Today I believe in God.
And thanks to my friends for praying.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Reviews and reconfigurations
Time passes quickly when you work at Google. The days blur into weeks and on and on.
I finally finished The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents (by Terry Pratchett) and am now continuing to demolish the healthily growing pile of books beside my bed. I must admit I definitely enjoy fantasy fiction a lot more than other regular novels. The Wyrd Sisters, which I'm reading now, from Pratchett's fabulously famous Discworld series is so hilarious and his language so witty, that I'm constantly cracking up.
Last week I met a couple of people who'd never heard of Parsis. It's weird having to explain to someone about your religion, and culture. And when I try to briefly explain our history of getting to India, it sounds so exotic. I feel like a descendant of a mysterious race when I'm telling these stories. But other than that, my religious feelings and faith are turning indifferent and slowly vanishing. Simply because there doesn't seem to be time in my life for God or prayer or faith. It's scary and sad and confusing at times, and I feel guilty and evil sometimes. I'm a classic case of someone who believes in the superpower, and even desperately prays when I'm ill or scared or want something, but then I never keep the faith.
I saw The Golden Compass this evening. Fairly nice, but reminded me too much of all the other fantasy movies we've seen recently. Witches, and pirate-like Gyptians, ice-bears, and animal souls. Some interesting elements in the story that will make me want to watch the second part, if it gets made. (They've said they'll only make Part 2, called The Subtle Knife, if this one makes enough money.)
I should be sleeping now.
Random advice for random passers-by.
1. Don't drink a lot of aerated drinks.
2. Don't date someone your best friends can't stand.
3. Don't lose an opportunity to do something you've never done before - you may not get the chance again.
I finally finished The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents (by Terry Pratchett) and am now continuing to demolish the healthily growing pile of books beside my bed. I must admit I definitely enjoy fantasy fiction a lot more than other regular novels. The Wyrd Sisters, which I'm reading now, from Pratchett's fabulously famous Discworld series is so hilarious and his language so witty, that I'm constantly cracking up.
Last week I met a couple of people who'd never heard of Parsis. It's weird having to explain to someone about your religion, and culture. And when I try to briefly explain our history of getting to India, it sounds so exotic. I feel like a descendant of a mysterious race when I'm telling these stories. But other than that, my religious feelings and faith are turning indifferent and slowly vanishing. Simply because there doesn't seem to be time in my life for God or prayer or faith. It's scary and sad and confusing at times, and I feel guilty and evil sometimes. I'm a classic case of someone who believes in the superpower, and even desperately prays when I'm ill or scared or want something, but then I never keep the faith.
I saw The Golden Compass this evening. Fairly nice, but reminded me too much of all the other fantasy movies we've seen recently. Witches, and pirate-like Gyptians, ice-bears, and animal souls. Some interesting elements in the story that will make me want to watch the second part, if it gets made. (They've said they'll only make Part 2, called The Subtle Knife, if this one makes enough money.)
I should be sleeping now.
Random advice for random passers-by.
1. Don't drink a lot of aerated drinks.
2. Don't date someone your best friends can't stand.
3. Don't lose an opportunity to do something you've never done before - you may not get the chance again.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
A weekend in Hyderabad
Was talking to a friend on the phone, and while describing what I did all day I said -
Ah, nothing much, slept, read, hung out online.
And then I couldn't believe my ears. Hung out online? What on earth does that mean? And wtf has my life come to?
Ah, nothing much, slept, read, hung out online.
And then I couldn't believe my ears. Hung out online? What on earth does that mean? And wtf has my life come to?
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The click of an eye
It's been so long since I've done any serious photography, and it's eating into my heart. My time these days is pathetically occupied with house-hunting, and worrying about the soon-to-happen tax deductions. So, I'm going to write about photography. A tutorial.
I don't know where to begin. I still remember the first photo I ever ever made. I must have been around 11, and my dad finally entrusted me with holding a camera and making a photo. I dunno why I wasn't allowed before, but I do remember it being a great big deal. It wasn't a great big camera. It was a regular manual point-and-shoot family Minolta. The whole family (and cousins and uncles and aunts) were on holiday in Panchgani. We stood on the plateau, and I remember how very windy it was. I took the camera with great excitement, and strode a bit away and made a photo of the family.
