Tuesday, April 25, 2006

My Computer

I finally got a cd writer. Now i will be able to rescue my computer from the excesses of virtual memory that I have dumped on it.
You know the saying, you will appreciate the full worth of something only when you are threatened with its loss? Well, interestingly and disturbingly, as I watched the computer person dissect my computer, it dawned on me just how much I love it. It was like watching someone operating on a loved one. I winced everytime he removed a part. And I forceably suppressed a sigh when he put in the writer and closed up the pc (? is that what its called? my knowledge of technical terms is not extensive by any stretch of imagination).

Which brings me to a related question. Is it wrong that we are now as attached to electronic media as we might be to a pet? That we would miss our computers as much as we would miss a departed friend? Or is it simply evidence of our sophistication? Is our emotional detachment from the human aspects of our life of no consequence?(by emotional detachment I am refering to extreme cases in which the subject lives and breathes virtual reality). Though a growing cause for concern, I think it is merely a side-effect of the life we all strive for. A life of sophistication, information, globalisation. It was bound to happen. One cannot be expected to give up an ideal to avoid a side-effect. Especially since it is an ideal that cannot be modified, a packaged deal; the addiction is a necessary part of it.

Another interesting thought...this could be (or perhaps already is) a potential source of income for psychologists. Not to mention philosophers (sardonic grin).

Essentially, as computers take over the planet, we will be sucked deeper and deeper into a world as wide as a plasma screen. Where the living and breathing will be pictures and downloadable media.

Dadadadaaaaaaaan.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Troy

Once again, it is 1:00 am, and I have just finished watching another "classic". Only this time, instead of screaming men, dwarves, hobbits, elves, trees and other miscellaneous creatures, I watched screaming men only (quite good-looking ones I might add) for around 3 hours. This is perhaps the 3rd time I have watched Troy. The first two times were great. I came away singing praises in the name of all things associated with Eric Bana (who played Hector). But somehow, this time, it failed to impress me.

Basically, the movie is about an epic fight between Greece and Troy. The battle of of all battles. Fought over the hand of the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen. Helen is the wife of the Greek king's brother. She runs away with the handsome playboy prince of Troy, Paris (played by Orlando Bloom). So, obviously, Greece goes to Troy to bring her back, and in the process, to add Troy to their vast empire. But to defeat the Trojans, they need the greatest warrior in known world, Achilles, who is played by none other than.....Brad Pitt. So, for all practical purposes, Achilles leads the Greeks into war against the Trojans who are lead by Hector; warrior prince and heir to the throne of Troy....confusing?

Which brings me to the actors. My favorite character by far was Hector. I think it is commendable the way Eric Bana managed to maintain his sex-appeal even while delivering all those cheezy dialogues. Hector had my sympathy and admiration through the whole movie. Achilles, Brad Pitt's character, only managed to give me an overpowering urge to reach into the tv screen and whack him over the head. Achilles is supposed to be the hero...someone the audience roots for. Apart from trying but failing utterly to talk in a British accent, Brad wears only one expression throughout the entire movie, and it isn't even a good one. Paris was simpering, and talked in a nauseatingly affected manner, but that was the way the character was supposed to be, and I think Orlando Bloom did a good job with that.

Ok..outstanding moments..well, there weren't too many. But I particularly liked the conversation between King Priam(of Troy), played by Peter O' Toole, and Achilles. Also, Priam's expression when he sees Troy burning and when he is stabbed to death by Agemmemnon, the Greek king. Hell, I loved all the Priam moments. But the best part was at the very end. With the background of a haunting, soulful Arabic mourning song, the following was said...

....let it be said that I lived in the time of Hector.......

....let it be said...that I lived in the time...of Achilles.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Bloody Dialects!

I find it very interesting how the same emotion is expressed in so many different ways in different places. For example, and unpleasant surprise in..

England it's Bloody Hell!
US it's Oh crap! or God!
India its invariably Shit!
In Italy it's Mama mia...(My mother) and so on.

