got a nice Canon EOS 7D with a 50mm and a 70-300mm lens and I have been clicking away since. I think I am good enough to start sharing the pictures on this site. Let me know if you like it, hate it etc. So here goes the 1st one.

Well the picture below was taken at a place Known as Anpara with a 18-55mm that I borrowed from a friend.
A rusted workhorse of yesteryear rusting away.

Special thanks to Shobhit for inspiring me to do this. Do check his blog also its called "Three.Six.Five"
I wont be that frequent right now. I hope to get frequent soon (hope so at least). 

Hobbies

Lately I have picked up some old hobbies. “What’s an old hobby?” I hear you ask. Well they were my hobbies once upon a time then I left it as I was too lazy to do them. The break was good as it gave me some time to think (not about the hobby) and then when I came back to it I had new ideas to work with. So here are the hobbies in some new light.

The Tree

“Pix come inside! Play time is over”

The fellow scrambles down the tree, jumping from branch to branch and then from a high branch he swings and jumps to the ground, rolling as he lands.

He gets up with a smile. Rubbing his eyes he looks out the window thinking! “Boy I miss that tree.”

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This is a new concept I am trying. Writing a 55 word fiction! It was introduced to me by my brother. Read Expressionless …

I personally think this is a very creative way to write fiction and very tricky.

This of course is a crude try so let me know how you liked it?

Do comment and let me know. ^_^

FireFlies

“Cold drink” … “Check”

“Chips” … “Check”

“Water” … “Check”

“Food” … “Check”

“Cushions” … “Check”

“Blanket” … “Check”

“Camera”… (this I should have checked) :'(

Photograph – Place in Heaven

Jog falls is a cool destination about 380 to 400 Km from Bangalore on NH-206.  This picture is of a house near the fall named Raja. Best time to go will be just after monsoon.

Route from Bangalore:

Bangalore->NH4 to Tumkur->turn left on NH 206->Shimoga->Sagar->Talaguppa->look for a board asking to take left towards jog falls (about 16-18Km from Talaguppa)->Jog falls.

Time To

Every one needs time to...

... do the work for what they are getting paid for

... catch up today’s latest happening

... eat food

... buy stuff for every day use

... sleep

... gym

... shop, clean cloths …

But we don’t have time to live!!!!

Lepakshi

“Tomorrow is a holiday! What are we going to do?” asked my wife

“Lets drive somewhere.”

“Ya right…  but I won’t go to Nandi Hills”

“Well what about Lepakshi!”

“Who is she” she asked with a grin, and then after a while she said “Ok! Lets go”

Next day we started early at around 7 am after picking up a friend of mine PS. Within 1/2 an hr we had crossed the Hebbal and where cruising on NH7 towards the Airport. As usual the cabs and trucks were all speeding in the same direction and I was amazed at the volume of traffic I was facing in the morning.

Photograph – M(y)istical nature

Bhramagiri in Coorg is a place for nature enthusiast. A place for trekking, white water rafting, lots of green to soothe your mind and soul. Avoid going to this place in rainy season as it is leech infested. You can Google it for more info… J

Photograph –Blue and White

This picture was taken from Nandi Hills on the day we went to Lepakshi. (more to come on that) The Moon, Clouds and the Airplane seems to be in harmony with each other.

Photograph - Fountain of Joy

The Brindavan Gardens is situated just beside the massive Krishna Raja Sagara Dam. It is some 150 Km from Bangalore on SH17 and pretty close to Mysore.

This place has got amazing garden and fountains. They also have daily show of musical fountains that is a must see. The picture is one of the many fountains that this garden boosts of. 

Photograph – With a Tinge of Red

Since I haven’t included photography in my resolution list, so I hope that I can keep this going. Let me know how this picture is and post your comments. You can also suggest what this picture reminds you of.

Creating Nostalgia

I don’t know how many of us realize this but every day we create nostalgia. Most of the days the brain sweeps the nostalgia under the carpet, or worst into the recycle bin never to be retrieved back again. But some days are so special that the days' happening are safely tucked away into a cupboard or in an attic, just to be retrieved many years later as a nostalgic memory. It also has an uncanny habit of improving with time just like wine. We would go to this imaginary attic or open the cupboard and go through the stuff in it. Looking at this stuff, cleaning the gathered dust on it, going through it… that’s when nostalgia hits us.

