A Quick Review and a Quick Adieu

Last day of 2010 and I want to pay my respect and bid farewell to yet another year. 2010 was on hindsight more of a good year than bad. I met many good people and made new friends. I got an awesome job (awesome, that is, till now. These things have a way changing colour without notice). I got two awesome phones (one of which I lost :( which led me to getting the 2nd one :) which am using to write this post now! This one worked out quite well.)

I also achieved some milestones and I also did things that I had not done before. This year was also a year of firsts - my first smartphone, my first Stewie Doll, my first pair of ridiculously expensive jeans, my first extremely short hair cut to name a few. So I say goodbye to 2010 with a fond smile and with lots of fond memories.

And I welcome 2011 with hopes and expectations. I know it will be a tough year because of some personal reasons. I just wish I can rush through it. It will be difficult. But I have hope. There's a lot to do and a lot to learn and I hope to come out on top.

My near year resolution was to make a bucket list but I haven't gotten around to it yet. So this task postponed for 1st Jan.

Whoever is reading this, I wish you a rocking, fantabulous, prosperous, happy new year!

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Bowled over

A new post after months. Work can keep you really busy. Not a good thing. But all this time of not blogging gave me a lot of time to think. About serious issues and not so serious issues. Serious issues like working on weekends (its a big deal for me) and not so serious issues like what do I wear to work tom at my new office? (No wait, that one is serious too!) So one of the serious cum non-serious things I've been thinking about lately is bowls.

Yes, Bowls. They are such beautiful handy works of craft and yet so under-recognised and under-appreciated. The use of bowls in our society is limited to consuming soup, breakfast, or fast food like pop corn, chips or dips. Except for our wise Easterners, who use bowls for regular meals.

Similarly, I want to advocate the use of bowls for regular meals. And here are my reasons for that:

1. Non-messy
2. Comfortable
3. Privacy (just a teeny bit)
4. High on Coolness quotient

Eating in a bowl is the least messy way to eat. Let's take my example. I have Indian food everyday, what with me being Indian and all. So I usually have curry and rice/chapati, sabzi (vegetable) and rice/chapati, pulao etc. Eating these in a relatively flat plate or dish is difficult/impossible with a spoon and fork. Forget the chapati, eating rice is quite the task. Especially when you are down to the last few morsels. No amount of finesse with the fork and spoon will allow you to elegantly clean the rice off your plate. There will always be the elusive grains of rice that refuse to cradle in the curve of your spoon.

Now imagine eating in a bowl - you don have to worry about food falling off; scooping up the last few morsels is a breeze; offers a tad bit of privacy when eating (ppl at a slight distance can only guess wot u're eating); since everyone else eats in a plate, you become cool by being the one who doesn't.

I have started eating in a bowl already and am on the path of converting my close friends and family to adopt this awesome trendition. (Yes, I just coined the word. Trendition (n) - a new long-term practice as opposed to an old tradition.)

Picture courtesy - ©CosyHomeBlog.
(You can buy those pretty bowls from www.CosyHomeBlog.com)

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Always by the book

I am an avid, ardent and voracious reader. Reading is not just something I do to pass my time. I Make time to be able to read. I wouldn’t want to call myself a ‘bibliophile'. It sounds very negative to me. Guess I can be called a book vampire - bampire? - because I am attracted by the sight, sound and smell of books. I am almost hypnotically drawn towards a pile of books when I come across one – books sold on the side-walk, at the station, in the train. I just have to go look and maybe even buy. It is with difficulty that I stop myself from doing that when am on way to work or when am heading back home tired.
It is my dream to, one day, have a room, full of books. My own personal library. One entire wall (at least) covered with wooden shelves and filled with all my books. A cosy special room, to read and maybe have book club meetings! (I just love the idea of having such meetings but we don’t have much of those around here. Pity.) I don’t want to have just classics. I am in to popular fiction. No non-fiction for me unless it’s science related – like Phantoms in the Brain and Survival of the Sickest. And I’m not fond of biographies either. I don’t want to know what happened to XYZ person, how they lived their life, who they dated, their controversies etc. I am not interested.

