After a long hiatus ( TV Withdrawal ), my TV has been re-incarnated. Was I glad to see my old tv placed in its niche in the living room. The happiness was short lived, until I noticed the remote control was of a different make than the one we used, ours was a trademark device, the battery pack at the back was packaged with few strips of metal to connect the batteries +ves and -ves and few pieces of paper to hold it together, all done by us after we had broken the device over a fight!!
I switched on the TV and already had started to miss my old remote. But this was not the only thing I would miss. Minute by minute I realized the main qualities of my old TV that I would go ga-ga over were all gone in this new one owing to the fact that the IC board was completely damaged and had to be replaced with another and hence most of the functionality was screwed up!!!
First and foremost point to notice was the low "Speed of Channel Flicking", channel flicking requires 2 jobs done in quick succession, one being pressing on the Program+ or Program- on your remote, this ofcourse our thumbs have been trained quite well. And the other being the actual changing of the channel on your TV. With the old but new TV, this was a considerable
let-down,there was a black screen popped up for a microsecond while switching the picture from one channel to another(Yes, this is annoying) and the time taken to browse a given number of channels was longer than earlier, effectively it means lower productivity!!
Next was the "-/--/---" button on the remote, I have always hated this one. These are the ones to set the single digit or double digit or triple digits channel. So, in effect you wanted to switch to channel number 45, you had to press "-/--/---" button twice, "4" and "5". How primitive is this? I hate it. The older one was smarted, you had to just click "4" and "5" in succession on voila!! you had channel 45.
Next was the memory, the "Alt C" button, used to go back to the previously watched channel. The older tv had a smart check in its memory and never stored the current and the previous channel to be the same, the newer one doesnot have this. So, if you make a mistake of choosing the same channel, you will end up with duplicacy of the info, what good is this?
Following up on the previous point -memory, the "Alt c" gets refreshed back to "0" everytime you switch off your TV, so in case of a power down, you would not remember which 2 channels you were juggling with prior to it! In a channel band of 1 to 100+ its gonna be a huge task to find what you were watching earlier!!!! A major let down.
All in all, the experience of watching TV has been drastically pulled down with my old but new TV. Its got the same body, but the soul has been changed. Watching TV is no more fun, high time I need to think about changing the set. Its going to be hard to give up which was once a beauty and a great old friend.
PS: I still am a huge TV junkie. I have managed to sit though whole of Sunday glued to this TV even with all its limitations.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Bangalore at 6AM
Recently I made a resolution to myself that I would treat myself with some good "morning walks". To a nocturnal and a couch potato like me, Morning Walk meant two disasters clubbed into one package , one - I had to get up atleast 45mins earlier than usual and two - a workout and me just don't go together.
But determined I was, for this whole week shradz would inspire me to wake up and go for it, she would give me a wake up call at 6AM, and I also had 2 alarms timed 6 and 6:05. But then, come on, you can always snooze the alarms and cut the call..:) Thats what I did until today.
After lot of self-determination I did wake up at 6:05 today, and I was already so proud of myself.
I freshened up myself, the fact that I was still in my tees and jeans from yesterday when I slept was a help, I hit the road in less than 5 minutes. I had my nike jacket, adidas shoe, music on and a high tied pony, all set for the endeavor.
There was no human soul(of course there were the infamous stray dogs) on my road, I just took a deep turn down the road, coz I knew there was a park at the other end of my colony. It was a beautiful morning, not so chill, a bit cloudy but not so misty, it was perfect(almost too perfect to have gone under the sheets) but I carried on. I put on the radio and tuned to some random channel playing some hindi music, the "dingchak" kinds , I needed all the inspiration I could get.
On the way, I spotted a kid cycling , I just had seen the guy who brought us the newspaper everyday. I saw my dhoodwala too for the first time
I hit the park hoping to find atleast some human presence, and was not all that disappointed, there were few middle-aged and oldies already doing the rounds and some yoga. I was the youngest of the lot.(was I proud of myself or what?)
This park had a fierce tiger and 3 deers at the core lawn, while we would circle them on the pathway. It was a small park but very well maintained, there was music on the speakers placed at the center too. Well, I wasn't interested to listen to some 'suprabatha', so I stuck to my radio still playing some ding-chak songs. I overtook the oldies on the pathway a couple of times, and one 'thatha' would smile at me everytime I passed by him, well I think I have already made a friend in the first 10 minutes of the workout. I could not go on for too long, so at 6:45 I shut down the music and sat down on one of the stone benches enjoying the greens. It was different, it was ..uh... peaceful, something the recent Bangalore misses, there were no motors on the road, no honking, people taking a playful stroll, not rushing to get somewhere, some leisurely sitting, with no frowns on any face. I loved it.