And it turns into a sweet portrait of a family and -
My dad, with a content and proud smile, giving me the thumbs up.
My mother's face very excited and grinning widely.
And my baby sister clutching my mom's skirt in excitement, with an expression that reads: Afrin is taking a photo!
I should scan it.
Anyway, to the tutorial. Extremely basic for now.
I've never had formal classes on photography. Although in our Mass Media course, we took a paper on photography, our professor spent a lot more time on the 'concept' and ideologies of art and beauty and not too much on the technical part. Which was good - he did enough by explaining the workings of the aperture, shutter, and their interactions.
But for me, the two most important aspects of photography are composition and timing. That's all it takes. Obviously photography is nothing but capturing a single fabulous moment (or an ordinary moment made fabulous). And so its of most importance to be able to capture it from the right place at the right instant.
It isn't important to have a fancy camera to make good pictures. (One thing my photography professor imprinted on me was using the phrase 'make a photo' and not 'take a photo.') Equipment can only aid a photographer if he's got a good sense of composition and timing. That's my opinion anyway.
This is a nice photo that I made years ago while wandering in bombay with an extremely ordinary manual point and shoot Olympus camera, and my first ever black and white film.
I love the light in the water. But the point here is the extremely ordinary camera I've used for most of my photography, and got excellent results.
I've made great pictures from running trains, and speeding bikes, and what not. This one from a moving train - but an almost perfect composition.
Another lucky one was this one I manage to get of Nigel during a concert. It was pure luck and timing, and in return, Nigel is my eternal fan.
Anyway, that should be enough for today.
PS: None of these photos were made with my digital SLR.
Points to note:
1. You always make a photo and never take a photo.
2. Timing and composition make great pictures.
3. Great equipment is as good as cow-dung if in the hands of a lazy, careless and unimaginative photographer.
I don't know where to begin. I still remember the first photo I ever ever made. I must have been around 11, and my dad finally entrusted me with holding a camera and making a photo. I dunno why I wasn't allowed before, but I do remember it being a great big deal. It wasn't a great big camera. It was a regular manual point-and-shoot family Minolta. The whole family (and cousins and uncles and aunts) were on holiday in Panchgani. We stood on the plateau, and I remember how very windy it was. I took the camera with great excitement, and strode a bit away and made a photo of the family.
And it turns into a sweet portrait of a family and -
My dad, with a content and proud smile, giving me the thumbs up.
My mother's face very excited and grinning widely.
And my baby sister clutching my mom's skirt in excitement, with an expression that reads: Afrin is taking a photo!
I should scan it.
Anyway, to the tutorial. Extremely basic for now.
I've never had formal classes on photography. Although in our Mass Media course, we took a paper on photography, our professor spent a lot more time on the 'concept' and ideologies of art and beauty and not too much on the technical part. Which was good - he did enough by explaining the workings of the aperture, shutter, and their interactions.
But for me, the two most important aspects of photography are composition and timing. That's all it takes. Obviously photography is nothing but capturing a single fabulous moment (or an ordinary moment made fabulous). And so its of most importance to be able to capture it from the right place at the right instant.
It isn't important to have a fancy camera to make good pictures. (One thing my photography professor imprinted on me was using the phrase 'make a photo' and not 'take a photo.') Equipment can only aid a photographer if he's got a good sense of composition and timing. That's my opinion anyway.
This is a nice photo that I made years ago while wandering in bombay with an extremely ordinary manual point and shoot Olympus camera, and my first ever black and white film.
I love the light in the water. But the point here is the extremely ordinary camera I've used for most of my photography, and got excellent results.
I've made great pictures from running trains, and speeding bikes, and what not. This one from a moving train - but an almost perfect composition.
Another lucky one was this one I manage to get of Nigel during a concert. It was pure luck and timing, and in return, Nigel is my eternal fan.
Anyway, that should be enough for today.
PS: None of these photos were made with my digital SLR.