A home library like this would do just fine! Image courtesy - Home Library - Ideas for Design, Bookcases, Shelves and Desks

There was a time, back in 2000 when I was just out of school and had joined a nice circulating library near my place, when I was surrounded by tonnes of books and I had to pick and choose which one to read first. Most of the books I read were because I came across them and found the synopsis interesting, not because I read book reviews. I did not even have, or know how to use, the internet then. I did not even have a cell phone. Well, I miss those simple days sometimes. I digress, we’ll make that another post. Back to the topic of reading, I found gems of books that literally changed my life - changed me as a person, my outlook, my sense of humour. The one book that had the most impact was The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (H2G2, for those who didn’t know). I would see the dvd or rather vcd of the movie in the glass cabinet at the library and since I’m a sci-fi fan, it piqued my interest. Obviously I couldn’t go look it up. There was no wikipedia then, I think.
But one day as I was scouring for books in the library, I found a book by the same name. I was intrigued and I opened the book and read the preface. And I was delighted! It was such awesome brilliant humour. I had never read anything like it before yet I immediately took a liking to it. It just struck a chord with me. I borrowed it immediately and finished it in no time. (During the vacations following school, I would finish one Sidney Sheldon novel-sized book in a day. So I would visit the library almost every other day.) But the library did not stock the rest of the trilogy of 5 which was disappointing. And I remember getting Catch-22 once. Quite an interesting book that too. There were parts of the book, some of the humour that I didn’t get. I wasn’t mature enough I guess. But that is one book that I have Laughed Out Loud while reading. Like really loud. Like someone just cracked a hilarious joke. I don’t remember experiencing that ever before or since. Books don’t normally do that. They make you smile, a lot. (I have felt pleasure pangs in my brain. Really.) They may be bring out a chuckle or two. But not whole-hearted laughter.
I can describe what a good book does to me – when am reading a good, interesting book, I can sort of imagine my head munching on the words and the tidbits of information it provides, sucking in the knowledge, lessons, story, humour. It is very difficult to find books that are as interesting as say the phenomenally awesome sci-fi humour set of the Hitchhikers; the addictive fantasy of the Harry Potter series, LOTR or the Twilight Saga; or the scientific knowledge and radical thinking imparted by Survival of the Sickest. I am currently reading The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins and it’s very very interesting. It is an e-book that I own and reading it on the laptop is not as much fun and engaging as I’d like (No I don’t own a Kindle. Yet.). I am always on the look out for new, more interesting books to read and I am hoping for such books (and a Kindle, maybe) to come my way soon.

Rain, Love, Wait and Verse

A sultry evening in the month of August. It’s dark and it’s Raining. A Love is waiting to meet her Lover. It’s taking long but Love is patient.

As Love waits, Love’s stomach Rumbles. It’s hungry and would like to eat, some croissants maybe. Love looks around, scans the area for stomach’s request. There are chips and snacks available. But stomach doesn’t want them so Love keeps looking. Love is not self-seeking. (in a way)

As the wait lengthens, Love notices something creeping-crawling on the ground. It’s a Roach! It’s limping its way, dazed in the rain, to another corner. Love is freaked at the sight of the Roach but lets it be. Love is Kind.

And as Love continues to wait under the shelter of a shop’s canopy, Love spots a Rat. A mighty big one. And Love lets this one go as well. Love always protects. (itself, in this case)

Lover is busy with work and though is trying to get out as early as possible, Lover can’t. But Love patiently waits, not complaining. Love always trusts and is not easily angered.

Love then has company in the form of some Roamers who take shelter under the canopy. There isn’t much space to accommodate all and Love feels a little uncomfortable. But Love perseveres in the wait for Lover. Love does not ask them to go away to ease the discomfort. Love is not rude.

And finally, Love rejoices as Lover arrives and the all waiting was now worthwhile. This was not the first time Love has waited for Lover but Love keeps no record of wrongs.

