Change of URL

Well, just so you know, the address has been changed to Viva del Buscador

P.S. Yaayy!! My Spanish vocab has improved!!!

Night Riders

Hello readers, am posting this one from my Moothamma(masi)'s place at Saat Bangla, Andheri. Have come down here to meet my grandparents before the July deluge (more on this later). Anyway, as I've pointed out before, Parkinson hast blessed me. When I have limited access to a computer workstation, my creative juices flow copiously, ready to rival the impending floods in Andheri. Anyway, I have reverted to good old paper and ink writing to preserve those thoughts till I can have access to one. But those thoughts deserve time and patience to post online, so I shall post them once I'm back at home base with plenty of time on hand. For now, I'm out of pen and paper too, and have access to a comp anyway, and am rattled with insomnia as usual, so here I go...

After a breathtaking evening spent at ISKCON, Juhu with masi, ma and nanaji, I was tired and just wanted to hit the sack at nana's Chaar Bangla home (my childhood home). Shattering my dreams, along came my dear big bro A Bhaiyya says "Come to my place, I'll take you on my bike". I've been pestering him to give me a ride ever since he returned from his MBBS course last year. So there I was, torn between my desire to sleep and the desire to talk to the wind (hawaa se baatein karna :D) and me being me, obviously there was no question.

So, me being duely kidnapped, we went on a zippy night-ride to Juhu beach. Well, it was supposed to be zippy. It being Saturday night, roads at Juhu were more clogged than those at Thane station (that's a-saying something). Anyway, Bhaiyya's driving skills are better than most people that have taken me pillion. So the ride was relaxing and the wind blew away my grogginess. I must admit my mood had been pretty grouchy all day and heving to yell to make myself heard over the wind helped get it all out of my sytem. So when Bhaiyya proposed a paan at the beach, the frown of disgust that would've otherwise surfaced got blown away by the wind and my good mood. My experiences with paan at A Rama Nayak's Udipi hangouts until now have been pretty 'bitter', hence the apprehension. But I said to myself, "What the hell!" and quickly agreed.

Mishra Paan Shop is a small aankhda kept meticulously clean and exuding the intoxicating fragrance of gulkand and what not. Bang opposite The Ramada and flush with delItalia (hope I got the name right), the stall is an unlikely neighbour, but vies almost equally in its clientele with them. A constant crowd throngs the stall proclaiming its reputation. "He's the richest paanwallah in Mumbai", Bhaiyya gives his gyaan."He's richer than us man, earns in crores and all. And he's here since ages" as he hands me an outsize fragrant wrap.

Having refused (rather reluctantly) Bhaiyya's offer of a cigarette to go with the paan ("You're in college now and all, Kutti, so I'm offering you", Big Bro's gyaan). Munching the awesome sweet delicacy on the ride back home, I was in a state of bliss and was in just the right mood to blog. So the moment I got home, I logged onto their PC and here I am, fishing bits of paan from between my teeth and tippy-tappying away at the kleyboard.

Anyway, here I need to stop, cos' I've been smuggled out of Grandpa's place (Chaar Bangla to Saat Bangla, if you please!) and I have to get up early and go crash at nana's place before he realises I'd been gone overnight! So good night, readers!

COOL CONCEPT

Check out this cool concept bike by Yamaha. It really fired my imagination. Tell me what you think about it.



Just a whim man. Say goodbye to parking worries, fuel problems and say hello to mobility that you've never dreamt of before!!

But on the downside, comfort would be a concern. You'd need to be a footballer or swimmer to consistently ride this thing without cramping up. And that's assuming Yamaha is able to design satisfactory actuators, materials and a reliable control system. Also, you have to be a daredevil who doesn't care about his life to have to ride this one. A little unbalance can do wonders for your orthopaedic surgeon. :D

Well, this one fired my imagination at least. Kudos to the guys at Pasadena who designed this...