New Year - 2010

New Year new resolutions new hope new outlook… and the list goes on. Its time for celebrations and joy, time to start over new.

From the last years long break from blogging I am planning to get back to it. I just hope that it won’t be like my new years resolution. Actually till now I have not been able to keep a single resolution till the end. Some I broke after few months and some immediately. Like “I won’t drink” and the 1st thing on 1st Jan I did was drink. Then there was a time I promised myself that I would improve my life style and started the year with hangover. This year though it was that “I won’t make any resolution this year” and thus i broke the resolution in process of making one.

People

Rain has set in and for quite some days it has been raining, but it’s a different story that the met dept. is saying. As per them monsoon is yet to hit Bangalore. Anyway one day we (my colleagues and me) were taking a break. Enjoying the rain, hot cup of tea (which by the way was not hot or good, but the environment made it nice). As usual the topic was IPL. That’s when my friend AK piped up. “Where is LA(name changed on request) now days? Any idea?”

Me: Why what happened?

AK: Well nothing much it’s just that I don’t know why but the guy was so irritating.

Me: So now you want to remember some irritating guy when we are talking of IPL and good times. (And missing beer)

AK: No not that ways. It’s like this he is that kind of a guy who is irritating when you are talking to him, but as soon as he is out of site you can have a hearty laugh.

Well that’s true I guess. I will give you an example and then tell you.

It was 4 or 5 years ago. I had met LA in collage. Nice chap stays quite. That’s it. Then one fine day I had to take a lift to my Aunts home. As luck had conspired he gave me a lift. Soon we had good talking terms. And yeah he was a bit irritating. One day he came to college by bus. So like an absolute showoff, fake, and no good concern I asked him what happened. Soon I realized what grave mistake that was.

Me: (with false concern) What happened to your bike dude? (You can imagine the flowers that many times the cartoonist draws in the dialog bubble to show sweet talk)

LA: Leave that dude. (A very serious tone and heavy voice)

LA: I didn’t understand what happened. You listen to me and then try to understand and then explain it to me. Yesterday I was going to my Aunts home 69Km from here and I had very little fuel in my bike. I was happily cursing when suddenly the bike just stopped. Now can you tell me what the reason can be?

Me: well did you get refueled before that?

LA: No

Me: Hmmm, (I was trying to sound serious) well then that means you used up all your bike's fuel and the bike stopped.

At this point I was more behaving like Sherlock Homes. And wanted to say “Elementary my dear LA elementary. “

LA: (he had this point of time a look that told me that I am the biggest jack ass) Dude you are not listening (As if he is trying hard to keep patient) SEE! I was going to my Aunts home … 69Km from here … and I had very little fuel… in my bike. I was happily cursing… when suddenly the bike came to a grinding halt. Now can you tell me what the reason can be?

I was at this point a bit flabbergasted. I wasn’t sure if he listened to me the 1^st time. I had no choice but this time though without any Sherlock Homes stuff.

Me: you ran out of fuel dude.

LA: (He was pretty pissed himself) OK DUDE! (I still don’t know why he was shouting) BOSS I WAS GOING TO AUNTS PLACE IN MY BIKE. I HAD LITTLE FUEL. SUDDENLY THE BIKE CAME TO A HALT CAN YOU TELL ME A REASON WHY SO HAPPENED?

Me: (why the hell is he shouting but by that time I had given up) this is weird. This shouldn’t have happened. Some black magic…… what do you say?

LA: (now lot more relaxed) I don’t know but I have the same terrible feeling….

Soon afterwards I thought of some excuse and left.