P.S. – This is based on a true story, made interesting (I hope) by me. Cherry, this one’s for you and boy.

LOTR - IMHO

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the best epic movies of our time. It’s so grand and it just takes you in with the aura of the story, the characters, the cinematography, the special effects, the war scenes etc. It’s a visual treat. The book was a great read too. I read the book back when I had freshly joined college and I would carry it around with me everywhere to my aunt’s place and my granny’s place. (What I carried was huge. It was the complete trilogy with maps and additional fictional historical data about Hobbits and Men etc. My cousin very aptly called it “Lord of the Books”.)

Peter Jackson has the book come alive on the big screen like J.R.R Tolkien may have never imagined (and even I for that matter). I can also see quite a few similarities between Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series – the orphan raised by a relative, is ‘chosen’ in a way, is courageous to the point of being foolhardy, has loyal friends who are there for him, has a caring and guiding ,old and powerful wizard. It sure is inspiring. I don’t remember if I watched the Fellowship at the theatre but I do remember that we had an LOTR marathon running at one of the multiplexes; twice in 2 years. They would show all the 3 movies in one day or on 3 different days. And I so wanted to attend that! To see the magnificence and glory of all the LOTR movies on the big screen as I already missed them when they were individually released. But I was unfortunate enough to not be able to attend for some reason or another on both occasions. I still regret that. It’s not the same watching it on your laptop’s widescreen. (no offence, lappy)

But, there are things about the book/movie, that I find not so great too. I’ll list down a couple:

1. Frodo – Yes Frodo, our diminutive, cute protagonist; keeps insisting throughout that “This is my Task”, “I have to do this alone”, “ I can do this on my own. I have to “ etc etc. And right after that, Gollum tells him Not to go in X direction and that’s exactly where he goes. He gets saved just in the nick of time. Another instance that I can remember – Faramir takes Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath and then they are attacked by Orcs. Faramir tells Frodo to stay in hiding and not come out. What does Frodo do? Walk right out and straight towards the Ringwraith and also almost puts on the ring in a trance. Who saves him? Sam Gamgee(at the cost of almost getting killed by Frodo!). The real Hero of the story is actually Sam Gamgee, sticking with idiotic Frodo right till the end. If it weren’t for him, the goddamn ring would never have been destroyed and the book/movie wouldn’t get over. (One of my close friends just fast forwards All of Frodo’s dialogues. I think I will try that too next time.)

2. Sauron and Saruman – I always get confused between the two. When Tolkien wrote the book, he could have chosen two distinct names for the two distinct characters. But no. He chose these specific similar sounding names which does not help lay-people like me. Half the time, I’m trying to figure out who Gandalf is talking about – Sauron or Saruman – and the movie progresses and then I’m lost and have to rewind. So the extended 4 and a half hour version becomes at least 5 and a half hour long. (Saruman sounds like a Pokemon character)

3. Gandalf and Saruman (Saruman? yes, I’m right!) – Gandalf the Grey becomes Gandalf the White. And now Saruman and Gandalf look exactly alike with the long flowing white robe and long white hair and beard and the white staff, that I again don’t know who is who.

4. Treebeard – Or as my aforementioned friend very eloquently put it, Tree Bored. I would have fallen asleep sooner if I were in Pippin and Merry’s situation. First he took forever to get from one side of the forest to the other for the Ent meet. Then they take more than half the day to say Good-morning. But. All the Ents reached Saruman’s place pretty goddamn quickly to give tit for tat!

“What’s on your mind?”

In this day and age of Facebook, keeping in touch and speaking your mind has taken a whole new look. Now acquaintances are on your ‘friends’ list and people declare to everyone everything from getting a promotion and attending a fun party to pain in the ass bosses and vomit and constipation.

I am hooked on to Facebook too but I’m not a serial status updater unlike some others that I have noticed. Which is cool. That’s just a reflection of their vibrant and outgoing personality. I have also observed different ‘types’ of status messages. And I have wondered about such statuses. What those mean and what the user is trying to convey coz I don’t seem to get it.

Here are the few types of status updates I have observed and wonder about upon observation:

1. The ALL CAPS status message – Don’t people know that typing in all caps conveys that you’re shouting or screaming? It’s the basic etiquette taught in computer classes and email writing. And it is not restricted to email. It applies EVERYWHERE. That was to make a point. Unless, the people who use all caps are really passionate about what they’re saying and are trying to make a point themselves – “I JUST WOKE UP AT 12:00 PM AFTER A NIGHT OF PARTYING! WOO HOO!” or “ON MY WAY TO WORK ON BORRRRRING MONDAY :( :( :(” ( I will get to the multiple emoticons)

2. Multiple emoticons :) :)  :( :(  – We know you’re happy or you’re sad or angry or whatever but are the multiple emoticons really necessary? It they are, what do they mean? Do 2 smileys mean that you’re twice as happy as you would normally be? I can only guess.

3. UnEvEn cAsEd StAtUsEs – I find these damaging to my retina. What purpose does this serve? If you’re going to make your status difficult to read, people will not read it. They won’t bother. They need their vision to read other people’s statuses too. God, I can’t look at what I’ve written for more than 2 seconds!

4. Song lyrics as status messages – What does the song mean? Is it a reflection of their state of mind? Is it a reminiscence? Or is it just their favourite song?  And why do people ‘like’ such a status message? I have even seen comments -- “wow, dats my fav sng!! \m/” -- Do they even know why that was put up?

5. Putting (famous) quotes but not crediting the quoter – If they know the quote, they mostly also know who said/wrote it. It will only be decent if they write the name of the person whose quote it is. Are they trying to impress their ignorant friends that they can come up with such witty one-liners?  Or do they Genuinely not know who the quoter is?

6. Uploading random pics and tagging all your friends – This is a slight digression from the topic but since it gets posted in our news feed, I thought I’d mention it. The tagged person is not in the picture. It’s either some animal in a supposedly funny situation with funny captions or just some picture with cartoon characters. Why is the person tagged? Does their friend think they’re an animal, specifically the one in the pic? Or do they find the person funny? Or they consider them inanimate? I don’t know.

7. Status messages that inform about the user’s ill-health – I would really like to know why someone who is unwell in varying degrees of fever, cold, cough, constipation etc would get the time and energy to update it on facebook? Shouldn’t they be resting and recovering? I’d prefer they do that than also ruin their eyesight (and other people’s appetites) by declaring such things on facebook.

8. Status messages that don’t address any one person but are meant for only one person – I’ve seen people put up cryptic (to me) messages that are meant for someone in particular but the person is not addressed. These messages can be nice and can be rude too. Why would someone do that? If you have something to tell someone, Only tell Them . Why subject ignorant 3rd party readers to weird, out-bursty statuses? Such status updates seem equivalent to a person with questionable sanity saying things at random to a person visible only to them. Or so says my imaginary friend. (I mentioned you, see. You happy now?)

9. Updating one’s status and ‘liking’ it too – This one just baffles me. One would put up a status because they want to share it with others. Which would make it obvious that it is something of their preference, something they like, something that makes them happy, something they want everyone to know etc (with regards to good, happy status updates). So why would you go and ‘like’ it? You like it which is why you’ve put it up. You don’t have to ‘like’ it again. We know! But do they know that the ‘Like’ button is only meant for Others to show if they like what is being shared?

10. Yeah, that’s it.

This post is not meant to be offensive to anyone. I realised after reading it that it may appear that way but it is not my intention to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’m genuinely curious and I have to live up to my blog’s title and theme too. PeAcE \/ :) ;)

People who should be Punched in the Face

The following is the list of People who should be Punched in the Face. This list is made from personal experiences - my friends', colleagues' and mine.

1. Glen - Because he keeps talking about KFC Krushers but never gets us one. And because he says '3 hairs'.

2. Women who move their arms like orchestra conductors in crowded trains - elbowing people's eyes out.

3. People at work who don't do any work and keep claiming that they have a lot of work but no work is ever done by them and in the rare scenario that it is done, it is done so late that the point of doing that work is lost.

4. Salon people who charge you 3 figure fees for 15 and 30 min services and then tell you that these are not effective and that you should have gone for the 4 figure 90 min service.

5. People who steal your brand new cellphone in the train!!!

6. Rickshaw drivers who do not want to go to the destination that you have to reach urgently even if that means they circle the same road looking for other passengers.

7. Bus conductors who'd rather have you get off the bus than give you change for Rs.100.

8. People who are, quote - "kalank on mards". This quote was made by Glen, no.1 in the list. (Peace, Glen!)

9. People who talk too much. The so called Wind-bags.

10. People who spit like an irrigation sprinkler while talking too much. Water Kingdom wind-bags.

11. Guys who go sit next to Ronald Mcdonald to 'chit-chat' with each other right when you want to go take a picture with Ronald.

12. People who ruin other people’s Happy Buddays. That’s just mean, man. (have received suggestion that shovel be used instead of a punch in such cases.)

Addendum - 31 July 10:15 pm - 13. People who comment about punching the commendable composer of this punchy post.

Please feel free to comment about who You want to Punch in the Face and Why.

This is what you mean to me…

A big hello and welcome back to my handful of readers. (I’m writing after forever thanks to a frustrating Computer/Internet problem.)

I have always wondered if things mean what we think they mean. I, for one, have different ideas with regards to certain words. And I feel that some words Should have a different meaning – one that would be more appropriate to the idea the word conveys.

So here is my list of could-be’s and should-be’s:

Key to Affy’s Dictionary:
e.g 1. Word (original term)
          WAT ( What Affy Thinks it does/should mean)

1. Abnormal (adj)
WAT– a person with a normal sized stomach (i.e. no pot belly )

2. Blog (noun)
WAT– Bakwass karne wale LOG (need I say more? I don’t but I would still like to add   something more to this definition that I would like you all to know which may not be important but I feel its my duty to share it with you anyway...blah blah…) 

3. Bonus (noun)
WAT – mispronunciation of Bones = leftovers = nothing.

4. Fortress (noun)
WAT – fort rest – a place to rest before you go out (for war etc) 

5. Strait (noun)
WAT - the gay spelling of straight

6. Telepathy (noun)
WAT – the ability to identify pathetic people from a distance (wish it was real)

7. UFO (abbr)
WAT– Under Financial Obligation (thus I make up alien stories to get attention and maybe money too..anything that works)

8. Universe (noun/adj)
WAT - UniWorse – the single most worst thing ever

9. Vampire (adj)
WAT – Villainous Umpire (ref. Steve Bucknor vs Sachin Tendulkar)

10. Vuvuzela (noun/adj)
WAT – annoying piece of shit

11. Windbag (adj)
WAT – a person who farts too much (either from the mouth or the ass :P)

Let me know if you agree with any of these or if you have any of your own!

‘Don’t Panic’!

I just concluded reading “And another thing..” the 6th installment in the mind-ticklingly awesome Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series. Those who haven’t read it or worse have not even heard of it or worst,have heard about it and not read it(!) should die of or be killed by Shame. (Though Shame was last seen visiting the Thackeray household and might I add had a rollicking good time, what being so much in vogue there.) If it were possible, I would set the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Trall on all their trails right now.

 

And all you froody people who have read the first five parts of this awesome trilogy, lets share a Jynnan Tonnyx in fond remembrance of the super-genius that was Douglas Adams. ‘Clink. Gulp. Burp. Ah!’ And welcome in to our midst, Eoin Colfer (“pronounced ‘Owen’ by the way”) who has taken the baton of continuing the tradition of mind-tickling, out-of-this-world humour on the 30th anniversary of the Hitchhiker’s Guide.