Points to note:
1. You always make a photo and never take a photo.
2. Timing and composition make great pictures.
3. Great equipment is as good as cow-dung if in the hands of a lazy, careless and unimaginative photographer.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Of Telugu Movies
On Friday, the Google Maps team treated itself to a movie. First day first show of a Balakrishna movie called Okka Magaadu, which translates into - One Manly Man.
To say that the movie entertained would be an understatement. The movie was a crude rehash of various Tamil movies, coupled with extremely shocking (for me) camera angles, and
ridiculous but fascinating fight sequences, 'electric' special effects, and many an item number. Oh, yes, and it was definitely porn too. It was quite shocking for those of us who were seeing a Telugu movie for the first time. Absolutely crude symbolic porn.
Example - Screen is split into 3 horizontally to show three characters, two girls and the hero - talking on the phone. Very distinctly, these three are positioned (and they change positions) to mean sex. The boys in my team thoroughly enjoyed these, and well, I guess I was fascinated too.
Politics, murder, good versus bad, sex, the Indian Freedom struggle, sizzling action, double roles and double meanings, Samurai swords, etc were mixed in equal proportions. What more can anyone think of adding into a film?
Story is as such - A peaceful doctor during the British era sees his family get murdered over nothing by the British, and then in fury becomes the revolutionary freedom fighter - Okka Magaadu. We learn that India's freedom was only granted to us on one condition - that Okka Magaadu surrenders to the British as Prisoner of War. After many year of torture, he returns to India, expecting to find his country unchanged - but instead finds corruption everywhere. That's when he gets into a frenzy and starts murdering the corrupt ones. (As an old man with waxy make up on his face, electricity pulsating out of his sunglasses and what-not, and a samurai sword.)
Meanwhile, there's a younger Balakrishna, who's the beloved leader of the masses and the heart-throb of the two women in the movie, and he gets suspected as the murderer. The plot then goes to climax and finishes off. I'm not sure what happens, except that everyone's supposed to live and love happily ever after.
The screen was huge, the audience was going insane, I roughly understood 60% of the plot and I got home with a headache. I'm not sure I'll be doing this again soon, but while it lasted, it was a unique experience.
To say that the movie entertained would be an understatement. The movie was a crude rehash of various Tamil movies, coupled with extremely shocking (for me) camera angles, and
ridiculous but fascinating fight sequences, 'electric' special effects, and many an item number. Oh, yes, and it was definitely porn too. It was quite shocking for those of us who were seeing a Telugu movie for the first time. Absolutely crude symbolic porn.Example - Screen is split into 3 horizontally to show three characters, two girls and the hero - talking on the phone. Very distinctly, these three are positioned (and they change positions) to mean sex. The boys in my team thoroughly enjoyed these, and well, I guess I was fascinated too.
Politics, murder, good versus bad, sex, the Indian Freedom struggle, sizzling action, double roles and double meanings, Samurai swords, etc were mixed in equal proportions. What more can anyone think of adding into a film?
Story is as such - A peaceful doctor during the British era sees his family get murdered over nothing by the British, and then in fury becomes the revolutionary freedom fighter - Okka Magaadu. We learn that India's freedom was only granted to us on one condition - that Okka Magaadu surrenders to the British as Prisoner of War. After many year of torture, he returns to India, expecting to find his country unchanged - but instead finds corruption everywhere. That's when he gets into a frenzy and starts murdering the corrupt ones. (As an old man with waxy make up on his face, electricity pulsating out of his sunglasses and what-not, and a samurai sword.)
Meanwhile, there's a younger Balakrishna, who's the beloved leader of the masses and the heart-throb of the two women in the movie, and he gets suspected as the murderer. The plot then goes to climax and finishes off. I'm not sure what happens, except that everyone's supposed to live and love happily ever after.
