Birecik, south-eastern Turkey.
20/07/2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Ok, so this is REALLY lame. But it would have been much worse had I stuck to song titles (as original tag asks you to) rather than book titles. Picked Le Carre because it means minimal research, having read nine out of his twenty-one novels (I also own about five more that I haven't read).
Using only book titles from ONE WRITER, cleverly answer these questions.
Pick Your writer:
John Le Carre
Are you male or female?
A Perfect Spy
Describe yourself:
Absolute Friends
How do you feel about yourself?
The Naïve and Sentimental Lover
Describe where you currently live:
The Russia House
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
A Small Town in Germany
Your best friend is:
The Honourable Schoolboy
Your favourite colour is:
The Unbearable Peace
You know that:
Smiley's People
What's the weather like:
A Murder of Quality
If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?
What Ritual is Being Observed Tonight?
What is life to you?
The Looking-Glass War
What is the best advice you have to give?
Call for the Dead
If you could change your name, what would it be?
The Little Drummer Girl
Your favourite food is:
The Mission Song
p.s. If you haven't read Le Carre, go pick up The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. And then the Smiley books. And BBC's TV version of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (which is so engaging that I watched all six hours of it in one sitting, even though I'd already read the book). I'll shut up now.
p.p.s. Feel free to take this up, anyone. Or do the original one. Or not.
Using only book titles from ONE WRITER, cleverly answer these questions.
Pick Your writer:
John Le Carre
Are you male or female?
A Perfect Spy
Describe yourself:
Absolute Friends
How do you feel about yourself?
The Naïve and Sentimental Lover
Describe where you currently live:
The Russia House
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
A Small Town in Germany
Your best friend is:
The Honourable Schoolboy
Your favourite colour is:
The Unbearable Peace
You know that:
Smiley's People
What's the weather like:
A Murder of Quality
If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?
What Ritual is Being Observed Tonight?
What is life to you?
The Looking-Glass War
What is the best advice you have to give?
Call for the Dead
If you could change your name, what would it be?
The Little Drummer Girl
Your favourite food is:
The Mission Song
p.s. If you haven't read Le Carre, go pick up The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. And then the Smiley books. And BBC's TV version of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (which is so engaging that I watched all six hours of it in one sitting, even though I'd already read the book). I'll shut up now.
p.p.s. Feel free to take this up, anyone. Or do the original one. Or not.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Tagged. This gives me something to blog about, so I won't complain too much.
Twenty-one random things about myself-
1. As a child, I couldn't pronounce my other, longer name- and so I spliced together the first and last syllables and called myself 'Nina', which stuck.
2. People often think I'm naive and innocent. This usually works to my advantage.
3. I completely fail to see the point of spending vast sums of money on jewellery. No, the "Oh, it's an investment" argument doesn't quite cut it.
4. The other day, some nutjob sent me via fax to my uncle's office, a marriage proposal written in chaste Malayalam.
5. I've wanted to visit Mt.St.Helens ever since I saw a picture of it in The Living Planet, at age five or six. Finally did, last summer. I was thrilled to bits.
6. My family has more than its fair share of loonies, drunks and runaways and mediums who operate the ouija board. Much entertainment, therefore.
7. I love gossip. Always have. Ever since I can remember.
8. I hate, hate, HATE shopping for clothes. I'd much rather differentiate under the integral sign.
9. But I really like shopping for shoes.
10. I prefer buying second-hand books to new. Hard bound.
11. I'm completely fascinated by cyclones.
12. I have a huge crush on Hugh Laurie. Well, House MD, actually.
13. This is as hard as it looks.
14. I still know an embarrassing amount about Hindi cinema- especially the love lives of stars and starlets from the mid-nineties, because my loo reading during this period was Stardust.
15. I find it very difficult to tell people off. When I do manage to, I feel quite pleased with myself.
16. I went and watched midnight screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween a couple of years ago. My friend and I were the only ones who were sober and not in fancy dress.