 

A lot of you may not know Eoin Colfer, but he is famous as the author of the Artemis Fowl series which is meant for younger audience. (Doesn’t mean adults can’t read it. I Love the Artemis Fowl series!) In terms of the witty writing style, inventive storyline and that snazzy sense of humour, Colfer comes closest to Douglas Adams than anyone else. I was very pleasantly surprised when I read that Colfer has been chosen to write the 6th Hitchhikers book.

 

Though I am familiar with Colfer’s writing style, I did not want to have high hopes about the 6th book. I mean, we are talking about Douglas Adams here and continuing his legacy. For me, Hitchhikers is the bestest book ever written on the planet and nothing Ever can come close to it. So I approached “And another thing..” with an open mind and a nonetheless excited heart. I knew it would be good. That much was a given.

 

But what I did not know is how “fecking” awesome it will be! Was it Good? Yessir. Was it better than my expectations? You said it! Was it super-fantastically awesomated? Badabingo!

Colfer resurrects the lovable characters of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Trillian and the not lovable at all Vogons in this new journey through hyperspace and multiple dimensions that hits your brain like a glassful of that mind-smashing Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster . It is funny (Duh!), smart, pacy, inventive, endearing, confusing, enlightening and ..and … Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

 

I approached this book as one would approach a lake in the middle of winter for a dip. First you put one foot in to get a feel. “Coldie cold!” Then you put in the foot again and swirl it around. “Nice. Getting accustomed. Liking it”  and then you close your eyes and jump right in. The jarring cold awakening your senses and refreshing them at the same time. I was pleasantly shocked.

 

The book is way better than what I expected it to be. I was willing to settle for good and good enough. But Eoin Colfer just shattered my expectations like a bolt of lightning from Thor. When you just start reading it, the inevitable comparisons keep popping up - ‘Will he be able to do justice to the huge responsibility and honour bestowed up on him?’;‘How would Douglas Adams have written it?’; ‘He doesn’t sound that funny yet.’ But as you turn the pages and get involved in the book, you forget all the anxieties and the comparisons as Colfer takes you on the improbable, hyperspace, dark matter journey of a lifetime. This book may not be better than Douglas Adams’ trilogy of 5 but it sure as hell is As Good As Them! Which is saying a lot! The lines of distinction blur between the two as you continue reading.

 

So don’t panic in excitement and go out there and get a copy of “And another thing..” before you read another word of this post.

 

Glossary of a few terms  (i.e. Dummies guide to the Hitchhiker’s Guide from the Hitchhiker’s Guide):

Frood – really amazingly together guy

Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster - the best drink in existence

Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Trall - daft as a bush, but a very ravenous beast

True(ly) Blood(curdling)

I am fascinated by the concept of vampires.(Especially the romanticised version spun for us by Stephenie Meyer. She is a genius!) And thus I do look out for and watch any other vampire tv show or movie or book that comes along. I thus came across this, at the time, new HBO show called ‘True Blood’.

It’s about a time wherein vampires have, the popular terminology being, ‘come out of the coffins’ and want to co-exist with humans ‘officially’ (as they have always been there in the shadows) and have rights if not equal rights. They have been able to do so because some Japanese company now manufactures a synthetic drink called ‘Tru Blood’ which is just exactly like blood. Thus, the vampires don’t have to kill humans anymore to satisfy their thirst.

Wow, I thought. Interesting concept. Lets watch the show. It’s an HBO show after all. Created by Alan Ball, of Six Feet Under fame. Ok. Play.

Pause. The pilot opens with an unnecessary scene of two extras, as I later found out, in a car where the girl wants to give the guy a hand job cause she is ‘bored’. Ok. Play. They thus almost crash, but don’t. They go in to a store and are scared by a scary-looking owner who pretends to be a vampire. Turns out the joke’s on him, when another customer, who actually is a vampire, does not like his representation of vampires.

Give me a (commercial) break!

