It's a SHAM. I am such a tube-light for not realising it until now. There I was SMS-ing my vote for the singer whom I thought deserved to win and here they are putting on an hour of entertainment under the guise of a reality show. I was naive enough to think that my vote was counted and mattered and the person with the highest votes would ultimately win the competition but it turns out the winner has already been selected by the producers and it's just nothing but a giant hoax of a media event to promote his upcoming album.
It all started last Saturday (February 18th) - after watching the final six perform songs by Clarence, I decided to vote for a contestant - let's call him X. The lovely and competent host Kamal ( here's how much I like him) repeated the telephone number and two other numbers (7788 and a Suntel #) which accepted SMS votes. The same numbers also appeared on the screen while the song was performed and for a few seconds after the it was over. I sent an SMS to the Suntel # which was 114-93700X and then was stumped to find the delivery report mentioned "Not Sent to 114-93700X". I then called the number and received a mechanical voice message informing me the number DID NOT EXIST. I then sent the vote to 7788 and received a confirmation of delivery. I was still wondering why the suntel number was all wrong and on Sunday evening, during the elimination round, I found the contestant I had voted for was in the bottom 3!! He made it (narrowly) into the next round but I started to have doubts about the authenticity of the vote collection and counting (just like our elections, huh?!).
The following day at work I mentioned this to a couple of people who both looked at me like I was nuts. They told me that it was all a hoax and that voting for it was just a waste of money. One of them gave me a link to a scanned newspaper article (go to page 2 for a message posted by flashyskyline on February 18th on the message board) from a Sinhalese newspaper (which I must admit, I do not read regularly) which had written extensively about the "SMS Fraud" going on with the show. It also mentions that the winning contestant hardly ever looks nervous or upset during the elimination round whilst all the others looked like they would cry. I had noticed this myself and I must say that initially when a contestant was voted off, he looked extremely sad and some had tears in their eyes whilst singing their farewell song. But since two weeks ago, I noticed the contestant who hears he has been voted off doesn't even look surprised - it's like he already knew about it or didn't care. An extremely emotional chap was voted off two weeks ago and he used to look almost teary when he was in the bottom three on an earlier occasion but on hearing he was going home, he just nodded his head. Does this mean the rest of the contestants have realised they are fighting a losing battle and are just performing because they are under contract?
More than anything, what a crime it is for encouraging people to vote using SMS to these numbers!! The cost of a vote is Rs 10 (normal cost of an SMS is Rs. 2.50) and if it's not getting counted, what's the point?? Sirasa might as well abolish the voting system and call in a panel of judges who decide who goes and who stays (like the Apprentice). Tricking the public into paying four times the normal rate of an SMS and not accepting the result of the SMS votes is just plain wrong.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Sri Lanka to Tax all Foreign Movies, Dramas and Sitcoms
According to an article on LBO, Sri Lanka is to tax all foreign movies, dramas and sitcoms from April 2006 onwards. The taxes collected will apparently go into a special fund that will develop the local celluloid industry.
Two months ago, when I watched King Kong at the Liberty Cinema, I coughed up Rs. 275 for a seat in the balcony. Despite the relatively comfortable nature of the cinema (much better than Majestic Cinema and almost on par with Savoy) it wasn't a reasonable price for all viewers. The proposed tax on movies will undoubtedly increase the price of all movie tickets and given that most of the audience belongs to average income earners, would it impact the number of people who take the time and effort to make it to a cinema to watch a movie when a pirate copy of the movie can be bought for Rs. 150? Despite the court cases and temporary closure of several illegal video sales outlets, the business of selling pirate DVDs and CDs has not slowed down at all.
With just two tv networks catering to the English audience 24 hours a day, how will the imposition of tax on programs like The OC and CSI impact the amount of advertisements that is already cluttered into an hour of the average episode. In fact, I have noticed that most episodes drag on for more than one hour thanks to the numerous advertisements that interrupt the characters' speech in mid-sentence!
Does this mean American Idol will be exempt from the tax because it is a reality show and does not fall into the category of drama/movie/sitcom? Are re-run or cancelled shows like Friends and Providence eligible for tax?
Was the tax imposed because several parties (including local artistes) who protested the sudden influx of Indian movies and drama into Sri Lankan theatre and television? That would be my guess. I doubt if the local teledrama/movie industry loses much sleep over the amount of money that is lost when public watches The OC in comparison to watching one of those annoying dubbed dramas on Sirasa Ran Depaya (sp??). As entertaining as the dramas maybe to some people (I have the same to say for those who watch The Bold and The Beautiful) would imposing a tax discourage the fans from watching the program and make them switch over to watch a local program?
Two months ago, when I watched King Kong at the Liberty Cinema, I coughed up Rs. 275 for a seat in the balcony. Despite the relatively comfortable nature of the cinema (much better than Majestic Cinema and almost on par with Savoy) it wasn't a reasonable price for all viewers. The proposed tax on movies will undoubtedly increase the price of all movie tickets and given that most of the audience belongs to average income earners, would it impact the number of people who take the time and effort to make it to a cinema to watch a movie when a pirate copy of the movie can be bought for Rs. 150? Despite the court cases and temporary closure of several illegal video sales outlets, the business of selling pirate DVDs and CDs has not slowed down at all.
With just two tv networks catering to the English audience 24 hours a day, how will the imposition of tax on programs like The OC and CSI impact the amount of advertisements that is already cluttered into an hour of the average episode. In fact, I have noticed that most episodes drag on for more than one hour thanks to the numerous advertisements that interrupt the characters' speech in mid-sentence!
Does this mean American Idol will be exempt from the tax because it is a reality show and does not fall into the category of drama/movie/sitcom? Are re-run or cancelled shows like Friends and Providence eligible for tax?
Was the tax imposed because several parties (including local artistes) who protested the sudden influx of Indian movies and drama into Sri Lankan theatre and television? That would be my guess. I doubt if the local teledrama/movie industry loses much sleep over the amount of money that is lost when public watches The OC in comparison to watching one of those annoying dubbed dramas on Sirasa Ran Depaya (sp??). As entertaining as the dramas maybe to some people (I have the same to say for those who watch The Bold and The Beautiful) would imposing a tax discourage the fans from watching the program and make them switch over to watch a local program?
I Love Ambigrams
It all started when I read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. It was, at the time, a relatively unknown book and the only people enthusiastic about it were conspiracy theory buffs (cough cough). I had read about the Illuminati before and like all other secret societies - Freemasons, The Priory of Scion etc, I found them mildly fascinating. What I loved about Angels and Demons more than anything, were the ambigrams . In the novel, six brands were used by an assassin to signal the re-emergence of the Illuminati and the ambigrams of "Illuminati", "Earth", "Air", "Fire", "Water" and finally the "Illuminati Diamond" with all four elements merged into a diamond shape, were used in the novel.
I found a web site that generates ambigrams of any word entered. Mind you the results are not as artistic as the calligraphic images found in Angels and Demons. I then found that Sun Microsystems also uses as ambigram in its logo. Very cool!!
Monday, January 30, 2006
The West Wing is Closed - for Good
Last week NBC announced it was cancelling The West Wing after seven seasons. This is a bummer - not only is The West Wing one of the best shows (excellent writing, casting and directing) on television today - it's a classic political drama, a genre which hardly exists today. Since I have not watched a single episode of Season Seven yet, I am going to patiently wait until the release of the DVD collection so that I watch the entire Presidential race between Santos and Vinnick unfold over a few days.
Having said that, I never fancied Law and Order all that much. There must be something about it since NBC keeps renewing it season after season.