Overcooked

No, it's not a post on my favourite topic 'food'. Overcooked is the literal translation of Mumbaiyya slang "bahut pak gaya yaar...". Rainy evenings in the June holidays can bore the hair out of your nose. Really. And this post is here to spread some of the restive cheer!
This post is actually the transcript of a conversation I recently had on Orkut with a dear friend and fellow table tennis freak on a couple of such boring evenings. I've tried to maintain the 'scrap' quality of the dialogues (no pun intended!).

DISCLAIMER: The writer is not responsible for any brain damage occurring due to reading this post. By reading ahead the reader takes upon himself the responsibility of any serious medical condition such as brain haemorrhage or intense insanity/violence or intellectual impairment arising from reading this conversation.

So now that you have been warned, read on...

People talking: TP (yours faithfully) and PJ (the friend mentioned above)
DISCLAIMER: Any resemblance of the names to Time Pass and Poor Joke is purely coincidental.

TP on Facebook: m bored.

PJ on GTalk: ME too. :)

PJ on Orkut: thanku thanku.. :)
friends, romans n countrymen...
ok whtva.

PJ: ok that was crap. lol.

TP: ROMANS???? where's your patriotism lady???

PJ: lol.. ok..
here we go again.. take 2..
friends, Indians.. (Nah..)

PJ: sorry.. take 3.
friends and.. yes, countrymen..
lol.

TP: ya, whichever-country-you-are-from-men

PJ: lol.. yes.
that makes it take 4.
heh..

TP: yes take 5... i fuhgot ma dialogue

Brief chat on Facebook, GTalk n Yahoo…

PJ: yes..
there seems to be no significance of the green dots beside both our names.. :P

TP: ya hello again

TP: obvi not... get on with the takes...

PJ: oh yes..
take 6..
achchoo!! sorry! :)

TP: take 7...
my specs fell down... sowie

PJ: take 8..
look..
the cameraman's asleep!!

TP: he's not asleep... he's dead!!! aaarrrggghhhh. call the flowerwalla

PJ: oh yes.. n the chemist fellow to get some cotton for his nostrils.. i've used all the cotton for my make-up.. :)

TP: oh shit... nahiiii.... the flowerwalla's outta roses for the grave...

PJ: ok.. let's use him in the play instead.. as.. maybe.. er.. the deadman.. or something?

TP: how convenient!!! sahi hai! he's a natural!! ok take... wat number r v on??

PJ: take 9..
AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
he's still alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TP: but he's a natural!! let him do the part...

PJ: right ok.. m scared..
u do the next take..
m scared..

TP: okok. bt wat number r v on

PJ: 10.. take 10..

TP: okok. take 10. did you say he's still alive!!???!!?!?!?! aaaahhhhh runnn!! zombie!!

PJ: can i interrupt?
let's kill him before we continue the shoot.

TP: gr8 idea. u do d honours... w8 can u technicalli KILL a zombie?

PJ: Oh yea.. good question..
ok.. i am a professional actor.. (ahem) n so are u.. (Ahem, again)..
so one of us pretend to be a zombie and kill him na..
ok.. did that make sense?

TP: ahem ahem... is umbridge around? umm... well you pretend. ive neva played ZOMBIE b4

PJ: lol..
this's my first time too..

TP: take 11... shit... v need a cameraman!!!

PJ: YAY!! i've done it!!!
i killed a zombie... LOL!!!
yes.. till i rejoice, the next take please..

TP: got a cameraman?

PJ: now go n b the cameraman for me for the next take..
take 12..
friends n countrymen..
i killed a ZOMBIE!!!!!

TP: shit i forgot to put in d reel

PJ: ok..
cameraman ready? reel's in?
fine..
take 13..
Isn't 13 an unlucky number?

TP: ya let's do the fourteenth take directly

yes.. take 14
friends,.. er.. wait..
can someone tell me what is my role in this play?

TP: wait... r v doin a play or r v givin a mechanix lec in dayals?

PJ: sorry. (the director's gonna kill us now. )

TP: can v make that take 15 pl? 14 is 2 close to 13

PJ: Ah.. yes.
y not?