17. I think you stop making good friends once you leave college.
18. My great-grandfather ran away from home because of his step-mother's cruelty. He somehow ended up in Colombo where he made his fortune. Sounds like a cliche, but true story.
19. I wish I'd cut more classes in college.
20. I derive great pleasure from electrocuting mosquitoes. GREAT. Is that bloodlust?
21. I've been told that swearing doesn't suit me. That doesn't really stop me, though.
Anyone out there foolhardy enough to take this up, feel free.
Twenty-one random things about myself-
1. As a child, I couldn't pronounce my other, longer name- and so I spliced together the first and last syllables and called myself 'Nina', which stuck.
2. People often think I'm naive and innocent. This usually works to my advantage.
3. I completely fail to see the point of spending vast sums of money on jewellery. No, the "Oh, it's an investment" argument doesn't quite cut it.
4. The other day, some nutjob sent me via fax to my uncle's office, a marriage proposal written in chaste Malayalam.
5. I've wanted to visit Mt.St.Helens ever since I saw a picture of it in The Living Planet, at age five or six. Finally did, last summer. I was thrilled to bits.
6. My family has more than its fair share of loonies, drunks and runaways and mediums who operate the ouija board. Much entertainment, therefore.
7. I love gossip. Always have. Ever since I can remember.
8. I hate, hate, HATE shopping for clothes. I'd much rather differentiate under the integral sign.
9. But I really like shopping for shoes.
10. I prefer buying second-hand books to new. Hard bound.
11. I'm completely fascinated by cyclones.
12. I have a huge crush on Hugh Laurie. Well, House MD, actually.
13. This is as hard as it looks.
14. I still know an embarrassing amount about Hindi cinema- especially the love lives of stars and starlets from the mid-nineties, because my loo reading during this period was Stardust.
15. I find it very difficult to tell people off. When I do manage to, I feel quite pleased with myself.
16. I went and watched midnight screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween a couple of years ago. My friend and I were the only ones who were sober and not in fancy dress.
17. I think you stop making good friends once you leave college.
18. My great-grandfather ran away from home because of his step-mother's cruelty. He somehow ended up in Colombo where he made his fortune. Sounds like a cliche, but true story.
19. I wish I'd cut more classes in college.
20. I derive great pleasure from electrocuting mosquitoes. GREAT. Is that bloodlust?
21. I've been told that swearing doesn't suit me. That doesn't really stop me, though.
Anyone out there foolhardy enough to take this up, feel free.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
(Because I have nothing else to write about)
Part of gtalk conversation I had yesterday with my friend Tista:
me: anyway, koschen
tista: yes..
me: is it just me or do you also like it when men carry pens in their shirt/kurta pockets?
tista: i like men carrying pens in kurta pockets.
me: kurta pockets better definitely
tista: yep
:)
Now you know.
Part of gtalk conversation I had yesterday with my friend Tista:
me: anyway, koschen
tista: yes..
me: is it just me or do you also like it when men carry pens in their shirt/kurta pockets?
tista: i like men carrying pens in kurta pockets.
me: kurta pockets better definitely
tista: yep
:)
Now you know.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Found this bit of silly writing among some old letters and photographs- written (I think) by my father and his friend, S. Obviously they found the idea of the marriage of their mutual friend G (aka Bunty) to a Bangladeshi girl hilarious.
COMING! COMING!! COMING!!!
IT TOOK BOSTON BY STORM! REGALED AUDIENCES AT NY, LA, TORONTO!!!
NOW- READY TO CONQUER INDIA!
AT RAAGAL-BOMBAY LAL QILA JABALPORE FORTUNE TLY
AND TO BREAK ALL RECORDS IN BANGLADESH!
AT TAKA-DHAKA ISLAMIA-JESSORE SULTAN-CHITTAGONG
ANAMIKA PRESENTS
INDO-BANGLA COMBINES'
BUNTY- a teenage Love Story
Sizzling romantic saga! Love Epic! Bolder than him! More brazen than her!! Lustier than ISI! Strictly for Adults! Triple-X Rated!
Breaking religious and national barriers! Sex in a secular vein! Socks you between the legs! Makes you blush like a beetroot!
Introducing Bunty as Bunty; Laila as Runa
Starring Brighlal as Daddyji; Scarlet Dhara as Mummyji;
Bjorn Andersen as ABBA; Emmanuelle as AMMA
With Meera Sen as Baby Laila
DIRECTED BY Steve Victor SCREENPLAY Charles Deveraux
AUDIO Nimish Mehta VIDEO Groovy
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL BRANCHES OF BAWA MORNING STORES
--------- A rajpillai international release ---------
" The story of Laila and Bunty... in the voluptuous and earthy language of LOVE"- PULSE
" ... Gripping..." - Pratibimb
" If this film had been made before partition, it would have changed the... course of history. " -SIR RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH
" It is clever- but is it art?" - HARVARD JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY
" This film truly depicts the unculturisation, the acculturisation and the agriculturisation of the Asian Society in the American Social Frame" - A C Sinha IN THE MAURITANIA TIMES
" ... doing ... the usual ... " - E. B. MAX
BHARAT-BANGLA
BHAI-BAHAN!
COMING! COMING!! COMING!!!
IT TOOK BOSTON BY STORM! REGALED AUDIENCES AT NY, LA, TORONTO!!!
NOW- READY TO CONQUER INDIA!
AT RAAGAL-BOMBAY LAL QILA JABALPORE FORTUNE TLY
AND TO BREAK ALL RECORDS IN BANGLADESH!
AT TAKA-DHAKA ISLAMIA-JESSORE SULTAN-CHITTAGONG
ANAMIKA PRESENTS
INDO-BANGLA COMBINES'
BUNTY- a teenage Love Story
Sizzling romantic saga! Love Epic! Bolder than him! More brazen than her!! Lustier than ISI! Strictly for Adults! Triple-X Rated!
Breaking religious and national barriers! Sex in a secular vein! Socks you between the legs! Makes you blush like a beetroot!
Introducing Bunty as Bunty; Laila as Runa
Starring Brighlal as Daddyji; Scarlet Dhara as Mummyji;
Bjorn Andersen as ABBA; Emmanuelle as AMMA
With Meera Sen as Baby Laila
DIRECTED BY Steve Victor SCREENPLAY Charles Deveraux
AUDIO Nimish Mehta VIDEO Groovy
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL BRANCHES OF BAWA MORNING STORES
--------- A rajpillai international release ---------
" The story of Laila and Bunty... in the voluptuous and earthy language of LOVE"- PULSE
" ... Gripping..." - Pratibimb
" If this film had been made before partition, it would have changed the... course of history. " -SIR RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH
" It is clever- but is it art?" - HARVARD JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY
" This film truly depicts the unculturisation, the acculturisation and the agriculturisation of the Asian Society in the American Social Frame" - A C Sinha IN THE MAURITANIA TIMES
" ... doing ... the usual ... " - E. B. MAX
BHARAT-BANGLA
BHAI-BAHAN!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Friday, October 03, 2008
Upon Driving on Chennai Roads: Anecdotes, Questions and Observations
Anecdote
Friday last, 9.45 am, Chamiers Rd/Cenotaph Rd Intersection.
I've just been pulled over by traffic cop for jumping a red light (the damn thing had turned red before I could drive off. Don't ask). We get out of the car, and follow the guy. He's clearly a rookie.
"LLR-a? You're not allowed to drive in traffic."
"Oh yes I am!"
" Read your LLR properly- it says in there that you can't."
I fish out my LLR and (triumphantly) read out loud, "The attention of the holder of this license is drawn to rule-3 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989. Which prohibits him from driving any motor vehicle unless he has besides him a person duly licensed to drive the vehicles and in every case, the vehicle carries "L" plate both in the front and in the rear of the vehicle."
I sound quite indignant, and Rookie senses that I'm about to pick up a fight. And so we are taken to meet the boss. The Boss regards me balefully and parrots out, "LLR-a? You're not allowed to drive in traffic. Read your LLR properly- it says in there that you can't." Before I reply, Rookie, tells his boss with a smirk, "She's claiming that there's no such rule." I feel belligerent, and dearly want to break his nose. The Boss continues his interrogation,
"What are you doing driving in traffic?"
