Today we're all having a get together of old college friends at Connaught Place. It's been a while since we've all gotten together - one is now in Bangalore, one is in Ghaziabad (which is near but not so near).
We have a tradition where we all take a common picture - just to show that we're all still around I guess!! It's the three of us over time. Hard to imagine that we have all gotten married, one has had a child and we're all on our way to becoming 30 plus somethings!!
Interesting.....
I bought nazar bandis for them (from Turkey). I hope they like it!! :) :)
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Social Network (2010)
This is a film that follows the life of Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook.
According to interviews held with Mark Zuckerberg later, it turned out that it's not so accurate at all. According to him, he didn't think of Facebook because a girl dumped him (though he does admit that it happened a lot!).
The way he treated his best friend is a little sad. I don't know if it's true or not but it wasn't very nice at all. I felt bad for his friend (if it's true). One point though that came out -
ALWAYS READ THE CONTRACT!! Even if it is your best friend's lawyer giving it to you!!
It's tough being in a new place, meeting new people. University can be a drag if you don't have a group to hang out with. I had my sister for 2/3 years of college, and we had a great time.
Why is facebook so successful? Well, I read an interesting piece on how it helps people snoop. It may be an intrinsic human emotion - so I cannot deny that! And why is it snooping if you want to find out what your friends have posted and what they are doing? Geez!!
One lesson I've recently learnt though is that you can only rely on your immediate family - and if there is money or property involved - they too become estranged. What I don't understand is that we are all so wise now (at least I've become and I'm 30 now). In the end, we're all going to be fodder for the natural elements. Shouldn't we do something better with our lives?
Carpe Diem.
One must work and dare if one really wants to live - Vincent Van Gogh
Live every act fully, as if it were your last - Buddha
According to interviews held with Mark Zuckerberg later, it turned out that it's not so accurate at all. According to him, he didn't think of Facebook because a girl dumped him (though he does admit that it happened a lot!).
The way he treated his best friend is a little sad. I don't know if it's true or not but it wasn't very nice at all. I felt bad for his friend (if it's true). One point though that came out -
ALWAYS READ THE CONTRACT!! Even if it is your best friend's lawyer giving it to you!!
It's tough being in a new place, meeting new people. University can be a drag if you don't have a group to hang out with. I had my sister for 2/3 years of college, and we had a great time.
Why is facebook so successful? Well, I read an interesting piece on how it helps people snoop. It may be an intrinsic human emotion - so I cannot deny that! And why is it snooping if you want to find out what your friends have posted and what they are doing? Geez!!
One lesson I've recently learnt though is that you can only rely on your immediate family - and if there is money or property involved - they too become estranged. What I don't understand is that we are all so wise now (at least I've become and I'm 30 now). In the end, we're all going to be fodder for the natural elements. Shouldn't we do something better with our lives?
Carpe Diem.
One must work and dare if one really wants to live - Vincent Van Gogh
Live every act fully, as if it were your last - Buddha
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Billy Elliot (2000)
Directed by Stephen Daldry, this movie follows the life of a young 11 year old growing up in a small coal mining town where his Dad and brother have worked for their entire lives. He gets interested in ballet and starts to attend classes: and he finds he's particularly good at it.
It is a sweet good film and I was surprised to learn that Stephen Daldry also directed The Hours and The Reader - both superb films as well.
Jamie Bell, the kid who plays Billy was awesome. I liked everything about the movie and I recommend it HIGHLY. If you have not seen it - please do. It is 5/5.
It is a sweet good film and I was surprised to learn that Stephen Daldry also directed The Hours and The Reader - both superb films as well.
Jamie Bell, the kid who plays Billy was awesome. I liked everything about the movie and I recommend it HIGHLY. If you have not seen it - please do. It is 5/5.
Ancient Megastructures: Chartres Cathedral
It is amazing how much there is to learn out there in the world today. I didn't know about this UNESCO World Heritage site called Chartres until I watched this NatGeo documentary on ancient megastructures called Chartres.
It is a Gothic style cathedral made almost 800 years ago. Located almost 100 kms from Paris, it is shaped in the form of a cross. The documentary focused on the architectural features of the cathedral - many of which I didn't know about. I've seen Notre Dame in Paris but I had no idea about why the cathedrals in the Gothic style were shaped the way they were, the significance behind the butresses outside, the pointed archways, the blue windows, the rose representing Mother Mary - all this was new to me.
I hope to go and see this cathedral one day. It is said that Napoleon said that even an aetheist would feel uncomfortable in this place. It was meant to impress and astound and to show the power of the church, which was at loggerheads with the French aristocracy. The main issue: taxation of the areas around the Cathedral and the town by the church.
All in all a good documentary to see. National Geographic sure does do a good job with their documentaries. I hope to see a few on some Indian megastructures as well. I saw one on the Taj Mahal, but I really want to see one on Red Fort in Delhi and the Jama Masjid.
Another place that I've seen on Nat Geo is Cambodia and the Angkor Wat temple there. That looks superb and I hope to see Phnom Penh one day!!
It is a Gothic style cathedral made almost 800 years ago. Located almost 100 kms from Paris, it is shaped in the form of a cross. The documentary focused on the architectural features of the cathedral - many of which I didn't know about. I've seen Notre Dame in Paris but I had no idea about why the cathedrals in the Gothic style were shaped the way they were, the significance behind the butresses outside, the pointed archways, the blue windows, the rose representing Mother Mary - all this was new to me.
I hope to go and see this cathedral one day. It is said that Napoleon said that even an aetheist would feel uncomfortable in this place. It was meant to impress and astound and to show the power of the church, which was at loggerheads with the French aristocracy. The main issue: taxation of the areas around the Cathedral and the town by the church.
All in all a good documentary to see. National Geographic sure does do a good job with their documentaries. I hope to see a few on some Indian megastructures as well. I saw one on the Taj Mahal, but I really want to see one on Red Fort in Delhi and the Jama Masjid.
Another place that I've seen on Nat Geo is Cambodia and the Angkor Wat temple there. That looks superb and I hope to see Phnom Penh one day!!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The Capital of Culture : Istanbul
This year, 2010, Istanbul has been labelled the Cultural Capital of Europe. And I was priviliged to get to see it!!
It was AWESOME - in one word! The Aya Sophia (Divine Wisdom), the Blue Mosque, the cruise down the Bosphorus - it was all amazing. I enjoyed seeing the Topkapi Museum, though it wasn't as big as I thought it would be. The views were amazing. Definitely a city one should see in one's lifetime.
I stayed at a very cutsie wootsie hotel near the main square called The Sultan Hill. It was just a stone's throw away from The Blue Mosque, and I thought the room was very nice and quaint. In the morning there was a huge breakfast feast to eat which I thoroughly enjoyed. The sights were nice to see and the visit to the castle overlooking the mouth of the Black Sea is something I will not forget.
I picked up nazar bandis from that small town. Euros were scarce and liras even scarcer. All in all, a trip I enjoyed.
It was AWESOME - in one word! The Aya Sophia (Divine Wisdom), the Blue Mosque, the cruise down the Bosphorus - it was all amazing. I enjoyed seeing the Topkapi Museum, though it wasn't as big as I thought it would be. The views were amazing. Definitely a city one should see in one's lifetime.
I stayed at a very cutsie wootsie hotel near the main square called The Sultan Hill. It was just a stone's throw away from The Blue Mosque, and I thought the room was very nice and quaint. In the morning there was a huge breakfast feast to eat which I thoroughly enjoyed. The sights were nice to see and the visit to the castle overlooking the mouth of the Black Sea is something I will not forget.
I picked up nazar bandis from that small town. Euros were scarce and liras even scarcer. All in all, a trip I enjoyed.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
It really takes it toll
Stress really takes its toll on the body without you even realising it!! It is amazing what one has to do in this life - at least that's what I think. One has to remain positive no matter what I think!!
I think that meditation would be a good way to counter stress. It would put the mind at ease and help you to bring shanti. But it may not be able to curtain a stressful situation. How and why are two different aspects.
The root of all that stress is to take on too much stress. One should try not to. The heavens will not fall when stress lands up. I think if one gets a good boss who doesn't give too much stress one should be happy!
Reading about topics that you like also helps to counter stress. I have a favourite author these days called Kathy Reichs and I've read most of her books. I really like these murder mystery books. It's all about bones and there are some anthropological bases that are covered as well. 206 bones in the human body btw.
:) :) Don't worry, be happy now!
I think that meditation would be a good way to counter stress. It would put the mind at ease and help you to bring shanti. But it may not be able to curtain a stressful situation. How and why are two different aspects.
The root of all that stress is to take on too much stress. One should try not to. The heavens will not fall when stress lands up. I think if one gets a good boss who doesn't give too much stress one should be happy!
Reading about topics that you like also helps to counter stress. I have a favourite author these days called Kathy Reichs and I've read most of her books. I really like these murder mystery books. It's all about bones and there are some anthropological bases that are covered as well. 206 bones in the human body btw.
:) :) Don't worry, be happy now!
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