I just love Bangalore at 6 am, do love Bangalore anyday, anytime, but at 6AM, I just love it all the more..:)
Looking forward to all the 6AMs..:)
But determined I was, for this whole week shradz would inspire me to wake up and go for it, she would give me a wake up call at 6AM, and I also had 2 alarms timed 6 and 6:05. But then, come on, you can always snooze the alarms and cut the call..:) Thats what I did until today.
After lot of self-determination I did wake up at 6:05 today, and I was already so proud of myself.
I freshened up myself, the fact that I was still in my tees and jeans from yesterday when I slept was a help, I hit the road in less than 5 minutes. I had my nike jacket, adidas shoe, music on and a high tied pony, all set for the endeavor.
There was no human soul(of course there were the infamous stray dogs) on my road, I just took a deep turn down the road, coz I knew there was a park at the other end of my colony. It was a beautiful morning, not so chill, a bit cloudy but not so misty, it was perfect(almost too perfect to have gone under the sheets) but I carried on. I put on the radio and tuned to some random channel playing some hindi music, the "dingchak" kinds , I needed all the inspiration I could get.
On the way, I spotted a kid cycling , I just had seen the guy who brought us the newspaper everyday. I saw my dhoodwala too for the first time
I hit the park hoping to find atleast some human presence, and was not all that disappointed, there were few middle-aged and oldies already doing the rounds and some yoga. I was the youngest of the lot.(was I proud of myself or what?)
This park had a fierce tiger and 3 deers at the core lawn, while we would circle them on the pathway. It was a small park but very well maintained, there was music on the speakers placed at the center too. Well, I wasn't interested to listen to some 'suprabatha', so I stuck to my radio still playing some ding-chak songs. I overtook the oldies on the pathway a couple of times, and one 'thatha' would smile at me everytime I passed by him, well I think I have already made a friend in the first 10 minutes of the workout. I could not go on for too long, so at 6:45 I shut down the music and sat down on one of the stone benches enjoying the greens. It was different, it was ..uh... peaceful, something the recent Bangalore misses, there were no motors on the road, no honking, people taking a playful stroll, not rushing to get somewhere, some leisurely sitting, with no frowns on any face. I loved it.
I just love Bangalore at 6 am, do love Bangalore anyday, anytime, but at 6AM, I just love it all the more..:)
Looking forward to all the 6AMs..:)
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Day I Went Missing
Has it ever happened to any, that there are about a hundred odd people trying to reach you, and you have your mobile tucked away safely in your bag and getting on with your life.
I have and I tell you it ain't nice at all.
Just the other day I met a friend after really long time in CoffeeDay, and we began to yup away to glory while my family was trying to reach me. With the loud music and all the stories we had to exchange, I never for once thought of checking the time let alone my cell!!
It was when I got back home of course well within the curfew time, I realized I had caused a panic attack in the world I knew. I checked my phone and there it was, about 17 people who had called maybe close to a 30-40 times with 5-6 messages "wru" "y u not pickin call?" "call bk". It all happened just because I had not left behind any proper number of any of my friends back home. And in the process of tracking me down my family had called up every single soul they had a number of, and they in turn had called me (which I was oblivious to) and called someone else and the chain-call had just continued (Its exponential I tell u). It had reached Mysore, Hyderabad and Delhi. If I hadnt turned up by then, they all were ready with the search teams.!!
Phew!!!... I had to call up everyone who tried to find me and apologize to them and had to listen to their reprimands and lectures - given for my own well-being. Shoot.. I felt like an idiot!! I cant imagine I had caused a panic attack, Gosh!!..I have never been this irresponsible before!! It took a good one hour for me to return all the calls.
Next time, I will make sure I leave behind the correct number of the friend I am meeting up with, or better never forget to give my location co-ordinates to the people who care.
I have and I tell you it ain't nice at all.
Just the other day I met a friend after really long time in CoffeeDay, and we began to yup away to glory while my family was trying to reach me. With the loud music and all the stories we had to exchange, I never for once thought of checking the time let alone my cell!!