The wierd habit of insulting people with refences to their blood...in what context i don't know, has of late been of interest to me. Presumably the amount that covers their exterior, but I can't be sure. I mean, how is that supposed to be offensive? Bloody idiot. In my book, being called an idiot would be offensive. But the prefix.....not so much.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

For those who procrastinate as often as I

The World Spins Madly On
by The Weepies

I woke up and wished that I was dead
With an aching in my head
I lay motionless in bed
I thought of you
And where you’d gone
Let the world spin madly on

And everything that I’d said I’d do
Like make the world brand new
And take the time for you
Just got lost
And stepped right through the dawn
And the world spins madly on.

And I let the day go round
And I always say good bye
I watch the stars from my windowsill
The whole world is moving
and I’m standing still

I woke up and wished that I was dead
With an aching in my head
I lay motionless in bed
The night is here
And the day is gone
And the world spins madly on

Thought of you
And where you’d gone
And the world spins madly on

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Before you die music updates

good morning! im arundhati murthy and here are today's music updates...

forty foot echo - drift
smashmouth - peace frog
modest mouse - the ocean breathes salty, 3rd planet
jason mraz - 0% interest
the weepies - world spins madly
carlos santana - just feel better
zero 7 - destiny

thank you for looking at today's music updates. this is arundhati murthy for random thoughts.

Monday, April 17, 2006

The Lord of the Snores

It's 1 in the morning and I just finished watching the third part of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I'd just like to say, that it may be a little slow watching the first 100 hours of the Lord of the Rings; your eyes may slide out of focus and you may start to drool a little...but towards the end of the 789th hour, things actually start to pick up. For me, the most outstanding moment was when the ring finally drops into the fires of Mordor. It symbolises how ultimately evil catches up with itself; it burns in the fires of a self-made inferno.
But seriously, this thing won a record-breaking 12(?) oscars. I mean, sure, the elf-princess looked a little cross-eyed, not to mention retarded, Frodo was made out to be some sort of glorified Achilles towards the end, and the humour was...well...let's just say that I have made better jokes than that. But all in all a good movie. Although if I had to pick between the book and the movie, I would pick the book every time.

And now, I'm sitting here and wondering why I took so long to make another post. I typically have a new one up atleast every other day. And I realize that its become a chore to make myself think of new things to write about. That suddenly, the neverending source from which I draw my sarcasm seems to be running out....maybe I should discontinue this blog? Gasp! Think not such treasonous thoughts my young friend. Do you not see yon light that shineth so brightly? Take hope in the novelty of a new day. Let that light shine apon you like a beacon of divinity that it may strengthen your weary mind and .....ok that's enough. For those of you who didn't get the satire, that was a play on the dialogues from The Lord of the Rings.

Haha! You thought you could actually escape my daily (almost) incomprehensible humour? NEVER!

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

The Kite Runner

Written by Khaled Hosseini, spread over a span of 35 years, The Kite Runner is about the life of Amir, a young Afghan. Young, motherless Amir longs for his father's affection. In an attempt to finally win his father's approval, he enters a kite-flying contest. Aided by his Hazara friend, Hasan, Amir wins. But that day is the day when Amir and Hassan's lives are to change forever. For that is the day when they comes face to face with evil, and leave childhood behind.
The Russians invade Afghanistan and Amir and his father flee to America. But the memory of what occured on that fateful day continues to haunt Amir untill he returns to Afghanistan to face his fears.

Through the eyes of a spectator, Hosseini tells a tale of betrayal, guilt, love and redemption. He strikes a perfect balance between fact and emotion. He describes the socio-economic conditions in Afghanistan by example rather than directly. I admire his direct approach to the ugly side of human nature. I especially liked his interpretation of the Taliban - the fanatics and extreme patriots.

An awesome book - a real page turner. While reading it one experiences a depth of emotion similar to that felt while watching RDB. It will bring a lump to your throat, tears to your eyes, and a smile to your face. A tremendous story.

