I'm so much cooler online - Brad Paisley

Nice song and very apt. Must listen and note the lyrics as well.

Link

Thanks to Kireeti for the link.

Expelled, the movie

More at the official website

Thanks to Naveen for the pointers !

Bums on Paddle

Okay, the title is a rip-off of from the famous cycling group "Bums on Saddle".

The Hero Octane has given me more love than my current Bajaj pulsar. Read more about my bike/cycle here.

It all started some good six months back when Pulkit (refer blogs that I read) bought his cycle and I was very impressed with his initiative. "Bike to Work" is a very common thing across the States and in India, especially in Bangalore its slowly up.

After I went to Eijipura and started to see the cycles (I was originally looking for Hero Thunder MTB) in a shop there I was tempted for a non-geared version. But then I casually asked for Hero Octane and the shop guy in fact asked me to take test ride as well. Man it was the lightest I've ever ridden (Aluminum body) and the Shimono 21 gears (7*3) makes it the first geared cycle that I've ridden. The price was negotiated to 5K and another 100 bucks for lock, additional reflectors and bell. Went back home as Mom had asked to pickup the cycle between 4-5PM as it was saturday. My roommate Ritesh soon dropped me on his bike to the shop before we stopped over for a pomegranate juice in the evening. He gave a quick ride as well and asked him to fit some extra reflectors.

Soon I went to Pulkit's place which was pretty nearby and his wife and Pulkit both vouched for the cycle and its light weight. Then I dashed to the nearest Ganesh temple close to my place and did the necessary pooja from the priest and Man didn't it look bejeweled decked with all those flowers.

The Sunday morning was worth the wait and I rode it till Indira Nagar to my granny's place and had my usual coffee which my Aunt prepares. Then rode back to home and was all glued up to prepare lunch myself. Did some stretching in order to avoid any niggle or pain and had a good sleep around 2PM. It rained briefly and I was planning to go to BTM now to catch up with some friends. Went to Vandy's (Pic and location courtesy) place and had a brief photo shoot with my cycle there with her mobile camera. After persistent calling Abhay took the call and we met at the "Sri Devi" chai shop where we have our regular ginger tea. Then he certified the cycle and explained me the nuances of the gear system.

The ride back home was getting PITA (Pain in the ass). My only connection to reality was the seat and everything else had numbed out.

So here I'm guys with swimming being the next target in weeks to come !

Happy Cycling and Running.

New Bike (bi-cycle)

Finally as promised my new cycle is here. Its Hero Octane.

More update and pics will posted shortly after my first long ride tomorrow.

Happy Cycling !

We Tried To Warn You

“We humans are the victims of an asymmetry in the perception of random events. We attribute our success to our skills, and our failures to external events outside our control, namely to randomness. We feel responsible for the good stuff, but not for the bad. This causes us to think that we are better than others at whatever we do for a living. Ninety-four percent of Swedes believe that their driving skills put them in the top 50 percent of Swedish drivers; 84 percent of Frenchmen feel that their lovemaking abilities put them in the top half of French lovers.” (p. 152).


Read More


Thanks to Amit for the pointers.

Know When to Stop

There was a very nice article in "The Hindu", Metro Plus Section Y'day - "Know When to Stop".

"Too much of a good thing does no good; in fact, it can lead to rhabdomylosis". Read Here

It talks about how beginners should avoid pushing themselves too far in any sport, be it running or workouts.

Informative read.

Excess Leaves

This is an irony and the fact that now I'm left with around 16 leaves and furthermore that I've use it before May 20th (when my contract with HP Labs expires). Unfortunately for contractors, neither can I encash those leaves or can I carry forward to the next year just in case my contract gets extended my another year.

16 days is insanely high amount and that too at this time of the year when my pals outside India will dash in only after May. With summer setting in, I've given a break to trekking momentarily. Let me see if I can finish the project deadlines in a fortnight then I might take a long break.

There have been some calls from "Chennai Runners" to catch them up for a run over a weekend and I'll have to plan up some activity with them as well and there is a long pending bike trip for the "ugadi" long weekend with the "Anand" pals.

