Of course, I’m referring to the Madhuri Dixit page recommendation based on the fact that “Many who like Pu La Deshpande like this”. Yes, I like PL, but I don’t want to be a fan of MD.

The Office and Seinfeld, on the other hand, seem like a good fit!

. . . → Read More: Matching Marathis!]]> Facebook does a fine job of most things. But this is hilarious. I know it’s just a suggestion and based on common users between the two groups. But something about the text in that sentence is not right…

Of course, I’m referring to the Madhuri Dixit page recommendation based on the fact that “Many who like Pu La Deshpande like this”. Yes, I like PL, but I don’t want to be a fan of MD.

The Office and Seinfeld, on the other hand, seem like a good fit!

Should be interesting.

Wonder why the name sounds so unimaginative, though… or is it keeping with the site’s name: simple and to the point?

Via: Yahoo! Movies

. . . → Read More: Movie: The Social Network]]> So if you haven’t heard enough of Facebook as it is, there’s more to come. A new movie is set to open that chronicles the lives of Facebook.com’s founders and how the world’s biggest social network came to life. A biopic.

Should be interesting.

Wonder why the name sounds so unimaginative, though… or is it keeping with the site’s name: simple and to the point?

Via: Yahoo! Movies

P.S.: Good chance you didn’t see through till the end of the video. So just to clarify, me and the missus aren’t expecting twins.

Video via Boing Boing.

. . . → Read More: Now that’s an announcement!]]> How would you announce if you were expecting? A phone call? Maybe a short message… or perhaps an email? Some people have a universe-load of creativity and a galaxy full of time!

P.S.: Good chance you didn’t see through till the end of the video. So just to clarify, me and the missus aren’t expecting twins.

Video via Boing Boing.

Admittedly, both are potboilers and spy novels in the best manner of the cold war mould or thereabouts. This post, though, is not about the contents of the books. They are above average in their genre. Entertaining. That’s about it.

My question is about reading two books simultaneously. I recall an ex superboss who did it. He was considered “a great mind”. Still is (considered). I have no such certification. And unfortunately, reading two books at a time doesn’t make me eligible for it. 

So while I await my greatness certification in another manner, let me share some experiences of reading two books simultaneously.

Characters seem to find their way . . . → Read More: Having a threesome]]> For the last few days, I’ve been courting two lovelies. One a child of Alistair MacLean and the other of John le Carre. All right, I am talking about books. “A Perfect Spy” by le Carre and “Where Eight Bells Toll” by Alistair MacLean.

Admittedly, both are potboilers and spy novels in the best manner of the cold war mould or thereabouts. This post, though, is not about the contents of the books. They are above average in their genre. Entertaining. That’s about it.

My question is about reading two books simultaneously. I recall an ex superboss who did it. He was considered “a great mind”. Still is (considered). I have no such certification. And unfortunately, reading two books at a time doesn’t make me eligible for it. 

So while I await my greatness certification in another manner, let me share some experiences of reading two books simultaneously.

Characters seem to find their way in and out of novels. So Mr Philip Calvert who is a spy and has hitherto nothing to do with the disappearance of Mr Magnus Pym is now a prime suspect. Incidentally, both are British spies. And one has a wife. Right now, I can’t recall which one.

It’s an interesting experience. Le Carre is a slow, plot-building kind of writer. Pages upon pages are spent creating the characters and giving their life a background or their current actions a purpose. In the case of MacLean, it’s pretty much like reading a screenplay. Things are always happening. The descriptions are elaborate. So much so, that I have an image of the west coast of Britain around Torbay ready in my head. I can’t get lost there if I ever visit!

The most challenging part of doing this – so far – has been keeping a track of which book I am reading. It may work better if I read two books from different genres. Maybe. But in my current case, there is much scope for confusion and mixing up. MacLean’s novel should be over soon… just abour 300 pages in all. Le Carre’s will take some time. About 700 pages, that tome has!

I do recommend this threesome to those who have time to spare daily to manage two books. The trick is to have one book in one location and one in another. You figure where!

Next on the agenda: A foursome!

Now, I don’t want to classify or bracket this movie as an art-house one. It was more than that. But I am still unclear about the precise topic of the film. Was it about a man who rose from the ashes (almost literally) to become successful and lead a full life? Or was it about a man who lived his life to recover his sense of family and then decided that he wanted to end it on his terms. Not mercy killing, not euthanasia, but death by choice. Suicide.

The film is well made with perhaps the best production value I’ve seen in any Marathi film. Amol Palekar and Sharmila . . . → Read More: Marathi film: Samaantar]]> Of late, the wife and I have taken to watching Marathi movies in a big way. We loved the recent Atul Kulkarni starrer Natrang and the superb Harischandrachi Factory and some other older ones. So we decided to rent Samaantar.

Now, I don’t want to classify or bracket this movie as an art-house one. It was more than that. But I am still unclear about the precise topic of the film. Was it about a man who rose from the ashes (almost literally) to become successful and lead a full life? Or was it about a man who lived his life to recover his sense of family and then decided that he wanted to end it on his terms. Not mercy killing, not euthanasia, but death by choice. Suicide.

