text:
There was an office party on Friday night. The experience was frightening and yet ultimately satisfactory, if only for the tons of alcohol I consumed while I was there. I had called Mr. Flirt and I still have no idea what I spoke to him about but my colleagues told me I was missing for over two hours. I spent the rest of the night, drowning in more alcohol and dancing…..Oh yeah! There was dancing! - Which was very surprising figuring the dance ban hasn't been lifted?
I'm prone to crippling shyness and I'm not that much of a goody two shoes (Left to my own devices I'm prone to being very naughty, but you get the point.) Therefore, the idea that clubs are the easiest way for a woman to meet a man has never really worked for me. Catch me in the right mood and I can be awfully sociable. I rely on alcohol to loosen me up and since I'm pretty shy, I don't really have much natural grace to politely repel the unwanted advances of guys who creep me out. The whole night was such a bizarre mix of the familiar and the terrifyingly that I didn't really know what to do with myself afterwards, so I just went home and hit the sack.
Everyone who lives in B'lore and hasn't already seen it should immediately get tickets to 'All Shook Up' by Leila Alvares. It's been awhile since I've spent an evening at the theater. The musical closes tomorrow, so don't delay.
Since Mr. Flirt and I have started talking to each other for long hours he has wanted me to express my thoughts, even when they are unpleasant. I don't know where he came up with such a disgusting idea--probably the same place he got the ridiculous notion that I think he's my world. So in order to punish him I have been taking him at his word and I've been getting him really worked up lately.
Today was my concert with the band. Yay! I'm so happy it's finally over! I was at practices the entire day and I hadn't decided what to wear. So I had to throw together an outfit at the last minute from whatever I could find in my closet; I ended up making a very lucky choice, because I think I looked really good. My eyes were constantly glued to the monitor. I didn't look up at the audience- I was so scared. It's a tough thing to get up in front of an audience of about a thousand people and act cool and professional, or atleast not like you're going to have a panic attack. The guitarist did an awesome job. I think he stole my thunder but it wasn't more than I could bear. Chatter died and interest spiked when our band came up on stage. I bet it was the music that got everyone hooked to the performance. Standing ovation. We were forced to believe that we had done a good enough job.
I shall sign off for now with this track my boss gave me to listen to over the weekend. The Hold Steady with 'First Night'. Tell me what you think of it. Hope you guys had a great weekend.
August 31, 2008
August's End
There was an office party on Friday night. The experience was frightening and yet ultimately satisfactory, if only for the tons of alcohol I consumed while I was there. I had called Mr. Flirt and I still have no idea what I spoke to him about but my colleagues told me I was missing for over two hours. I spent the rest of the night, drowning in more alcohol and dancing…..Oh yeah! There was dancing! - Which was very surprising figuring the dance ban hasn't been lifted?
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Labels: all shook up, first night, leila alvares, mr. flirt, my concert, partying in bangalore, shy, the hold steady
August 28, 2008
Mr. Flirt
Fear not! you won't be subjected to all of them; just a couple.
A few weeks ago, I had mentioned that I might soon have an exciting piece of news to share.
I do.
So, I've been spending my every waking moment on this new friend who I'll call Mr. Flirt. Mr. Flirt and I message each other every other minute and call each other at least twice a day. So far, our little friendship is going a little too well. Yesterday, I wanted to surprise Mr. Flirt so I called him. He asked me why I had called. You'd think it was a stupid question to ask but by now I'm used to all his weird questions. So this is from a conversation we had:
Evuhleen: I just called. Do I need a reason?
Mr. Flirt: Yes
Evuhleen: uh….
Mr. Flirt: You missed me, didn't ya? Say it.
Evuhleen: Don't flatter yourself
Mr. Flirt: You just wanted to hear my voice- is that what you wanted to say?
Evuhleen: (And as Ck always calls it- 'my lame comeback') whatever!
I didn't quite know how to feel about this. I refuse to be bullied by him but it felt pretty fabulous. God! I'm infactuated with Mr. Flirt. Actually, that's not true. I'll just go now, throw some water on my face and maybe I'll feel differently.
Here's Oasis with 'Don't Look Back in Anger'
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Labels: dont look back in anger, mr. flirt, oasis, pictures i took, shots in bangalore
Working for an online company means easy access to dozens of seasons of TV shows. I've gone through most of Dexter and Burn Notice most recently. I can only watch the older seasons on DVD though. Waiting for new episodes isn't really a bad thing though. It builds the suspense for a show but while I appreciate the suspense of waiting for the next episode, I'd still much rather like to just get to it. So how about this- They have movies that go straight onto DVD, why not do the same with TV? Avoid the whole waiting for a series to air, take a year to become available and provide the entire thing up front. People still buy DVDs that never make it to theatres, so why can't TV shows be just as successful??