I still have fun telling this story over the coffee. So I thought to share it with you all. Today LA is in a good company at a good place but still that irritating. I have sympathy for the people with him. :)

Reverse Engineering

“Apart from the homework that I have given you for the summer vacation you will also have to make a working prototype of a solar cookers and a windmill. Since most of your parents are Engineers they will help you in this project. Final grade will have 20 marks assigned to these projects.” This was told to us with a sinister smile on our physics teachers face just like the one on Prof Snape face from Harry Potter series. The bell rang and we shot out of the room with full zeal and enthusiasm for the summer vacations that started along with the bell of the last period. The summer vacation was fun. Collecting leaves for the Herbarium file, making models of windmill and solar cooker, learning new things in the summer vacation camp, meeting grand parents, cartoons, no getting up early and so on so forth. Irritatingly though the summer vacations came to a grinding halt as soon as it started. With so much fun nobody of us saw the days flying by and only realized it once they flew by.

School began and so did the lame excuses of not doing any of the homework. Many of us were seen standing outside the class, punished for not completing the homework. In this whole commotion of lame excuse and teacher scolding one thing was amazing. Everyone had brought the solar cooker they were supposed to make. Big boxes with glass mirror on the lid and couple of utensils inside. Some of the utensils had name on it. Maybe those kids mom were sure that they will lose the utensils. Most of us got graded average as it had very little option of improvement. (at least, as per us.) Still there were few who had shown there creativity streak. One of the girls had painted the box Pink from inside out (which by the way is generally black to absorb heat) that was not it. It also sported Barbie with lots of attires and poses. But mostly they were same. One box, glass, mirror and utensils with names on it. That was day one. Next day it was windmills turn.

Engineering [en-juh-neer-ing] (Online Dictionary)

Noun:

1. The art or science of making practical application of the knowledge of pure sciences, as physics or chemistry, as in the construction of engines, bridges, buildings, mines, ships, and chemical plants.

This word came into play when we got the windmills to school. Almost all were different. As if each and everyone of us had a go at the windmill with our parents helping us. Some were quite elaborate. With windmill, field, houses, transmission lines etc. but the windmill was a cardboard cut out. So didn’t count. We were asked to make a working model!!!! Our Barbie loving girl had done it again. She had a windmill with a well and Barbie posing beside the well. One of the windmills had made in India tag. There were many more engineering examples.

AJ also did a similar thing like mine. He had the windmill shaft connected to a big wheel (some house hold containers cap). This cap was connected to a small DC motor with rubber-band. One end of the motor was then connected to a bulb and the other end of both motor and bulb was open. The description he gave was the windmill will turn the big wheel, which in turn will turn the motor. This will generate electricity for the bulb and a battery to be connected to the open ends so that it gets charged. In short our teacher was quite impressed. So she asked him to demonstrate it as he claimed it to be a working model.

Reverse Engineering (Online Dictionary)

Verb :

(Used with object) to study or analyze (a device, as a microchip for computers) in order to learn details of design, construction, and operation, perhaps to produce a copy or an improved version.

He smartly took out a battery from his pocket, then simultaneously connected the battery with the open ends of the wire and blew air to the wind mill. And as he had described the windmill turned, turning the wheel then the motor and surely the bulb lit up. With loud clapping our teacher stood up. Chap got an alpha++ grade. Highest grade ever!

What happened that day was a good example of reverse engineering in a crooked way. Well because what actually happened was just the opposite of what our teacher perceived. The battery when linked with the open ends completed the circuit lighting up the bulb and turning the motor. This turned the big wheel and then the windmill. Reverse of what should have happened and so reverse engineering. We all had a good laugh after the class and for quite some time we had this definition of the word and not the actual one described about in the post. 

Alien

Its been almost one year that I have posted anything on this site. Well I would like to put the blame to global warming, increasing traffic, recessions, a complete change of my life style, the roadies…. well I would blame all but me and my lazy bum.

Well let’s come to the main topic. Few days back I watched one of my favorite serial; “The X Files” then I saw the movie “Independence Day”. This got me thinking. (Well yeah I know it’s very rare but I also do think) I was thinking of all the movies that I have seen on aliens, are mostly Hollywood flicks. ID4, AVP, Alien, Species, Predator, ET, Cocoon… etc. Here is a list of Hollywood movies with aliens.

