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Kopy Kerals
2008-06-03 14:23:00
Am fairly fired up right now by the maha themmaditharam ( major crime, if u want) that has taken place on kerals.com . So for once, u ppl are getting a direct from hand to keyboard to blog post. And, no procrastination, either.Enough with the lighter stuff.I happened to visit injipennu today, and happened upon her latest post. Which got my sense of justice up- yours will too if you follow the link. And I went upon a journey of discovery, through all the links she has provided.A note of warning: I am a third hand observer, so mistakes may have occurred. ( Oh!! crap! Who cares, if I exaggerate a little. That would be nothing compared to the magnitude of the crime Kerals.com has committed. Crimes, actually.)The events:A blogger named Saji happened upon the site kerals.com and noticed that they had a few of his poems in their malayalam poems section. Without accreditation or owner's consent. He notified the kerals team and waited for a reply. Which did not come. Next, he posted the iss...

5 Character types I dislike/ hate
2008-05-26 19:14:00
Got tagged a few weeks back by Macadamia the Nut. Being the lazy bum that I am, it took me this long to take it up. This is actually an easy tag to do. That's what I thought, except for an unpleasant 5 minutes when I was trying to think up 5 types I dislike and couldnt.1) SNOOPERS & MEDDLERSI hate it when people meddle. In my life. I am the living proof of what can go wrong when people meddle too much in somebody's life. Especially someone as independent and headstrong as I am.Luckily, having got a mega dose of the consequences of meddling, my folks have mostly cleaned up their ways. I say, mostly, because they do occasionally relapse. Without effect, of course. I am seasoned in stubbornness and know the intricacies of 'How to put my foot down so it stays superglued' now.2) PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE SOUND OF THEIR OWN VOICEI'm not a communicative person (That includes talking). In this respect, I take after my father. Both of us are very competitive rivals for the prize in the ...
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Bachelorette Woes -#1
2008-04-23 07:53:00
Is it a universal truth that a single Indian girl in possession of a degree is in want of a husband? If she doesnt particularly feel that way, is it necessary that her parents and relatives ( including her uncle's sister-in-law's stepson's mother-in-law) be aware of said fact and exert themselves to bring her around to their view??Nope. This time, it's not me I'm referring to. Or my parents. My relatives, yes (mainly the aunt I bashed earlier in the 'Bride Wanted' post. As far as I know, nobody else), they're aware and exerting themselves in that respect. In fact, just 2 days back, a phone call from my aunt had her lamenting, "Why didnt you continue with your course? You could have had a job by now and your marriage would have been arranged soon. You've deprived us all for extra years."I refer to Lucy's situation. She's the one whom the parents are persuading currently to accompany them at the end of May to a wedding back home. Whose mom asked her not to cut her hair shor...

Perfection is Imperfect
2008-04-06 14:58:00
During the course of the Compulsory Computer Training Programme (CCT), which is a requirement that has to be fulfilled before commencing CA Articleship, there is a project in TALLY that has to be done. Well, I was in the midst of the heart of that part, when writing this one.I had been doing the CCT programme since mid-October at the only accredited institution (PC) in my district. The teaching was mostly one-to-one. Not that the one -to many model would have posed a problem, since we were a batch of 3 when I joined and a batch of 2 a week later.The course covers a functioning knowledge of MS- Office, TALLY and Visual Basic.And while we are on the topic, let me inform you that the Internet is 'taught' as well. Before I forget, I'll tell you how.The director of the institution took it upon himself to teach us that tough portion, alongwith e-commerce. Could it be perhaps that he did not want us using a few hours of his Net time under surfing or chatting or Orkutting under the prete...