Watching Television these days is like watching an advertisement marathon. It feels like we are actually watching ads and are occasionally interrupted by a movie or tv show in between. Half the time I do not even remember which programme it is I am watching coz there are so many ads in the interim. How much can I tax my poor short term memory? And to add to that, about 90% of those are absolute rubbish. I thought I’ll just compile a small list of my current least favourite and most awesome ads.

 We’ll start with the rubbish ones:-

 1. Fair and Lovely – It is not one singular ad that I dislike. It’s all of them! From the make-up man’s dark daughter becoming a star after using the cream, the can’t get married cos she is dark till she uses the cream to the dark girl who uses ayurvedic fair and lovely to become fair and becomes the face of a ‘modern’ cosmetics company. These ads are just reinforcing the mentality that is so stagnantly prevalent - that girls with fair complexion are more beautiful and more successful than dark-skinned girls.Ugh! And they are super-irritating as well.

 2. Fair and Handsome – I am making this different coz its a different product and honestly, though I hadn’t thought it possible, it’s worse than the fair and lovely ads. To top it all Shahrukh Khan is endorsing the product!  - “Mard hokar ladkiyon wali (fairness) cream”. And the stupid song,”Hi Handsome! Hi handsome!” (where are my ear-plugs and paper bag!)

“If this is justice, I am a banana”

I am an idealist. I believe that good should be rewarded and bad should be punished. Hard-working employees should get promotions and good-for-nothing average performing ass-kissers should get demoted or worse kicked out. People who stand up for what’s right should be lauded and the perpetrators should be given their due.

But, we do not live in an ideal world. Things do not happen as we want them to, they do not even happen as they ‘ought’ to. The ideal world is ‘how the world ought to be’.

But it isn’t.


Day after day, we see injustices take place, walk around, sleep on their desks, shout at us - in the family, in the workplace, in the train (yes! Even in the trains....ok maybe not), on the streets, in the courts, on campuses, around the world. Criminals going scot-free on technicalities or lack of witnesses, lazy government employees getting bonuses, corrupt and criminal individuals getting in to politics – not to run the country but to stuff their pockets. One look at the newspaper in the morning and whatever little hope or optimism you woke up with, dissipates.

“It’s twilight.”

The 2nd day of 2010. A lovely Saturday evening. A cozy carpeted living room. A sturdy coffee table in the centre. A board game on the table. Scrabble.

It was the time of the evening when it’s dark enough for the stars to be visible and yet bright enough to not have to grope your way around the house without the lights on. Twilight.

The scrabble game was fun. There was fierce competition with a ‘heated exchange of words’. Victory was sweet..for the victor.

The ‘WAGER’ (also the first word of the game) was that if I won, my ‘companion’ would have to watch the movie Twilight with me. And as I watched Twilight for the umpteenth time, I decided to give it some space on my blog.

I am what the urban dictionary would call a ‘Twilighter’ -     

 (image courtesy – Twilighter.org)

I am a fan of The Twilight Saga and am equally crazy about the movies. Now, that is.  At first, when I heard about this new rage ‘Twilight’, I was sceptical like most people. I had read a few things here and there about the book but did not give it a second thought.

Then, I got the opportunity of watching the movie ‘Twilight’. My boyfriend had the movie on his computer (no he didn’t download it. He never ever would) and so he passed it on to me in case I wanted to watch it (which he regrets to this day – quote unquote “Shift+Delete would have been a smarter decision.”). I was neither for nor against it, so I thought I’ll give it a shot. See what the movie is like.

And That is how it all started. I Loved the movie!

1.    The non-conventional take on Vampires (Vegetarian Vampires who only drink animal blood and Don’t turn in to creepy bats)

2.    A love story so enthralling with its innocence and chastity. (till book 3, FYI)

3.    The self-sacrificing lover (Edward, sigh!) that you only read about in Books...like this.

4.    Edward Cullen = Robert Pattinson (Sigh! Sigh!)

5.    Robert Pattinson = Edward Cullen (Sigh! Sigh! Sigh!)

6.    “What if I’m not a superhero? What if I’m the bad guy? “ – Edward Cullen