The screen was huge, the audience was going insane, I roughly understood 60% of the plot and I got home with a headache. I'm not sure I'll be doing this again soon, but while it lasted, it was a unique experience.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
The Tam Bram Dilemma
Dear Agent P (name partially hidden for pretentious anonymity) is a Tam Bram. In my extremely cosmopolitan life pre-Hyd in Bombay, it never mattered who was Punjabi or Tam Bram or Christian... everyone seemed - Bumbaiya. But here, I've been exposed to the diversity of Yindia. Lived with a Mallu, and Tam Bram, and hung out with various assorted South-Indians, and other specimen. No doubt, its been fabulously entertaining and educative.
My lessons have included:
The Mallu Accent
The Curd-Rice Phenomenon
How to pronounce words with the important additional suffix -aaa. Like, you can say, chair-aaa? or MovieaaAaa? (It works well as a question.)
And finally, the most vital - Tam Bram Dilemma.
Agent P has suffered from this dilemma for a long time. To find a good Tam Bram available for fun and romance is hard. Especially coz they are all software engineers or other brain-heros in the U.S.A. The dilemma of a Tam Bram girl such as Agent P is to find a Tam Bram boy, who doesn't drink, smoke, have a nasty attitude, is good looking and is tall. In all our time here, we have yet to meet a boy who fits the requirements. And the dilemma (atleast to me) continues to be that the Tam Bram girls are so good, that they can't settle or even consider anything else.
It's a difficult situation, but will be well worth the wait. Coz someday, Agent P will meet the Tam Bram. And that will be the day we shall rejoice. Until then, Agent P and I will examine and scrutinize and continue our search.
(If you're a Tam Bram, and suitable and please send us your application with a 30-page comprehensive document about your past, present, and future, and also, 6 colour photos -full length, and all angles. Much thanks.)
My lessons have included:
The Mallu Accent
The Curd-Rice Phenomenon
How to pronounce words with the important additional suffix -aaa. Like, you can say, chair-aaa? or MovieaaAaa? (It works well as a question.)
And finally, the most vital - Tam Bram Dilemma.
Agent P has suffered from this dilemma for a long time. To find a good Tam Bram available for fun and romance is hard. Especially coz they are all software engineers or other brain-heros in the U.S.A. The dilemma of a Tam Bram girl such as Agent P is to find a Tam Bram boy, who doesn't drink, smoke, have a nasty attitude, is good looking and is tall. In all our time here, we have yet to meet a boy who fits the requirements. And the dilemma (atleast to me) continues to be that the Tam Bram girls are so good, that they can't settle or even consider anything else.
It's a difficult situation, but will be well worth the wait. Coz someday, Agent P will meet the Tam Bram. And that will be the day we shall rejoice. Until then, Agent P and I will examine and scrutinize and continue our search.
(If you're a Tam Bram, and suitable and please send us your application with a 30-page comprehensive document about your past, present, and future, and also, 6 colour photos -full length, and all angles. Much thanks.)
Music for the ill
I'm sick and was moaning and groaning in bed. Refusing to move or be social.
Enter Priya, Maria and Nandita and a video of our song - A Million Ways to be Cruel.
Within seconds I'm on the floor, dancing, and claiming my position as lead dancer - ze bald guy.
4 minutes later, am back on the bed, but not really moaning any more.
My constant advice to anyone suffering from depression, heart-ache, loneliness, and other regular urban diseases is - go, listen to some music. It heals.
So I say, thank you for the music.
A joke by Priya the Peekaboo
What is free advice given by real estates agents called?
- On the house!
Enter Priya, Maria and Nandita and a video of our song - A Million Ways to be Cruel.
Within seconds I'm on the floor, dancing, and claiming my position as lead dancer - ze bald guy.
4 minutes later, am back on the bed, but not really moaning any more.
My constant advice to anyone suffering from depression, heart-ache, loneliness, and other regular urban diseases is - go, listen to some music. It heals.
So I say, thank you for the music.
A joke by Priya the Peekaboo
What is free advice given by real estates agents called?
- On the house!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
I have sat here for ten minutes, looking at this page and wondering what to type.
Just like half an hour back, when I said goodbye to Mariam, on her last evening here with us for a long, long time, I had nothing to say. When something so unexpectedly precious is going away, there can't be too many words to express the sense of ... defeat... helplessness ... that such a bittersweet farewell can bring.
