Friday, July 25, 2008

The Book Rack


This post is about the book rack, but yes I will tackle the issues of the day as well. But that's a tad trivial at present. The books REALLY MATTER!

So while it poured cats and dogs outside, and my mum warned me against getting wet, lest i catch a dreadful cold, I braved the elements (it's been raining quite heavily all of a sudden in bombay!), and made my way, towards a quaint yellow bookstore, under the flyover, in the southern part of the city of dreams, to immerse myself, in the aroma of pages, the hubbub of voices, and the joy of an open book, which rightly is the best way to travel.

"There's nothing better, on a rainy day, to get a cup of coffee, pick up a book, and immerse yourself in that world, the world of the pages, of paragraphs, and lines, that take you to far off lands, or show you the same world in a myriad of colours, much like the essence of the first drops of rain, and the aroma of earth thereafter."

So in i went, picked up a black basket, with the word CROSSWORD, printed on its sides, and strolled every nook and cranny of the store. From management and media, to fiction and design. From the pages of the Japanese manga novels to the Indian snake charmer's tales. It's easy to get lost in this world, and the hours whiz by, the rain patters on outside, but you trudge along oblivious to your surroundings, occasionally looking at a fellow explorer, and muttering a word or two.

So is it that you know why you go this world of books. Are you quite certain that you know what it is you wish to buy? Or is it just that, it's about the journey and not the destination. You may be enticed by some never heard before author, or perhaps the covers thrill you. Whatever it is, you would always find something of interest in a book store.

Perhaps you would just sit in one corner, and watch the others around you. The young readers, squatting on the floor, reading some comic books and giggling to themselves, while a serious business reader, looking for a book on managing people, smirks at the supposed nuisance irritably, while another gypsy looking reader, browses through the travel section, probably looking for a new destination, at the same while, a man who has been observing above lady with much interests, pretends to try pens at a booth nearby, so that he may keep an eye on her, his teenage son, sneaks a peek into the mature manga novels and fantasizes about the characters, and the girl in green sitting opposite you spots the boy and smirks, and then notices you, and gives you a coy smile, and resumes reading.

Day turns to dusk, and dusk to night. The rain pours on relentlessly. They basket seems to overflow, with the books that seem to have caught your fancy, and you bid the girl goodbye, and make your way to the counter, so that you may purchase the books. But can truly the experience be purchased. The experience of the bookstore, cannot be coined in rupees or dollars, but is an eternal, ever giving experience, that pleases the senses. So while the paper money is exchanged and the transaction billed, as you leave the world, there is a tad bit of sadness, but like most books a flicker of hope, for you will return there again some other day, when your mind is craving, for that wordgasm.

And off into the rain i went, to hail a cab, and most wouldn't relent, after all the roads, were quite crowded, and the journey was short. So while my temper rose, and I wanted to say a word or two to them, that would not suit a gentleman's tone, one lone cabbie, offered me a ride, and I was headed on my way home.

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The books I picked up:

1. The Best of Roald Dahl - Roald Dahl - Rs. 295
A collection of mature themed stories, that are macabre, morbid, and aimed at giving you sleepless nights. A must read for the horror and mystery story lover. Not for the faint hearted.

2. Buzz Marketing - Mark Hughes - Rs. 500
Its about understanding how buzz marketing works, and at the end of the day being to apply it in your organization.

3. To Room Nineteen - Doris Lessing - Rs. 395
Collection of stories from the 50's till the 90's of passion and confusion in human relations. Nobel Prize Winner 2007.

4. Bombay Rains, Bombay Girls - Anirban Bose - Rs.195
The journey of a boy from Delhi to Bombay, and adjusting to the life here.

5. Wonderboys - Michael Chabon - Rs. 395
The story of an aging novelist, and his attempt and finishing his masterpiece 2000 page novel.

6. Sloppy Firsts - Megan McCafferty - Rs. 600
A teen story, about growing up. Light read. Recommended for people who're absolutely swamped with a lot of stuff, and get very little time to read. It's fun. Helps you revisit your teen years.

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The book I'm starting with today :

The Best of Roald Dahl

So until next time.

Cheerio.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

THE STEP OUT!

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UPDATE : 25th JULY, 8:10PM

I had sent my pictures to Pitpass.com and Formula1.com and i check my email today...
lo and behold, there's an email from Chris Balfe the Editor of Pitpass saying :

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Dear Uditvanu,

Many thanks for that, much appreciated.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=35512

Chris Balfe
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THEY ACTUALLY USED MY PICTURESSS!!!! AAAAHHH!!!

IT FEELS LIKE A WON AN OSCAR!
(my moment of shock, and tears of joy!)
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So finally after a 2 week long house arrest i got to step out of the house today.

For those who didnt know, I had the dreaded tropical disease DENGUE, and that led to my illness, and subsequent house arrest.

I realized that many things had changed:

1. The Santacruz flyover was ready (didnt mean that the traffic was sorted)

2. Rains always throw a monkey wrench into Mumbai's gears! (no matter what the BMC says)

3. It takes 2 hours to get from Walkeshwar to Powai! (and the car time makes for interesting observations of hoardings, and bus shelters)

I was craving social interaction, and viola, I got social and a lot more.

Before you jump to conclusions... the lot more was :

1. Aching back
2. Crushed toes
3. An autograph, many would kill for!

So I was at the Vodafone Meet Lewis Hamilton Event, at Hiranandani Gardens in Powai, Mumbai. He was going to drive some laps of the circuit there, and we would get a chance to meet our HERO! (my champion is practicing in Jerez and burning his ass off.. yes I am talking about the Kimi Raikonnen.)

So anyhoo, I dragged my friend Purab along, and he being an avid Lewis fan, kept yelling into my ears from the time he spotted Lewis!