My mom used to be in the medical field and she's computer untaught. We have a decent PC for the entire family. What's funny is that all she knows about the computer is well, nothing. She has no idea how to get to her mail, she has no idea how to send a mail, she's got no idea how it all works. So, when she gets online (which is quite rare) she has this piece of paper with her that lists out a step-by-step procedure of how she has to check her mail, write it and send it. If something went wrong she just shuts down the PC and turns it on again as if the mistake will be corrected.
Awhile ago, she came into to my room just as I was in a video chat with my best friend, Imcha. She looked at the laptop like it was alien technology. She still doesn't know what I do for a living. The point of this post is that I realized how some people like my mother have such a hard time switching to technology. Unlike us they will probably have to take lessons to learn how to use it. We geeks don't realize that sometimes.
Portishead is a psychedelic/experimental rock band. The song 'Roads' isn't a fun song. It fits perfectly with the bleakness of the cold weather. While listening, it's hard not to imagine walking by yourself on a grey, gloomy day while a weird feeling penetrates your body. For me, it's hard not to feel almost entirely saddened by the song. It's so emotional; it almost burrows a hole into my stomach. When I listen to this song, it's that type of deep, unrelenting sadness that oozes out. Whether the song is about futility, absurdity, the need to feel a connection to anything we possibly can, or anything else in between, there is one thing for certain - this is a band that doesn't make empty, simple, or generic music. This is a band that deserves a chance to make you think.
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Labels: burn notice, computer uneducated, dexter, laptop problems, no computer knowledge, portis head, psychedelic rock, roads
August 26, 2008
Some Disillusionment and Yay! A New Band
Back when I was just a fresh graduate I wasn't very careful about the dates I went on. My frailty being what it is, many of these became serious little relationships and then I regretted getting into anything at all. After it was over I'd spent very little energy dwelling on missed connections.
There were a few cases, however, in which the photograph that accompanied the initial romance depicted a fellow of such breathtaking beauty that even now a small part of me regrets what might have been, even if the time for which it might have been was less than a couple of months. I am not so naive as to pout over the guy that got away, but I have spent an occasional moment or five since then wishing I'd bump into him.
Keep this in mind, as I kinda change the subject to mention that while I was going through an old social networking site that I was a member of a long time ago. A quick exploration of the photo album revealed the photo I have described above, which I hadn't seen for years. I sat back in my chair spending a few moments reminiscing a moment of a time long gone. A minute further into the inspection of the photograph exposed features that were average, and possibly worse. My memory made him look like Lancelot and damn my visual senses for judging him attractive in the first place. I deleted the pictures but now I'm worried at some point later in my life my laptop's going to tell me that I have to repeat the same exercise with some other built up memory and I can only imagine what illusions I'll have to smash to smithereens then.
Moving onto something a little happier now- If you feel like you are sick and tired of hearing overplayed songs on the radio or the television and you just want to hear something fresh and new then give The Afters a try.
The Afters is a band composed of Josh Havens (vocals), Matt Fuqua (guitar), Brad Wigg (bass) and Marc Dodd (drums), young music artists from Mesquite, Texas. The band was formed at a Starbucks coffee shop under the name 'Blisse'. They came up with 'The Afters' after realizing that there was another band that used the name 'Blisse'. The Afters' music has an upbeat rock sound. The album 'Never Going Back to OK' will surely be worth your listening time and deserves to be part of your playlist.
For more on this band, check out http://theafters.com/
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Labels: alternative rock, beautiful love, blisse, dating, old boyfriends, The afters
August 25, 2008
A Date with Karma6
So for those who want to know what went down yesterday here goes… Ruan and I went to Landmark to get a present for Tony's upcoming birthday and I had found the perfect gift. For someone who likes Gordon Summers (Sting) so much I bought a book titled 'Lyrics by Sting'. The book contains Sting's collection of lyrics along with his commentary for each song and black-and-white pictures that would make any Police fan quite ridiculously happy. Giving Tony this gift was the best part of it all- the innumerable kisses I got back was priceless.
I found myself with nothing to do the entire evening, so I decided to go with Runa to palace grounds to watch the Independence Rock concert. The thought of seeing Karma6 in concert again sorta invigorated me. I never made it for many of the Sunday Jam events because there are hardly any girls at the concert and secondly, I don't dig strange death metal music. I prefer listening to music that I can hear and understand, not cringe and head bang to. Runa and I got to the concert just when Karma6 got on stage to do their sound check. We screamed Tony's name so that he could see where we were and then we waited for the magic to happen. Being at the concert, I came upon two conclusions. First, the guitarists- Prakash, