The Saarang Post - 3

So the next day Spang and myself were at college for some record correction crap and guess it what, it flopped more than a T.Rajendhar movie.BAKU wouldn't sign our records and I was more than happy when he marked me absent for the lab - double bonus.I must have listened to KR when he asked me to bunk college.I heard KR's words resounding when BAKU would not sign my record and marked me absent.My mind was now at Saarang but physically I was there doing the Pulse Amplitude Modulation there in the lab proving to the founders that they were right in the experiment, whether or not I had an interest, an opinion or a thought about the experiment.

So after the lab work Spang and myself went and had our insipid lunch in the notorious canteen.For your information this canteen is run by a caterer named Sony Caterers.Its a Sony!

I was then involved in a chat session with Mrigank and Spang.Mrigank was keeping us quite involved with his views and ideas on life and things I wouldn't wish to disclose here.My readers must pardon me here for this.I am quite candid about issues with a taboo, as you might have known from my previous posts, but here I am just not in a mood to go into all that we were talking about that day.But I surely will tell you junta about it sometime later.We then fled the college by around 1:30 P.M. in the afternoon buses that are run for the sake of juniors( first year students ) as their sem exams get over during that time.So I went home ate and slept.Woke up and slept again.I tried calling up Premal once or twice, but couldn't reach him.So by around 7:00 P.M., which was very very late, I started to Saarang.I was pretty hungry by that time.So as soon as I reached Bindaas Park in IIT-M, I ate a Dahi Poori and a Samosa and had a cup of tea.It was at the same Nadhinee Chat Corner that I had Dahi Poori and Samosa.It was really so mouth-watering.
By now the JAM Finals was over and so there was no point in going to the CLT.But I tried to get in, and was unsuccessful as all the doors were locked.So I was just hovering around for
quite some time in the corridor that had CLT, ChLT and PhLT.Then as I didn't have a ticket for that day's Light Music show by Kay Kay, I just decided to take a walk through the sylvan campus and go to the hostel Godavari to meet my friend Kumar.Kumar is my friend from my D.A.V. days which was sadly only till my tenth standard.After that I had changed school to J.G.V.V. which is quite near to my house.

So anyways as I said I was walking through the eerie road that lead to the famed hostels of IIT-M.As I was walking I just had that magical feeling of being flown away to a different world, the world I'd love so much to be a part of, the world of genuine camaraderie and friendship where a molten form of intellect, fun, sport, independence, street-smartness and hell a lot of other things would combine and rush in through the gates of IIT-M from different parts of India.I felt like Alice falling into the rabbit hole as I ambled through the sylvan streets.I just walked, walked and walked as slowly and as thoughtfully as possible as I was savouring every moment of my existence in the elite surrounding.The trees swayed in that motionless street and it was a moment in time where I felt I was just floating.I forgot that I was walking.The moon was all bright and gay, beaming its glory as though it had had a great day, smiling upon the face of earth with its sharp rays piercing through the wooded IIT surroundings.The few stars around it and the unassuming occassional clouds made every thing feel light.I passed through hostels - Krishna, Cauvery, Narmada, Brahmaputra and Tapti before entering into my friend's hostel - Godavari.The cycles at the entrance all resembled a kind of armory lined up.They were not in any nice order, but not all otherwise either.I entered the hostel passing by the watchman, quite non-chalantly as I didn't want him to ask who I was and dig further on my representation there.So I walked through the pathway with nifty manicured bushes on both sides of it.I continued to climb the stairs to the second floor, where I would turn right only to find Room No.354, which was fourth or fifth from the turning point, locked.I just stayed there overlooking the balcony for sometime and not thinking anything.On my way back to the stairs I just couldn't help noticing one of my favourite scientists Albert Einstein's poster stuck on one of the doors qouting "Learn to ask why".It communicated something to me.

I walked back through the pathway.Beside me in the open ground was a student kicking the football there as a freeman.I turned back, had a glimpse of the building and turned once again and found my way outside the hostel.I then went to the phone booth that is near the Sri Gurunath Departmental Stories.There I called up Premal and found out that he was inside the OAT for the Kay Kay concert.Then I called up KR and found out that he'll be coming along with Spang for the Main Quiz by 11:00 P.M. The time in my watch was 9:00 P.M. I just sat outside the phone booth not knowing what to do.I then started imagining the life inside the hostels of IIT-M, about how I would be given a nick, about how we would go about doing assignments and how we would discuss problems and how we would attend/not attend classes, about how my whole life would have been different, about how I wouldn't have had to witness certain incidents at SSN, about how I wouldn't have met certain persons and all that.After about 15 minutes of such thinking I realized that I was much better than guys like KR and Spang and a whole host of others who had been unfortunate enough not to have got in after trying and vying for this life so hard.I even remembered the argument I had with KR over this topic.I then felt somewhat better and started walking towards Godavari once again.Now on the way a simple looking student wearing a half touser and having a book on digital circuits behind his cycle passed by me and stopped.He was passing by in the same direction as I was.Kumar said "Hi da" so casually.It just took me a second to realize that this was the same old modest friend from D.A.V. I managed to look casual and told him that I was going to his hostel to see if he had turned up.I also told him that I was there at the hostel some 20 minutes before to see if he was there.So then we went tracing back the same pathway to second floor of Godavari hostel and enetered Room No.354.An interesting piece of information I would like to give here is that Kumar's All India Rank( AIR ) in the JEE was 353, just one short of his room number.So what? So nothing, I just felt I wanted to tell this to you, so I said it.The room finished before it started.But nevertheless it was nifty room, with the flooring done with mosaic tiles and all, with a brand-new-looking table fitted with a drawer.The room also had a nice cot with two pillows on it and a cupboard that contained his clothes.There was a makeshift shelf like structure on the wall that contained some of his books, all of 'em foreign authored.I was talking with him there about my plans for writing GRE, CAT and in general about life.We also talked about 'Five Point Someone' - a book by Chetan Bhagat, and about his subject books, about my subjects, how they sucked and all that.A radio in that walled shelf was moaning old tamil film songs, that sometimes took our notice with songs that irked me to hell like Ponaal pogatum poda, which really added to the agony and my complex.I was asking him about hostel life there, which he said was enetertaining at times and kind of boring and monotonous at times.By then it was 11:00 P.M. and so we decided to go to the OAT to attend the Main Quiz.So we walked back.

The Main Quiz was an altogether different event which promised lots of excitement as this year they had a betting system on each of the participants.There was a guy named 10g who quite weird as his name was, took the bets with odd odds for each of the participants.I put 5 bucks on Vinod, about who I had mentioned in my earlier post.Premal put his money on BOFi.The quiz started out with the bubbly compereing of Satcho who started the quiz by encouraging junta out there to ask some fundoo questions just as a warm up.There was a funny question, I remember which was "Which city was a French settlement, and was famous for prostitutes?" The answer was "La (w)hore".Another one that turned out was "Why is Vodka also called 'The Rapist'?" The answer was "Because it turns virgin mary to bloody mary!" The quiz then started in all seriousness.There were hajaar questions and all of 'em were of awesome standard.They got me thinking and no where was I feeling bored.I even answered two to three questions.I am proud that I was worth 5 points.The simplicity of the set up was that, for every right answer you got a measly 2 points and for every pass answer you 1 point.Interesting ain't it? So the quiz went on and on and ended at about 5:40 A.M. Yes, sir thats the way the quiz goes.They started late by one hour in typical IIT fashion and ended 5 and 1/2 hours later.KR and Spang were also along with me in this endeavour.BOFi was the winner with 21 points I guess.The second place went to Vikram who was at 19 points and the third to Aadisht who was at 18 points.Then when it ended I went and collected Premal's money as his horse won and mine lost, and as he had gone midway out of the quiz due to some reason.My horse finished fourth with 14 points.The quiz ended.The three of us - Spang, KR and myself went to KR's house and slept it off.

You haven’t lived till you’ve attended a quiz.
And you haven’t quizzed till you have attended the Saarang Main Quiz.

The newsletter of Saarang on Day 5 read this at the starting of an article regarding the Main Quiz.It is also known as the Lone Wolf Quiz.

The next day we guys would attend Prasanna's Jazz show, which didn't turn us on much.We then marched to the entrance through the wooded road, a journey of 1.5 Kms.Then we would once agin slee it off at KR's place.Thus ended our romance with Saarang 2005.

I'd like to leave you with a quote again from the newsletter that at the end of the Main Quiz article which went like this -

You haven’t been to Saarang till you’ve attended the Lone Wolf Quiz.
And if you haven’t been to Saarang, you haven’t lived.

The Saarang Post - 2

The second day saw us all - Spang , KR and myself wake up by 11:00 or 11:30, somewhere when the sun itself is confused as to whether to call it morning or noon.We then had a nice cup of hot coffee, thanks to KR's tolerant Aththai.Then we guys were listening to some music and getting a feel of Sunday, discussing yesterday's rock show and all that.Later, by around 12:30 I guess Spang and myself left to our houses.

After a nice bath and a satisfying lunch, I called up Premal and he was there by 4:00 or 4:15 in the evening.Actually we were supposed to have left earlier to Saarang, but due to my second sleep and profound lazy bones, I was able to make the move only by 4:00 to call him up even.We then left speeding in Premal's Pulsar.

When we reached, Premal and myself made that 1.5 Km journey through the dense of IIT-M to the circle( which refers to 'Gajendra Circle' from now on ).When we reached to the Bindaas Park, Mary Anne was as usual pulling the crowd with her impressive compereing skills.This Mary Anne is a sweet female from IIT-M, who is smart, beautiful and has a terrific attitude.God, she even fagged.I was not there to see it, though KR and Spang were privileged enough.Anyways, so myself and Premal decided that there was not much to do, and so we sat at the CLT for the Sports Quiz final.

The participants were all in teams of three and were as usual lying stray on the dias, as it is with any IIT-M quiz.Casualness is something that blends so very well with the insti and the junta who take part in the events at IIT-M.I saw it right from the start, through the end.It was real cool.The questions were maajor pro kind.Connect questions were so bloody tough.Premal during the quiz went to bring his friend who was outside waiting for him.In the meanwhile, Sushant Ravikumar, a guy from our other class ECE-B was there to give me company.We couldn't possibly answer any fu**ing question.Some team, which I really don't remember, came first, Vinod's team came second.This Vinod is a maajor quiz freak who goes to all maajor quizzing events and wins almost all of them.This guy made it to the Landmark quiz finals some four times consecutively, but was unlucky enough not to win any till now.He also was the winner of last year's unforgettable Main Quiz at Saarang 2004.Besides the guy won some two to three quizes at last year's Mood Indigo - IIT-B culfest that was held during December last week I guess.So thats that about him.Of course, there was the other famed team consisting of Shamanth and BOFi and some other dude as one of the teams.These guys, Shamanth and BOFi have been to BBC's 'University Challenge', which is a maajor quizzing event amongst college teams in India.Besides, this BOFi managed some second or third place in last year's Main Quiz at Saarang.

So after all that intros and glorifications, I would like to mention that I came out of CLT and ate Bhel Poori at Nandhinee's Chat Corner.KR wasn't interested in Saarang that day for some reason I don't know.So he didn't make it.Spang also didn't show up that day.I didn't have a ticket for the Choreo Nite and so I packed.As there wasn't really much to do, I left to KR's place.There our man had gone out with Shivi for getting JFK DVD from some shop.But in his house at the comp that time was Nat who I guess is not a nut, atleast as far as I've seen.Then our man arrived with Shivi and the JFK DVD.Nat then left in about 15 minutes.Shivi and I then laid our eyes on the Poison Ivy DVD that Nat had donated for the time being.We did the required honours during the night time.KR was way too sleepy and so he slept it off.

We then woke up by around 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning.Shivi had already left as he had to go to Mambalam to his relation's place for some reason.Myself and KR lazed around for a long time and when we thought it was time enough, we left for Saarang.There we met up with Spang at the Powerchord event.We were there listening to some amateurs for sometime and then packed to ChLT for the Crossie Prelims.Out of the 64 odd questions or shall we say clues, I cracked a staggering 8 - 10.KR and Spang made a team and did what I could do as a lonewolf.Gee, talk about flaunting!!

I was patient enough to wait till the end and note down all the answers and come to the Powerchord event, to which the KR and Spang had packed long time back from the ChLT.We saw our very own guys from college perform.The band was High on Caffeine.Memebers include Mayur,the lead guitarist, Adith, the bassist cum elec guitarist, Ashwin,the drummer and one other guy, whose vocals I won't forget and forgive for a long time to come.Mayur played well but committed a silly error in calling his band multi-talented while introducing every member.The fourth year girls of our college, some two of them, were of course videotaping all this.So I have evidence for what Mayur had to say and for the vocalist's performance.I was reminded of Cacophonix from Asterix and Obelix comic strip.

We guys then, went into the OAT for Decibels- an event where the winners of Powerchord and other semi-pro bands would get to perform.The winners of Powerchord was a band that calls themselves PITA-Powder In The Ashtray.At the end of Powerchord, Moksha's bassist, Audrey or Oberoi and Steve, a famous lead guitarist here in Chennai, played one amazing without any preparation at all, with Eddy of Unwind Centre growling into the mic.Steve simply rocked man!

The event was all kick ass.It really went on well.It is here in Decibels where you get to see the future Mokshas and Brahmas perform.The first band Bovi or Bhuvi, made a great impression.Their lead guitarist, Tommy was simply amazing.He played Steve Vai's For the love of God simply to god-level.PITA simply rocked and reminded all of ous of G'NR.PITA and some other band shared the first spot followed by some other band.

