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Hundred Lakh (WTF)?

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The Lakh-Ten Lakh-Crore system is confusing enough for those of us who have been taught the Thousand-Hundred Thousand-Million system. We use the Thousand-Hundred Thousand-Million system in our daily routine (work and conversations) and that makes us roll our eyes every time amounts are denoted in Lakh-Ten Lakh-Crore.

NOW… we have Hundred Lakh?? When did Hundred Lakh get added to the South Asian numbering system? This is just making shit up. As if things weren't confusing enough already.

161 Lakh > 16100000 > 16,100,000 (Sixteen Million One Hundred Thousand) > 1,61,00,000 (One Crore Sixty One Lakh).

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PLEASE NOTE: I am not a fan of Pranab Moorakh jee Mukherjee. I think he is an imbecile. I am not a Congress supporter. Furthermore, YES - Routine maintenance and upkeep DOES cost. However, the extravagance in this case is over the top. I do believe that this amount could have been better utilised.

There are comments on the 'news' article and the entire tone is set as if Pranab Mukherjee and members of the Congress took the money and deposited it in their respective Swiss Bank Accounts (do go through the comments and see for yourself).

It is a bit surprising because Belgaum is in Karnataka and Congress is NOT the ruling party in the state. Maintenance of the Circuit House is a function of the State PWD. Further, use of the words 'used just for an hour' in the headline is completely unnecessary and (judging from majority of the comments) misleading.

It may be worth pointing out that the Circuit House wasn't just erected / renovated for the President's one hour stay. The structure will be used for visits by various officials. That's why it is there in the first place. The use may be for official or unofficial purposes - will discuss that at a later time.

I am not suggesting that no one made money when deciding which contractors or suppliers will be enlisted to carry out the renovation. In all likelihood commission / gifts / favours would have been exchanged. Frown upon it as much as you want but that is how things get done (not just in India, btw). My personal views on that will be a topic for another post, some other time.

Other 'Stuffs'?!!

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Aur bhi gham hain zamaane mein mohabbat ke sivaa
Raahaten aur bhi hain vasl ki raahat ke sivaa

Yaa Rab! Gham-E-Hijraan Mein Itna To Kiya Hota

Charag Hasan Hasrat…

Yaa rab! Gham-e-hijraan mein itna to kiya hota
Jo haath jigar pe hai vo dast-e-duaa hota

Ik ishq ka gham aafat aur uss pe ye dil aafat
Yaa gham na diya hota yaa dil na diya hota

Gairon se kahaa tum ne gairon se suna tum ne
Kuch ham se kahaa hota kuch hum se suna hota

Ummeed to bandh jaati taskeen to ho jaati
Vadaa na vafaa karte vadaa to kiya hota

Nakaam-e-tamannaa dil iss soch mein rahta hai
Yoon hota to kya hota yoon hota to kya hota

Eagle In The Sky - Wilbur Smith

Err… A bit too Bollywood-ish. The book does have its moments but on the whole, just not happy with the plot.

NRA's Defence

Dexter - Season 7

As with every Season, my favourite parts are:

• Conversations between Dexter (Michael C. Hall) and Harry Morgan (James Remar).
• Conversations between Dexter and Dexter/The Dark Passenger (voiceovers).

Isaak Sirko (Ray Stevenson) - Excellent addition to the Season.

Louise Greene (Josh Cooke) - Extremely disappointed. This character could have been so much better/stronger.

Hannah McKay (Yvonne Strahovski) - Another good addition. Being easy on the eyes definitely helps. Reminds me a bit of Lila (Jamie Murray) from Season 2. Hannah is definitely better. A sensible strong female character that isn't totally dependent on Dexter. Just one episode - Episode 10 - The Dark… Whatever - where (in my view) the character slipped.

Nadia (Katia Winter) - Simple character included in a few episodes. Serves the purpose and then exits the Season.

Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) - The ugly annoying cunt dies at the end of the Season. Clink.

Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) - Still don't like her. I can't figure out why she has to be such a loser. Depressing confused character.

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Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them.

- Albert Einstein

Mr. And Shri - What's The Big Deal!?

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Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed may be the key conspirator of the Mumbai terror attacks, but Home Minister Sushil kumar Shinde referred to him in Parliament using honorifics like 'Mr' and 'Shri'.

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Seriously, what's the big deal??

There is no shortage of real/actual issues in India. There are plenty of issues/controversies to use against this government and its set of ministers. Making an issue out of this (use of Mr. / Shri) is childish, pointless and ridiculous.

Straighten out your priorities.

More Crap

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It's a shit story to begin with. I have no sympathy for idiots.

To make it worse, TOI puts in a Typo - April 201.

The Diamond Hunters - Wilbur Smith

Not as good as When the Lion Feeds, but readable.