"Learning to drive in traffic..."
"You're not allowed to do that! You're supposed to practice on empty roads."
"But I've already done that! And anyway, there's no rule that stops me from driving in traffic."
"No, you can only drive in traffic when you have your license! What if you cause an accident?" I want to say to him, you moron, a driver's license does not automatically endow anyone with perfect driving skills.
"How do you propose I learn to drive in traffic, then?"
"YOU CAN DRIVE IN TRAFFIC ONLY AFTER YOU"VE GOT YOUR LICENSE"
"But there is no such rule!"
"When I tell you something, you must listen. Instead you go on insisting that the rabbit has three legs..."
"BUT THERE IS NO SUCH RULE!"
"You're a girl, so I can't say anything to you. You'll claim that I harassed you."
"Err, if you say so."
"Now get lost."
"Ok"
See how the cops made no mention about my actual offense? It's symptomatic of a special kind of idiocy that's endemic to the authorities.
And that, folks was my tryst with the law.
Questions and Observations
-Why is switching on the indicator while changing lanes not standard practice in India? It makes me very nervous not doing this. In Kerala, putting on your right indicator while driving on a straight road apparently means that you're allowing the person behind to overtake you. Scary.
-Bike drivers are a nuisance to civilised society. Also, auto drivers. Ok, some car drivers too.
-Oh god, how I love power steering!
Friday last, 9.45 am, Chamiers Rd/Cenotaph Rd Intersection.
I've just been pulled over by traffic cop for jumping a red light (the damn thing had turned red before I could drive off. Don't ask). We get out of the car, and follow the guy. He's clearly a rookie.
"LLR-a? You're not allowed to drive in traffic."
"Oh yes I am!"
" Read your LLR properly- it says in there that you can't."
I fish out my LLR and (triumphantly) read out loud, "The attention of the holder of this license is drawn to rule-3 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989. Which prohibits him from driving any motor vehicle unless he has besides him a person duly licensed to drive the vehicles and in every case, the vehicle carries "L" plate both in the front and in the rear of the vehicle."
I sound quite indignant, and Rookie senses that I'm about to pick up a fight. And so we are taken to meet the boss. The Boss regards me balefully and parrots out, "LLR-a? You're not allowed to drive in traffic. Read your LLR properly- it says in there that you can't." Before I reply, Rookie, tells his boss with a smirk, "She's claiming that there's no such rule." I feel belligerent, and dearly want to break his nose. The Boss continues his interrogation,
"What are you doing driving in traffic?"
"Learning to drive in traffic..."
"You're not allowed to do that! You're supposed to practice on empty roads."
"But I've already done that! And anyway, there's no rule that stops me from driving in traffic."
"No, you can only drive in traffic when you have your license! What if you cause an accident?" I want to say to him, you moron, a driver's license does not automatically endow anyone with perfect driving skills.
"How do you propose I learn to drive in traffic, then?"
"YOU CAN DRIVE IN TRAFFIC ONLY AFTER YOU"VE GOT YOUR LICENSE"
"But there is no such rule!"
"When I tell you something, you must listen. Instead you go on insisting that the rabbit has three legs..."
"BUT THERE IS NO SUCH RULE!"
"You're a girl, so I can't say anything to you. You'll claim that I harassed you."
"Err, if you say so."
"Now get lost."
"Ok"
See how the cops made no mention about my actual offense? It's symptomatic of a special kind of idiocy that's endemic to the authorities.
And that, folks was my tryst with the law.
Questions and Observations
-Why is switching on the indicator while changing lanes not standard practice in India? It makes me very nervous not doing this. In Kerala, putting on your right indicator while driving on a straight road apparently means that you're allowing the person behind to overtake you. Scary.
-Bike drivers are a nuisance to civilised society. Also, auto drivers. Ok, some car drivers too.
-Oh god, how I love power steering!
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