300

The most hyped movie of 2007 (Hollywood ofcourse) upto now, has to be 300. Posters, trailers, word of mouth, blogs, print ads and what not, have been used in drumming the details of the movie. Iran has condemned the release of the movie, Parsis in India have expressed their reservations and they are rightly justified. Victors write history is not an empty statement. This movie has gone ahead and shown that victors not only write history, they even distort it.

Everyone should watch the movie ONCE. Graphics and the sound track are the plus points. Research seems to be lacking. Even if Xerxes was a conqueror, it dos not do justice to rip apart a great civilisation like the Persian, in such a shitty manner. See the way Xerxes himself is potrayed. You get the impression that he is a transvestite who rules because of some mystic power. Even the way the Persian army is shown as a buch of bumbling fools is not correct. This was the finest fighting force in Asia once upon a time; and to suggest that some wall which the Spartans build along the coast would stop the Persians is merely foolishness. What are battering rams, trebuchets for? Or did they come only later? And lest I forget, how can a bunch of guys (Spartans) who are shown as carrying no supplies stay fighting fit for so many days? After all, an army marches on its stomach right?

On the technical side, the graphics could have been made more realistic. As of now, eveything looks so UN-MEDIEVAL!!!

The babe who acts as the Spartan Queen is also a treat to the eyes!! Sexy dressing; and ahem... good curves to go along with them.

To summarise, I would give a 2 star out of 5 for the movie. The director had better see Kingdom of Heaven if he intends to make historical movies in the future.

Crazy Kia Re

I believe that everyone has had a phrase, a cause, a word or a person to drive them crazy. COmmitted people have their GFs/BFs to drive them crazy; Upham, the corporal in Saving Private Ryan had the acronym FUBAR to drive him crazy; Naxalites have a foolish cause called Maoism to drive them crazy, so on and so forth.

I have this phrase which drove me crazy for a good one month. It all started in KREC when I got hold of the song Temple of the King by Rainbow. The song was good and provided a mysterious aura to the listener. One could almost feel that he was the King who was being crowned in a strange and dangerous ceremony.

Looking up the file information, I saw that the name of the album provided was "I don't know, do you?". Done and dusted, thought my mind, "If this is the name of the album, I can also locate whether this song is part of any OST or not; which movie it belongs to; whats the funda behind this song etc."

This phrase became my 'mantra' during every waking hour. I chanted this when I ate, took a bath and even while in class. All my free time was spent in the CCC looking up for this song. Fittingly, it was in the bathroom that I discovered that whoever had put in that phrase wanted to send people on a wild goose chase!!! Hats off dude.

What is your 'crazy kia re' item?

Someone agrees with IEEE

I had published a post on autism sometime back and had expressed my wonder and reservations about the study. Unnikrishnan had contributed a few more eye-opening points and whats most important is that he is a doctor and hence his opinions on the same will certainly have more substance in them.

The December 2006 issue of IEEE Spectrum had published an opinion related to the same.

Excerpt:

Author Temple Grandin, an expert on animal behavior and perhaps the
world’s most famous autistic person, told Spectrum that she thought Baron-Cohen was correct. She notes that her Web site on livestock management gets huge
numbers of hits from places, such as Silicon Valley, that have no particular
connection with animals but plenty with engineering and computers. Because
autistic people think in pictures, she says, they may be particularly good at
technology. Without the genes that give rise to autism, she says, the world
would be full of charming people who sit around the campfire, chatting gaily and
empathizing mightily but inventing nothing.

Breakfast+Lunch = Brunch

I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been.

Biff Loman, Death of a Salesman

This is the feeling which the sales-lady from The Leela Kempinski must have hoped for me to have, after our conversation. But little does she know, that I am forged in the fires of Mount Doom (aka engineering college) like Sauron's ring; and hence exasperation will never work with me unless it is from my manager or guide (from my post-graduation days).

This conversation is a classic example of how materialistic the world has become. It also shows the pressure that is being put on the people to lead a 'good life'; to be read as dining-wining-jiving. And most importantly, it shows how the other point of view is trampled upon.

Sunday, 25th February, 2007

Scene: I am relaxing, watching a Tamil movie 'Jay Jay' on Sun TV. This was a 'thambi' version of Serendipity being presented in an OK form. The phone rings and this is the conversation that takes place...

Lady: May I speak to Mr. XYZ?

Me: No, he is not here.

Lady: When can I contact him?

Me: After 2 months.

Lady: 2 months?

Me: Yes, you see he's not in India.

Lady: OK, may I know who I am talking to?

Me: My name is Deepak and I am Mr. XYZ's nephew.

Lady: In that case could I talk to you?

Me: (surprised) Well, I guess so....

Lady: I am Ms. ABC calling from The Leela Kempenski. Have you heard of it?

Me: (groaning) Of course!!!!

Lady: We are a premier hotel chain in India. We are the best.. blah blah blah blah.... Sir, we have the following offers: you can have brunch, you can visit our discotheque blah blah blah... all this at a very nominal annual rate of Rs. 6,500. In fact this offer is so good and so exclusive that whomever we call accepts it during the duration of the first call. So, (exulting triumphantly) would you like to enrol??

Me: (grinning wickedly) This might sound shocking, but I DO NOT want to enrol.

Lady: (stunned) Sir?? Did I hear you right? You DO NOT want to join?

Me: Haan... When I say DO NOT, I mean DO NOT!!!

Lady: But sir, please see the benefits. Infact that is not all. You must have heard of The Leela, Goa. You can stay there for a concessional rate.

Me: (unable to concentrate on the movie) I have heard of it, but my answer still remains no.

Lady: (probably wondering if such cheap arseholes exist in Bombay) But why, sir? Why?

Me: (in my best tone) See, basically I am a homely person. I do not like to go out. Added to that, I do not have the stamina to come all the way from a central suburb to a western suburb braving all the traffic just to have brunch or shake my booty in a discotheque.

Lady: You don't go out?? Really?

Me: Ah yes, ascetics like me do exist in BOMBAY!!! And added to that I am pretty happy, contented. And if at all I feel like going out, I have places nearby which I patronise.

Lady: But sir, you are missing SOMETHING!!!

Me: Nopes ma'am. My answer remains the same. So, you go ahead, have a pleasant day!!!

Though the conversation was humorous, I noted that there were a few issues which I did not like. And, I have a policy of not being sarcastic or rude to the customer care staff on the phone. After all, they are doing their job. But that doesn't mean that I am going to be rude now or in the future!! If any customer care executive is reading this, please make a note of the following:

1. Never show a condescending attitude to others. An infinite variety of people exist in this world; and all of them may not share the mainstream avenue of having fun.

2. Some of us believe that 'Doing nothing is the best thing'. Whatever you say will not goad us into taking 'affirmative action'.

3. I know that sales is a challenging job and you need to be pursuasive in order to push your product. But please don't try too hard, else you may end up pushing the potential customer away .

As a favour I would advise the previously mentioned lady to contact all of the following ladies who would be more than interested in the brunch and disco offer.

Ms. Carrie Bradshaw; Ms. Miranda Hobbs; Ms. Samantha Jones and Ms. Charlotte York

But, be warned, advise your other customers not to be too prudish.....