Of the new shows yet to be broadcast in Sri Lanka, I would love to see the following:
1) Commander-in-Chief
2) Prison Break
3) My Name is Earl
4) Weeds
5) Grey's Anatomy
It's high time a tv channel in Sri Lanka is set up for only television shows instead of using it as a news channel as well. It's impossible to broadcast live news in addition to prime times shows successfully. Every time there is a "breaking news" story or a live debate, all scheduled programs are shuffled away and never seen again. Since shows are not repeated constantly, it doesn't help a viewer at all. ETV does telecast repeats but sometimes I get the feeling ETV doesn't seem to know what planet it's on at times. Check out ETV's website and take a look at the programs for this week - according to the site "ER", "That 70's show" and "Seinfeld" should be on but in reality none of them are shown at the specified times!! There are several new shows coming up in February and all trailers feature the phrase "check with www.etv.lk for details on all our programs" - right!!
Having said that, I never fancied Law and Order all that much. There must be something about it since NBC keeps renewing it season after season.
Of the new shows yet to be broadcast in Sri Lanka, I would love to see the following:
1) Commander-in-Chief
2) Prison Break
3) My Name is Earl
4) Weeds
5) Grey's Anatomy
It's high time a tv channel in Sri Lanka is set up for only television shows instead of using it as a news channel as well. It's impossible to broadcast live news in addition to prime times shows successfully. Every time there is a "breaking news" story or a live debate, all scheduled programs are shuffled away and never seen again. Since shows are not repeated constantly, it doesn't help a viewer at all. ETV does telecast repeats but sometimes I get the feeling ETV doesn't seem to know what planet it's on at times. Check out ETV's website and take a look at the programs for this week - according to the site "ER", "That 70's show" and "Seinfeld" should be on but in reality none of them are shown at the specified times!! There are several new shows coming up in February and all trailers feature the phrase "check with www.etv.lk for details on all our programs" - right!!
Sirasa Super Star - Final Eight
I wasn't a fan of Sirasa's Super Star program (SSS), which was made quite obvious by a previous post, until two weeks ago. I watched the program on a whim and found the Top Ten were pretty good singers - I must confess sometimes I don't really understand what they are singing about - but a couple of them were very, very good. So far I like Amila, Shihan, Malith and the sixteen year old kid.
The producers have changed the format of the show - each round has a different panel of judges, most of whom are relevant to the kind of music used for each program (drama, pop, specific singer etc). The advice offered (mostly positive for all contestants) is quite constructive and unbiased in comparison to what Nirosha and Rukantha doled out before.
My one and only gripe - and it's a biggie - is about the host of the show - Kamal Addaraarachchi (sp??). Try as he might, the man is no Ryan Seacrest and is at least fifteen years too old to be a bubbly, talkative host of a reality tv show. SSS even as a red room (what a coincidence!) in which Kamal chats to the contestants before each steps onto the stage. Most of his dialogue is a direct Engish-to-Sinhala translation of what Seacrest says on American Idol (Season 4). The single most annoying factor about Kamal is his lethargic delivery of the voter's results. In between five second pauses, he manages to squeeze out a single word in order to keep the contestants "in suspense". It's actually very boring because once the results are in, the only proper way to delay the announcement is to thrown in a series of advertisements in between saying "You're safe" or "You're in the bottom three". Kamal, who lacks the charisma of Seacrest, itakes all the time in the world and manages to come up with really corny lines - "You......are......not......going..........home......today..........." - and believe it or not, he says this to each and every contestant save the one who gets voted off. I have never wanted to see advertisements interrupt a program more than when I have to listen to Kamal announce the name of the unlucky chap who is headed home.
Kudos to the producers for choosing twelve excellent contestants for the final - and it is a wonderful opportunity for young singers to be discovered and I hope it will continue next year as well. Just one condition - find a new host!!
The producers have changed the format of the show - each round has a different panel of judges, most of whom are relevant to the kind of music used for each program (drama, pop, specific singer etc). The advice offered (mostly positive for all contestants) is quite constructive and unbiased in comparison to what Nirosha and Rukantha doled out before.
My one and only gripe - and it's a biggie - is about the host of the show - Kamal Addaraarachchi (sp??). Try as he might, the man is no Ryan Seacrest and is at least fifteen years too old to be a bubbly, talkative host of a reality tv show. SSS even as a red room (what a coincidence!) in which Kamal chats to the contestants before each steps onto the stage. Most of his dialogue is a direct Engish-to-Sinhala translation of what Seacrest says on American Idol (Season 4). The single most annoying factor about Kamal is his lethargic delivery of the voter's results. In between five second pauses, he manages to squeeze out a single word in order to keep the contestants "in suspense". It's actually very boring because once the results are in, the only proper way to delay the announcement is to thrown in a series of advertisements in between saying "You're safe" or "You're in the bottom three". Kamal, who lacks the charisma of Seacrest, itakes all the time in the world and manages to come up with really corny lines - "You......are......not......going..........home......today..........." - and believe it or not, he says this to each and every contestant save the one who gets voted off. I have never wanted to see advertisements interrupt a program more than when I have to listen to Kamal announce the name of the unlucky chap who is headed home.
Kudos to the producers for choosing twelve excellent contestants for the final - and it is a wonderful opportunity for young singers to be discovered and I hope it will continue next year as well. Just one condition - find a new host!!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
A Googley by Google
Typing in www.google.com now takes me to www.google.lk and offers the option of selecting either Sinhala or Tamil. I tried out Sinhala first and was stumped to find the Sinhala words were in fact written in English. For example: "soyanna" and " and my personal favorite "directoriya" - what's up with that?! The Tamil version is much better because a Tamil font is used. Couldn't Google get a Sinhala font? There are at least a dozen available out there free of charge.
Now that Google censors the content on Google's China web site, it appears that all Google.com pages have become country specific. Looks like Big Brother is keeping an eye on web activities here in Sri Lanka as well.................
I use http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/ (saved as a bookmark) instead of Google.com - it's more convenient that the basic search engine page.
Now that Google censors the content on Google's China web site, it appears that all Google.com pages have become country specific. Looks like Big Brother is keeping an eye on web activities here in Sri Lanka as well.................
I use http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/ (saved as a bookmark) instead of Google.com - it's more convenient that the basic search engine page.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
An Old Greeting Card That Never Fails to Amuse Me
I first received this card about eight years ago and I still find it funny!
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
What if Santa Answered his Mail Honestly ?
Dear Santa I wud lik a kool toy spase ranjur fer Xmas. Iv ben a gud
boy all yeer.
Yer Frend,
BiLLy
Dear Billy,
Nice spelling. You're on your way to a career in lawn care. How about I
send you a frigging book called a dictionary, so you can learn to read
and write? I'm giving your older brother the space ranger. At least HE
can spell .
Santa
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Santa,
I have been a good girl all year, and the only thing I ask for is Peace
and joy in the world for everybody!
Love, Sarah
Dear Sarah,
Your parents smoked pot when they had you, didn't they?
Santa
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Santa,
I don't know if you can do this, but for Christmas, I'd like for my
Mommy and daddy to get back together. Please see what you can do.
Love, Teddy
Dear Teddy,
Look, your dad's banging the babysitter like a screen door in a
hurricane. Do you think he's gonna give that up to come back to your
frigid mom, who rides his a** constantly? It's time to give up that
dream. Let me get you some nice Legos instead.
Santa
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Santa,
I left milk and cookies for you under the tree, and I left carrots for
your reindeer outside the back door.
Love, Susan
Dear Susan,
Milk gives me the runs and carrots make the deer fart in my face when
riding in the sleigh. You want to do me a favor?
Leave me a bottle of scotch.
Santa
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Santa,
I really really want a puppy this year. Please please please PLEASE
PLEASE could I have one?
Timmy
Timmy,
That whiney begging sh** may work with your folks, but that crap
doesn't work with me. You're getting a sweater again.