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Keralore
2008-01-30 12:45:00
The first two days in Bangalore were shocking for me and my friend, Lucy. We kept hearing Malayalam everywhere. Around Koramangala, which is where we were. Every third person we passed seemed to be Mallu. It was our belief till then that Madras was the logical and first stop for a migrant Mallu.But, the shopkeepers ( almost every shop we entered were populated by Mallu guys. Only one out of some 6 broke the mould. Ponder that!), the yuppies near Forum, the IT guys - Mallus everywhere.In fact, on the second day, Lucy and I were climbing the stairs to the Mega Mart near Forum. Still incredulous about the hordes of Mallus we kept passing, we were discussing how Bangalore is a kochu Kerala m ( little Kerala) and wondering if, by any chance, we had been duped into believing that we had landed in Bangalore when actually we were in some place in Kerala. As happened to Dasan and Vijayan once, having been landed at 'Dubai' by Gafoorka. A Dubai that spoke none but Tamil.OK. Back to Lucy and ...
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I Jumped Onto A Moving Train in Slow Motion
2008-01-10 14:00:00
Man ! Oh! Man! All the tussling with my family about my leaving or Bangalore, to begin my Articleship stint ( 3 year l training that is a compulsory component of the CA course), that I have been doing for the past 2 months nearly came to nought. Today was the day scheduled for my departure to Chennai. I break my journey for a day at Chennai to pick up a suitcase from my aunt's place. Yes, the aunt who has been maligned once before.Now, a little background. My house is near the Railway Station. Walkable distance, if u want. A 2-minute ride by car, perhaps. And, with 20 minutes to the departure time, we set off. Only to be stopped at the level cross. Yes, the perils of living near the town centre, the station etc. This could be bad, all of us realized. It might be my train that was barricading me from embarking.A squabble broke out in the car with my father growling ' u and ur mother!( in Malayalam, of course)' ' those of u who want to go must learn to get out of the house on time...
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An Apology To None
2007-12-24 08:48:00
None being the number of readers I rather expected I had towards the time of my getting slack. Sorry, sorry, sorry. It's just that staying at home (which has been my occupation for the past 8.5 months) tends to sap me of my creative juices, my zest to live (which has been at a ppm level ever since I left school, anyhow) and pretty much everything else. Even my fat deposits, which were acquired at Tara's Home, have oozed their way away. I'm back to the scarecrow model ( slightly improved version, though) I was before I left for Chennai. As predicted.Unlike other dutiful daughters, I came home to lose weight, not to put some on.However, all the heartrending requests for my continued activity in blogosphere has melted my heart. I leave for Bangalore, hoping that activities shall de-cease. Ha! A pun? I think I'll be back to full strength orkutting and blogging.Already work has begun on my works of art. I'm in the train for Bangalore right now. And it hasnt even left Chennai Centr...
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God's Day Out
2007-09-10 07:03:00
Yet another story I wrote. But this onewas my first ever.Its not good. Dont advise u to read it.If u are a firsttimer, I dont want u toread this and decide the rest is as bad.If u are a regular, I dont want u toread this and decide not to set foot inhere ever again.Procrastination has led me to this awfulstate.I present to u...a filler post!It was another day Up Above.God sat on his throne,readingthe Dawn Times and having a cup of nectar coffee. St. Peter sat in front trying to read the back pages of the Times.Suddenly, God started, causing the paper to hit the Saint'snose.God exclaimed, " My God! Oh, Peter, just read this. What isthis world coming to?"St.Peter said, " My Lord, let me see", and looked at thepaper, with a sinking heart.'Benny Hinn going to Bunglore to pray and heal' read theheadline. He read the article through and then looked up."But, My Lord, it's just another of those 'Faith healers'.They come and go, raising a hullaballoo which dies downsoon enough."God put...