TP: ok take 15...
yessssssss. i made 1500 scraps!!! ouch... knocked down d camera... sorry

PJ: and hurt urself.. so.... injury..
pack up for today.
(i have to leave.. cya tomrw)
goodnight.

TP: come to the hospital to meet me ok. vll discuss the story there.... night

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

PJ: yes.. so how are you today? :)

TP: umm i have a bad back still... but i can play tt... :D

TP: day 2

PJ: yes.. day 2.
take 1
yawn!!

TP: take 2
wait, do v have dialogues written?

PJ: take 3..
looks into the camera and frowns... wait.. these arent my "dialogues".. oops! sorry..

TP: oh damn. that's my mom's recipe book. my doggie ate the dialogies

PJ: Ah.. chuck it.
i have a copy!
ur turn..

TP: wow. ur a saviour. w8 i don't own a dog...
neway, chhod...

TP: take 4...
w8 i need to brush b4 i start. sorry, was late so i came directly...

PJ: lol..ok.
take 6..
hey!! it's take 5, u idiot!!

TP: oh oh okok. sorry. now take... uh umm 6...
arre wait na, lemme say it properly. i even brushed to say it. ok...
take 6.

PJ: take 6..
cookies yes.. take 6 cookies. yay!!

TP: not 6 yaar. 69..

PJ: ok..
take 8..
burp!! (cookies effect)

PJ: take 7...

TP: take *thinks*(7+3=10, 710) cookies
take 710 cookies!! :D

PJ: lol.. nice one.

TP: take 9
why fart n waste wen u can burp n taste... hahahahaha

PJ: omg! i dint guess that would come here... argh!
anyway..
take 10..
the floor's wet.. the director's crying. :|oh no!! the whole set is gone!

TP: what the HELL!!?!

PJ: k.. chuck it.. let's go and watch some other play instead. :)

TP: take 11.
what? didja say director?? v have one??!!
*slips in water in a frenzy* dhadaaammm. *pulls camera along while falling**camera wires pull out all other wires*

*short circuit ensues*...

*small voice in the dark* whoops

shit man. wait. lemme get out ma magic wand... *reverse*
k everything's bak to normal.

take... umm. let's just restart na… wait where's dat director u told me about??

PJ: he has given up..
we have to take charge now.

TP: as if he was doing everything till now.. must b from vjti...

well since vr runnin d show u mit s well rest n we'll start afresh w/o this director of ours...

PJ: AH.. that's a good idea.
but m sleepy now..
we'll start tomrw.
good night!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....

One day skipped

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

TP: PJJJJJ

PJ: k.. let's work on a TT match scene today. what say?

TP: great idea.
take 1...
me:*serving*shit. bad serve.
u: no that was a very good serve!!

PJ: hey.. please haan..
i dun say it's a good one when it's a bad serve.

nywy, take 2..
me: *smashing*
u:*standing n watching the ball hitting the door behind*
me: oh!! nice try TP..!! ;)

TP: lolz gud 1
me: shit im sweatin like a pig.
u: arre u wanna convert this place to a swimming pool kya? v alredy have 1 ok. so thanx but no thanx!!
lolz. ok bad 1

PJ: lol..
take 4..
me: chal toss..
(the toss continues for 10 mins..)
u: ok.. the match shud've been over by now..
me:*yawning* u bet!!
(it misses the table)
u: yipee!! i won the game..
next game.

TP: eeks.
take 5
after playing for 5 mins continnuous..
forehand shot!
i miss the table n hit u in the eye...

PJ: heh.. that is so true..
take 6:
i hit a shot.. the ball misses the table.. and lands on the pool table.
u: ok.. that's the ball's way of saying.. "enough!! i guess i'll b treated better as a cue ball..!!"

TP: hehehehe...
take 7:
me: u play with backhand n i'll do forehand...
*silence...*
*both of us collapse laughing*

PJ: lolzz.. good 1.
take 8:
me: gimme backhand na..
u: ok..
me: *trying my best at backhand* yayy!! it hit the table... !!!
u: yes... it did.. the POOL table!!