The film is well made with perhaps the best production value I’ve seen in any Marathi film. Amol Palekar and Sharmila Tagore are superb as is some of the support cast (Radhika Apte as the adopted daughter of Amol Palekar stands out along with Makrand Deshpande as the errant husband of a niece).

The story concept is a strong one. But the handling is not. There are far too many parallel tracks and the viewer is eventually lost in a maze of parallels indeed. While Keshav Vaze (Amol Palekar) tries to sort out his current life as the founder-chairman of a Fortune 500 company, he starts to think about life after work. And somewhere (rather suddenly), he has decided to end his life. Flashbacks from his early life are sporadic and don’t help create sympathy or empathy for the protagonist.

Sharmila Tagore plays Shama, Vaze’s true love. Since he left her (inadvertently or due to the situation in his life), she has taken to not speaking at all. Almost. Her bouts of speech are few and far in between, but one is left wondering about the missing drama here. For a woman not to have spoken coherently to anyone for years would mean a major incident has taken place. And it has. But it’s unfolded and wrapped up rather quickly without giving it too much importance.

The screenplay jars in places and eventually leaves you wanting more, but not because the film was so good, but because there’s a lot left unanswered.

The usual small detail one would expect from Palekar’s work is visible but in achieving this, he misses out on the big picture. That of telling one story well.

Without getting into details (believe me, I can!), let me just say that stay away from these guys. I was committed a “Wi-Bro” connection for the 20 computers at office. So a tech guy came over on Saturday and installed it. On Monday, when we installed their dialler on all the machines, they wouldn’t log on.

Inquiries with the rather helpless customer care revealed that the router can only connect to 5 machines at a time. Well.

Then the usual routine of me calling up all and sundry I had been in touch with happened. A total of 4 hours was spent talking on the phone. As the situation stands right now, there is still no resolution. Only . . . → Read More: Oh, woe.]]> As mentioned previously, I have recently moved home and office. And it wasn’t a pleasant experience. What took the cake, however, is the misinformation from Tikona Digital Networks and the subsequent lack of customer service.

Without getting into details (believe me, I can!), let me just say that stay away from these guys. I was committed a “Wi-Bro” connection for the 20 computers at office. So a tech guy came over on Saturday and installed it. On Monday, when we installed their dialler on all the machines, they wouldn’t log on.

Inquiries with the rather helpless customer care revealed that the router can only connect to 5 machines at a time. Well.

Then the usual routine of me calling up all and sundry I had been in touch with happened. A total of 4 hours was spent talking on the phone. As the situation stands right now, there is still no resolution. Only 5 computers are connected and the others are mere spectators. Computers and people.

At the time of installation, the engineer connected my computer and promptly proceeded to show off the speed of the connection. He launched the built-in speed test from the dialler. An astonishing speed of 818kbps was delivered. So I decided to crosscheck. And logged on (with him bearing witness) to speedtest.net. And an astonishing speed of 315kbps was delivered. Well, well.

He immediately proceeded to disrepute the service claiming it was unverified and that he didn’t know where their servers were. And insisted that the speed was 818kbps! Hm.

As it stands right now (about 6.45pm on Monday), I am on the verge of disconnection. Awaiting revert from Airtel, Tata and others. Soon. I shall have broadband. Again.

Makes me want to shout, really.

via Deepak Ajwani on Facebook

. . . → Read More: Making TV News Reports]]> It really is that simple!

via Deepak Ajwani on Facebook

So can you please copy all your money and send it over, please?

Thanks.

. . . → Read More: Copying is not theft.]]> Um, ok.

So can you please copy all your money and send it over, please?

Thanks.

A few questions to this statement by the Shiv Sena chief Jitendra Janawale:

The scene in question is totally against Maharashtra’s Hindu culture. No sooner the posters were put up all over the city, we got lots of complaints from people, esp. from the concerned parents of school children, stating that the said posters were in bad taste. We have anyways issued a strong warning to the filmmakers through the media. We want all the backless posters that have been put all over the city to be removed as soon as possible. Failing which, we shall protest against the film when it releases.” “How are such obscene posters being allowed by the authorities.everal women and children pass by the posters. What effect will it have on them.”

Yes, it has Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in it. She looks good. Some dancers jump about. The music’s not too bad. but the ad is about watches. That are also shown, I must admit. But why will I buy this watch? Because it makes Aishwarya’s “head spin”? She actually said “go round”, but it has been replaced with a voice-over.

Seriously. Why will I buy this watch after this ad?

If it is because it makes my head spin, then how will I tell time?

. . . → Read More: Spinning head]]> What, pray tell, is the point of this ad?

Yes, it has Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in it. She looks good. Some dancers jump about. The music’s not too bad. but the ad is about watches. That are also shown, I must admit. But why will I buy this watch? Because it makes Aishwarya’s “head spin”? She actually said “go round”, but it has been replaced with a voice-over.

Seriously. Why will I buy this watch after this ad?

If it is because it makes my head spin, then how will I tell time?