Santa
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dearest Santa,
We don't have a chimney in our house, how do you get into our house?
Love, Marky
Mark,
First, stop calling yourself "Marky", that's why you're getting your
a** whipped at school.
Second, you don't live in a house, you live in a low-rent apartment
complex.
Third, I get inside your pad just like all the burglars do, through
your bedroom window.
Sweet Dreams,
Santa
boy all yeer.
Yer Frend,
BiLLy
Dear Billy,
Nice spelling. You're on your way to a career in lawn care. How about I
send you a frigging book called a dictionary, so you can learn to read
and write? I'm giving your older brother the space ranger. At least HE
can spell .
Santa
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Santa,
I have been a good girl all year, and the only thing I ask for is Peace
and joy in the world for everybody!
Love, Sarah
Dear Sarah,
Your parents smoked pot when they had you, didn't they?
Santa
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Santa,
I don't know if you can do this, but for Christmas, I'd like for my
Mommy and daddy to get back together. Please see what you can do.
Love, Teddy
Dear Teddy,
Look, your dad's banging the babysitter like a screen door in a
hurricane. Do you think he's gonna give that up to come back to your
frigid mom, who rides his a** constantly? It's time to give up that
dream. Let me get you some nice Legos instead.
Santa
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Santa,
I left milk and cookies for you under the tree, and I left carrots for
your reindeer outside the back door.
Love, Susan
Dear Susan,
Milk gives me the runs and carrots make the deer fart in my face when
riding in the sleigh. You want to do me a favor?
Leave me a bottle of scotch.
Santa
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Santa,
I really really want a puppy this year. Please please please PLEASE
PLEASE could I have one?
Timmy
Timmy,
That whiney begging sh** may work with your folks, but that crap
doesn't work with me. You're getting a sweater again.
Santa
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dearest Santa,
We don't have a chimney in our house, how do you get into our house?
Love, Marky
Mark,
First, stop calling yourself "Marky", that's why you're getting your
a** whipped at school.
Second, you don't live in a house, you live in a low-rent apartment
complex.
Third, I get inside your pad just like all the burglars do, through
your bedroom window.
Sweet Dreams,
Santa
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
When I am Alone in the Office.....
I wonder...
1) Why don't Dominoe's and Pizza Hut have a better selection for vegetarians? How much Simply Veg and Mexican Veg pizza could a person eat over and over again? Who is the genius who came up with Spicy Veg pizza? Chick peas and beans do not belong on pizza crust, dammit!!
2) Why do pastry shops (Fab, Sponge) sell rich cake with only 1mm of almond icing? If I had the patience, I could ground some cashew with icing sugar, add some almond flavour and ice the cake myself.
3) How can so many kids (age 16 and under) afford the latest mobile phones? The new models cost Rs. 50,000 (USD 500) and more. When I was sixteen, I had to save all my pennies just to upgrade my computer for a mere Rs. 10,000.
4) Why are main roads in Colombo and its suburbs invaded by security forces each time a Member of Parliament decides to go shopping or to pray or whatever? Do their needs to buy potatoes or receive divine blessings supersede ours?
5) Why do people who claim to be "crazy about kids" balk when invited to visit an orphanage?
6) Do spammers have lives?
7) Why do people who do not have to wear prescription contact lenses use colored ones?
8) Exactly how safe is it to invite a door-to-door salesman into your home, especially when you know he has two bags of knives? I know people who fling open their doors and welcome these men who carry an impressive collection of knives in plain sight. I could never do that - somehow I feel more comfortable buying knives in a store. Maybe it's because I've been watching CSI for so many years
I wish.....
1) I had requested leave on Friday and Thursday like the rest of my colleagues.
2) I had smuggled my TV into office yesterday (Monday)
3) Coldplay had done a better job on X:Y - it's so mediocre (and one of two CDs in the office right now)
4) I get more pieces of Christmas cake by Wednesday because I get hungry every now and then and all I can get delivered to my office is pizza (see above)
5) Chocolate coated almonds were easily obtainable in Colombo
6) Movies like King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia and Munich are screened at either Savoy or Majestic Cinema.
7) I win the SLT quiz thingy - those Sony VAIO notebooks are hot!!
8) I can find The Chronicles of Narnia amongst my old and extremely dusty collection of books before I watch the movie.
9) I had more single friends - the married ones are so boringly normal they drive me nuts.
10) The next one hour would just fly by so I can go home and watch some DVDs
1) Why don't Dominoe's and Pizza Hut have a better selection for vegetarians? How much Simply Veg and Mexican Veg pizza could a person eat over and over again? Who is the genius who came up with Spicy Veg pizza? Chick peas and beans do not belong on pizza crust, dammit!!
2) Why do pastry shops (Fab, Sponge) sell rich cake with only 1mm of almond icing? If I had the patience, I could ground some cashew with icing sugar, add some almond flavour and ice the cake myself.
3) How can so many kids (age 16 and under) afford the latest mobile phones? The new models cost Rs. 50,000 (USD 500) and more. When I was sixteen, I had to save all my pennies just to upgrade my computer for a mere Rs. 10,000.
4) Why are main roads in Colombo and its suburbs invaded by security forces each time a Member of Parliament decides to go shopping or to pray or whatever? Do their needs to buy potatoes or receive divine blessings supersede ours?
5) Why do people who claim to be "crazy about kids" balk when invited to visit an orphanage?
6) Do spammers have lives?
7) Why do people who do not have to wear prescription contact lenses use colored ones?
8) Exactly how safe is it to invite a door-to-door salesman into your home, especially when you know he has two bags of knives? I know people who fling open their doors and welcome these men who carry an impressive collection of knives in plain sight. I could never do that - somehow I feel more comfortable buying knives in a store. Maybe it's because I've been watching CSI for so many years
I wish.....
1) I had requested leave on Friday and Thursday like the rest of my colleagues.
2) I had smuggled my TV into office yesterday (Monday)
3) Coldplay had done a better job on X:Y - it's so mediocre (and one of two CDs in the office right now)
4) I get more pieces of Christmas cake by Wednesday because I get hungry every now and then and all I can get delivered to my office is pizza (see above)
5) Chocolate coated almonds were easily obtainable in Colombo
6) Movies like King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia and Munich are screened at either Savoy or Majestic Cinema.
7) I win the SLT quiz thingy - those Sony VAIO notebooks are hot!!
8) I can find The Chronicles of Narnia amongst my old and extremely dusty collection of books before I watch the movie.
9) I had more single friends - the married ones are so boringly normal they drive me nuts.
10) The next one hour would just fly by so I can go home and watch some DVDs
Secrets to Living Well
The following article is from CNN
(CNN) -- We asked readers to share their secrets for living well and received many wonderful tales. Whether it's using your mind to cure what ails you or just making sure to laugh and smile -- you'll find some ideas that might help see you through the decades. Here is a sampling of responses, some of which have been edited for clarity and length.
Mind over body
I always use my mind to control my body. I have had AIDS since November 1993. I always picture in my mind a scene of me running a marathon or climbing a high mountain. I figure if you can give yourself a heart attack with worry and stress then you must be able to reverse it also using the same mind. Your life and health is a reflection of what you are thinking, including the subconscious mind. So always think positive thoughts of a healthy life and almost by magic your body will respond accordingly. Try it! What have you got to lose except some hefty medical bills!
Jerry Avila, Dallas, Texas
Live and let live. Disapproving of the choices that others make will drain your vitality. Develop friendships with kind, fun-loving people of all ages. Rescue stray animals. Go out of your way to be kind to other humans. Making life easier for others will make your life richer and more meaningful.