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DIARY: Landmark Quiz 2006, the Participant?s eye view
2007-08-15 12:10:00
A year ago today. Sigh! Could have repeated this experience today.Sigh!!Aug 16, 2006, Wednesday . About 11 am.There was a class today. First period only ? Law. Didn?t go. Pinnalla ( Then what?)!!Yesterday was Independence Day. 59th, I think. Also, the LM Quiz Day.Participated with my friend, Kamakshi and her friend, Anubha as ?GAK! I?m Quizzing!? at the Music Academy, Chennai . I know, I know- cheesy name. Though at the time, it seemed apt.Anubha (AK)?s from Delhi. Wears a lot of earrings ( about 9 as she said, when Kamakshi (K) asked, counting both ears). But they look lovely on her. And she?s amazingly likeable and easy to talk to. Lived in Hyderabad before.Our arrangement was to meet at SIRC, my place of education, at 1:30. Took an auto to the venue and was made extra nervous by the crowd.I mean, I got up at 8, ate breakfast, started devouring Derek O?Brien?s Essential Quiz Book, bought for just Rs.250 from Landmark, Spencers, on Friday, the 11th. Saw the book review in The Hindu ...
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The 123rd page 4 the 5th Paragraph
2007-07-29 10:24:00
Yet another Tagged post. As njaan says, vaayichittu kaaryamilla ( no good to read).This time, I was tagged by attributions ( Damn! I never can remember whether it is attribution with an 's' or without). Sorry! Was tagged by her a month ago. Before NC, actually. But, I saw his tag before hers. 5 minutes before.So. The rules:1. Name the person (of course with the link) who tagged you.2. Describe what you are asked to do, in this case publish 5th paragraph of page 123 of the book you are currently reading. (if the page does not have 5th paragraph, take the last paragraph. And if the book doesn?t have page no. 123, take the last page.)3.Tag five people.Ha! that was easy. Copy, paste.OK. I'm reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - The complete series in one paperback volume. Written by Douglas Adams .The 5th para of the 123rd page is this:"Do you want me to kick you?" said Ford.It's a swell book. One I enjoyed reading. Really clever. All 5 of the novels. But I'm not sure D...
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8 Facts about Me , Courtesy NC
2007-07-05 13:08:00
Was lazy for a long time. Maybe some 3 months. Thats why u had to suffer the lack of interesting material to read on the net. :D First my exams, then I rested after the exams, then a bereavement. Well, the excuses are plenty and are true. But the universal truth is : I was lazy. Still am.But Nariyal Chutney, whom I decided to read yesterday, after a month, gave me a rude shock. Tagged me, that's what he did.Rules of the game: ( not rebelling for once)* Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.* People who are tagged need to write posts in their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.* At the end of your post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.OK . ( DEEP BREATH) . Here goes:1) I'm a pin up rebel. The ideal role model for all rebels-in-waiting. Tell me to come here and there I go. The biggest act of rebellion I have done (to date) being my dropping out of engineering college, right after the first year. Du...
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Life Begins @ Tara's Home
2007-05-28 19:37:00
This post was written in the time when I was a newbie at Tara 's Home . So it's a 'complaints' essay. The 'nostalgic' one follows soon.After years of yearning to be a hostelite (at least 5 years now), I have finally achieved my wish and have become an inmate of Tara's Home in Chennai . Hah! And what about the total lack of privacy I have to face now? The continuous interferences and curiosity of my fellow dorm mates/ roommates, floor mates, all collectively grouped together under the head 'inmates'. The endless platitudes and meaningless 'Hi!'s and 'bye's all the time. A ' Hi' or a 'Hello' this way and a ' Bye' or a 'See u' that way. Maybe I have been spoilt, since at home, I stated my destination if my parents were at home at the time of my departure, or else just vanished. U open a book and start reading. On ur very own bed that u have rented out with ur parents' hard earned money and have full rights to. N...