Spang and myself then left, for we had idiotic record work to complete, for we had to face BAKU the next day.KR however gave up on the idea as he didn't have a record.So he remained there for the Light Music event and we left.

We enjoyed that day so well, I should say.We really felt like freemen, but towards the end of the day reality dawned on us and we knew we were not there.With our hearts and minds at Saarang, we left the circle once again to that main gate.And by the way, Spang and myself saw an dusky babe in the IIT bus as we left.A thing of beauty is a joy forever, that Keats dude was damn right.

The Saarang Post

Hey all of you people out there.Its been a long time since I made a post.I know its long time, so here it is that I am making it happen.I have to tell you all that it simply feels great to make a post.Everytime, not just this once.I just flow when I see this 'Create New Post' screen in front of me.Anyways here I am.

The reason I wasn't able to make a post during these 10 or 11 days was that for one, I had a nasty cold and cough mix mania that I guess I told you people all about, in my last post.The second reason is that I was there at 'Saarang 2005'.

Now Saarang is the mother of all culfests-( that is 'cultural fests' for you ) held anywhere in the world in college level.It is held by IIT-Madras, a premier instituition in the country.Now I hate telling you people about what is Saarang and Where it is held and What is the greatness of IIT-M and all that.You know why? If you've been here in Chennai a.k.a Madras you'd know why.You hear a lifetime of stroies, endless achievements made by the institute, about how gruelling their entrance exam - the JEE is, about how brilliant minds make up the place for what it is year after year, about how they innovate every year, about how envious all of us are about those who are a part of it , etc.I could just go on and on and on.So now lets get started on how I went about the whole fest.But first some rules.

I making this a kind of tribute to what Saarang is and the place where it is held - IIT-M.So every IITian their has a nickname or a nick shall we say, for himself/herself.Of course they are nicked by the seniors during the ragging sessions.So some people I'll be referring to in the next few posts will be referred to by their nicks, for those people themselves really don't know their real names, leave alone me.Some of the lingo that IITians use go like this -

Junta - People
Maajor - Major
Tam Junta - Tamil people
Arbit Fart - Bullshit
Put Treat - Give a treat
Put Fundaes - Explain
Funda - Concept
Hajaar - lots of/many

Now I really am not very familiar with the lingo, but will be using it here as and when required and not required, for this is a tribute.Moreover I haven't enlisted entirely their lingo for I don't know every word and that I am not from IIT.

Now the event started on 21st of January, a Friday - Day 0, with a splendourous performance by Amaan and Ayaan, the two brothers and sons of the great Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, a great sitar maestro.So as you guessed, these two guys also played the sitar and were simply awesome - Now that was what I heard, as I couldn't attend the thing that day.The next day also went by pretty much the same way - that is I couldn't attend Saarang, as my sweet college had me all dutybound.

Saturday - Day 1, evening 7:30 was when I really got to get my feet inside IIT-M campus.The rock show featuring Orange Street and Moksha were performing and had already started by the time I went in.I, actually, came along with Premal and Rahool and was late for they hadn't yet got their tickets.Now KR and Spang were somewhat worked up as they had to wait for me at the Gajendra circle bus stop, as a result of which I had costed 5 minutes of precious time.I say precious time, cos I know how the rock show goes and how fellow rock afficionados would feel about being there right from the start.But I'll tell you what, though we got their 5 minutes late and all thinking we had wasted precious time, we didn't feel much, later as Orange Street had this hindi mixed with english kind of rock.They didn't get us excited and pumping and all, so much so that the band's lead singer himself aplogised to the crowd saying "If we were not good enough for you guys, we are really sorry....." He had to say that to save his face.But they did play one or may two decent numbers, I should say.

Next up were the crowds' most favourite and most awaited band for the night - Moksha.Moksha, is definitely one of the most talented, loved, amazing rock bands in India.They are Maiden worshippers, and serve the ecstacy to the other thousands who follow Iron Maiden and their legacy of rock.Black T-shirts, faces with beards without moustaches, long hair and an incessant head-banging sea of junta.I was all there in the middle of it, head-banging myself and rocking out and out.Moksha, had certain problems with the bass sound, as it sent the ground under us jarring when the bassist played.They got it all sorted out after about 30 - 45 minutes I guess.But still, they didn't do away with the problem, they only cut out the amps for the bass I guess.Then they simply rocked.Christie, the god of electric guitar, or just let us say guitar, played some amazing solos and made up for the bad start.The bassist was Oberoi or Audrey, I don't remember the exact name, was also awing.Leon, the lead singer of the band was perfect Bruce Dickinson.Towards the end they played two very famous numbers of Iron Maiden - 'Fear of the Dark' and 'Two minutes to Midnight'.Now we nearly died after these two numbers.Some of Moksha's own compos were very good too.I don't remember any tune, but I do remember that I enjoyed them a lot when they played.Moksha, then ended their stint by 11:00 I guess.We all then went to the Gajendra circle bus stop to board back to the main entrance of IIT-M.Later Spang, KR and myself crashed at KR's house.We would see the next day's afternoon rays of the sun.

The rock fans are all like bats.They come during the night.Nobody knows from where they come.They all conglomerate in the OAT and head bang in unison and sing along with the bands and simply rock the whole place.So cheers to all you rock fans out there, for it is we who make the event what it is, for it is we who really know how to rock and for it is we who really rock.

The Cold War

Aaaaaaaaaaaccccchhhhhhoooooo.........Excuse me.Yes, it is the famed period during one's lifetime wherein you get all messy about a beautiful organ with which you otherwise use to breathe.The common cold is definitely the most miserable of all viruses that tends to catch you unawares and gives you the sensation and the sends you the premonitions with the signals all right and set to catch you nosing around all over, when you eyes begin to squint, when you feel like you have smelt some dust or have been to a dilapidated house, when your mouth opens quite unintentionally to show all your teeth and then comes the final blow - aaaaaaaaaaccchhhhhoooo!!!

Readers of this post can argue that the syllable used is incorrect.If so, they are generally right.Because( never start a sentence with 'because' because its wrong english or something ), there is a great controversy over the natural outcome of the syllable.My brother, for instance, comes up with this sound - aaaaaaaaccccccccchhhhheeeeeeyyyyy!!!!!!!!! which has its effect till the next ettu theruvu which means '8 streets' in chaste tamil.So you needn't worry really about what sound is produced as long as it is menacing to the people around you and disrupts their activities atleast momentarily.People are usually under a shock, as they take 2 or 3 seconds to fathom what you did, when you sneeze.

Sneeze : An action that co-ordinates both the vocal chord and the messed up nose that you have as to produce a menacing sound and spray some nasal fluid generously over the innocent people at the close proximity of 5-10 m witnessing this religious act of yours.

How to do it?

• Squint your eyes nice and hard.
• Bite all your teeth nicer and harder.
• Make sure that you show all this work of yours.
• Think of the defunct, dusty, dingy exam papers you've managed to hide from your parents or the desk or draw that holds this.
• Concentrate.
• Just let the expression flow through with sensation that overpowers you to make it -aaaaacccchhhooo or aaaaacccchhhhheee or aaaacccchhhheey.Any of these will do.
• Make sure that there atleast 4 or 5 people around you, and do not forget to make note of their glittering faces after you've done the act.This adds encouragement for you to perform better the next time.

Where to do it?

• If you are caught red-handed in your house for some unintended nefarious activity of yours you can do this and get away with it.
• If you are interrogated in school or college in the name of viva voce you can very well use this weapon.
• People who make fun of you for generally no reason or for some obvious defect of yours can also be made to face the brunt of your hard work.
• If not for any particular reason, you can still do this and call yourself "cool", and/or just have the satisfaction that you have achieved something.

Impact on Society

• It is possible that you bunk school or college or work, unintentionally though, and lose attendance.
• This causes loss of much needed revenue to your workplace and country, i.e. if the work you do really matters to the place you work for.
• Common cold also makes your voice a bit shaky, giving a sympathetic viewpoint to whatever crap you say.

Can I spread this?

• Yes, buddy whats the matter with you.You can of course spread it.If you are generous enough you can spread it for free.Otherwise you'll have to market your cold cleverly to people who are a little bit crazy about anything in life.Or otherwise you can just send a cold stare down at any guy on the road or your enemy or someone you thought would look terrific as you are with the virus.But remember by sending the cold stare you'll be doing it for free.

A website I researched actually had this point to say - As possibly the most common disorder that humans can be afflicted with, it is considered something of a common cultural point of reference. Thus, catching a cold is often used as a plot device in various stories, movies, and television series.

Now after reading those guidelines, I guess you must be contented enough as I have answered most common of questions that arise in your mind regarding common cold.Anyways, I thought I would explore and find out a bit more about the common cold.So here goes.

It seems the common cold is very old, not just for the rhyming but also de facto.There are really ancient hieroglyphs that talk about cold and cough and how people have used it effectively to wage wars and all.It seems in 5th century B.C. a dude named Hippocrates, apart from christening the Hippopotamus, also gave a description of this disease.Then I went thinking as to why the common cold is called so.I was okay with the 'common' part, but not very clear with the 'cold' part, as my screen was all hazy after that disastrous sneeze of mine.So it seems, the cold is called so because it generally arises due to the wet feet and clothes and also due to chilling in general.I am not quite clear as to whether this also includes the 'chilling out with babes' stuff.Alright thats it with the 'history' part of cold.

As far as the treatment is concerned, well, there is no treatment for the common cold.It seems only the body's immune system can fight the virus and keep you safe.Now that doesn't mean that I have a weak immune system and all.It only means that my body is currently not finding the means and ways to fight this cold or perhaps that it just is lazy or that it just isn't interested in fighting as basically my body is a non-violent character I must say.But one of my friends, Shivi, said that it is basically due to the lack of vitamin C in my body.However, my research showed that the abundance of vitamin C in the body doesn't guarantee the prevention of cold.

For more information on common cold visit Commoncold.org or Merck manual on Respiratory Viral Diseases : Common Cold.Guess these two sites will do for further development on the subject knowledge.

Further reading - Cold Wars - The Fight Against the Common Cold, by David Tyrrell, former Director of the Common Cold Unit, and Michael Fielder, ISBN 019263285X.

So all said and done, with my keyboard floating and my screen showing multi-colour spots, with everyone of my readers begging for mercy for me to stop this, I shall stop.

God bless you aa.....aaaaaa....aaaa...aaaaaa...all.Shit didn't come out this time.

Birthday boy!

Hi everyone! Today is Pongal day, so heres wishing everyone a very happy pongal!

Added to that today is my birthday too.So its been another year since I've made it into this earth and believe me it was a long long time ago.Scientists are still finding out my age by using carbon-dating techniques.

Anyways today morning started at around 9:40 I guess with a call from our stoic Venki who managed some expression in his birthday wishing and all.Then Maapi called up and showered his blessings on me.This was followed by Spang and KR and then a host of others.Others whose names I haven't mentioned here must forgive me.Why? Because its my birthday and thats my wish - people must forgive me.And so, I invited Spang, Beta, Ananth, Shivi and Mrigank to come to my house.They all made it pretty early by around 2 P.M. I guess.Beta had bought Forrest Gump DVD for all of us to watch.And so we watched.This post is a movie review-cum-general post.But I promise I'll keep this short and not give long and boring reviews.

The movie Forrest Gump is a movie that comes once in a lifetime.The story is simple, teaches a few important things about life and most of all makes you think.Thats what I liked about it.Simple but effective.It doesn't require an IQ of 160 or something like that.75 would perhaps do.I was jus kidding.I simply have no words to describe the movie and the eruption of feelings within me after watching.I surely am moved by it.Its going to have an impact on my psyche atleast for the next one week.The last time I felt this was when I watched The Shawshank Redemption.

I'll quickly give you a basic outline of the story in case you haven't watched it.Forrest Gump is a differently abled person who has to wear braces over his legs at a young age.Moreover he is that kid who has an IQ of 75 which is I guess 15 or 20 below the normal.For a little more than half of the movie Forrest narrates his story to the people who wait for their buses in a bus stand.From his childhood to his very present, he undergoes every problem that could put people down.But Forrest's innocence, sincereity and straightforwardness is what takes him through these problems.His view of life is totally different, in that, he sees everything so simply and directly.He doesn't complicate issues like other normal people.He gets rid of his braces as a child by running when his friends bully and chase him.The spark that he receives is from his sweet childhood friend Jenny.In high school he becomes a member of the school football team and wins for them, as a result of which he is taken into a college.There too he breezes through and wins for his university.He gets to meet the president at that time, but isn't awed by it or anything.He is then taken into the army and goes to fight the vietnam war.His best friend Bubba dies in the war.Forrest tries to save his fellow soldiers, including his Lieutenant Dan, except Bubba.So Forrest returns home a war hero and is given the Medal of Honor.He is reminded of his friend Bubba's dream of setting up a shrimp boat as Bubba was very passionate about shrimps and shrimp business.So Forrest sets up the shrimp boat and calls it Jenny.He is joined in by Lieutenant Dan in the business, who has had both his legs amputated due to the war.Once after a storm, their boat is the only one that survives, which gives them a monopoly over the shrimp business.Forrest makes millions, but later goes on to do lawn furnishing job as he thinks that is good and that he'll enjoy doing that.Every now and then Jenny moves in and out of his life.The narration to an old woman at the bus stop stops as this is when Jenny has invited him to her home.Forrest then goes to see his lover Jenny, where he learns that he has a son named same as him from Jenny.In a few days Jenny passes away, as she is shown to have suffered from some unknown virus, which the doctors cannot diagnose.So Forrest takes care of his son.His son is seen going to school bidding goodbye to his father.This is where the movie ends.