Teresa Thomason, Athens, Georgia
I'm 56 and look and feel like I'm in my mid-40s. My secret, I believe, is good genes for one, drink lots of water, exercise and think young. That doesn't necessarily mean dress inappropriately for your age, but to keep your mind active, stay in tune to what is going on in the world and try to stay as "flexible" as possible in mind and body.
HB, Oceanside, California
I'm 84 and can't believe it. I sustained a spinal cord injury in 1989 and, while I lost mobility, I gained insight into what's important in life. My appreciation of my mental acumen and to appreciate the physical functions I still have. Family and good friends loom very big, AND MY COMPUTER.
Beatrice Rosenberg, Shrewsbury, New Jersey
All things in balance
Life is like a seesaw: when one end is weighted down with negative circumstances, it must be balanced with happiness. Do whatever it is that brings you joy. I write, read, and, at the moment, sew quilts. The many colors and the creative high it gives me is a good balance for whatever negatives life may bring me.
Johanna Brewer, Sherman, Texas
Fad diets are never the way to go in order to maintain a healthy weight and overall health. All types of food and even desserts in moderation are the only way to go. After all, a little fat in the diet helps people digest meals better. It's the way our bodies were intended to be run. Exercise should be fun and rewarding as well as a good stress reliever. But above all, a positive mental attitude, enthusiasm, and perseverance in everything you do are the key to good health and a good life!
Alison Hall, McLean, Virginia
I think to live well we must have balance in our lives. Positive energy should be created from faith, daily self-introspection, and good nutritional and fitness habits. Practiced on a daily basis, we can continue to feel good about ourselves; thus giving us zeal to live a long, healthy life.
John Harrison, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Avoiding stress
The secret is to get up early, do some form of exercise, running preferred, and free your life of stress...stress is the killer. And stay away from Big Macs and Whoppers.
Stephen Swafford, North Lauderdale, Florida
In our pursuit to find the answers to all our problems in science we forget that a lot of things are, in fact, in our control.
I was suffering from a stomach ailment for a very long time and the high flying doctor that I used to consult put me on all kinds of medicines for a year. Finally I got fed up and consulted another doctor, who ran a couple of tests and said that there was no way medicines could solve my problems and asked me to work on ways to reduce stress. Over a period of time I worked on reducing my stress levels and noticed that it did make a difference.
Sinosh Nair, Mumbai, India
Just good advice
-Walk instead of driving.
-Take the stairs instead of the escalator.
-Drink tea instead of coffee.
-Drink wine instead of beer.
-Stretch while waiting in line.
Kathleen, Montreal, Quebec
An enjoyable job, a loving wife and weekly sex.
John Percival, Phoenix, Arizona
Never smoke. Drink only moderately. Keep working, read as much as you can. Laugh a lot, and don't take yourself so seriously. Make young friends and marry a younger man!! He'll keep you in shape, one way or another!!
F. Pollard, Peoria, Illinois
Water is the key
I haven't been sick in years and I believe it's due to the fact that I drink more water. Drink plain water -- not sodas, sweet juices or flavored drinks -- just plain water. Not very many people know that when you are thirsty, that is the point you are dehydrated. You should never feel thirst to stay healthy. I've been doing it for years and now am proud to say I've avoided getting colds, the flu or other illness at my ripe old age of 52. If you drink coffee, make sure you drink a glass of water before and another one about one hour later.
Ana Calderon, Montebello, California
Keeping a good sense of humor
I walk three miles almost every day on gently rolling slopes in my neighborhood with a group of friends who have a terrific sense of humor. Besides the humor, we counsel one another and gossip. It's called Walk Talk and nothing leaves the walk. It takes about an hour and then we disperse for the day. I wouldn't miss the camaraderie for anything. Lucille, Wimberley, Texas
My secret for a healthier and happy life is to not take life so seriously. Try to stay in a relaxed and happy mood. Smile and laugh as much as you can. Trust me, it will work!
Adriana Ramirez, Rosemead, California
My advice for living well is to laugh often (deep belly laughs)! Engage in regular exercise that is enjoyable, not tedious (I bike, rollerblade, ski, do yoga, and spin class) at least 5-6 days a week. Eat well, but in moderation. Learn something new whenever you can. Travel and see the world. Have at least one cat. Stay out of the sun and take your vitamins. Have a few good friends that you can talk about anything with. Love your children and your partner with your whole heart.
Susan Miller, Warwick, New York
I don't sleep for two or three days straight and instead read hundreds of pages of law casebooks. Then, instead of walking every day, I drive four blocks to the law building, where I drink a cup of coffee and have Pop-Tarts (which are highly valued for their antioxidant qualities). Then...oh, wait. Did you say, "living well?" I'm a 27-year-old law student. I don't know anything about living well. Sorry to bother everyone. Carry on.
Tyler, Iowa City, Iowa
(CNN) -- We asked readers to share their secrets for living well and received many wonderful tales. Whether it's using your mind to cure what ails you or just making sure to laugh and smile -- you'll find some ideas that might help see you through the decades. Here is a sampling of responses, some of which have been edited for clarity and length.
Mind over body
I always use my mind to control my body. I have had AIDS since November 1993. I always picture in my mind a scene of me running a marathon or climbing a high mountain. I figure if you can give yourself a heart attack with worry and stress then you must be able to reverse it also using the same mind. Your life and health is a reflection of what you are thinking, including the subconscious mind. So always think positive thoughts of a healthy life and almost by magic your body will respond accordingly. Try it! What have you got to lose except some hefty medical bills!
Jerry Avila, Dallas, Texas
Live and let live. Disapproving of the choices that others make will drain your vitality. Develop friendships with kind, fun-loving people of all ages. Rescue stray animals. Go out of your way to be kind to other humans. Making life easier for others will make your life richer and more meaningful.
Teresa Thomason, Athens, Georgia
I'm 56 and look and feel like I'm in my mid-40s. My secret, I believe, is good genes for one, drink lots of water, exercise and think young. That doesn't necessarily mean dress inappropriately for your age, but to keep your mind active, stay in tune to what is going on in the world and try to stay as "flexible" as possible in mind and body.
HB, Oceanside, California
I'm 84 and can't believe it. I sustained a spinal cord injury in 1989 and, while I lost mobility, I gained insight into what's important in life. My appreciation of my mental acumen and to appreciate the physical functions I still have. Family and good friends loom very big, AND MY COMPUTER.
Beatrice Rosenberg, Shrewsbury, New Jersey
All things in balance
Life is like a seesaw: when one end is weighted down with negative circumstances, it must be balanced with happiness. Do whatever it is that brings you joy. I write, read, and, at the moment, sew quilts. The many colors and the creative high it gives me is a good balance for whatever negatives life may bring me.
Johanna Brewer, Sherman, Texas
Fad diets are never the way to go in order to maintain a healthy weight and overall health. All types of food and even desserts in moderation are the only way to go. After all, a little fat in the diet helps people digest meals better. It's the way our bodies were intended to be run. Exercise should be fun and rewarding as well as a good stress reliever. But above all, a positive mental attitude, enthusiasm, and perseverance in everything you do are the key to good health and a good life!
Alison Hall, McLean, Virginia
I think to live well we must have balance in our lives. Positive energy should be created from faith, daily self-introspection, and good nutritional and fitness habits. Practiced on a daily basis, we can continue to feel good about ourselves; thus giving us zeal to live a long, healthy life.
John Harrison, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Avoiding stress
The secret is to get up early, do some form of exercise, running preferred, and free your life of stress...stress is the killer. And stay away from Big Macs and Whoppers.
Stephen Swafford, North Lauderdale, Florida
In our pursuit to find the answers to all our problems in science we forget that a lot of things are, in fact, in our control.