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P G Wodehouse
2007-04-02 08:58:00
April Fool!!all of u. ( since I had promised to post on April 1 and it's now the next day). Pattiche!!Actually, the reason for the delay is lack of access to a computer which could get on the net. Sorry.Do u number urself among the ranks of those who are avid readers of Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse? Do u read a Wodehouse ( PGW, henceforth) novel, store up all the phrases, only to later mull them over when in the midst of the unsuspecting public and burst out on them with (un) suppressed giggles or bubbles of mirth? Even in the most controlled of circumstances or people, at least a strained smile blooms on ur face drawing strange looks from company? I do.Before I begin eulogising him to the skies (where he is now, if heaven is up and hell down), let me go into a few details.PGW was born in Guildford, the son of a civil servant, in 1881 and died at the humour-ripe old age of 93 in 1975. He worked initially in a bank, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. Luckily, for him and me, he tas...
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A Letter to God
2007-03-11 08:34:00
Just a bit of an intro to this post. This post was actually an article I wrote sometime back ( almost a year ago) for a writing contest. The title they gave was 'Letter to God'. This was what I came up with. Obviously it didn't win. Allel, njan ingane nilathenganum blogum cheythu nilkumo?( Else, would I have been standing on the floor( been so humbly) and blogging? So now, this became a bit of a filler post.LEGEND:blue - amooma's additions{} - thoughts - erased wordsDear God,{Oh! Damn! This is a letter to God,of course. I can't write that. Erase}I'm writing this letter to point out all the mistakes You have made and ask You to attend to them. I am listing them below:1) Your policy of 'good people die and go to heavensooner than bad ones who continue on earth and torture the rest'.This is really unfair on those of us who have tosuffer other bad presences while useful people arerecalled sooner.2) This leads me to the next grievance. What do Youmean by giving us all this troubl...
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Bride Wanted?
2007-02-14 12:33:00
An apt ode to Valentine's Day, on which postedOrthodox Syrian, 20-something, no degree (yet, or in the foreseeable future), CA PE-I, academically brilliant (esp. at Maths, but not in Science) [She is a B.Tech first yr dropout]. Not in the least homely (in either sense of the word), fair complexion ( to begin with, but showing the signs of never missing out on the sun), pretty ( if u stick a gun to the describer?s temple) girl seeks groom. She is currently trying to pass PE-II. She is a bespectacled, clumsy, ungraceful, insensitive, lazy tomboy. Also, rather moody and uncommunicative, sarcastic, bossy, cynical and impossible to get on with in daily life. Not in the least frivolous, she is level headed, sensible and practical ? a realist to the core ( at least that's what she says). But, does not intend to be taken to task over her occasional impulsive decisions. Groom should be willing to receive the sharp edge of her tongue frequently. No dowry. Loves books more than she loves mos...
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Walking Medical College
2007-01-25 11:45:00
Doctors, please note: This post is definitely not for u, since u will catch me out in various symptoms and medical terms and the like. Or try to diagnose and prescribe. Me, being confirmed ( by myself) to be a martyr to the cause of health, who barely manages to walk upright owing to the kilograms of determination and sacrificing mentality employed by me, doctors cannot cure me. So, do not read on, on pain of death (for my reputation).The word u r searching for, the one that is on the tip of ur tongue - is 'hypochondriac', right? What? U hadnt started searching yet? I ruined ur suspense? Never mind, the search would have been instituted a short while on, anyway.The first ailment that manifested itself, and abt which I'm writing, was the innocent 'tummy ache'. I remember being carried by my father, when I was in the UKG to the doctor once, on account of a debilitating bout of stomach ache. Until lately, I used to suffer a periodic attack every 3 months or so. Now, the frequency ...
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For Want of a Shoe
2007-01-10 00:50:00
No. No kingdom was lost. But, a good portion of my composure was.After a session at the Internet café, indulging my current loves, blogging and Orkut, I put a foot outside. The café is a step below ground level and faces the road. So, I had to lift my leg a little to 'step outside'.My sandal caught the top edge of the step and - there I was, with a broken sandal on one foot. One that just could not be adjusted with for the 5 minutes walk to the hostel for which I needed its further service. I mean, the single strap that held the front portion of my foot had unhinged itself. And I was not in possession of cobbler's tools, or even some tape. And to top that, I leaned my hand on the doorframe ? and got it coated with black grease- applied there liberally to keep the shutters moving easily.I stood there wondering whether or not to walk the shit strewn path barefoot. After all, it was just a matter of 5 minutes on the roadside. But then again, the shit!And then, I remembered a girl in...