Surely I might end up wasting leaves.

Sunfeast World 10K in Bangalore

Sunfeast World 10K in Bangalore, May 25, 2008.

Registration now open online:

Sign Up Now
http://sunfeastworld10k.indiatimes.com/

I just registered for the open 10K event.

Upper Body Workout

Finally, after I had left gym about 5 years ago, I'm back to upper body endurance. Thanks to Kunal for igniting the spark at the right time.

Used the dumbell kit left over by Biswa and Vineel. Guess daily evenings I'll go about an hour or so. Did it by watching the Sri Lanka Vs West Indies match with Michael Holding cutting across comments with his Jamaican accent.

Slow start by will have to reach 30 push-ups by end of next month if things go according to plan. BTW, I'm seriously contemplating to buy bi-cycle (mostly geared version) by end of this week. You never know !

Healthy Day ahead for you all !

Team Hoyt - Dick and Rick Hoyt

I cried !

The Hoot

I guess around 3 years ago when I was fascinated by journalism and stuff I used to follow lots of articles especially about Media (both print and TV). Sevanti Ninan, a veteran in this field has been writing a lot and to one my emails she had pointed out to me about her blog (and like minded people).

Its about a media watchdog. Do visit "The Hoot".

For some reason I lost the passion to become a jurno after my unsuccessful stint as a teen writer for Teen Chronicle of the Deccan Chronicle fame in Hyderabad. It was all sham.

Flat Tyre

Just as I set out today, my second flat tyre ever. I could realise as my vehicle started to shudder and I landed exactly near a closed "puncture shop". I had fill some gas as well and so I hauled the bike up until the nearest gas station and filled some enough air and soon dashed to the nearest "puncture shop" and my god it was a 4 inch long nail and the damage was already done. With no option I had to replace the tyre tube with a local make but I'm sure it will last for couple long and exhausting bike trips due next month.

Back to office now !

Oh! What a lovely waiver

The UPA government's waiver of farm loans that was announced in the Union budget is no solution to even the immediate crisis let alone long-term agrarian problems. Nothing in this budget will raise farm incomes, writes P Sainath.

Read More Here

Palagummi Sainath is the winner of the 2007 Ramon Magsaysay award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts.

Thanks to Pulkit for the pointer.

Chi Running

http://www.chirunning.com/blog/ ClickMe


Not sure what it actually means, but a google ads in my gmail led me to this link.

Zeitgeist - The Movie: Federal Reserve (part 3 and 4)

Thanks to Kunal for the pointers. Not sure how true is this but makes up for a good time-kill.

part 3 below


part 4 below

Social Networking Panel Discussion at Zeitgeist '07

Kevin Roberts at Zeitgeist Europe 2007

Divine Comedy - Gin Soaked Boy

My old favourite. "Catcher in the Rye"

The Day After the Marathon

Just stumbled upon this link from fellow runners blog. Really funny.

Stretching

Yes, many comment to me that I stretch almost the same amount of time that I jog but then it makes all that difference. Warm-up and cool-down are very very essential before you undertake any exhausting activity.

Just at the right time Rahul Verghese (from runningandliving.com) in his alternate Sunday articles in "The Hindu" emphasizes on the need to stretch. It was there in the last Sunday's "The Hindu", Magazine section (March 23, 2008, Page 6).

Alternatively you can catch up this article at this link.

Happy Stretching and Running.

No Run today

Thought I'll make a back to back 10K today. But rains kept me training indoors today. Just can't risk it running on wet hard surface and that too with deluge of water around. Will be starting off Bangalore tonight and currently at RAC 80 odd. But will hopefully make it to the confirmed list. My traveling has always been on the edge and it will be for some more time.

Couldn't meet the Doc today but may be when I'm home during the Tam new year. Will be shifting focus on upper body this week on and will continue cardio. BTW, it was simple Holi at my end. Will upload the pic once I reach office tomorrow.

Singing off from HYD.