I was suffering from a stomach ailment for a very long time and the high flying doctor that I used to consult put me on all kinds of medicines for a year. Finally I got fed up and consulted another doctor, who ran a couple of tests and said that there was no way medicines could solve my problems and asked me to work on ways to reduce stress. Over a period of time I worked on reducing my stress levels and noticed that it did make a difference.
Sinosh Nair, Mumbai, India
Just good advice
-Walk instead of driving.
-Take the stairs instead of the escalator.
-Drink tea instead of coffee.
-Drink wine instead of beer.
-Stretch while waiting in line.
Kathleen, Montreal, Quebec
An enjoyable job, a loving wife and weekly sex.
John Percival, Phoenix, Arizona
Never smoke. Drink only moderately. Keep working, read as much as you can. Laugh a lot, and don't take yourself so seriously. Make young friends and marry a younger man!! He'll keep you in shape, one way or another!!
F. Pollard, Peoria, Illinois
Water is the key
I haven't been sick in years and I believe it's due to the fact that I drink more water. Drink plain water -- not sodas, sweet juices or flavored drinks -- just plain water. Not very many people know that when you are thirsty, that is the point you are dehydrated. You should never feel thirst to stay healthy. I've been doing it for years and now am proud to say I've avoided getting colds, the flu or other illness at my ripe old age of 52. If you drink coffee, make sure you drink a glass of water before and another one about one hour later.
Ana Calderon, Montebello, California
Keeping a good sense of humor
I walk three miles almost every day on gently rolling slopes in my neighborhood with a group of friends who have a terrific sense of humor. Besides the humor, we counsel one another and gossip. It's called Walk Talk and nothing leaves the walk. It takes about an hour and then we disperse for the day. I wouldn't miss the camaraderie for anything. Lucille, Wimberley, Texas
My secret for a healthier and happy life is to not take life so seriously. Try to stay in a relaxed and happy mood. Smile and laugh as much as you can. Trust me, it will work!
Adriana Ramirez, Rosemead, California
My advice for living well is to laugh often (deep belly laughs)! Engage in regular exercise that is enjoyable, not tedious (I bike, rollerblade, ski, do yoga, and spin class) at least 5-6 days a week. Eat well, but in moderation. Learn something new whenever you can. Travel and see the world. Have at least one cat. Stay out of the sun and take your vitamins. Have a few good friends that you can talk about anything with. Love your children and your partner with your whole heart.
Susan Miller, Warwick, New York
I don't sleep for two or three days straight and instead read hundreds of pages of law casebooks. Then, instead of walking every day, I drive four blocks to the law building, where I drink a cup of coffee and have Pop-Tarts (which are highly valued for their antioxidant qualities). Then...oh, wait. Did you say, "living well?" I'm a 27-year-old law student. I don't know anything about living well. Sorry to bother everyone. Carry on.
Tyler, Iowa City, Iowa
Friday, December 02, 2005
The Superficial.Com - TomKat
According to a post at The Superficial, TomKat are getting married next year, based on what Tom told Barbara Walters: "I do not have a film after Mission Impossible and that is a good time to get married." The writer's comments are a must read.
The Week That Was November 28th - December 2nd, 2005
I got some early Christmas gifts - Firefly and Queer as Folk DVDs and spent the last weekend busting my eyeballs watching every single episode of both. I couldn't see where I was going by Monday morning but managed to stagger into my office, looking quite stoned. Of course, I was alcohol-free but certainly didn't look it. Needed at least four cups of very strong coffee to make it through the e-mails and a couple of meetings. I need a detox this weekend for sure. I have been reading about juice fasting (for three days) and how it cleans up "the system". I have never tried out a liquid-only diet ever in my life, and with my constant running about, I don't know how long I was last by drinking lime, orange and mango juice alone. So I am going to start by one day at a time. Saturday is going to be Juice Day for me - and I am going to be very brave and try some spinach and celery juice as well.
Shopping at Odel turned out to be boring. There were so many people doing absolutely nothing but walking around, it was difficult to even walk up the stairs/elevator - hate it when that happens!! There were lights and other bling bling stuff all over the place - nice but nothing special. I'm going to pop by during office hours next week to avoid the crowds. I am so not a people person.....At least I got some decent t-shirts for myself. I keep a couple in the office as well, since I prefer to wear casual stuff when I don't have to meet with clients. Whoever deemed western office wear as mandatory for Sri Lankan offices deserves to be assigned to work in a cubby hole with no air conditioning and ventilation for a couple of months. I'm sure their minds will change, eventually....
Stopped by Cravings twice this week. I had Rum Fudge Slices, a Fruit Tart and an Eclair. All were nice and very reasonably priced. I wonder how Delifrance and Barista (which still has the best cappuccino in town) are going to compete with the prices of the new local pastry shops. At Deli, a veggie sandwich in a croissant costs a whopping Rs.225 odd rupees and a watermelon juice is around Rs.100. Roots has a better selection of fruit juices (very generous portions too) at much less (around Rs 40 - 80).
Coming back to DVDs, the one I am really lusting for is CSI: Season 5 - it has an ETA of December 20th. Until then, I have to make do with AXN's CSI Sunday marathon. I have developed a liking for Numb3rs - I like the interaction between the two brothers (one an FBI agent and the other a math whiz). The second most anticipated DVD is the first season of LOST. While the beefed up Matthew Fox is very impressive, I like watching Terry O'Quinn (terribly underused in the now-more-than-ever deteriorating ALIAS) showing off his acting chops.
Shopping at Odel turned out to be boring. There were so many people doing absolutely nothing but walking around, it was difficult to even walk up the stairs/elevator - hate it when that happens!! There were lights and other bling bling stuff all over the place - nice but nothing special. I'm going to pop by during office hours next week to avoid the crowds. I am so not a people person.....At least I got some decent t-shirts for myself. I keep a couple in the office as well, since I prefer to wear casual stuff when I don't have to meet with clients. Whoever deemed western office wear as mandatory for Sri Lankan offices deserves to be assigned to work in a cubby hole with no air conditioning and ventilation for a couple of months. I'm sure their minds will change, eventually....
Stopped by Cravings twice this week. I had Rum Fudge Slices, a Fruit Tart and an Eclair. All were nice and very reasonably priced. I wonder how Delifrance and Barista (which still has the best cappuccino in town) are going to compete with the prices of the new local pastry shops. At Deli, a veggie sandwich in a croissant costs a whopping Rs.225 odd rupees and a watermelon juice is around Rs.100. Roots has a better selection of fruit juices (very generous portions too) at much less (around Rs 40 - 80).
Coming back to DVDs, the one I am really lusting for is CSI: Season 5 - it has an ETA of December 20th. Until then, I have to make do with AXN's CSI Sunday marathon. I have developed a liking for Numb3rs - I like the interaction between the two brothers (one an FBI agent and the other a math whiz). The second most anticipated DVD is the first season of LOST. While the beefed up Matthew Fox is very impressive, I like watching Terry O'Quinn (terribly underused in the now-more-than-ever deteriorating ALIAS) showing off his acting chops.
Friday, November 25, 2005
The Week That Was November 21 - 25, 2005
After a mind numbingly boring week, I am going to drop by Odel later in the day to finally check out this "Bling It On" promotion they've got going. I've passed the store on my way to work everyday and thought "How very dull" each time I saw the billboards. I remember at one time the entire store was converted into a light blue castle - now that was impressive.
My shopping list is rather short - what I really want to get are those recycled elephant dung stationary packs to send out to my pals in the UK and US. Once I even got a wrapping paper made with the stuff. The recipient nearly gagged when she read the small print but being the pro-recycling, environmentally friendly person that she is, she soon got over it.
The one thing I like about Odel - and when I say like, I mean consistently - are the quality of the Odel T-shirts. Sure the sketched pictures of elephants, monkeys and porcupines and what not are very basic - yet the quality of the t shirts are very good. They last an amazingly long time - the black ones rarely ever fade and are available in a pretty decent size selection.