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DIARY: Govt Museum visit
2006-12-22 00:19:00
DIARY ? A visit to the Museum ( Govt . Museum, Egmore, Chennai)28/8/2006 11:00 amAt the Museum, First floor, sitting on a bench.Cushionless sofa, actually. Listening to the music (lyricless) of A R Rahman (recognized him (Roja), dunno abt the rest of the music). Facing the life size portraits of past Governors of Fort St. George.Feeling fairly awed, calm, satisfied and lonely(and not in a bad sense). Since I am unaccompanied. I'm thankful for the solitude and the place to sit. It's a relief and a change to be alone. Nowadays, I never am alone.Saw 10 of Raja Ravi Varma's paintings. Got the list. See?Right to left, as I viewed: Mother preparing Vegetables, Water Carrier, Portrait of Ravi Varma, The Miser, A Native Noble Man, Retired Sepoy, Going Out , The Lady with the Mirror, Yasodha and Krishna, and their main one- Shakuntala.Wow! This was my first viewing of an original Ravi Varma.All the 12 governors are staring malevolently or disdainfully at me. Dunno which. Will have to ask th...
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Anchors @ Bay
2006-12-08 02:15:00
Neither the iron variety used to keep ships in their place on the seas nor the one tattooed on Popeye's forearm do I mean.Have u ever watched one of those anchored music shows on TV? Sorry. Stupid question. Is there anybody among the TV viewing population of this world who hasn't been subjected to the pure, unadulterated torture wrought by these sadistic ( or are they masochistic) anchors day in and day out?On what basis do the programme producers judge that people actually like the idiotic fare provided by the simpering, empty headed, young females? And a few males too. Do they honestly think any right minded person just loves hearing and seeing the crap spouted by them? U ppl are behind me on this one, arent u?In case u aren't behind me, let me refresh ur memory. After which there will be a mass riot to support me.Here's a sample. No, not a sample. This comprises about the entire repertoire of small talk indulged in by the....any help here, ppl, with synonyms for 'anchor'? I...
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Orkuttante pidiyil ( In the clutches of Orkut)
2006-11-21 00:33:00
Dayavu cheythu ? What is Orkut ?? ennu chodikkaruthu. ( Kindly do not ask me ? what is orkut??) If u have a reasonably good relationship with the net, u are probably on Orkut, henceforth denoted as ?O?. Or have at least heard of it.http://www.orkut.com , I mean.[ Google cash vallom ( any) tharumo ( give) entho ( I wonder), for the free promotion.]The social networking site that beats Hi5 hands down ( hands vedanikkaathirunnal mathi ( I hope those hands don?t pain)). In plain English, u can make new friends, get in touch with ur old friends, chat or rather- scrap etc. Its fun and, somewhere along the line, addictive.Yeah. Me too. Always thought books were the only substance abuse I was guilty of. Always thought I was too self-controlled to get addicted. But now?..It was a certain nymphomaniacal friend of mine ? look to the right, where links have been provided & u can spot him ? who happens to be a senior of mine from both school and college, who introduced me to O and got me hook...

Getting back to base
2006-11-06 20:00:00
At last, 11:15 drops by and releases us from the agony ( no ecstasy here). After roll call, of course.There r 136 students in my class ( hall, actually), and I'm roll no.135! I wasn?t among the last persons to join. In fact, my original no. was 5. Hey, I was one of the first ones to sign up. But, later, it turned out that my number had another heir. So, I procrastinated ( the PE-I results weren?t out yet, and I didn?t want to pay the outstanding half of the fees before knowing if I was to be on the next train to Kollam. And, well, my basic laziness added to the P-word.) until I became the second last no. Typical me, right?The system here is: the teacher calls out the nos and ppl raise hands and yell ?Yes, Sir!? . Unlike the old system which I am used to, where the students yelled out their nos. ( Of course, if the teacher weren?t around, having entrusted the job to the monitor, we would have a field day/time. There would be a random call, with the middle no first and first no secon...
