DEVIL TOWN: VIT University VELLORE

One of the things nobody warned me about being a grad student in the US of A was about how I would become best friends with my laptop. Hold on !! I have not lost it, I have not turned in to a nut job or something.... relax!! I am perfectly okay!! But the truth is that my life would come to a standstill without my laptop. And another thing that people do not warn you about is how often you reminisce about the past, more often than not most of your sentences start with " when I was ..... " basically it sucks even more when that voice in your head says " there... you are doing it again" but I can’t help it .


Coming back to my laptop I have watched.... way too many documentaries and TV series since I got here ... that I think it’s time they coined a new phrase for someone who cannot stop himself from doing so. But the point is I watched this TV series called Friday Night Lights on the recommendation of one of my friends, Mayank. I think it is one of the most awesome TV series I have ever watched, if you are lover of sports this is a must watch, it’s not only about sports but being a teenager. I could relate to it a lot but then again as most of friends will tell you I just like relating to sports!!! There is the song at end of season 1 called "devil town" which in context of the series makes sense to a very great degree but the song made me think about my time at VIT. I felt it seemed apt to sum up my time there.

I just felt that the one thing I take from my college years is that.... I learnt nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes... some of them real huge mistakes that need to go in the stupidity hall of fame but at the end of the day I doubt that I would trade in the time we had at college for anything. I miss my friends from my time there. A few of them... I am in touch with even now but with most of them I have done a miserable job of staying in touch... which I regret. So this post is dedicated to all those people out there... Miss ya Guys !!! Will not forget the good times or the bad take care.

P.S 486, 118, 319, 224, 315, main court and the field… miss them the most

BIG MONEY LEADS TO BIG BLUNDERS

Now that all the dust has settled and the transfer window has closed, we can take a moment to look at all the movers and shakers this off season. This off season there seems to have been a case of " Might have been". With the real big moves not coming off but as usual there were those that would raise eyebrows. ( This was written in October)

Lets look at juicy tranfer news first the moves that did not happen.

Real madrid as usual completed their pre-season ritual of creating a ruckus by " apparently " lauching an audcious bid for Christiano Ronaldo. They do this every season, there Figo, Ronaldo, Beckham, Zizou and so on but thankfully it did not happen.

Then there was Robinho's move to Chelsea which was an apparent done deal to the extent they had printed Robinho jersey's for sale at the bridge.

Another expected move which did not materialse in any manner was that of the " Russian General " Andrei Arshavin, there was no club that could afford him, which mostly should change come the winter transfer window.

Then there was the much hyped mass exodus from Chelsea to Inter Milan for the Mourinho reunion. I am glad frankie Lampard decided against the move for what ever be the reason.

Last was Gareth Barry's move from Aston Villa to Liverpool which failed to materialise. Oh.. there was also Man City's bid for Ronnie ( are you out of your mind ).

Now lets look at the questionable acquisitions this off season:

I know a lot of people might disagree with me on this one but its my blog so.. The 20.3 million Pound transfer of Robbie Keane to Liverpool from Tottenham. I mean Its not like they have a lack to strike power at Liverpool. Well i guess Rafa likes a star studded bench. In my opinion they need some wingers not stikers to diversify their attack.

Robinho's move to Man City, to look at this move beyond the aspect of monetary benefit is very hard for me. I mean Robinho in my opnion was not heart of real success in past few seasons I think that credit goes to the like of Guti and Sneijder. The club over payed for a temperamental player with a questionable attitude.

Ricardo Quaresma for 44 million USD to Inter Milan. I would not like question Jose Mourinho but is the price tag not a little too excessive for some one who has failed at big stage many a time.

For Example at Barcelona and Porto

I had written this post on the 5th of October never posted but Wow!!! was I right about my top 3 blunders:

Keane is now going back to spurs for 12 million pounds. He hardly played at Liverpool, the much much hyped Keane-Torres partnership never even came to be. I told you you are paying too much !!!!

Ricardo Quaresma is now going to Chelsea on loan move. I have no idea what the logic behind that is??? I mean Jose " the mouth " mourinho could not get him to perform and now Big Phil Scolari wants to bring him to Stamford bridge, which fast turning in to the " theatre of Big signing flops ". I mean shevchenko, Ballack, Wayne Bridge, Malouda, Branislav Ivanovic I would go to the extent of saying Deco has been far from impressive after the initial few weeks.

Robinho... I have no idea what to say about his team or him. Sudden exit from camp, sexual assault charges and team that will mostly end the season with mid table mediocrity. Only goes to show money spent is guarentee for success

And the future of Andrei Arshavin still is as unclear as when I first started this post back in October only difference being it now the Gunners who are pursuing him and not Spurs.