Been missing out on a lot of TV these days - as wonderful as cable channels are in repeating programs, I always miss the ones broadcast during the day. I have realised the price of a TV series box set here is actually not much lower than buying one in the US or Australia. There's also a very noticeable difference in the picture quality and sound. So when responding to requests on what I would like as a present/s for the season, I of course selected some stuff from Oz. Now I can just picture myself spending the last weekend of December glued to 22 episodes of at least five TV series.
Making a short trip to the bookstores on Saturday as well - I am going to provide exercise books for a group of kids at an orphanage. I usually give them food (rather unhealthy stuff like toffee and biscuits) but this time I wanted to set a better example and stuff. Since I take ages to make the packs (26 packs for 26 kids) I will be doing it gradually. I'm sure I'm going to be asked how come I don't give them sweet stuff anymore (brats!) but they will have to wait until next year for that.
For the first time in years, I won't have an annual bonus this year - what with my constant job hopping and all. On the bright side, I do get a substantial amount of paid leave and since I have managed to save my pennies this past couple of months, I can finally get that oh-so-cool Compaq laptop that I've been eyeing for awhile.
My shopping list is rather short - what I really want to get are those recycled elephant dung stationary packs to send out to my pals in the UK and US. Once I even got a wrapping paper made with the stuff. The recipient nearly gagged when she read the small print but being the pro-recycling, environmentally friendly person that she is, she soon got over it.
The one thing I like about Odel - and when I say like, I mean consistently - are the quality of the Odel T-shirts. Sure the sketched pictures of elephants, monkeys and porcupines and what not are very basic - yet the quality of the t shirts are very good. They last an amazingly long time - the black ones rarely ever fade and are available in a pretty decent size selection.
Been missing out on a lot of TV these days - as wonderful as cable channels are in repeating programs, I always miss the ones broadcast during the day. I have realised the price of a TV series box set here is actually not much lower than buying one in the US or Australia. There's also a very noticeable difference in the picture quality and sound. So when responding to requests on what I would like as a present/s for the season, I of course selected some stuff from Oz. Now I can just picture myself spending the last weekend of December glued to 22 episodes of at least five TV series.
Making a short trip to the bookstores on Saturday as well - I am going to provide exercise books for a group of kids at an orphanage. I usually give them food (rather unhealthy stuff like toffee and biscuits) but this time I wanted to set a better example and stuff. Since I take ages to make the packs (26 packs for 26 kids) I will be doing it gradually. I'm sure I'm going to be asked how come I don't give them sweet stuff anymore (brats!) but they will have to wait until next year for that.
For the first time in years, I won't have an annual bonus this year - what with my constant job hopping and all. On the bright side, I do get a substantial amount of paid leave and since I have managed to save my pennies this past couple of months, I can finally get that oh-so-cool Compaq laptop that I've been eyeing for awhile.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Sri Lanka Election 2005 - The Majority Has Spoken
And Mahinda is the winner by a very narrow margin. Now I'm going to spend the weekend pondering my options - do I really want to continue living in a country with M as president or am I going to be better off in another country? (obviously, I didn't vote for M in case you still had any doubts)
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Today I Vote For.............
Right now I am in office, merrily surfing the net and downloading/watching clips of US dramas and sitcoms that have not yet made to Asian cable TV channels because I am one of two employees who turned up for work today; another colleague who is also up to no good, eating at her desk and listening to music.
Since everyone I know has already dragged themselves to the polling booths scattered all over the country, I decided to go later in the evening. That way I get to have all the time I want to check out those pencils that are provided along with the ballot paper. I have always been fascinated with them. Each time I have cast my vote, I have tried to break the pencil point but it appears to be rock hard. I even tried to check out if it can be erased (my dad and grandad claim that it leaves a bluish or purplish color if the writing is rubbed off) by using my finger as an eraser but that just made some officials scowl ferociously in my direction.
I am not going to disclose who will receive my vote - I don't like either one of the two major candidates. They are both incompetent and surrounded by crooks. But then again voting for a man who wants to hand over a cow to every household isn't going to work for me either. So I shall vote for either Ranil or Mahinda, and hope that in 2009, a better candidate will present himself/herself so that I won't have to cringe at the prospect of marking an X near his/her name.
Since everyone I know has already dragged themselves to the polling booths scattered all over the country, I decided to go later in the evening. That way I get to have all the time I want to check out those pencils that are provided along with the ballot paper. I have always been fascinated with them. Each time I have cast my vote, I have tried to break the pencil point but it appears to be rock hard. I even tried to check out if it can be erased (my dad and grandad claim that it leaves a bluish or purplish color if the writing is rubbed off) by using my finger as an eraser but that just made some officials scowl ferociously in my direction.
I am not going to disclose who will receive my vote - I don't like either one of the two major candidates. They are both incompetent and surrounded by crooks. But then again voting for a man who wants to hand over a cow to every household isn't going to work for me either. So I shall vote for either Ranil or Mahinda, and hope that in 2009, a better candidate will present himself/herself so that I won't have to cringe at the prospect of marking an X near his/her name.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Generator Blog
The Generator Blog has a very descriptive title - "This blog is not about those machines used to change mechanical energy into electrical energy. It's about software that creates software. Software to play around and have fun with."
And fun it is...among the more entertaining generators available are:
1) Masturbation Synonym Generator
2) Ninja Burger Name Generator
3) Office Moron Generator
4) Victorian Sex Cry Generator
5) Vampire Name Generator
Some of them are quite useful:
1) E-mail Signature Generator (for yahoo, gmail and hotmail)
2) The Buzzword Generator (to confuse people who never refer a dictionary)
And fun it is...among the more entertaining generators available are:
1) Masturbation Synonym Generator
2) Ninja Burger Name Generator
3) Office Moron Generator
4) Victorian Sex Cry Generator
5) Vampire Name Generator
Some of them are quite useful:
1) E-mail Signature Generator (for yahoo, gmail and hotmail)
2) The Buzzword Generator (to confuse people who never refer a dictionary)
Random stuff for the 14th of November
I've been very busy at work - travelling to cities all across Sri Lanka and what not. So, in between a series of very short periods of rest, I noticed:
1) Odel has started its Christmas advertising campaign - those giant purple billboards at Lipton Circus are kind of hard to miss.
2) People who wear colored contact lenses are extremely annoying - mainly because their pupils are always dilated and they look stoned out of their minds. Try maintaining eye contact with them during a meeting/presentation.
3) Weather reports that tell me it may or may not rain really serve no purpose.
4) It's high time all these so called "society" magazines and newspaper features devote an entire page on cell phone etiquette. Sitting next to a very loud voiced gob talking about his personal life is just too much. Not to mention the people who are so very important they just have to keep their cell phones switched on during a movie and answer calls, while choosing the corniest polyphonic ring tone imaginable.
5) So there is not going to be a debate after all - not that I was looking forward to see Ranil and Mahinda trying to convince the public who would be a better Prez. I've already made up my mind on who is going to get my vote. It would have been fun to see the two have a couple of rounds of spewing verbal abuse at each other though.
6) Just received information about the roads that are going to be closed from tomorrow (15th) to the 18th, in and around Colombo. What the heck is that all about? Does the entire city have to resort to using alternative routes just for an election?
1) Odel has started its Christmas advertising campaign - those giant purple billboards at Lipton Circus are kind of hard to miss.
2) People who wear colored contact lenses are extremely annoying - mainly because their pupils are always dilated and they look stoned out of their minds. Try maintaining eye contact with them during a meeting/presentation.
3) Weather reports that tell me it may or may not rain really serve no purpose.