The direction is simply beyond words as each scene is portrayed so beautifully.Robert Zemeckis is the impressionist director.The screenplay is well done with the nuances told well which is by Eric Roth.The movie is based on a novel by Winston Groom.Tom Hanks truly deserves his oscar for just being Forrest Gump.Robin Wright Penn is the beautiful and naive Jenny.Gary Sinrise does a fine job as Lt.Dan Taylor.





At every stage Forrest's mother never lets him down and makes him feel so normal.She always says things in a way that he finds easy to understand and relate to.Forrest is seen at some major historical events and with some famous personalities like Elvis Presley, President Kennedy etc.He is totally unfazed by whatever shocking that happens around him like death of Bubba, his mother, a bomb blowing nearby him and many more.Forrest knows that he isn't smart and even accepts it, but says that he knows what love is.I'll leave you with some dialogues from the movie.

Boy #1: This seat's taken.
Boy #2: It's taken!
Boy #3: You can't sit here.
Forrest (voice-over): You know, it's funny what a young man recollects. 'Cause I don't remember being born.

Forrest: I, I... don't recall what I got for my first Christmas and I don't know when I went on my first outdoor picnic. But, I do remember the first time I heard the sweetiest voice...

Forrest (voice-over): ... in the wide world.
Jenny: You can sit here if you want.
Forrest (voice-over): I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life. She was like an angel.
Jenny: Well, are you gonna sit down, or aren't ya?
Jenny: What's wrong with your legs?
Forrest: Um, nothing at all, thank you. My legs are just fine and dandy.
Forrest (voice-over): I just sat next to her on that bus and had conversation all the way to school.
Jenny: Then why do you have those shoes on?
Forrest: My momma said my back's crooked like a question mark. These are going to make me as straight as an arrow. They're my magic shoes.
Forrest (voice-over): And next to Momma, no one ever talked to me or asked me questions. Jenny: Are you stupid or something.
Forrest: Mommy says stupid is as stupid does.

Jenny: I'm Jenny.
Forrest: I'm Forrest - Forrest Gump.
Forrest (voice-over): From that day on, we was always together. Jenny and me was like peas and carrots..

Forrest: Will you marry me?
[Jenny turns and looks at him]
Forrest: I'd make a good husband, Jenny.
Jenny: You would, Forrest.
Forrest: But you won't marry me.
Jenny: You don't wanna marry me.
Forrest: Why don't you love me, Jenny? I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is.

Jenny: Hey, Forrest, were you scared in Vietnam?
Forrest: Yes. Well, I, I don't know.
Forrest (voice-over): Sometimes it would stop raining long enough for the stars to come out. And then it was nice. It was like just before the sun goes to bed down on the bayou... Forrest (voice-over): There was over a million sparkles on the water. Like that mountain lake.
Forrest (voice-over): It was so clear, Jenny. It looks like there were two skies, one on top of the other. And then in the desert, when the sun comes up...
Forrest (voice-over): I couldn't tell where heavens stopped and the earth began. It was so beautiful.
Jenny: I wish I could have been there with you.
Forrest: You were.

Forrest: Mama always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.

One of the most moving of dialogues is when Forrest talks to his wife Jenny standing beside her grave.

Forrest: I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floatin' around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it's both.

I thought it was one of the two best dialogues, the other one being -

Forrest: Mama always said life was like a box a chocolates, never know what you're gonna get.

I guess it just turned out to be a movie review post.And it turned out to be a long one too.Shit, I couldn't keep up with my word on my birthday.I just couldn't help it.Anyways, I'll call it a day.I really felt like a birthday boy today after a long time.My thanks to all those who called and wished me, those who came to my house and watched Forrest Gump, and to all those who lived to see this post ending.By the way I turned 20 today.So me is no longer a teenager.I am a 20 something today.

Enjoy & Think.

Jus like that - 2

Today I was just wondering how it would feel like to make a part two( read as '2' ) of anything in life.Personally I have made no movies, soaps or anything for that matter that I can call as a 'part two'.So I thought why not continue a particular post that received much praise and recognition throughout the blogging world, that even George Bush included this among his favourite passages.It talks about hope, bravery and honour that even sick dogs found a hope of living on reading this post.

So talking about 'part two' I was reminded about one of Murphy's laws that says something like - 'Bookstores that talk about volume 2 of a book will eventually never see it'.I saw this at the back of a 'Murphy's law' book in a bookstore, where they quoted this law and said that "therefore we combine both volumes into a single book".I am not too sure about the exact words that make the law but I am quite sure I saw something like that.So let me make a Murphy's law now -

Posts in a blog that talk about part 2 will eventually never see it.But if you are really determined as to make a part 2 for a post, errr....well it can be done.You can also write about how you went into the making of 'part 2'.

So thats the piece of advice I would like aspiring bloggers to take.For more on this, please feel free to contact me.If possible I will also put a post on 'how to write a blog' or something.

Anyways so I did abide by Murphy's law in that poetic and emotion-kindling post - 'Jus like that'.And so ladies and gentleman, if any, I present to you the second verison or 'part two' of 'Jus like that' which I am christening as - 'Jus like that - 2'.I can hear claps, but please hold it, as we have a long way to go.

Today, for your information my unit tests ( a.k.a. UTs) got over.I can see that you are scratching your head and wondering slapdashing your brain as to "What the hell is a unit test?" Alright I'll make it simple for you by giving you a definition -

A unit test ( a.k.a. UT ) is a test where a student is tested upon his/her knowledge about a particular unit/chapter/lesson in a particular subject not of his/her choice but of the university's.

Lets now get to the properties of a unit test ( a.k.a. UT ) which are:-

1. Units/chapters in question can vary from a single unit to as high as two or three.If the PROFS are PROFessional Screwers( i.e. people who know not just how to screw ) then you can end up having four or five units.However, along with this you can also get a headache or even sea-sickness.
2. Most students will end up scoring marks in units.For example, 1/50, 2/50 etc.However, some students who are serious/silly enough to relate UTs to their lives will end up scoring a little more than the above stated examples( say 45 or 50 ).
3. Unit tests marks surprisingly have no units!So you'll mostly end up saying "My mark is 30" and not "My mark is 30 Kgs" or something like that.
4. Your mark is always lower than the number of people around you.The system is designed in this way so that no student gets haughty or arrogant on account of just scoring marks.
5. "Passing" is a highly debated term in the UT world as some argue that it refers just to pass the UT with 25 marks, while others refer to passing papers on which they propound answers.PROFS are somehow aware of both.
6. '0' is a mark that only few students are capable of scoring.Somehow this is viewed as a shame.However, you can stick your middle finger if your colleagues make fun of your achievement.
7. No matter how many properties you write, there are always more than what you can think, for a UT.