P.S Real madrid have signed 3 players Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Lassana Diarra and the last one is relatively unknown player Julien Faubert from West Ham who himself agrees that intially thought Madrid's interest in him was some sort of a practical joke being played on him. Its funny how some these signings turn out and for once may be madrid have got it right. I mean its eventual you will get one atleast right, even if you are Real Madrid

PIMPING POVERTY: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, SO WHAT IF IT DOES???

The movie "SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” directed by Danny Boyle based on a book called Q and A by Vikas Swarup has been in the news a lot lately. At first it was for all the right reasons, winning golden globes after it was considered a dark horse for most of the awards. It is now one of the frontrunners for Oscars. A R Rehman did pick up a golden globe for the music but I must say I can think of at least 10 Rehman songs that were better than the song which won. Better late than never I guess. But just as one thought ah ... finally we are home.. .safe and sound all hell seems to have broken loose.


It started with the grand ol daddy of Indian cinema “the Big B" sharing with us his thoughts about the movie. For some reason the movie seem to hurt his sentiments and even that of Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt. Mr. Bachan I don’t think you can real afford to criticize the story Mr.Bachan for god sake you acted in "Ram Gopal Verma ki AAG" a sorry excuse for a movie even by our RGV's standards of crap. Mr. Bhatt you do a very good job of lifting Hollywood flicks (scene to scene & you cast the serial kisser Emraan Hashmi ) may be talking about a movies story and plot should be the last thing you do.

I read somewhere else that movie is a case of pimping poverty. Hmm let me think ... when a bollywood or tollywood or kollywoood hero is a slum deweller, an auto driver, a washerman or the guy who irons your clothes (poor telugu .. going for " maestri"), a farmer, a porter (a coolie not to be mistaken for a guy who is really cool) it is not pimping poverty but it is reality, very factual and so on.

Now for the icing on the cake, I recently read on news site that there has been a public litigation filed against the movie for using the word "slum" and "dog" together in its title. Whoa!! Now there is a case of someone with a lot of free time on their hands and someone who takes movies way too seriously. Dude get a life!!! How can you be offended by a movie title ?? And coming back to those of you who think this movie is about pimping poverty. Ok so what if it does... I am sure all of you who say this are the same bunch of people who went to watch the Titanic to get a glimpse of Katie's ... you know #@#@. And not like people have a problem when movie makers jump on the band wagon of “sex sells ". Example: Dhoom II and the character of Bipasha ... the "oomph” factor as some like to put it. So I guess this is the " aaaw so sad or cute " factor. If it sells, then let it and if you have a problem then don’t watch it.

Basically it is a movie.... so do not apply too much of your intelligence, just go to multiplex do the aaww's and oooh's have fun laugh and come back (if getting in touch with your feelings and crying is your thing you can do that too) . Just make sure you watch the 1 below

I am big Rajni fan but just could not resist the temptation.
Thalivar!!!!!

THE STORY OF INDIA: A DOCUMENTARY FOR THE AGES

The story of India is a documentary about the Indian subcontinent. Tracing the evolution of a nation from about 10,000 years back to the present day. The story is told by the British historian Michael Wood, who honestly just captivates your imagination and takes you to this place where you literally get goose bumps. I honestly feel in his voice one can a sense true admiration and respect for the great culture and history of India. I strongly believe that this documentary gives a very non-partisan view of India and does a much better job of it than the history textbooks of our school.

The Documentary is a must watch for every Indian and every person who wants to understand India. The documentary is broken in to 6 parts of an hour each. Each part addresses a specific time periods in the history of our great nation. 

 

THE BEGINNINGS: EPISODE I

In this part the very origins of our many practices are traced. It also reveals how developed our ancestors with respect to culture and city development. 

THE POWER OF IDEAS: EPISODE II

In this the story of Buddha is the primary plot. Michael wood speaks about the Mauryan Empire and their interactions with Alexander.  

THE SPICE & SILK ROUTES: EPISODE III

In this light is shed on the great king Kaniska and the size of his empire. Michael Wood also goes on talk about emperor Ashok and his transformation from a war hungry tyrant to a benevolent king. He also speaks about the Roman sea trade with Kerala and the exchange between the 2 great civilizations of Rome and India 

THE GOLDEN AGE: EPISODE IV

In this Michael wood throws light on the golden age of the Indian civilization under the Gupta Kings. He enumerates the strides made in the field of science literature metallurgy and so on. He also speaks of the world famous book on sex, the Kamasutra. 

THE MEETING OF TWO OCEANS: EPISODE V

 This episode is all about the coming of the Mughals and their achievements. Michael wood speaks of how there was religious harmony even under the under Mughal kings. He gives us a great insight in to life and mind of Akbar, a man far ahead of his time. 

FREEDOM & LIBERATION: EPISODE VI 

This episode is about the coming of the British. He speaks about how British rule even had certain positives but never ignores or tries to cover up the mistakes of British rule. He speaks of horrors of partition but at the same time says hope springs eternal.