Picture.

Here is a wonderful picture that I came across in the White House Flickr page. I like the expression on Poitier's face, in particular.

(Link to original)

Stuff that make mailing lists

Mailing lists are interesting and weird. They start off with a bang, and usually we find a huge flurry of activity for 3-6 months, may go on to a year. Then they die a slow death, and someone tries to give them a life much later. Usually the attempts to revive them don't last too long. Soon the lists go back to a dormant state. The most interesting mails that come to a mailing list are the ones that usually lack any sense. Like this one. I don't really know what he was thinking of when he typed this. I don't think I will ever understand.

Dodii oru kuttu bastuva kuttu siddu siddi manushyan njaan

thendi patti alavalaathi
ododi kutttu
patti mnanushyan njaan

Onychomyrmex doddi,
(Ponerinae: Amblyoponini)
Kuranda [16/145], Queensland.
And I have bad genes.

Update (22 Dec) : I did not write the above quote. Whoever wants to claim it can do so in the comments.

How to irritate me

One of the values that I like and respect in people is being open and straight. Why can't people ever be open and honest while speaking? The following sketch encapsulates how I feel. Chapman is at his brilliant best here.



As an aside, I recommend you to check out Monty Python and their wonderful work if you haven't already. Go search in youtube and enjoy.

Stinking Dogs

As the country recovers from an unprecedented terrorist attack, this picture stays in my mind. I hope the time has come where the normal citizen can stand up on his feet and show the politician his place. Deepest condolences to Maj. Sandeep Unnikrishnan, and others who lost their lives in the brave operation.

About Rao Rant

The Anti-rao rant kicks the Rao rant's ***. Heh.

Premanathan

This is from some time in late 2003 - early 2004. I was travelling back from IISc to Indira Nagar, to get back home. Thought it is worth a recall. Read on for the entire thing that I wrote immediately after.

Yesterday I left IISc at 9:40, it was too late to get buses I thought, but before I have got buses. I waited for 10 mins and still none. One of my friends had very concernedly asked me not to take lifts from cars and bigger vehicles so I spurned a couple of them. Finally it was getting late, and on came a spacious Qualis, I got in. "To Shivaji Nagar". Couple of more guys were there, but they were dropping off at TV Tower and Mekhri. Finally one guy was there, he wanted to go to Nandidurg road and so he wanted the driver to drop there. This meant a longer way to Shivaji nagar and I reluctantly agreed. After that guy dropped, I was slightly scared for my life and security, because some of my friends had already told me to be cautious.

I told him to drop me at Shivaji Nagar and not to trouble himself so much, he was a sharp guy, looked brash and rowdy type, talks well in Kannada, Hindi and very good in English as well for a taxi driver, he figured out that I was scared and told me not to worry. All this made me more apprehensive, and put me in a fix. He tried to reassure me saying that it is his own vehicle, and has to report at some office on the way Kensington Town or somewhere and then can drop me at Airport Road. I was really shit scared, kept on saying no no. He asked my name and place. As luck would have it, he turned out to be a Malayali. He did not speak Malayalam so well, accent worse than some people I know. He insisted and I finally agreed. He went to the office to sign. Came back and I told him to drop me at places closest to 100ft road or airport rd, whichever is more convenient. His wife called him on his mobile, and he was telling her about me, jokingly, and I am scared and his not fluent Malayalam was even more scaring me. His wife spoke to me, told me that her hubby is a nice chap, she is from Kottayam and she speaks native Malayalam properly. She told not to worry, and he takes care of me properly. Finally he takes only 5 rupees, less than bus charge, despite my insistence, drops me at Ulsoor Police Station. Got a Domlur bus, but dropped off at CMH road for yet another long walk on the 100 ft road.

There are much more good people in this world than I think, meeting Premanathan has been a refreshing experience.

Still I realize that I should be more careful about my life, and better still make sure that I leave IISc earlier or stay back, and not take similar chances, at least late night.

Calicut Heritage

It is heartening to see a blog on the history of Calicut. Little over a month old, I sure hope this blog picks up speed and posts much more quality articles. As a person interested in Calicut's history, I hope such attempts would do a great deal to make the public aware about the past that we did not see.

I hope the Calicut Heritage Forum lives up to their promises.