The girl with the laughter is going away. Things will not be the same again.
Bless you, Mariam Alexander.
Just like half an hour back, when I said goodbye to Mariam, on her last evening here with us for a long, long time, I had nothing to say. When something so unexpectedly precious is going away, there can't be too many words to express the sense of ... defeat... helplessness ... that such a bittersweet farewell can bring.
The girl with the laughter is going away. Things will not be the same again.
Bless you, Mariam Alexander.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Half past midnight
One thing I know. I'm fairly content these days. Back in Hyd, important decisions made, things to settle down doing, and more importantly, things to do.
But because right now I'm so fairly content, I have no time to brood. Or muse. Or write interesting posts filled with my confusion and complications.
Anyhow, good times don't last. That much I know...
So bring it on. Whatever's coming next.
Second quote for the day -
Cause I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever try.
- Micheal Jackson, in THRILLER.
But because right now I'm so fairly content, I have no time to brood. Or muse. Or write interesting posts filled with my confusion and complications.
Anyhow, good times don't last. That much I know...
So bring it on. Whatever's coming next.
Second quote for the day -
Cause I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever try.
- Micheal Jackson, in THRILLER.
Breathe in, breathe out
Just saw an absolutely adorable movie. As good as it gets.
With some killer dialogues that I thought I must blog.
And now am listening to some music, and each song reminds me of someone - an ex-boyfriend, a classmate, my sister.
And I'm filled with a crazy energy again, and I jump out of my lazy stupor and run around my room, feeling a mad urge to do something.
I want to paint a wall in this room. Scribble.
I want to dance again. Hysterically.
I want to work out in a gym and tear my muscles.
I want to shiver in the fantastically chilly winter air in the moonlight.
I want to go back in time.
And now its gone. The mad urge, all gone. With one song, that sucks the life out of me. I feel old, and I don't even feel like publishing this.
Quote for the day -
Time passes so quickly, you can't even breathe, and the day is over.
- Maria B C
With some killer dialogues that I thought I must blog.
And now am listening to some music, and each song reminds me of someone - an ex-boyfriend, a classmate, my sister.
And I'm filled with a crazy energy again, and I jump out of my lazy stupor and run around my room, feeling a mad urge to do something.
I want to paint a wall in this room. Scribble.
I want to dance again. Hysterically.
I want to work out in a gym and tear my muscles.
I want to shiver in the fantastically chilly winter air in the moonlight.
I want to go back in time.
And now its gone. The mad urge, all gone. With one song, that sucks the life out of me. I feel old, and I don't even feel like publishing this.
Quote for the day -
Time passes so quickly, you can't even breathe, and the day is over.
- Maria B C
Thursday, January 03, 2008
I solemnly swear...
Ze new year iz here. And Sasi and Pranav, and everyone else is putting up their new year resolutions. I must drown myself and go with ze flow.
I hereby solemnly resolve to accomplish the following exciting tasks this year, and infinitely improve the world in the process of doing so. Very good.
1. Learn magic.
2. Start a brilliant online-wiki-collaborative-art movement.
3. Self develop- read more, write more, think more, make music, travel, learn, learn, learn.
- Read continually.
- Write stories and poems.
- Buy a guitar and be the cool guitar girl at everyone's party.
- Save money, invest, and then be able to shop also!
- Travel so much. London? Australia?
4. Buy a camera. Finally.
5. Be good daughter and make family happy to be my family.
6. Be healthy and peaceful. Gym, and eat good food.
7. Save money.
8. Learn to cook, parsi food, et al.
9. Read a new wikipedia page everyday and know it all.
10. Work supremely hard and not waste time.
11. Save money.
12. Buy 2 sex toys for Melroy.
13. Conserve electricity and water.
14. Make time to improve my designing and photoshopping.
15. Dance. Often.
Satisfactory.
I solemnly swear to review this list at the end of the year and give myself a score.
Quote for the day -
I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.
- You ought to know where this quote is from.
I hereby solemnly resolve to accomplish the following exciting tasks this year, and infinitely improve the world in the process of doing so. Very good.