TP: rofl... lmao...

PJ: ya..
next take.

TP: take 9: me served my backhand spin
u: arre w8 camera ko roll honey de yaar....

PJ: hehe..
i cant recollect any other funny instances now.
i guess we'll continue tomrw.
:)

TP: one final take...
take 10..
me serving forehand... yeahhhhhh...*thriows ball in the air*
*massive swipe*
*bat hits ball*
*ball goes under table*

PJ: ok.. now this deserves a ROFL.. LMAO!!

TP: \m/ thank you
*takes a bow*

TP: one more one more
take 11:
*playin real well haan... good shot being taken*
watchman enters... idhar jayant kaun hai? mujhe woh family members list mila hai...*shit*

PJ: full form mein u r in!!
really..
rofl.. 2 in a row!!

PJ: Chal anyway.. if u have better ones keep scrapping!!
good night!! :)

CENTURY MAARLI

Just a blog to commemorate 100 unique visitors to this website. In a span of three and a half months. That makes nearly a visitor a day. Not bad, considering the sort of zilch I write. Well I wanted to write something special for the occasion, but my lazy spirit, ongoing writer's block and the terror of impending Sem II results holds me back.

So here's a link about 100. Don't ask questions, just check it out. Nice work.

The French Connection

There's Something about Actinomycetes

(Howstuffworks.com)
One of the more pleasant rain smells, the one we often notice in the woods, is actually caused by bacteria! Actinomycetes, a type of filamentous bacteria, grow in soil when conditions are damp and warm. When the soil dries out, the bacteria produces spores in the soil. The wetness and force of rainfall kick these tiny spores up into the air where the moisture after a rain acts as an aerosol (just like an aerosol air freshener). The moist air easily carries the spores to us so we breathe them in. These spores have a distinctive, earthy smell we often associate with rainfall. The bacteria is extremely common and can be found in areas all over the world, which accounts for the universality of this sweet "after-the-rain" smell. Since the bacteria thrives in moist soil but releases the spores once the soil dries out, the smell is most acute after a rain that follows a dry spell, although you'll notice it to some degree after most rainstorms.

There sure is something about these nifty bacteria! As my Facebook status proudly proclaims, much to my friends’ confusion: Tanvi’s writer’s blocked. Yes I’m going through that phase dreaded by every regular writer when Parkinson sometimes steps in to strangle the writer in you when you have all the time in the world to write.

In any case, I managed to escape Parkinson today. As I was telling a friend yesterday, I’m a walking-talking example of Newton’s First Law. I tend to remain in my state of existence until an external unbalanced force acts on me! Confused? Allow me to illustrate.

If I’m awake and running my mind on full steam, I just cannot go to sleep unless Mom shouts at me or I’m not well. And once I’m sleeping, well… the same goes for sitting on the PC (can’t get myself to sit sometimes but get hooked soon), going for a bath (once I’m in you won’t see me for a long time). The only exception to my inertial behavior is eating! Hehe.

Anyway, I have now concluded that this law applies to my blogging instincts too. Once I start I just can’t stop. Well, you must have seen my previous posts that defy all pop blog-etiquette. And now this period where try as I may I can’t write anything meaningful.

So I had an external unbalanced force hit me today. No, not mom this time. It was the smell of the rains.only yesterday I heard the call of the koyel, rather delayed this time around. Today my online contacts from Worli, Byculla and Andheri gave me the news that it’s raining heavily in their areas. I peeped out of my window, and lo and behold! Dryness greets me with a leer. Ouch!

But Mother Nature probably felt my glumness and wafted a refreshing whiff of wet mud through my window to meet my expectant nostrils. That triggered off the writer in me. And here I am.

Anyway, the fragrance has lost its way to my window and the writer hath lost its way to my keyboard again. I’ll be back with the rains at least (hopefully). Meanwhile, hope some other external forces get here soon and get the streams flowing again, so to speak.