Friday, April 07, 2006

Trivial Ambiguities

There are a few things that confuse me.

Like where Aditi fits in the equation of divine geaneology. Aditi is supposed to be the mother of Hema, and the father of the Gods...which means that Hema is the Gods' first cousin and Aditi is Hema's uncle. So it follows that Aditi is her own brother...or sister depending on where you're starting from.
And apparently, she's married to the mother of the asuras who's gender is as yet undecided. So that makes the poor demon mater Hema's uncle, aunt, step-mother and step-father. Like-wise the Gods.

.... Chari's educational qualifications. She is supposed to have passed her MSc but she's incapable of doing 12th standard physics. She can't teach. She can't control the class. She can't even buy opaque blouses.

.... the school bus timings. Theoretically, the buses are supposed to leave at 1:00 when our classes end. But today they were supposedly waiting on teachers who were still working in the Comp Lab. Teachers who neither came nor existed.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Not in the mood to really write...

....so I'm going to make one of my boring lists. But not music this time, I promise. I am going to make irrational comparisons between our teachers and other animals(notice the conspicuous use of the word "other".)

1. Bio Lady...reminds me soooo much of a grass hopper. Because she almost always dresses in some shade of green or brown and also because her eyes are always so cold.

2. Chari....a cow. If you tilt your head to one side and close one of your eyes, you can almost see her chewing cud.

3. Math Lady....a pumpkin. Don't ask me why. The list is supposed to be irrational.

Hmm...actually I can't really think of anything the Chem or English Ladies remind me of, so I'm gonna end the list here.

Oh, I have to share this with the world. It had me in splits (actually, it had me in seizures, I don't think I am physically capable of doing a split. I've tried and it hurt) when I first heard it(from, guess who? Tara.)

Apparently, a year or so ago, some rowdies started creating trouble in front of our school. I think one their wives who was working at Kumarans and had left him, or some such thing. Anyway, they started spewing out colloquial curse words like a fountain (which I think were aimed at our beloved and most revered principal) and started throwing stones at the walls and stuff. All of this went ignored untill it had attracted a sizable crowd of students who proceeded to cheer them on as a nation would cheer its freedom fighters. It was at this juncture that Sundherkantha stepped in. Like a bespectacled Mahatma, she came, hand raised in a gesture of peace...and one of the guys knocked out her teeth.

Hahaha. She wore a hanky tied around her head to cover the front of her mouth for a week after that. It used to flutter when she spoke. I had seen her during this bandit queen phase, and I had heard of the local uprising...but I hadn't known the two were connected till now.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Typically American

Was looking for the lyrics of Numa Numa by Ozone, and I came across the English Translation. These were the comments that were written under it which i found hilarious. (Numa Numa is from the Chicken Little Soundtrack by the way.)


what the hell langugage was this in to begin with?

helloooo what language was it in its killing me

This song is in Romanian.

it is italian

tell me the lang.

plleeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeee eee

is it spanish?

hey! i dont understand a bit also but i still like it.Its coooooooooL

PAKISTANI!!!!!

its in f***ing Romanian u mindless idots!!!!

Its Romaian my coaches are Romanian and yah its that

ITS ROMOANIAN!!!!!

**ROMANIAN

i really want this song downloaded. Anyone wanna help me out? lol

i downloaded it using iMesh

in spanish this song is call pluma pluma gay =S

i can sing the song for real i just dont feel like typing it up on here -_-’

^_^ i totaly love the song!

What ever language its in its still fucking brill!

ITS GERMAN RETARDS I TAKE GERMAN

i heard dis song before. wit da fat dude singing

i heard dis be4 wit da fat dude singing

fat dude

btw, its roman dudes

Who sing this song

ITS FUKIN KILLING ME WHO SINGS THIS!!!!!!!

WHATS THE ARTISTS NAME!!

O ZONE AND THEY ARE ROMANIAN..YOU ALL ARE RETARDED!

Latest Additions

and they are

Drops of Jupiter - Train
The Scarlet Tide - Alison Krauss