4) It's high time all these so called "society" magazines and newspaper features devote an entire page on cell phone etiquette. Sitting next to a very loud voiced gob talking about his personal life is just too much. Not to mention the people who are so very important they just have to keep their cell phones switched on during a movie and answer calls, while choosing the corniest polyphonic ring tone imaginable.
5) So there is not going to be a debate after all - not that I was looking forward to see Ranil and Mahinda trying to convince the public who would be a better Prez. I've already made up my mind on who is going to get my vote. It would have been fun to see the two have a couple of rounds of spewing verbal abuse at each other though.
6) Just received information about the roads that are going to be closed from tomorrow (15th) to the 18th, in and around Colombo. What the heck is that all about? Does the entire city have to resort to using alternative routes just for an election?
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
What's with all those personality/pyschometric tests employees are given promptly after recruitment? Apparently employers like to know what "Type" their employees belong to and MBTI is one of the most widely used "tests" used for this purpose. The Indicator is more of an inventory or psychocological instrument rather than a test (or so Personality Pathways says), which suggests right and wrong answers.
I had to do this several times - such is my employment record ;-) and I always got the same four letters at the end of it - INTJ.
A very detailed description of INTJ is available at Typelogic.
Over the years I have noticed the profile is quite accurate (especially regarding fields of employment and relationships) and then among the other stuff given on the Typelogic page , I found a list of INTJs in works of fiction:
Cassius (Julius Caesar)
Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
Gandalf the Grey (J. R. R. Tolkein's Middle Earth books)
Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)
Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes' nemesis
Ensign Ro (Star Trek--the Next Generation)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlet)
George Smiley, John le Carre's master spy
Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)
I had to do this several times - such is my employment record ;-) and I always got the same four letters at the end of it - INTJ.
A very detailed description of INTJ is available at Typelogic.
Over the years I have noticed the profile is quite accurate (especially regarding fields of employment and relationships) and then among the other stuff given on the Typelogic page , I found a list of INTJs in works of fiction:
Cassius (Julius Caesar)
Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
Gandalf the Grey (J. R. R. Tolkein's Middle Earth books)
Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)
Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes' nemesis
Ensign Ro (Star Trek--the Next Generation)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlet)
George Smiley, John le Carre's master spy
Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)
Weekend at the Movies - Review of Parineeta
Parineeta was written by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay who also wrote Devdas. In most of his work, Chattopadhyay often wrote aboutBengali society, its people and class structure.
In adapting the novel Parineeta, Vidhu Vinod Chopra changed the setting of the movie from turn-of-the-century to 1962, Calcutta. Narrated by Amitabh Bacchan, we are led straight into a wedding – complete with the colorful costumes, loud music, evenlouder singing and of course, the ever so slight hint that all may not be too well with the bridegroom Shekhar (Saif Ali Khan), resplendent in his "“dashing"” outfit. A brief visit next door in fact proves there is indeed a vibe of some sort between Shekhar and Lolita (Vidya Balan), a young woman who now appears to be married to someone else.
After a series of flashbacks, we learn that Shekhar and Lolita were childhood pals, from the time Lolita was adopted by her aunt and uncle (who lived next door to Shekhar) following her parent’s death. Though the family lived in a grand house, her uncle’s family was not wealthy and a ten-year-old Shekhar grants her access his pocket money, making the cupboard in his bedroom Lolita’s personal ATM machine.
The friendship proves to be a strong bond between the two until Shekhar’s father Nabin Roy (Sabyasachi Chakravarthy) – a very ruthless businessman, introduces his son to Gayatri, daughter of his business associate and Lolita catches the attention of Girish, a steel tycoon on holiday in Calcutta. After seeing Lolita in Girish’'s company in a series of events, Shehkar is consumed with jealousy in each instance. But after a mercifully short sequence of events, he finally confronts his feelings for Lolita, and it turns out she feels the same way about him(yay!)
Just when things appear to be turning out well, a ploy used by Roy senior to gain ownership of Lolita’s house backfires and leads to a series of misunderstandings, and the plot makes a neat 90-degree turn. To say more would reveal too much and what is mentioned below may qualify as spoilers.
I liked almost everything in this movie. That said, I am not a Hindi movie freak – I only watch films with English sub-titles and tend to avoid films with long song-and-dance routines (I find them very annoying). Parineeta has a wonderful soundtrack – a grand total of five songs, of which different versions are played very subtly in the background at various stages. (My favorite song was “Kasto Mazza” which is sung on a train)
Saif Ali Khan was amazing and perfect for the role of Shekhar Roy. Everyone else was superbly cast, including Sanjay Dutt (who is usually seen riding a motorcycle in a hailstorm of machine gun bullets and somehow emerging unscathed in all the movies he makes) as a latter day Lakshmi Mittal-like tycoon. The person who really made an impression was Vidya Balan - –reportedly Parineeta was her debut –and she’'s just fabulous. In the word’s of Jude Law'’s Alfie –"The girl is a “showstopper!" In an age when every other actress relies on a pair of false eyelashes, colored contact lenses and a total of six expressions to portray a character, Vidya Balan simply sails through the movie like she’'s been acting all her life.
There was just one scene in the movie that made me roll my eyes and that was the birdfeeder being used to break down the wall at the end of the movie. I mean, WTF??!! That wall turned out to be a pretty sturdy piece of bricks and cement, considering it was built in a single day. Shekhar first tried to kick it down, then used a shovel, an anvil and finally uprooted a birdfeeder before finally managing to break a few bricks and bring him closer to his beloved Lolita. That was such a Sanjay Leela Bhansali scene and it almost ruined an otherwise perfect movie for me.
Now on to the comparisons between Chopra’'s Parineeta and Bhansali’'s Devdas.....IMO Parineeta ranks several (meaning few dozen) levels higher than Devdas. At the end of Devdas, I was left reeling with two thoughts "“What the hell was all that about” and “I want those 200 odd minutes of my life back!” At the end of Parineeta, I was surprised it had all ended so quickly and at 130 minutes, this is one of the shortest Hindi films I have ever watched.
Bhansali’s over-the-top direction of Devdas weakened an already bad script and acting (and for those of you who insist Aishwarya is a great actress – get real, she’'s not) and made it a messy, loud and over long dancefest. I would not have really minded the same birdfeeder scene at the end of Devdas. It would have made more sense. Now that I have watched Parineeta, I can'’t help but wonder – if Paro (Aishwaray Rai) had spotted a birdfeeder in the garden whilst she was running towards the gate to see Devdas - who lay dying on the road outside, would she have uprooted the damn thing (a la Shekhar Roy) and smashed through the wall to be with Devdas as he breathed his last?
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Babel Fish - Boredom Buster
Babel Fish (based on the creature in Douglas Adam's brilliant Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy) from Alta Vista is a fairly accurate (tried the reverse translation as well and it made sense most of the time) multi-lingual translation thingy that keeps me entertained when I am bored. It has also helped me grasp some very helpful phrases in Italian, French and Spanish.
Here are some examples: (all translations were made from English to French, Italian etc)
1) Where am I?
Italian : Dove sono?
French : Où suis-je ?
Spanish : ¿Dónde estoy?
2) Where are you taking me, you crazy cab driver?
Italian : Dove state prendendolo, voi driver pazzesco della carrozza?
French : Où me prenez-vous, vous conducteur fou de cabine ?
Spanish : ¿Dónde usted me está tomando, usted conductor loco del taxi?
3) A salad with black olives and feta cheese, one glass red wine and mushroom risotto, please.
Italian : Un'insalata con le olive e formaggio di feta nero, un vino rosso di vetro e risotto del fungo, per favore
French : Une salade avec les olives et le feta noir, un vin rouge de verre et le risotto de champignon, svp
Spanish : Una ensalada con las aceitunas y queso de queso Feta negro, un vino rojo de cristal y risotto de la seta, por favor
4) Football is such a waste of time.