I would also like to add a Did you know? section to our current topic of discussion.

Did You Know?

1. That UT also refers to 'Unreal Tournament' in the gaming world.However inane people never relate this alternate abbreviation to 'Unit Tests'.
2. That UTs i.e. Unit Tests can seemingly affect your internal marks for a subject and can actually make you perform better the next time.However, brave souls keep out of such cruel intentions.
3. That certain subjects have unimaginably long and most probably unfathomable names like Engineering Economics and Financial Accounting (EEFA) that you can get the feel of having written a large blog post after writing the subject title.
4. That you can actually get tired and bored, so much so that you can fall asleep.
5. That today while writing the EEFA exam I actually slept.

Anyways thats it for now.I feel I have divulged too much of what I know.So will not tell you anymore about a UT.

Until Tomorrow??

Amisha? How are you?

Today I was in for a total surprise as I opened my gmail account as there was a message in my inbox that read - Amisha Patel orkut - Amisha Patel has added you to her friends list - Hi Arun, Amisha Patel has added you.....

For those of you who don't know orkut - it is a online community that expands through known people i.e. people who are already members invite their friends to join the site.It has various communities, any of which you can join and add friends, both known and unknown and expand your presence on the whole.Besides you can also create communities and pray that others join, wherein you can discuss some important topics.For instance if you created a community for Amisha Patel then you can discuss how she spells the 'sha' in 'Amisha' and win the battle with your discussion that she really pronounces it only as 'shah' or that she doesn't pronunce it at all.Thats right.Its so easy to win a discussion or argument, cos you'll be the only person ranting there.Anayways that might have got you some idea about orkut.

Intrigued? Well, me too.I was panting inside my pants.I was extremely thrilled, so much so that literally jumped off my seat, stood upside down, started staring myself into the mirror and admired as to what a mirror cracking material I am, that even Amisha my dear Amisha herself added me.So I logged into orkut as fast as I could, but it did irritate me as usual in its quickness of getting loaded.Was extremely delighted to see Amisha's pic in that small box above my page asking - Would you like to add Amisha Patel in your friend's list? Yes No

I am that innocent kid who falls for the dumbest of tricks in town.I do rationalize and discern a lot but how many times someone like your favourite actress or dream date add you herself??So I gleefully clicked on the Yes button and finished the adding process.I was so happy that even the monitor's reflection showed me the sparkling white teeth, as a matter of fact.I read her profile which goes this way -

general

about me: dont need to...u all know...i am an actress n i joined orkut to see my fans!
relationship status: committed
birthday: June 9th
age: 25
here for: friends
political view: very libertarian
humor: obscure, raunchy
fashion: designer, smart, trendy, urban
drinking: socially
pets: i love my pet(s)
living: alone, friends visit often, party every night
hometown: Mumbai

interests

passions: dance, acting, modeling, photo shoots, fans....
sports: not much of a sport but enjoy watching beach volleyball.....
activities: acting, attending award functions, interviews, all the celebrities' thingies.
books: 'A bridge across forever' by Richard Bach and 'Pride And Prejudice' by Jane Austen
music: anything that sounds nice... Jagjit Singh and Julio Iglesias are my fav. singers....
tv shows: don't need to watch myself on the telly 24/7.
movies: Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Umrao Jaan, Chandni and plenty more...
cuisines: Home food and Thai cuisine.

contact

country: India

Testimonials (what friends say about Amisha)

1/10/2005
Nouman: my favourite actress added me herself, just like a dream come true. well she is the most beautiful girl in the film industry (thts true), and its nice to be her friend. but i wonder why she doesn't added her personal pics in her album instead of those popular wallpapers.
1/6/2005
Shashi: hi amisha it was so nice of u to add me up as ur friend,i was really excited initially but alas all the photos of amisha(actress) were taken from googl.so i decided,i want to make friendship with "amisha ke bhesh me chupi/chupa bande/bandi ko".so that we can be good friends.

Hold it its not all over.The above profile was the 'social' profile.You must read her 'professional' profile now -

professional

occupation: actress
industry: Finance
career Skills: great acting skills...classical dance abilities.
career Interests: keep myself busy and promote myself more often...

By now I was drained.I just couldn't take it any longer.But anyways I decided to click on the 'personal' profile which went like this -

personal

height: 5 feet 5 inches
eyes: brown
hair: light brown
build: slim
looks: very attractive
best feature: hair
turn ons: flirting, intelligence, long hair, thrills, wealth

I didn't know what to do by now so I wrote this scrapbook entry to her -

Arun: I know that you don't give a shit about what I write here just as the 200 odd have.Anyways I am happy that somebody added me.Atleast promotes my presence.And anyways the beau in Amisha still lives in me.Happy to know you.

So did you know that Amisha Patel herself added me? That she has 328 friends and I am her 328th friend? That 2 dumbos really wrote that testimonial for her? That I still believe she might reply? That she had the time to add 38 people from one of her communities and 31 in another? That she is a member of the community - 'Hot and Sexy Bollywood Hunks!' and also of 'Bollywood'? That her uploaded 8 photos are available so easily on Google images? That she looks so oh goddam sexy in those pics? That I still believe its her??

But How??

In da Fight Club

Yesterday, after a long time, I was in KR's house for watching Fight Club, an amazing movie.I was there along with Spang, Shivi and Shyam, each of whom helped me understand dialogues when I couldn't correlate the visual and audio components of the movie.My thanks to them.Enough is enough, lets get to the movie.

Fight Club, the title first made me feel that I was in for seeing a movie like Mortal Kombat where the fighters kick each other's @$$ and earn a lot of pride and confidence among their peers and viewers and advance to the next level, and finally to the finals to win after a long struggle.Fight Club is no such shit.You'll probably say WTF is so different after I tell you about it and probably realize how different and beautiful the movie is, after watching it for yourself.Well, I am not going to tell you much, cos I want my readers to enjoy the movie as you'll be in for a surprise at around 15 minutes before the movie ends.However, the ending according to me was poor and made us all laugh.

The movie is based on a novel written by Chuck Palahniuk, who received some award for this novel - Fight Club.In the story, there is an unnamed person who is completely stressed out with his job as a person who evaluates recalls of damaged cars for an unnamed car company.In addition to this, he is also a chronic insomniac.So on the advice of his doctor he goes to support group of men who have testicular cancer, where people cry out their feelings and let go of their stress.So as he too cries, although not a testicular cancer victim along with the other members of the group to help himself out from stress.As a result, he is able to sleep well.Later he notices a woman named Marla Singer who he recognizes as a fake patient, just as himself, due to whose disturbing presence he isn't able to cry, and so slips back into insomnia.He meets her and says that he'll expose her, in return to which she says that she too can return the same coin.So after some time during his business travels he meets a person named Tyler Durden in a flight and stikes up a coverstaion with him.He learns that Tyler is a smart person who makes soaps, and is quite cool on the outside.After the journey, when he comes home he realizes that his condo is set to fire by some arsonist.Unable to decide anything, he goes into a bar where he once again bumps into Tyler.Outside the bar Tyler offers him an accomodation in his dilapidated house.Tyler also asks the narrator to punch him right on the face, thereby providing him a way to vent out his frustrations and stress.This brawl without anger is what leads to creation of a fight club.Fight club later becomes the home to many stressed out and disillusioned people who fight it out every day of the week, just to free themselves.This post will be a spoiler if I delve any more into the story.So will stop with this.




