Warmest day of the summer so far
Like I said, most of Britain is vacationing this weekend. It is a "Banking holiday weekend" and there are a number of super discounts available in a lot of stores right through the weekend (including Monday).
But more important than that, is the fact that the sun is out! And when the sun is out, all of Britain is out as well. People in strappy clothes enjoying themselves in the parks, eating icecreams, having a good time.
This was my first weekend here and I decided to cover the basic stuff. Unfortunately, I could not feel Wordsworth's sense of romance upon westminster bridge. I was also accosted by a woman in her middle ages (I am being kind here) to donate a "little" for "children". Honestly, I was scared with the way she put her arm around me and said all of this. Yet, I gathered my wits and said "How little is little?" I guess this was not a question she was used to, especially since she had started the transaction with a lovely little flower. After exchanging a couple of similar statements, I dished out 5 pounds (Boo Hoo) and gave to her. Now I am wondering if she meant her children or some other children. Of course, she also blessed me with "Jesus is watching you" or something similr.
Anyway, walked about for 3 odd hours and clicked a few pics. You can click on the pic here to see some more.
Thats all for now!

- posted by Rallix @ 11:20 AM 1 comments

 
These brits are crazy (tap tap tap)
Especially on friday evening. Massive crowd outside every single pub starting noon.

Also, the weather's supposed to be awesome this bank holiday weekend. Could touch 25 deg! Hottest day this summer! Hence approximately everyone's on vacation. Have been warned to expect "lots of us in ridiculous attire turning pink"

What can I say.

Plan for weekend - shift from hotel into studio apt and mark attendance at the important spots.
- posted by Rallix @ 2:18 PM 0 comments

 
Mostly in transit
Spring time and its getting warmer. The temperature could hit 20. But high temperature implies rain. Do not worry I have adequate warm clothing and have bought an umbrella.
- posted by Rallix @ 12:20 PM 4 comments

 
What about people who compulsively mark every mail with "importance: high"?
Insecure or plain dumb?
Ever heard of an insecure dolphin? Can't remember Douglas Adams having mentioned one.

I would like to share the following criticism of DAdams:
Douglas Adams forgot to mention which species of dolphins he was talking about. Talking about dolphins is like talking about apes . A statement like "dolphins eat sea weed" is like saying "apes eat termites" without taking into account variations in the culinary preferences of gorillas and orangutans (and George Bush).
- posted by Rallix @ 5:43 AM 4 comments

 
Mankind, Ah!

An observer of mankind will find numerous instances of logica absentia.
(There is no such term. I just invented it. But the meaning can be derived.)

Consider for instance, the existence of a certain sect of people, united by the fact that they do not use their side-view mirrors while driving; i.e. they keep it "shut". The reason, apparently, is to keep it intact, and not expose it to potential homicides who believe in driving within 2 mm of the next car, and are abundant on Indian Roads.
Somebody tell me, if you are not going to use it anyway, why the need to protect it in the first place?!

Another example is from the movie "Anari" starring Karishma Kapoor. Karishma Kapoor's (elder) brothers are told by astrologers when she is born that she would marry against their wishes. So they ground her at home till she is ready to marry, apparently with the intent that she does not see a man (other than them and an innocent servant, but thats a different matter).
I ask, why bother? Either you believe the astrologer in which case she would elope no matter what you do, or you do not believe the astrologer in which case it doesn't matter anyway!

In my opinion, Astrology in itself is an ignoratio elenchi (this word does exist and I just encountered it and I felt I must use it somehow. I might be stretching the definition, too, but you get the idea. It means the logical fallacy of presenting an argument that may in itself be valid, but which proves or supports a different proposition than the one it is purporting to prove or support). For, even if you were able to genuinely predict your future, there would be no advantage in knowing about it. Yet, mankind spends hours musing over this issue.

Another example is my experience when I lost my debit card. Everytime I told someone about it, I was asked "Really, where?" Now, if I knew where I lost it, I wouldn't call it lost, would I?!

I wonder why. Do you think Dolphins do the same?

- posted by Rallix @ 2:38 AM 4 comments

 
Something to mull over through the weekend
Sometimes you hear songs that make you think.
Some songs make you wonder why the singer ever sang the song (e.g. summer of 69) and some make you wonder why the singer ever sang (e.g. summer of 69).

Some artists, however, write songs deep enough to make you think about the subject. Phoebe from Friends is one such artist. Smelly cat (lyrics provided in Appendix 1) is the best known of the lot, but some others are equally thought provoking. For instance:

Blackout
New York City has no power.
And the milk is getting sour.
But to me this is not scary,
'Cause I stay away from dairy.

Weird Al is another one. Sticking to the theme of fermentation, I reproduce the following, sung to the tune of a famous Aerosmith song:

Livin' in the fridge
There's somethin' weird in the fridge today
I don't know what it is
Food I can't recognize

My roommate won't throw a thing away
I guess it's probably his
It looks like it's alive...

And livin' in the fridge...livin' in the fridge

There's somethin' gross in the fridge today
It's green and growin' hair
It's been there since July

If you can name that object
In that baggie over there
Then mister, you're a better man than I

It's livin' in the fridge
(You can't stop the mold from growin')
Livin' in the fridge
(Can't tell what it is at all)

Tell me do you think it should be carbon-dated
Fumigated or cremated and buried at sea?

You try to save a little bit of your home cookin'
Couple weeks later, got a scary-lookin' specimen
It always happens, my friend

Again and again and again and again

Somethin' stinks in the fridge today
And it's been rottin' there all week
It could be liver cake or woolly mammoth steak
Well, maybe I should take another peek...

etc.

But if you thought Indians were incapable of producing such poetry, you are terribly mistaken. Some songs can be highly philosophical. For instance:

Ande Ka Funda
…
Omlete Ke O Mein Anda Chocolate Ke Cho Mein Anda
Tohfa Ke To Mein Anda Coca Ke Co Mein Anda
Toilet Ke To Mein Anda Voilet Ke Vo Mein Anda
Hotel Ke Ho Mein Anda Botal Ke Bo Mein Anda

Fashion Ke Show Mein Anda Ration Ke Row Mein Anda
Arrow Mein Bow Mein Anda Come And Go Mein Anda
King Kong Mein Bhi Anda Ping Pong Mein Bhi Anda
Ding Dong Mein Bhi Anda Sing Song Mein Bhi Anda

Is Mein Chupa Hai Jeevan Ka Fal Safa
...

Please note that these songs are vastly different from other classics easily mistaken to be thought provoking, e.g. We didn't start the fire by Billy Joel, Subterranean homesick blues by Bob Dylan (and indeed a whole lot of Dylan) etc.

Some readers might argue that "Oh Manjula" belongs to this genre, but there is a subtle difference. Manjula misses a very important point - songs of the category in question can be delivered with a straight face and sans emotion and yet drive the message home. Manjula necessarily requires the performer to distort his face (and/or possess a distorted face as is the case with the original composer) to drive any sort of message home. In the case of Manjula, specifically, the message was "please switch off the television".

Anyway, I hope the reader will have something to think about this weekend, thanks to this intellectual post.

Appendix 1: Some other classics by Phoebe

Shower Song
I'm in the shower and I'm writing a song,
Stop me if you've heard it,
My skin is soapy and my hair is wet,
And Tegrin spelled backwards is Nirget.

Chorus:
Lather, rinse, repeat,
And lather, rinse, repeat,
And lather, rinse, repeat,
As needed.

The Animal Song
Oh, the cow in the meadow goes moo,
Oh, the cow in the meadow goes moo.
Then the farmer hits him on the head and grinds him up,
And that's how we get hamburgers!

Nooowww, chickens!

Smelly Cat
Chorus:
Smelly Cat, Smelly cat what are they feeding you?
Smelly Cat, smelly cat it's not your fault...

They won't take you to the vet.
You're obviously not their favorite pet.
You may not be a bed of roses,
And you're no friend to those with noses.

Smelly cat, smelly cat what are they feeding you?
Smelly cat, smelly cat it's not your fault!
- posted by Rallix @ 2:45 AM 1 comments