Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows -1

Just back from watching HP7 ... My take on it...

Nice effects...the movie was quite close to the books but still quite a bit left out....

Not as good as the previous movies in my opinion..., The film dragged at places, the actors looked stiff in some parts....

never emotionally connected with the characters unlike the earlier ones.....

Somehow Voldemort and his death eaters especially at the Malfoy Manor didn't seem scary enough....

But loved the wand fights...and the scene at the ministry where the Golden Trio use polyjuice potion and also the scene of  8 Potters...

All in all it was an okay watch....hoping the finale is more gripping...

My Widgets Love

My blogging journey has brought out the kid in the candy store/toy store in me....the reason : my fascination for widgets/gadgets.

I keep adding, modifying and discarding them right and left...Sadly this spree also has heartbreak moments ...

Like saying adios to Darth Vader and Aristotle quotes as they slowed down my page.... so much so that even I had to spend many blank, anxious moments before my page loaded...giving up Sudoku was hard for an game addict like me but I spent more time on solving it than typing useful (??? who am I kidding) words...

But some stayed on like old friends who never quite exit from our lives....some ego boosting that show how much we are liked...some that tell the world that happens to peep in, what we believe in....

All in all they make up our blog as much as personal input does...

Its takes just a jiffy to admire those creative souls who make the job of presenting an aesthetically pleasing blog into " the blog art for dummies" .

And me...I am off to add a bookshelf to my story blog...... ;D

The Young Teacher

                                                           

What is it about kids that makes us multifaceted and multitasking...recently I have become a horse, a dog, an elephant, Nemo even Sher khan (jungle book)  with sword fighting (read cricket bats) skills..
I have turned composer, on the spot story teller, walking talking dictionary...one swear word like shit and hell breaks loose...wonder if anyone knows the joys of being reprimanded by a 3 year old....
All in all , sometimes I feel I am back in school and at times like a 3 year old myself with fancy tricks up my sleeve....

Festivals And Holidays

Funny, its was Halloween in One part of the world last week and it will be festival of lights in another part this week....
Diwali is fond memories....waking up before dawn to burst crackers...new clothes that we paraded in...sweets gorged to the point of tummy aches...visitors galore...
those fun filled days are lost somewhere...
As I pass by the busy shoppers , the shops and malls.....it didn't feel good yet.....not till I booked for a family vacation....
Now I am truly in the holiday mood... off gallivanting ....
See you all in three weeks time...
by the way....don't forget my existence....


Like Arnie, I WILL BE BACK.......

euREKA Moments - 2

Situation :  

    Riders in India and many parts of Asia use their helmets as fashion accessories. The helmets are found everywhere on the bikes and Scooters as eye candy except the right spot - the head. Given the spate of accidents and their continual rise...

euREKA Moment : 

• Bravery awards newly constituted by the  Helmet Habits Association -

For those monitored rare species of riders who actual never fail to wear their helmets while navigating busy streets and highways.

• Bravery Awards by the Pedestrians Safety Forum -

For those hardy and lion hearted walkers who dare to step on pavements and footpaths on the thoroughfares frequented by helmet-less devils in leather. 

euREKA Moments - 1

Situation : Analysis of the recently concluded Commonwealth Games revealed that the Indian Railways candidates accounted for 25 of the 101medals won (13 of 38 gold) and 92 of the 495 participants were on its payroll.


euREKA moment : 

The latest Indian Railways job applications will contain two new columns -
Question: Capable of winning "choose one or more options"

• CWG                     Gold
• ASIAN Games  Silver
• WORLD MEET Bronze
• OLYMPICS        Finalist

    2.    Based on qualifications "choose" one  joining bonus :

• Professionals                                    CWG Gold Medal
• 10 or more years of experience CWG Silver Medal
• Sportpersons in training             CWG Bronze Medal.

Bombay Musings

This picture made me nostalgic for the city that was my home for over 27 years(good luck to guessing my age).Moving to a second tier city has me thinking quite often on the pros and cons of living in a megapolis(by Indian standards).
Blame it on the fact that "you can take a person out of Bombay but not Bombay out of the person", but the pros far outweigh the cons (at least for me).

The Pros obviously being:

• An absolutely cosmopolitan city (mini India, if you will) respecting traditions but with a heavy western influence.The exposure to different ethnic group practises and cultures really opens your mind to the diverse yet similar nature of us - homo sapiens.
• The freedom to follow your dreams big and small(yes even illegal, immoral ones), the immense opportunity available, for starters.
• Where one's individuality and personal space is valued(the fact that time is money may have a lot to do with it).
• The varied avenues of entertainment for all ages(and before you protest), countless beaches, A national park, mini parks all over.
• Relatively safer place for women and collaborator in their empowerment.
• Good and intelligent use of science and technology tempered with Eco friendly ways.
• Where your religion, caste, race doesn't matter(98% of the time) in any sphere of life.
• Festivals and celebrations give community a whole new meaning.

I could have gone on all day and still not be finished...

Now for the Cons:

• Pollution and Blatant commercialisation
• You may have neighbours you may never interact for years with.
• Stark division between the wealthy and the not so, disregard for rules(especially teenagers).
• Increasing intolerance and xenophobic tendencies.
• Burgeoning population and inadequate infrastructure.
• Loneliness(elderly and the singletons) and lifestyle diseases, stressful lives.

As you can see, given a chance, I would catch the first available flight to Bombay, take everything the city throws my way..."Good, Bad And The Ugly" and never leave.

Well, as the Saying goes,"if wishes were horses,beggars would be kings". ;D 

Stubborn Innocence And White Lies

                                       


Was at the departmental store the other day and saw something both funny, endearing and that which made me sit up and think.

It was the antics of a cute 5/6 year old boy and his mom, out grocery shopping. I guess the mother in question promised him an ice cream of his choice if he helped her pick up stuff. I was on the opposite aisle and could hear the flow of words back and forth.

He would run around picking up small things within his reach and drop them off into the cart . each time asking his mom if he could pick up his ice cream. She would ask him to continue his errands.
After a point the shopping over, she proceeded to the check out counter expecting him to tail along. The smart  little one had other ideas. He plonked himself on the aisle floor and told her off loud enough for the other customers to hear of his intention of leaving the store not without the much promised goodies.Try she might, she never got him to budge till she bought him the offending food , redfaced and cursing under her breath...

The kid got what he wanted, the mother what she had come for. As they left, I couldn't help wonder if the seeds of deceit and disbelief is not sowed in our childhood. Would he grow learning the lesson too early in life, never to trust anyone's word or that it is alright to lie and make false promises as he saw his mother do. 
I wonder, as parents, what qualities and values are we inculcating in our children and should we not shoulder the blame when they turn up as carbon  copies of our own selves, with the very traits  we hate but were the one's who taught them....