The movie is directed by David Fincher, who has done an crafted piece well worth watching.The screenplay is quite captivating and is handled with same style by Jim Uhls.The story as mentioned earlier is by the gen-x writer Chuck Palahniuk.The unnamed, stressed out, disillusioned narrator is well played by Edward Norton.Tyler Durden - Mr.Cool, charming and the well-built personality is played well by Brad Pitt, so much so that you'll start loving Brad Pitt though you are a male.The lady who plays the haywire Marla Singer is Helena Carter.Guess these are the only people worth mentioning in the movie.

I'll leave you with the rules of Fight Club which are as follows -

1. You do not talk about fight club.
2. You do not talk about fight club.
3. If someone says "stop," goes limp, or taps out, the fight is over.
4. Only two guys to a fight.
5. One fight at a time.
6. No shirts, no shoes.
7. Fights go on as long as they have to.
8. If this is your first night at fight club, you have to fight.
   

Guess I violated the first rule itself!! So who's gonna hit me?

Sex, lies and not even one videotape!

First before I start telling you about it all I would warn people who have a certain taboo about sex to keep out of this i.e. people who could actually come up with amazing punch lines like "Chee Chee I didn't expect this from you.How cheap of you to think this way".So such people please keep out.As is the duty of any pornographic website to put this line in their first page I too am putting it for you - Enter here if you are an adult.But unfortunately such websites don't have the nack to keep vulnerable youngsters from visiting their website and rely on the sincereity of their visitors, as I too rely on it.If you are wondering as to how I knew so much about pornographic websites, it is only because I was doing research as to how websites get designed and how graphic content is added onto them.Now, vacillating adolescents please don't read this and blame me for spoiling you cos I don't want your parents banging my door tomorrow morning and getting me all worked up.

So after reading the Terms and Conditions I am ready to delve into what happened.Besides it is advisable that you carry a sick bag with you right away as the ones that they provide in airplanes.

There is a lab for me this semester named 'Electronic System Design Lab' where once I was observing a mosquito.This mosquito made its rounds all over the lab and then around me finally before settling on top of a CRO or function generator; I don't quite remeber as to which.I was now observing the mosquito for about two hours where it didn't make the slightest of movements, not even to scratch its butt.Even a mosquito can sometimes get bored sitting in that lab.

So yesterday, we guys were into our siestas and reveries as the lab was during the afternoon.We even went out to drink coffee but caffeine as usual had little effect on my head.Nothing gets that easily into my head.So we were back and got back to our original positions.However some guys had a much more novel way of passing their time by talking something aimlessly so as to keep themselves alive in that lab.During one such conversation, Maapi out of the blue came up with a darnd question to me - "Machan have you had any sexual experience?" Now the word 'sexual' lit me up and I was into a mood.But I knew right away that the reply to this would end up in some corny joke.So I decided to play it serious.I said so non-chalantly "Yes".I have to tell you about Maapi.He is the centre of attention of girls in our campus with all the girls lining up to form the radius.Now I am not too hot with maths but this is true as you can very well ask anyone in our class, and they'll tell you so much more.But hold it.He is not a normal flirt as you think.This guy is among the top 10 scholarship holders in our department.Now thats Maapi for you.

I have to alert my readers here with the fact that my nearest sexual experience was filling the various questionnaires and applications with the 'Sex:Male/Female' field with a pen.I hate cutting the word 'Female' but how else can I enlighten the society that I am a male.Anyways lets get back to what happened.So Maapi now with a slight smile asked me "Then tell us your experience." This was the sparking I had to receive to get me all started.For your information the other guys hearing this fart were Spang and I guess Ayyapps.So I started right away and it went like this -

'Once after my tenth standard board exams, during the holidays I was on a trip to Bombay.I was travelling alone in the A/C coach and was nice and comfortable inside a coupe.Just then a Gujarathi family entered.The family consisted of the father, mother and their daughter.The daughter was not a stunning beau or anything.' I always thought Guju girls were hot cos my favourite actress is Amisha Patel who happens to be a Guju.And the mother, father bullshit was to make it sound all natural.'So the dad and mom started talking with me and they became real friendly.It seems their daughter was about my age.' My age, my ass, what else could I say there.'Then they had to get down at some station by 10:30 at night and so they asked me to take care of their daughter who was supposed get down at Thane for visiting her relatives or something.' I am not good at geography, and moreover I don't have the faintest idea of what stations come on the way to Bombay, as the last time I had gone to Bombay was when I was 5 or 6 years old.So I preferred to say 'some station'.By now the guys were giggling and guffawing at me and Maapi came up with this rather impertinent question "What was her name da?" I immediately shot it.'Pooja, her name was Pooja.' I also gave them some crappy email id and asked them to go and check for themselves if they did not believe.But it was no use telling them as they were laughing out loud.I then told them that I wouldn't tell them anymore as they were making fun of me.I must say I maintained my face pretty grim.The guys somehow managed to control their laughter and begged me to continue.So I did continue.'We were talking all through the night about things like where she studied and where I studied and stuff like that.Then after chatting for long time she did make a slight move towards me.She quickly glanced at me and then looked down.' The guys were now dying.But I continued with my grim face.'By now I was feeling rather tensed about all this and I kept looking at her.She once again looked at me and I couldn't control it any longer.She made quick move towards me and anticipatiing it I too moved and our lips met.I kissed for about 2 seconds.' The guys were now all over the floor, holding their stomachs as if I had tickled the hell out of them.But I knew I couldn't leave it hanging around there and so I continued.'Then I felt very tensed and said "I guess I will go up and get myself some sleep" and quickly climbed the upper berth and slept it off.'

The story ended.The guys were uncontrollable.I maintained the seriousness very much and walked out of the lab as the lab class too had come to an end.Spang avoided looking at my face as if I was some crazy buffoon.The moment he would see me when we entered the class he would burst.Both of them were bursting all over the place.But I was very determined not to let my crafted piece of fart go so easily.I was sobre and maintained a disgusted-not-at-all-happy kind of face.I must mention that I am a pretty convincing actor.I have received many accolades for my acting abilities ever since school days and even till now so much so that guys like KR would come up with lines that would get me emotional like ***"Thaivasenchu niruththu thaangaley!!" which literally trnslates to "Please do it again dude!!"