Italian : Il gioco del calcio è un tal spreco di tempo.
French : Le football est une telle perte de temps.
Spanish : El balompié es tal pérdida de tiempo.
5) ET phone home
Italian : ET telefono domestico
French : ET téléphone à la maison
Spanish : ET teléfono casero
6) Go ahead, make my day
Italian : Vada avanti, faccia il mio giorno
French : Allez-y, faites mon jour
Spanish : Vaya a continuación, haga mi día
7) I'll be back
Italian : Sarò indietro
French : Je serai de retour
Spanish : Estaré detrás
8) Welcome to the Caribbean
Italian : Benvenuto ai Caraibi
French : Bienvenue vers les Caraïbes
Spanish : Recepción al Caribe
9) Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn
Italian : Franco il mio caro, non dò una maledizione
French : Franchement mon cher, je ne me soucie guère
Spanish : Franco mi querido, no doy una maldición
10) I would never call you a rat. I'm your best friend.
Italian : Mai non li denominerei un ratto. Sono il vostro amico migliore.
French : Je ne vous appellerais jamais un rat. Je suis votre meilleur ami.
Spanish : Nunca le llamaría una rata. Soy su mejor amigo.
Here are some examples: (all translations were made from English to French, Italian etc)
1) Where am I?
Italian : Dove sono?
French : Où suis-je ?
Spanish : ¿Dónde estoy?
2) Where are you taking me, you crazy cab driver?
Italian : Dove state prendendolo, voi driver pazzesco della carrozza?
French : Où me prenez-vous, vous conducteur fou de cabine ?
Spanish : ¿Dónde usted me está tomando, usted conductor loco del taxi?
3) A salad with black olives and feta cheese, one glass red wine and mushroom risotto, please.
Italian : Un'insalata con le olive e formaggio di feta nero, un vino rosso di vetro e risotto del fungo, per favore
French : Une salade avec les olives et le feta noir, un vin rouge de verre et le risotto de champignon, svp
Spanish : Una ensalada con las aceitunas y queso de queso Feta negro, un vino rojo de cristal y risotto de la seta, por favor
4) Football is such a waste of time.
Italian : Il gioco del calcio è un tal spreco di tempo.
French : Le football est une telle perte de temps.
Spanish : El balompié es tal pérdida de tiempo.
5) ET phone home
Italian : ET telefono domestico
French : ET téléphone à la maison
Spanish : ET teléfono casero
6) Go ahead, make my day
Italian : Vada avanti, faccia il mio giorno
French : Allez-y, faites mon jour
Spanish : Vaya a continuación, haga mi día
7) I'll be back
Italian : Sarò indietro
French : Je serai de retour
Spanish : Estaré detrás
8) Welcome to the Caribbean
Italian : Benvenuto ai Caraibi
French : Bienvenue vers les Caraïbes
Spanish : Recepción al Caribe
9) Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn
Italian : Franco il mio caro, non dò una maledizione
French : Franchement mon cher, je ne me soucie guère
Spanish : Franco mi querido, no doy una maldición
10) I would never call you a rat. I'm your best friend.
Italian : Mai non li denominerei un ratto. Sono il vostro amico migliore.
French : Je ne vous appellerais jamais un rat. Je suis votre meilleur ami.
Spanish : Nunca le llamaría una rata. Soy su mejor amigo.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Dinner at Peach Valley
Peach Valley is one of the best Chinese restaurants in Colombo and one of the few places a vegetarian (not all that strict, but I do try) can have a great meal.
Over the years (Peach Valley is about five years old now) I have tried out all the veggie options and the following are now my favorites:
1) Chili Garlic Tofu
Silken tofu cubes in a very light non-oily sauce - quite spicy and don't let the colour fool you, in spite of the flakes of red chillies, it is not too hot. The garlic flavour is mild, not overpowering.
2) Mock Duck
This is my all time favourite dish at Peach Valley. I have no idea what duck really tastes like, but I just love Mock Duck. It's made with flour and marinated in possible a dozen spices and flavours and served with a very heavy onion/soy sauce.
3) Mixed Mushrooms
Another dish served along with garlic sauce, the mushrooms are a very lightly sauteed and taste amazing. There are at least three varieties served and my personal favourite are the button mushrooms.
4) Spicy Prawns
On the rare days I feel like eating seafood, I order prawns. As spicy and juicy as the prawns served are, they are really really tiny. I mean minuscule. It's still a great choice though and goes really well with the tofu.
Vegetable Fried Rice (with egg) is the perfect choice for each of the above - and a word of caution - a "Small" portion (both rice and vegetables) at Peach Valley is more than sufficient for three adults.
Over the years (Peach Valley is about five years old now) I have tried out all the veggie options and the following are now my favorites:
1) Chili Garlic Tofu
Silken tofu cubes in a very light non-oily sauce - quite spicy and don't let the colour fool you, in spite of the flakes of red chillies, it is not too hot. The garlic flavour is mild, not overpowering.
2) Mock Duck
This is my all time favourite dish at Peach Valley. I have no idea what duck really tastes like, but I just love Mock Duck. It's made with flour and marinated in possible a dozen spices and flavours and served with a very heavy onion/soy sauce.
3) Mixed Mushrooms
Another dish served along with garlic sauce, the mushrooms are a very lightly sauteed and taste amazing. There are at least three varieties served and my personal favourite are the button mushrooms.
4) Spicy Prawns
On the rare days I feel like eating seafood, I order prawns. As spicy and juicy as the prawns served are, they are really really tiny. I mean minuscule. It's still a great choice though and goes really well with the tofu.
Vegetable Fried Rice (with egg) is the perfect choice for each of the above - and a word of caution - a "Small" portion (both rice and vegetables) at Peach Valley is more than sufficient for three adults.
Friday, October 07, 2005
Daily Orange Article on Jon Stewart
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is not just a fake news show - it's probably the most accurate and blunt program on US news broadcast on television today. For those of you who missed out on Stewart's appearance on "Crossfire" - a clip of the show can be downloaded at Photo Matt's blog.
Best E-mail Provider To Date
Of all the free web based e-mail services I have used (and that includes Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, Hushmail, Wildmail, Rocketmail and some others which have long been shut down) Fastmail is definitely the most user friendly and fastest. Seriously.
It's been three and a half years since I signed up for an account and no complaints so far. The mailbox limit (10MB) is much less than Gmail - and I use it exclusively for messages only. On the plus side, Fastmail constantly improves its service and is very easy to access even on the slowest connection - including dial up connections.
It's been three and a half years since I signed up for an account and no complaints so far. The mailbox limit (10MB) is much less than Gmail - and I use it exclusively for messages only. On the plus side, Fastmail constantly improves its service and is very easy to access even on the slowest connection - including dial up connections.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Odel's New Poster Boy
I like being neutral when it comes to politics here in Sri Lanka but damn, this is one fine picture.
So I'm a Democrat, huh?
| You are a Social Liberal (61% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (26% permissive) You are best described as a:
The Politics Test |
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Early Morning Surprise
Whilst walking along Galle Road this morning, I heard someone say "You dropped something". I turned to find a bus conducter gesturing wildly at the pavement behind me. I looked but didn't see anything spectacular. Just as I was turning away, the guy leapt off the bus and picked up a currency note off the pavement and handed it over to me, saying it had fallen out of my book as I was walking. I was really impressed, considering the bad rep most Sri Lankan bus conducters have.......
It really made my day.
Firefox Themes
After using Firefox with its default theme for....well, ever - I finally changed it to Noia 2.0. This is one fancy theme, let me tell you. The colors/icons are pretty cool. I was tempted to install Scribblies Kids - but it was a tad too colourful.
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