It was when I got back home of course well within the curfew time, I realized I had caused a panic attack in the world I knew. I checked my phone and there it was, about 17 people who had called maybe close to a 30-40 times with 5-6 messages "wru" "y u not pickin call?" "call bk". It all happened just because I had not left behind any proper number of any of my friends back home. And in the process of tracking me down my family had called up every single soul they had a number of, and they in turn had called me (which I was oblivious to) and called someone else and the chain-call had just continued (Its exponential I tell u). It had reached Mysore, Hyderabad and Delhi. If I hadnt turned up by then, they all were ready with the search teams.!!
Phew!!!... I had to call up everyone who tried to find me and apologize to them and had to listen to their reprimands and lectures - given for my own well-being. Shoot.. I felt like an idiot!! I cant imagine I had caused a panic attack, Gosh!!..I have never been this irresponsible before!! It took a good one hour for me to return all the calls.
Next time, I will make sure I leave behind the correct number of the friend I am meeting up with, or better never forget to give my location co-ordinates to the people who care.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Return of Indiana Jones
I caught up on the latest of the Indiana Jones on the first day of its release. The thrill of watching a movie on the first day is tenfolds than you watch it any other day, and I am glad I did before it went under the pens of the critics and old fans of Jones.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Harrison Ford still had a charismatic presence, my eyes would light up everytime he comes on screen, which btw he does every other second or so, but whoz complaining. He still is a darling!
Credits must go to Cate Blanchet too who plays the villainous Russian mind-reader, you would hate her the first minute you lay your eyes on her. And I could not stop adoring Mutt who just reminds me of Fonzie from Happy Days. (But I guess he wont be the next Jones, coz he doesn't get to wear the hat at the end of the movie)
Ford still retains the same old look, the same leather jacket, the same whip, the same highly credited hat, and a fear of snakes!!Nothing seem to have changed, it has just got better with great artwork thanks to the technologies of today.
The movie has all the antics and the charms that make people love Jones so much till date, and by no surprise the element of extra-terrestrials which are Spielberg's specialization( I am sure he thinks about them 24*7).
The hot ride on the Harley Davidson across the University library, would definitely bring back the memories of the 80s and sure keep the young at the edge of the seat. (Well, i was at the edge of the seat). The sword fight on moving jeeps is adventurous as well as hilarious. The climax is breath-taking and well ended, but it makes you wonder what "spaces in between spaces" actually mean!
A thoroughly enjoyable movie after a really long time, its just gonna be adored by all ages, the oldies for they idolized Jones heronics, the young who grew up watching him, and the kids who would just like to watch a nice treasure hunt movie with some cool graphics.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Harrison Ford still had a charismatic presence, my eyes would light up everytime he comes on screen, which btw he does every other second or so, but whoz complaining. He still is a darling!
Credits must go to Cate Blanchet too who plays the villainous Russian mind-reader, you would hate her the first minute you lay your eyes on her. And I could not stop adoring Mutt who just reminds me of Fonzie from Happy Days. (But I guess he wont be the next Jones, coz he doesn't get to wear the hat at the end of the movie)
Ford still retains the same old look, the same leather jacket, the same whip, the same highly credited hat, and a fear of snakes!!Nothing seem to have changed, it has just got better with great artwork thanks to the technologies of today.
The movie has all the antics and the charms that make people love Jones so much till date, and by no surprise the element of extra-terrestrials which are Spielberg's specialization( I am sure he thinks about them 24*7).
The hot ride on the Harley Davidson across the University library, would definitely bring back the memories of the 80s and sure keep the young at the edge of the seat. (Well, i was at the edge of the seat). The sword fight on moving jeeps is adventurous as well as hilarious. The climax is breath-taking and well ended, but it makes you wonder what "spaces in between spaces" actually mean!
A thoroughly enjoyable movie after a really long time, its just gonna be adored by all ages, the oldies for they idolized Jones heronics, the young who grew up watching him, and the kids who would just like to watch a nice treasure hunt movie with some cool graphics.
TV Withdrawal
Being a total TV junkie that I am, blogging has come to my rescue miraculously after the sad demise of my tv, thanks to the heavy downpour and a scary lightning. It is the sudden withdrawal that has pulled down my spirits or rather ripped it into minuscule bits.
This is when I realized I needed a distraction, just like any addict would need when he's got to get over his addiction, like a smoker would turn to chews and gum or probably a patch. I needed a similar nicotine patch too. (It is cruel though that there is no such thing as a nicotine patch for TV addict)
So I decided to keep a journal, a simple one though, for I am sure I won’t be religiously jotting things down. That’s where the problem started, try as much I might, I just could not find a nice little e-diary that fit my requirement, and that’s when my attention turned to blogging.
Hope this helps me recuperate from the huge loss and shoulder me through the withdrawal.
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