1. Learn magic.
2. Start a brilliant online-wiki-collaborative-art movement.
3. Self develop- read more, write more, think more, make music, travel, learn, learn, learn.
- Read continually.
- Write stories and poems.
- Buy a guitar and be the cool guitar girl at everyone's party.
- Save money, invest, and then be able to shop also!
- Travel so much. London? Australia?
4. Buy a camera. Finally.
5. Be good daughter and make family happy to be my family.
6. Be healthy and peaceful. Gym, and eat good food.
7. Save money.
8. Learn to cook, parsi food, et al.
9. Read a new wikipedia page everyday and know it all.
10. Work supremely hard and not waste time.
11. Save money.
12. Buy 2 sex toys for Melroy.
13. Conserve electricity and water.
14. Make time to improve my designing and photoshopping.
15. Dance. Often.
Satisfactory.
I solemnly swear to review this list at the end of the year and give myself a score.
Quote for the day -
I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.
- You ought to know where this quote is from.
Mindless, thoughtless
Everyone's talking about blogs today. It's a good day, with a nice energy, and a good start of the year.
I'm happy to be back here in Hyderabad, and here at Google, with so much freeeee time to do as I please online.
We're moving offices, to a fabulous new building, as Googly as it gets. Really the funkiest place I've seen in a while. Buzzing with Google energy, and bursting with colour and fun.
And boy, the weather is gorgeous here too, the sun isn't hard, the wind is cool, the air seems clean. It's the perfect time for some travel, and that's top on priority list now.
Hopeful destinations:
Sreesailem.
Hampi.
Goa.
Visag.
Anywhere.
As you can see, I've absolutely nothing to do but blog mindlessly. And now once again - push button to publish.
I'm happy to be back here in Hyderabad, and here at Google, with so much freeeee time to do as I please online.
We're moving offices, to a fabulous new building, as Googly as it gets. Really the funkiest place I've seen in a while. Buzzing with Google energy, and bursting with colour and fun.
And boy, the weather is gorgeous here too, the sun isn't hard, the wind is cool, the air seems clean. It's the perfect time for some travel, and that's top on priority list now.
Hopeful destinations:
Sreesailem.
Hampi.
Goa.
Visag.
Anywhere.
As you can see, I've absolutely nothing to do but blog mindlessly. And now once again - push button to publish.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Bombay Diaries - Finale
This is the end.
I'm back in Hyderabad. I had a lovely weekend and took my last two days in Bombay off (from the diaries business.)
New year's eve was nice. Split, and friends, and superdog- Brownie came home, and we had a nice, long evening-night.
Highlights of the evening-
Dance performance by Michelle, Nigel, Sasidhar and Afrin.
Brownie's change in personality from ferocious warrior to chicken-hiding-under-bed when the firecrackers went off.
The pledge of the Afrin-followers. (Afrin is supreme)
Mel videotaping all this, and our new year resolutions.
Garreth and Brownie's growly romance.
Nice wine.
A fish called Wanda.
Music and guitars at 5:00am.
All in all, great fun. Especially, when we wake up the next morning after an hour's sleep, and see the videos of the evening.
Happy 2008.
Quote for the day -
I can't believe how quickly time passes.
- Afrin Sopariwala, to anyone who will listen.
I'm back in Hyderabad. I had a lovely weekend and took my last two days in Bombay off (from the diaries business.)
New year's eve was nice. Split, and friends, and superdog- Brownie came home, and we had a nice, long evening-night.
Highlights of the evening-
Dance performance by Michelle, Nigel, Sasidhar and Afrin.
Brownie's change in personality from ferocious warrior to chicken-hiding-under-bed when the firecrackers went off.
The pledge of the Afrin-followers. (Afrin is supreme)
Mel videotaping all this, and our new year resolutions.
Garreth and Brownie's growly romance.
Nice wine.
A fish called Wanda.
Music and guitars at 5:00am.
All in all, great fun. Especially, when we wake up the next morning after an hour's sleep, and see the videos of the evening.
Happy 2008.
Quote for the day -
I can't believe how quickly time passes.
- Afrin Sopariwala, to anyone who will listen.
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