On the other hand Koi Mil Gaya and Krrish are the only Bollywood movies. (well those are the only ones I can think of. I you know any more Bollywood movie with alien do let me know in the comments).

This small fact has raised a question in my mind. Why do aliens come to America only? This question I once asked my mom when I was a kid. We used to see that serial X Files. Here are some of the points that came out of the discussions. (Cutting the long story short.)

1) They (read aliens) will not be given due importance in India.

2) They may feel that we already are bogged down by Ghost, Superstition, black magic… and so many such things, and then decide to attack America.

3) They also have dollar dreams

4) They know there will be more excitement (read babes in bikini) in America and more Cows and Stray dogs in India

5) They are scared that some one may spit pan on there space ship or some dog may pee on it

Well these are few of the points I have got. If you think you have a better on then please let me know.

One of the major reasons I think for Bollywood to make less of alien movies is that we have enough material for Ghost movie, enough masala in epic movies, Love triangle moves and so on so forth. The best point is these movies make money and so the producers keep making them one after another or sequels. So why worry the Aliens!

Laugh at Accidents

How many times in past have you met with an accident, that time was really bad, painful and the worst time ever, but now when you think about it you can’t really stop laughing. Once it so happened that a close family friend met with an accident. Till the doctor said that he is fine (which was by the way 4 hr after he was admitted to the hospital) the situation was very tense. When the doc said he is fine and sleeping the scenario changed courtesy his parents. They came up with so many anecdotes of accidents (of the same genre described above) that all of us couldn’t stop laughing. Finally the nurse had to put her foot down and kick us all out. (Yes even his parents.)

Let me tell you of one such incident. I was in 9th standard. My best friend and me had joined this basketball coaching during the summer vacations (I do miss those vacations now that I am in a job.) From 4 PM to 5:30 PM we had our basketball coaching. Then from 6 PM we had our Tuitions. (Khanna group) This used to take place in my house. It meant that we have to travel some 4 or 5 Km by bicycle in less than ½ hr. That we used to do all the time so not big deal. Now along the full stretch of route that connected the playground to my house there were many speed breaking bumps. Most of them were single bump and some space then another single bump. But there was a stretch where there was a rumble strip bump (or that’s what we used to call it. It is one of those annoying series of equidistant small bumps). What we used to do was, gain speed while coming up to this set of bumps. Jerk the bike at the 1st bump and land at the last one, and in the process reducing the pain of going over it with all the shakes that used to get amplified by the cycle. (Especially after a though workout at the basketball court). This was in a township of BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd.) Hardwar, which is very near to the Rajaji National Forest and so in summers we can see many wildlife coming to the township in search of water.

Back to the true story! One fine day we were coming back from basketball coaching and at that point (rumble strip bump) tried that stunt of ours. (It’s still a slow-motion memory of mine that happened in a split second.)

Speed increased. 1st bump came, gave the by-cycle a upward jerk, the cycle takes off in the air, (of-course I take of with it like one of those ET movies) then I see a fox running perpendicular to me and towards me. I was amused to see that creature thinking of waiting to see it for a while. All of a sudden my cycle stops moving. I look down and see that I have hit that fox while we all (fox, cycle and me) are in air. The cycle came to a stand still. But to my dismay I didn’t stop. I look down towards my cycle and it as doing a summer-salt. I on the other hand was like superman. Flying through the sky, uninterrupted! This thought did strike me and to tell the truth I was really excited. Then I saw the road coming at me with what looked like full speed. I didn’t want to break my hands. (There was a basketball match coming up) so I pull my hands back thinking of what next to do before hitting the ground.

Next what happened was something I believed happened in cartoons only. You must have see Roadrunner and Coyote. As soon as the coyote realizes that it is in air miles above the ground it falls leaving behind a puff of cloud. But till then it does all the stunts like its not in mid air. Same happened with me. It took me fraction of a nanosecond and I was on ground.

I sat down on the road cross-legged and tried to see if I have got hurt. Hands check, legs check, tummy….. It was soaked in blood. I was dead scared. But I wasn’t hurt there. Then my friend told me (to my relief that I am not dying) that it was my chin. And it was a nasty cut. The doctor latter on told me that it was adrenal rush that made that cut numb and I wish I was having the same rush when he put some 5 stitches there.