Then I narrated the same shit to couple of other guys like Beta who was listening with great interest.I guess he was a lot interested about it as he asked a number of questions to which I reeled off without any hesitation, and also he wasn't laughing like the other guys.Somewhere when I was relating the 'incident' to guys in lab Ananth also barged in and made his usual punned one-liners intermittently when I was on a spree.Mrigank was somehow spared of this fart of mine.

The seriousness I maintained made certain guys doubt my story if it was real, but making them believe was impossible.Then today I ended it all by confirming that I farted all along.Still I managed to pull it off with Eshwar and Mani who were pretty serious while listening.I guess they still believe.

I am right now in a paradoxical situation cos I can't say I am a liar.Besides it would hurt my fellow readers and would lessen their already dwindling number by a factor equal to the speed of light.So with this I will end it and save my face for now.

***- The actual translation is "Please stop it, I can't bear it!!"

Small, still a Wonder!

Today I was watching the famous television series of the 80s named 'Small Wonder' which I guess most of you have atleast bumped into once, while changing channels.This show is one of my favourite all-time shows and today I was watching it for probably the 10th time or something.That might be seem like a hyperbole but it certainly is true.I have watched it lots and lots of times.So I thought why not put a post about it.

The basic story for all you people who have not been lucky enough to watch it goes like this - Tedd Lawson is a genius who works for a company named 'United Robotronics'.Joan, his wife and himself have a son named Jamie, who is quite saddened by the fact that he doesn't have a little sister.So their parents try hard day and night to make it possible for Jamie, but due to some reason Tedd works on a robot or shall we say android to satisfy Jamie.I think Tedd Lawson chooses to do this because he has to portray a characteristic of genius within him.Guess every geek ends up with some idea like this.So, he works on a robot on a more experimental basis and comes up with V.I.C.I. which stands for 'Voice Input Child Identicant'.But somehow they find it difficult to call her "Hey V-I-C-I" or "Hey V dot I dot C dot I" and instead come up with a totally novel idea of calling her "Vicki".

So Jamie is all happy to see his new sister Vicki, who has humanly features of a girl but has a monotonic voice in order to give Jamie and the viewers an effect that she is actually a robot.The whole series is about various anecdotes in the life of the Lawsons where Vicki indulges in unintentionally humourous and deliberate activities, which keeps the Lawsons happy at the end of every small trouble.The super-human strength of the robot is illustrated from time to time to remind us that she actually is a robot.But the stoic-faced robot also has a soft side to it or rather her, wherein she at times laughs and weeps profusely.

Then there are the nosey neighbours of the Lawsons called 'The Brindles'.Their head of the family is Brandon Brindle who happens to be Tedd's boss.His wife Barney is jealous, nosey and irritating like everyone else in the family.Their daughter Harriet, is a brat who has a crush on Jamie and is hell bent upon driving him nuts.Jamie's good friend is Redgie, who drops in every now and then and does fine.Everyone in the series contributes to the fun.Altogether its half an hour of good timepass.

The creator of this series is Howard Leeds and the director changes in some shows.The usual ones are Bob Claver and Someone else.The role of Vicki was played with much elegance by the sweet Tiffany Brissette.She received much accalim for her role of 'Vicki' in the series.Dick Christie plays Tedd lawson and the good-looking Marla Pennington plays his wife Joan Lawson.Jerry Supiran plays naughty Jamie and Emily Schulman his pestering neighbour Harriet.

This series was launched during the 1980s and captures the growing interest of the American public towards the world of robots and computers , which can actually work wonders.Its perhaps that reason why this series ran for about four years and later its re-runs where casted over and over, mainly because people loved the concept so much and identified themselves with it.The humour is unalloyed and is kind of childish at times, but nevertheless interesting as always.



To me the girl in that red-and-white frock ( black and white in the above pic ) will always give cherished memories of a childhood.Small Wonder is still so fresh everytime I watch it.It still does not make me laugh any more but I feel a lot at peace when I watch it after getting creeps from the day at college.It still gives a lot of happiness though it ain't anything exciting, but bland.The series is presently aired in Vijay TV in Tamil as a result of which it promotes a lot more of unintended comedy.Though however small it might seem to others it still beholds a wonder in me.

'She's a small wonder,
Lovely and bright with soft curls,
......
......
She's a small wonder,
Brings love and laughter everywhere.' -Title Song

For those of you interested in knowing what happened to Tiffany alias Vicki - She graduated in psychology and is a councillor at her church.It seems she is a very devout person.

Jus like that

Some four to five days ago there lay a sick dog on the way to entering our apartments.It had apparently done some kind of a dirty work on the way and it was all stinking.I wouldn't mind to say that the dog had shitted all over the place, but this was not that, it was something else.But it stinked big time.So I avoided the usual main entrance and started using the other french door entrance to my house.Everyone in my house followed the new route for their entries and exits.So the dog lay their for two or may be three days.I guess it was infected with rabies or something.Then two days later since nobody in our apartments seemed to bother the sick dog, it kind of shifted itself to outside the gate.It lay there again for one or two days I guess.Then today morning, the dog somehow realised that it won't get any attention from anyone and moved out to some other place, I don't know where.Probably it went somewhere where folks from our apartments wouldn't care to move around.Anyways thats today's trivia for all you people.You can kind of put under Did you know sections if you'd like to.But you need my permission, cos I hold the copyright for this stuff.

Anyways that explained to me the essence of the saying 'Let sleeping dogs lie'.But do sick dogs really lie? That'll be another trivia, which I'll answer for my readers sometime later I guess.And by the way if you can catch some sick dogs lying please report to me.It could be quite helpful for my thesis.

So after that sick dog stuff, I guess I'll tell you something about fellow people.Every one of my relatives have this habit of droping me a line whenever they visit like "Hey you've gone down pretty bad!" or "Hey you've lost lots of weight!" or something like that.Nowadays even my friends i.e. alumini from J.G.V.V drop such lines and do not spare me.As far as I can remember, I have never gained weight ever since age 7.But I haven't lost any either.So that must set my weight at somewhere around 534g.I have kind of maintained my figure throughout shall we say.But the way people are making such comments, I guess one day I'll run out of real gas in my body and it will shrink, shrink and shrink till I become invisible.But I guess even then people won't spare me I guess.They'd probably come up with a line like "Hey you've lost your form!" or something such sort.And then I would give a reply like "Yeah I'm kind of invisible, but good work you managed to notice me!".Don't know really when I'll be spared of such concerns.

Alright now lets let go people and their hackneyed comments.Today while reading 'The New Indian Express' I noticed a kind of story or a saying or a quote( I actually don't know what to call it ).I was kind of impressed by that dialogue, so thought I could share it with you.Guess it makes some kind of sense to you or stirs up some thought within you.I guess it makes up for the other two paragraphs.I don't remember the verbatim but goes something like this -

"Sir, I exist!" said a man belligerently to the universe."However" said the universe "that does not instigate the sense of obligation within me."