International Running Calendar 2008

Now up at AIMS webiste.ClickMe.

The only viable option for me is the Singapore Marathon. No sponsors, so I'll have raise money myself from personal funds. Probably will try to raise some money as many do but I'll have identify a right cause.

I guess training will start 3 months before. Might have some friends from "Chennai Runners" with whom I might collaborate. I'll put in the India calendar as well. Its up at the RFL google groups as well.

Happy Running !

Running events in the near future

This is from a post at RFL: (some days and years are messed up.. so its just for FYI)

"hi,
sir i gt sme marathons list nd hve find sme marathons list----

The Thane Varsha Marathon will be held at Thane in Maharashtra on July 14, 2002, the Tata Steel Half Marathon at Jamshedpur on July 29, the Travancore Marathon at Thiruvanathapuram on August 9, the Chennai Marathon on November 2, the Salwan Mini Marathon in Delhi on November 3 and the Indira Marathon in Allahabad (UP) on November 19. ( dnt knw these r curently running), pls get these marathons information, ill also try, and

1 mre web site i find thts www.siligurimarathon.com ----dnt knw whn its organised, but 2007 marathon is sucesfull acc to the website information "

Hussain Sagar loop again

Today's Hussain Sagar loop was fantastic. Did it at an amazing pace (by my standards) and the only break that I took was when I had a chance meeting with Sid (Biswa's pal and Roomie in Canada). He was all drenched in colors and he was there with his Asha group all sporting Hyderabad 10K run Tees. Then I just moved on when with a quick sip of Gatorade and met another runner enroute who picked up pace with me from Eat Street (or I dropped pace considerably) and touched Tankbund again within no time. Was tempted for a second round to make it 20K but I guess some other time as 10K was a neat for today.

I'm scared to run on roads in Bangalore but Hyderabad rocks. Been long since I ran in Indira Park as well. I'll soon write a post on how manage without getting injured as I feel many starters getting injured for no reasons and feeling paranoid that they are nursing some real big injury.

Nice loop anyway now and time to hit the streets for Holi before I start my sleeping and movie sessions. Go tiger Go !

American Gangster

Class movie. "Honesty" is an amazing winner. Russel Crow is amazing and so is Denzel Washington. Worth a watch for sure. Check out a quick peak from youtube below.

New Bajaj Pulsar Ad

Bajaj Pulsar guys rock. Their Ads are of high quality though it might promote some "Wheelie" among the youth :-(

Download the Ad video from here from the Bajaj Auto website.

No CG (Computer Graphics) involved.

See the Youtube version below:

Where I'm I Headed ?

An interesting question has been regularly haunting me. Where am I headed next. Career switch or job switch or continue at the same place maintaining status quo. Guess this question needs more attention now and its time I put in some thought process. I guess I should be more than happy with my life concerned with hobbies, pastime and other activities that I cherish.

Guess the more concern is with the 9AM-7PM slot and its time for a rethink. Some crucial and important decisions concerning my careers will have to be made in the coming weeks and I need to weigh this both in terms of job satisfaction and the monetary option.

No Country for Old Men

This movie reminds me of QT (Quentin Tarantino) all long. Nothing to take away from the Coen brothers (directors). Just a must see thriller. Wait for the theater release if you have to.

Marathon hopeful, 101-year-old , training hard

Already Britain’s oldest employee, 101-year-old Buster Martin now aims to become the world’s oldest marathon runner by completing the London Marathon and celebrating with a pint of beer and a cigarette.

More here ...

Inner Line Permit - ILP

Did you know ?

Arunachal Pradesh being a Protected Area, tourists are required to get an Inner Line Permit( ILP )/ Protected Area Permit

Read On

For non-Indians, they require Protected Area Permit (PAP).
More Read .

I guess even other North Eastern states require it (Mizoram?).

Walk The Earth

This gentleman is already walking the earth.
Know More .


Got his reference from a cycle enthusiast, Shreekumar who recently cycled from the East to West of India for over month and half covering 3900+ Kms.