Rent-A-Number - Wataniya

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Rent-a-Number service enables you to attach one additional mobile number to your existing SIM card. This means you can receive and make calls with both numbers using one SIM and one phone. Rent-a-Number comes in handy if you need an additional line for temporary basis, like you are moving house and want to get rid of all your old furniture. You can broadcast the temporary Rent-a-Number number to receive inquiries. Or you are conducting a mini promotional campaign for your home business and you want people to call you during the promotion period. This service comes in handy when you need a new number on short-term basis, it saves you the trouble to invest and purchase a new line. You will be charged a monthly fee of 1.5 KD for the Rent-a-Number service plus additional charges as per your mobile plan for all the outgoing calls and SMS If you are a postpaid user, subscription fee will be billed to your account. If you are a prepaid user, subscription fee will be deducted from your account.

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Three Wise Men

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Today my Twitter feed went crazy after the shooting incident (Connecticut) was reported. Everyone is 'appalled'.

I am disgusted/disturbed… but my reasons extend beyond the loss of innocent lives.

My reasons are:

• 14-12-12 -  China school knife attack in Henan injures 22 children
• 12-12-12 - Shame in Bangalore: Girls branded with hot knife, boy's face smashed at school

These are equally 'appalling' incidents that happened around the same time. Yes, I understand that in the Connecticut incident there were deaths… but is it necessary to wait for something as extreme as DEATH for people to get appalled and feel the need to take corrective/preventive/decisive measures??

Chakravyuh

Not bad.

It is evident that a lot of effort had been taken to present a balanced/unbiased view. An effort to make a film on a very real issue. Not many film makers manage to get that right. Actually, not sure if many film makers even care about getting that right. Prakash Jha should be appreciated for the effort, at least.

Actors/Performances – I am used to seeing much better performances from Abhay Deol and a lot of below average performances from Arjun Rampal. In this film, everything was reasonably ok.

What I did not understand:

• The casting of Esha Gupta as an Intelligence Officer (rolls eyes). She is good to look at, no one is contesting THAT. But… an Intelligence Officer?? That's a bit of a stretch.
• There is a scene in the film (approx Time Marker - 1:46) where the 'Intelligence' Officer uses the term GSM instead of GPS. This isn't really the actor's fault. It SHOULD have been corrected during the post production/editing.
• The Item Song included in the film… I didn't see the point.

What would have made this film EXCELLENT:

• More of Rajan (Manoi Bajpai). There SHOULD have been more about the character's background.
• Stress on the ideology and not just on the method. Everyone is aware of the method, but not many understand the ideology (unfortunately).
• Edit out that stupid Item Song.

BBM Voice

Yes, I am aware that VoIP is not a new technology.

BlackBerry's BBM Voice is now out of Beta and available on App World for download. Just tried it out and it works as advertised. Now… if they could have this working over the mobile network as well and not just limited to WiFi…  

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To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

- Oscar Wilde

Vo Har Maqaam Se Pahle Vo Har Maqaam Ke Baad

Qabil Ajmeri…

Vo har maqaam se pahle vo har maqaam ke baad
Sahar thi shaam se pahle sahar hai shaam ke baad

Har inqalaab-e-mubaarak har inqalaab-e-azaab
Shikast-e-jaam se pahle shikast-e-jaam ke baad

Mujh pe itni tavajjo mujh se itna gurez
Mere salaam se pahle mere salaam ke baad

Charaag-e-bazm-e-sitam hain humara haal na poochh
Jale the shaam se pahle bujhe hain shaam ke baad

Ye raat kuchh bhi nahin thi ye raat sab kuchh hai
Tuluu-e-jaam se pahle tuluu-e-jaam ke baad

Vahi zubaan vahi baaten magar hai kitna farq
Tumhaare naam se pahle tumhaare naam ke baad

Hayaat giriyaa-e-shabnam hayaat raqs-e-sharar
Tere payaam se pahle tere payaam ke baad

Ye tarz-e-fiqr ye rang-e-sukhan kahaan 'Qabil'
Tere kalaam se pahle tere kalaam ke baad

Case Against Dad For Fake Gold Gift

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"A few months after my marriage, I realized that most of the sovereigns were not real gold. My husband asked me to ignore it, but I felt cheated and decided to approach the police," said Fathima, who got married on January 26, 2012. "My father is a rich man and I want to ensure that he replaces the 22 sovereigns of 'fake' gold with real gold. I don't expect anything more from him," Fathima fumed.

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The headline suggests that this was supposed to be a gift. Being disappointed is one thing. Approaching the police to register a case (over a gift) is just pathetic. Of course, it would be different if fake gold was intentionally misrepresented as real gold and then SOLD to her. In that event 'feeling cheated' and approaching the police would make sense.

Why does the shameless greedy money hungry gold digging bitch Fathima  believe that she is owed the gold in the first place??? Suppose she received a fake LV bag from someone as a wedding gift. Is she going to sue the relative and "expect" a real LV bag?!?

A gift of fake gold sovereigns can be frowned upon - for sure. But someone needs to tell the bitch Fathima that the world does NOT owe her a living. She can not legally force her father to give her a gift that she "expects".

Wish List

When The Lion Feeds - Wilbur Smith

Something always dies when the lion feeds and yet there is meat for those that follow him - My favourite line from the book.