I carried my SLR with me.
Yes it's the Canon Rebel XTi 10mp. IT WAS A DREAM TO USE!

So it was only necessitated that the following figures be prevalent.

600 pictures

1/4000th of a second

1.2 GB

5 MB per picture

I have coverage of the event, which I could probably sell to magazines, and make pots of money...
but I shant... it's a hobby!
(HONESTY SELLS!)

So why did i get the crushed toes? Well because I wanted Lewis' autograph. After all though I am a Ferrari fan, and am rooting for Kimi Raikonnen to beat Lewis' ass this year as well, F1 is universal, and any F1 superstar coming to India, is a big deal!

*****************And now on to the professional photos!******************

THE MP4 22 at the event

Me and the MP4-22 in the backdrop.

The rains hit mumbai... again.

Lewis gives a thumbs up to the crowd.

Purab Mehta, eagerly awaiting Lewis' arrival. (he arrived at 2pm)

Mr All Smiles at the event.

Lewis storms the track at Hakone. (9secs)

Lewis in the Vodafone cart.

The Autograph that got me crushed toes! Muhahahhah!

So after the event, we decided to head back to town (oh heavenly town), and my dear friend, Purab Mehta, feels hungry. So he dials JustDial (28888888).

Now while I endorse Google, as the answer to all of life's problems, thus is not the case with JustDial.

Our dear friend, wanted healthy fresh food, and thus a SUBWAY sandwich was apt. But little was he to know about the wild goose chase he was about to enter.

Such that when we reached the place of the "supposed SUBWAY", it was no where to be seen...

to which obviously my pat reply was:

"THEY MADE YOU A MAMU"
(Eng Trans : They fooled you!)

So Vodafone may have the most dropped calls and the worst network coverage there is..
but when it comes to F1, they surely know how to make a fan's day!


Thus trust not what you hear, but what you see, and on this note ends this rainy, exciting post.

Till next time.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

The Hospital - Season 1











Cast :
Uditvanu Das - His Father - His Mother - Purab Mehta - Reema Bhagchandani - Malvika Jethwani - Harshita Chatterjee - Namrata Shah - Relatives - Ram Driver

Synopsis :

THIS SUMMER, A FALL TO END ALL FALLS, A KILLER MOSQUITO, LIFE THREATENING DOCTORS, SCHEMING NURSES, WORRIED FAMILIES, LOVING FRIENDS, ROMANCE, DRAMA, HOPE, DECEIT, AND THE JOURNEY HOME.

After a sudden fall in the bathroom, Uditvanu, is rushed to the hospital. As is life is flashing before his eyes, the doctors race against the clock to find him a room. A troubled family is by his side all along, but Uditvanu is very weak.

His friends unaware of his condition are going on about their lives, when suddenly they receive the terrible news. They are alarmed, and inundate the parents phone's with calls. They arrive in the hospital, post the news, and are shaken to see Uditvanu in his state.

Uditvanu on the other hand, is trying to regain his strength, his stay in the hospital tests him physically, as well as mentally.

The nurses, at times responsive tend to him, while at other, ignore him.
The phone is his only companion, as the laptop, is of no use. And yet, there is yet another tragedy.

The doctor, is taking care of Uditvanu, but making him weaker. He sticks needles in him at regular intervals. And at the end of it, demands that his cellphone be confiscated.
What will Uditvanu do? Will he survive the season? And who is the mysterious cell phone voice.

Find out in a bone chilling, mosquito killing season of 'The Hospital'

Episode List

1. The Fall
2. The Stretcher
3. The Weaker Patients Ward
4. The Drip
5. The medicines
6. The Voice Speaks
7. The Vegetarian Nightmare
8. The Voice Appears
9. The Bathroom Joke
10. The Girl Next Door
11. Girl from the past
12. Flowers and more
13. Discharge
14. The Deceit
15. The Confiscation
16. The Revelation
17. The Fear
18. A New Hope
19. Salvation
20 The Road Home

Production Photos:

***CLICK THUMBNAIL TO ENLARGE***



TRIVIA ABOUT THE SEASON :

1. They will take your blood even if you're sleeping.
An excerpt from a conversation between me and blood taker!
BloodBoy : (pokes me on my shoulder)
ME: (groggy) huh..
BloodBoy : Aapka naam kya hai (What is your name?)
ME: uhh..Udit..Uditvanu Das.
BloodBoy : Hum aapka khoon lene aaye hain (We're here for your blood!)
ME: (shock astonishment) WHAATT??? KYAA??? Abhi... mein so raha hoon!(Now.. im trying to sleep!)
BloodBoy: Nahi abhi blood dena padega (No you have to give blood now!)

2. Some hospital nurses look hot, but dont expect anything out of a hollywood movie. (Damn you adult video!)

3. No matter how much Axe Shock (plug! :P) you spray, you still will end up smelling like the hospital in two days time, and you will stink like a pig, and people will want to stay away from you.

4. People who you havent met in ages, will either call you up more often or come visit you in the hospital. (You know who you are!)

5. The duration of the bell ring, is directly proportional to the time taken for the nurse to appear in the room. ( Ask my mom, she put this theory to the test more than once!)

6. For all those borderline obese people, and thin crazy girls out there, a 2 day trip to the hospital is enough to lose those tires and more! For thin people, if you come out of there visible, you win an award!

7. Your internet connection on your laptop which works fine otherwise, will cease to work properly and you will be left stranded, with a laptop on your lap, which overheats, and a Reliance Connection, which does not work!

8. When you have nothing to do, you will look out your window, and notice girls wearing mini shorts in houses across the hospital.

9. You will watch hindi music channels which you would never watch otherwise, and you will listen to songs which you loathe otherwise.

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