C Scripting Language (CSL)

For all those who crib about writing bash, perl or python scripts and are core C/C++/Java fanatics, here is a solution Link .

----
C Scripting Language (CSL) is a well structured and easy to learn script programming language available for 32 bit Windows, OS/2 and Unix style systems. CSL follows the C syntax very closely and programmers used to C, C++ and JAVA will immediately be familiar with it. CSL is used like an interpreter: You write the program with your favorite editor and run it directly like any shell script.
----

Read the documentation here.

Its an opensource initiative :-)

Yahoo! launches R&D lab in India

Strengthening its research activities in India, leading internet firm Yahoo! on Tuesday said it has launched a new research and development (R&D) lab in Bangalore. More

Breakfast

Off late I've been trying quite a few varieties of breakfast cereals and recently I tried this Muesli with some dry raisins and apple. I guess Oats (Quaker Oats) is a recent addition as well. Corn flakes and wheat flakes are old hats now. I used get milk (our Bengaluru Nandini cow's milk) and boil it daily, but the advent of the pasteurized toned milk has gone down well as well. Well packed in small cubicals (like our age old Fruiti). Have cut down sugar extensively and I'll be checking my weight in another month's time and I'm for sure feeling very light. This sudden exodus to the diet zone has been really exciting as you gain more and more control over your body. I guess once you can control your body with either food intake or workouts, then you've mastered the control over yourself.

Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day. Add in more fruits and yes keep running and that is when you'll relish and deserve a breakfast. As Sivarathri is here, try to be on a fruit diet.

Run, run and run.

This is sucks man....

I'm sure it is stage managed. But I was heart broken when I heard that Vidya Balan was a "Keralite" and not a Tam. But then ..... enjoy this video below...

Simple Diet

If you are looking to loose weight just by running and by working out in gyms then it ain't easy my friend. I guess diet is very essential. SUGAR and SALT are the two main evils. I guess we've accumulated tons of them right from childhood and guess its time we burn them. When you are working out you tend to eat a lot (mostly unaware) and when you stop working out your intake is still the same and you tend to put on. Universally known funda. I guess you need to take the contrary approach. Follow a strict diet and make sure you add in a lot of FRUITS and SALADS when you eat and compensate for the RICE. Rice is strictly a NO-NO during dinner and avoid coconuts and peanuts especially in the form of chutneys when you are having those idlis and vadas and dosas.

When you are tempted, drink water else get some dried corn flakes and start munching it instead try a burger, pizza or creamy biscuits. Try to add more fiber in your diet. Sprouts make a good breakfast and toned milk is much better.

The whole point that I'm trying to drive is, you should have a clean bowl movement. Many of us don't realise this, especially after the shift towards the western toilets. So add lot of fiber, have broken wheat (daliya) as part of your diet. Once in a week you can go for binge but make sure you workout regularly focusing on all your body parts and nothing better than swimming. It will squeeze you out.

Don't be over conscious as well. If you've eaten a heavy breakfast inadvertently then balance your dinner. Avoid sugar in Tea/Coffee/Bournvita and use sugar-free instead. Also reduce the salt content in your diet and yes olive oil is recommended. Try to have at least three meals and avoid not skipping them. I cannot comment much on non-vegeterian (with meat), but make sure you avoid red meat and have it grilled (tandoor/tikka types).

Run, and keep running. Lets walk the earth.

Khwaja Mere Khwaja - Jodha Akbar

Certainly among my favourites these days. There is more to it and if you are not a religious fanatic and interested to know more you can google to find out more about the Ajmer dargah.

This website is a nice compilation on "Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chisty".

Rehman has done immense justice to this song. Also reminds of anther song called "Zikr" from Shyam Bengal's "Subash Chandra Bose" flick.

"Haji Ali" is another place of reverence in Mumbai. Rehman has another composition for this "Haji Ali, Piya Haji Ali...".

Filmfare Awards 2008

Saree state of affairs at Bangalore Open

http://specials.rediff.com/sports/2008/mar/03sld1.htm