Thursday, November 5, 2009

Objects of Desire

The latest is TREK 4300 2010 model. Here it is:


The specification are as follows:

Frame: Alpha Black Aluminum w/ semi integrated head tube, formed down tube w/integrated gusset, formed top tube, monostay seatstay, forged dropouts w/rack and fender mounts, replaceable derailleur hanger

Front Suspension: Spinner 300, 100mm

Wheels : Shimano HB-M65 F& FH-M65 R hub; Bontrager Ranger rims

Tires : Bontrager Jones XR 2.25 F, 2.20 R

Shifters : Shimano EF50, 8 speed

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Woh ek gaana....

This post is inspired from Topi's latest blog post

My favorite song would definitely be a Mohd Rafi track, and it is "Tumne Mujhe dekha" from Teesri Manzil. Released in the year 1966 it is another masterpiece by Nasir Hussain, and directed by Vijay Anand starring Shammi Kapoor (the Lover boy of that era), Asha Parekh (the chirpy Girl as Topi likes to call her), Premnath, Prem Chopra (who was graduating to be a full time villian) and legendry actor KN Singh.

The film was a musical thriller, with awesome music by RD Burman and mind blowing lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. This is one song to which I can listen to again and again, and infact during my drive to office this is the first song I listen to.The cinematography, lyrics, and expressions are too good.

Just wondering that without Mohd Rafi's amazing voice would shammi kapoor have had the same image in Indian Cinema ? With songs like "Chahe koi mujhe Jungli kahe" which gave Shammi Kapoor his identity as a careless lover boy of the 1960s.

My favorite stanza from the song:

कहीं दर्द के सेहरा में, रुकते चलते होते,
इन होटों की हसरत में, तपते जलते होते,
मेहेरबान हो गयी, जुल्फ की बदलियाँ,
जानेमन जानेजां .......

video on Youtube:

Monday, October 5, 2009

Confused

Scenario:
I went to SBI (State Bank of India) to open a PPF (Public Provident Fund) account.

Reality Check:

The Documents required for opening of this account are as follows:

1) Address Proof

-Yay, I have a lot of address proofs! Water Bill, electricity bill, Rent agreement, but all are in my flat owners name, since I am on rent here, they are not in my name, so what, they still would be valid. When the Election Commission of India accepts it, so should they, attached with a valid Identity proof, and nationality proof
Reality Check: No they are not valid, you need an address proof in YOUR Name. Now that seems a tough task, why don't these government authorities sync with each other, why do you require "n" number of documents for "n" different purposes.

-Oh okay, I have a Landline and Mobile Phone in my name, and on this address, and the good news is that they do accept these private suervice provider's bills. But since I wanted to be nature friendly, I have registered for e-bill, obviously in order to save paper. So I can take a printout from my online account (of the mobile pohone service provider) and that should work!
Reality check: No you need a bill which has been delivered to your address, but what happens to the nature, I have registered for the e-bill. Well then I cancel that, wait for a month, get the bill and will use that. Now I want to cancel the paper bill and want to revert back to the e-bill, but there is some error / miscommunication, I don't know what, and the paper bill still keeps coming, f*&k with nature....

- Can I use the company letter stating that I live on this address, since the Passport authority of India accepts this, so should SBI. Isn't Passport authority of India more concerned about frauds and security ?
Reality Check: No they don't accept this, my company needs to have all salary accounts with them......

2) Passport Copy

-Wow I have that !

3) PAN Card:

-I have that as well!

But this bloody address proof gives me frustration every time I go to these authorities. I just hope that after the unique UID assignment these problems wont creep up. But wait, isnt that a Govenrment authority as well ? Weren't there already enough number of identities available? I am confused

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Chutti hai.....

UP must be the only state in this country where we have so many leaves. Just spoke to Dad and found that they have 5 DAYS OF HOLIDAY. The breakup is as follows:
1) Vishwakarma Pooja
2) Jamat ul vida
3) maharaja agrasen jayanti
4) id-ul-fitr
2 and 4 I agree are regular festivals, but has anybody heard of "Maharaja Agrasen" ? Somebody save this state from Behenji....
A little googling gave me this info:
Maharaja Agrasena (also Agrasen) (Devanagari: अग्रसेन) was a legendary Indian king of Agroha, a city of traders, from whom the Agrawal and Agrahari clan traces its origin. He is credited with the establishment of a kingdom of traders in North India, and is known for his compassion in refusing to slaughter animals in yajnas
It seems that Behenji is out wooing the Baniya community now, she has anyways declared a State holiday for Parshuram Jayanti (in order to woo the Brahmins).

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Wear an old coat, buy a new Book

Thanks to some Shopper's stop gift vouchers. I pampered myself with some new books

1) A corner of foreign field - Ramchandra Guha
2) Witout Fear (Bhagat Singh's Biography_ - Kuldip Nayar
3) Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (wanted to buy this since a long time)
4) A thousand splendid Suns - Khalid Hosseini
5) Kafka on the shore - Haruki Murakami

And I am very happy now!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Running back

Inspired by Manoj, I am thinking of running back from work. My home is about 11K from MG road, and Biwi can take care of the car while coming back. Guess we would reach in the same time with the crazy Bangalore traffic :)

Any suggestions ??