Then it was accident and now when ever I think of it I can not stop laughing. What was I thinking that I pulled my hands backward?

The mark is still there to remind me of the day…

Poll on kids smoking

For those of you who missed out on the poll and the post. This is in continuation of the post When your kid smokes. The question asked was “What will you do when you catch your kid smoking?”

Maximum people picked up the option “Try to reason and show the right way.” Some did nothing and some wanted to use the same technique that was (I hope) used on them. Brute force!

Few were confident enough to say that they will emotionally blackmail the kids. But the latest trend is the other way round. Kids it seems are better in blackmailing there parents. Through in the guilt conscious of the both working parents and kids get almost everything.

Couple of them picked the answered that they will sit and smoke with there kids. Well frankly I will wait till they catch there kids then see if they can really smoke with there kids.

Prithvi on the other hand had put what he might to in points as follows.

1. Force the child to smoke continuously till he/she is sick so that he/she never wants to try it again

2. Take the child to a lung cancer hospital and show the suffering that come from smoking, also show some burnt lungs

And at last I can say that you guys are as clueless as I am about this topic. But this forum did help some of us think of the various scenarios.

If you have some more comments on this topic feel free to put them in the comment section.

If you have any more such issues that you think are important and should be atleast thought of then also you are free to put them as comment.

Dancing in the Rain

It is a welcome site when after a hot and dry summer season rain comes to bless us with freshness, much needed relief from heat and brings in lots of greenery. Clear weather, rainbow, birds chirping, peacocks dancing, intoxicating zephyr with essence of earth and flowers, are just few of the things that is attributed to the rain. When I was in north India, (place with extreme whether) rain used to be a welcome relief. While in college there was a time when couple of my friends and me had to just get drenched in rain, no matter what. It was a sort of ritual. Then there was football. A game which when played in rain and mud increases the fun in exponential order.

Rain has been a natural force that always helped human. Euphoric kids playing, sexy gales, (heroines in the movies) forget all and drown in the moment and enjoying to the most (and that's when the hero sees her and falls in love.) it also kind of helps the sad people who can hide there tears in the rain. All and all a magical trick played by nature! A conjuring trick! Water falling from the sky. Magic that touches the flora and fauna and mostly brings them back to life.

But every good has its own bad. Ask yourself 1st that how many times you have washed your clothes, put them out side in the sun to dry and in matter of minutes rain comes pouring in. Or you had your bike serviced and then by the time you reach home, thanks to the bad roads and rain your bike is covered with mud. You think of attending some wedding at a farm house in your best sari or suit just to find that it’s ruined because of rain.

I am living in a city where it rains, rains every time you wash cloths, bike or the temperature goes above 25 degree centigrade. Some say this is the merry time climate, some say it is close to heaven, some call it the air-conditioned city and most know of it as Bangalore or Bengalooru. Initially when I came here I was bemused when I read one day in the news paper (yes I do read them some times) that “Monsoon to hit Bangalore in 2 days”. I kept laughing because Since January I witnessed rain almost every other day. There is one more thing that I hate is getting drenched in rain (when I don’t want to) and that too while driving me bike. When you are driving fast in rain the water has a tendency of slowly getting to you. Drop by drop it will wet you and that is really irritating.

But what I have started to hate the most about rain is that, whenever it rains I miss my gal even more. And it rains almost everyday here…….

Breaking III

On the lines of Breaking news and Breaking news II, I am giving you Breaking news III. Now this is a series thing. At the end I have put up another picture that might become breaking news some day.

The news is that a tiger and tigress are in love... tigress is older than the tiger and that there is a third person between them. It is some thing I always thought was a part of some Animal Planet serial or one of the National Geographic things. But when love is in the air guess any channel can pick it up.

There is this interesting picture that came by way today. It says in an Auto-rickshaw that not to call the driver brother (bhiya) if you are sitting with your boyfriend. The comment is intended for the girls by the driver I guess.