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Getting up early for class
2006-10-23 12:02:00
Imagine having to get up at 5:30 am (in the morning, in case u haven't understood the gravity of the situation) to start ur morning ablutions [That by itself is no big deal, I admit. But listen to the rest] when ur normal waking time is around 10 or 11 am at home.U needn't crease ur forehead just because I'm female and waking up late is usually ascribed to boys. When u do nothing all day but laze around, eat ur meals lazily and deferred to the next mealtime, read, watch a bit of TV, and maybe, once in a few days, wander outside the house lest ppl forget what a holy terror I am! and then come back and eat and read. Until, u finally sleep after 1am or 2am, or even 3am. One of those days, I didn't sleep at all the entire night. Then, I got up (not woke up, note) at 5 am or so and went downstairs to find something to eat ( my tummy had been growling for sometime). Hearing the clinking, my mother came in looking for a burglar. Never, for a moment, expecting me. Sigh! That used to be ...
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Nostalgia without the tears
2006-10-10 09:38:00
REMEMBER- Ahhh! The joy of cutting classes legitimately - for quizzes, being intellectual, Princy is fully supportive - and waving a hand airily at ur doomed classmates as u saunter out with ur bag - no more classes. Cutting classes as soon as a whiff of the Annual Day or The Youth Fest is smelt, under the guise of being the tape recorder operator for a dance group ( any which will take u on). Cutting classes for all the writing events for the Youth Festival prelims ( if the post prelims permitted us, we'd cut those as well) , trying to bring out the non existent creative spark lying dormant in u, or drown out the science teacher. History - naps with eyes wide open. In the school bus,the eternal finding of a 'lil bit more space for my bag if u adjust' and the tuition crunch when loads of Plus two seniors cram in. Dreaming in class of aayamma (ayah) and the bell (when will she strike the iron - will she....wont she....
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Chennai - the autos and the crossings ( for now)
2006-09-16 11:30:00
Being an expert at crossing the road ( having gotten the 'look right, look left, then look right again' method down pat), I naturally expected to carry forward my debonair style beside the road over to Chen nai , where I have (beaten my lair) adikkalled my present thaavalam. However, my expectations were dashed to the ground unmercifully and danced upon, to add theri to adi ( insult to injury). The gentler traffic ensured a crossable opening fairly often. And the barriers on the divider weren't this long ? the distance between openings (thoughtfully battered open or broken open or pulled open by some previous crosser who at least had the good of the future crossers in mind ) stretching as far as the eye could squint at. To top the length, the width comes charging in. I'm grateful ( to my own self) that I've managed to stay narrow. Else, to squeeze between the b.o. or the b.o. or the p.o. would be just as likely as the cow that jumped over the moon. One ways are worse i...
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A Church Visit
2006-09-13 12:04:00
A visit to church ? mind numbingly dull. Bore u witless ( of what little wits u possess in the first place , having just gotten up early from bed and not being properly awake yet ). The alternative stand and sit routine ? when u sleep with ur head nodding when seated ; and swing on ur feet otherwise. Sunday ? the one day when u can sleep in ? perhaps it's bcoz , due to the routine, ur already half awake ( at 6, to go to ur weekday responsibilities ) , that God has kindly gotten u up and to church for the lullabies posing as hymns. English services are OK ? u can atleast smirk and laugh Ur time away, behind ur hand of course, at the sing song tune lifted straight from the Malayalam service and at the excellent pronounciations. But the Malayalam service is another matter altogether.Zombie- like, u stand when everyone else does so, and sit according to the wishes of the people. Make the sign of the cross when thy neighbour does so. I wonder how the first rows get THEIR cues...
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