A story where you actually care about what happens next. An engaging plot with a brilliant narration.

The Life Of Pi (Cont…)

Observation - There is an extremely liberal use of commas in this book. Annoying.

Finally… the ship wreck. :)

• Chapter 43 - Too many details that don't seem to be adding anything to the plot. Towards the end of the chapter - A somewhat disgusting (and completely unnecessary) detailed description of a hyena's general behaviour.
• Chapter 46 - More disgusting details.
• Chapter 47 - Must you include every detail? Why can't it just be and the hyena killed / devoured the orangutan?? One simple sentence.

I don't have a problem reading about human mutilation or watching Tarantino flicks laced with blood/gore/amputation/dismemberment - That's all fine. BUT, wild animals maiming / feasting on other animals is just horrid / disgusting (for me).

• Chapter 48 - This… I like (Page 62)

To cope with a hyena seemed remotely possible - WTF?! (not the first WTF moment in the book, but just felt like highlighting this one).

The only reason I didn’t stand up and beat it off the lifeboat with a stick was lack of strength and stick, not lack of heart - Ahem… Sure! Whatever helps you sleep at night.

• Chapter 50 - Yawn… Perhaps the details do have some significance later on in the book. It would make sense to put them THERE. Right now it's just MORE irrelevant text.

My feelings can perhaps be imagined, but they can hardly be described - Then STOP describing it and lets move on to the talking tiger!!

A masala dosa with a coconut chutney-hmmmmm! Even better: oothappam! HMMMMM! Oh! I brought my hands to my mouth-IDLI! - Bloody irritating Madrasi. Could we please move on with the tiger?

• Chapter 52 - I really don't see the need of printing the inventory list but since it IS included in the book, I HAVE to ask:

10 or so orange life jackets, each with an orange, beadless whistle attached by a string - Why was it difficult to get the exact number of life jackets? You bothered to count everything else, why couldn't you count the exact number of life jackets? I think it's a fair enough question, given that the list includes 1 solid lifebuoy with an inner diameter of 40 centimetres and an outer diameter of 80 centimetres, and an attached rope AND 1 notebook with 98 lined pages.

Perhaps the life jackets were too close to Richard Parker. But didn't you count them later or was this the time when basic arithmetic failed you? OR did you feel THIS was irrelevant to your detailed account of events (rolls eyes)?

• Chapter 53 - We fight and fight and fight - And you talk and talk and talk!

all the while cursing my stupidity - Trust me, laddie - you aren't the only one cursing your stupidity.

At the sight, in shock and surprise, my legs gave way beneath me and I practically fell into the locker - Hang on! So… you were fine with the hyena and the tiger but your legs gave way when you saw a rat?!

• Chapter 54 - Fire off a rocket flare in his face? Go at him with a hatchet in each hand and a knife between my teeth? Finish him off with straight and curving sewing needles

Your stupidity shines even more brightly in your stupid plans. Why would you want to finish him off with the sewing needles? That knife between your teeth is not for you to floss with. From your inventory list: 1 large hunting knife with a solid handle, a pointed end and one edge a sharp blade and the other a saw toothed blade. Definitely a better option than sewing needles, don't you think?

• Page 73 - The tiger is yet to speak!
• Page 88 - The Tiger hasn't said a word. I am losing patience.

Ok… I have had enough of this bullshit. Just scanned through (advantages of an ebook) and the tiger doesn't speak until Page 109 - 110 or such (the book is only 146 pages). I have put up with 88 pages of absolute nonsense to find out that the tiger chat will last for only 37 pages (at best) interrupted by ramblings of the crazy boy.

Right now, I don't care if the bloody tiger is going to recite Ghalib!

Not wasting anymore time on this. Will go home and re-read Wilbur Smith.

Life Of Pi

Started off with the book. First 10 pages (or so)… not happening. Three-toed sloth, swimming pools, comparing natural surrounding to a zoo… I don't get it.

• Chapter 5 - This I can read without rolling my eyes.
• Chapter 12-13-14 - Yawn.

Wondering what is the point of this book? But then it's only been 24 pages. Feels like a lot more.

• Chapter 15-16 - Want to stop reading. The only reason I continue with the book is out of curiosity. How did this book get such good reviews??
• Chapter 17-18-19-20-21….. - This is really ticking me off.
• Chapter 29 - Now it's just stupid.
• Chapter 34 - I COULD WRITE A BETTER BOOK with my eyes shut!
• Chapter 35 - SHUT UP!!!!!

45 pages later… I can't understand how this crap managed to get published in the first place.

Will read the rest tomorrow (yes, I am extremely curious).

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Coffin Therapy (?!!)

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The therapy offers people the chance to lie inside a casket for approximately 15 minutes - putting the lid on is optional. Piryanyk explained: "When you lay in the coffin, it feels just like a bed. It's the same sheets, the same pillow... a wooden coffin has its own aura inside." …Anna Petrukhina, a 51-year-old tutor said: "After hard working day you can come in and just relax - it's great. You go home in a completely different mood."

Emphasis added

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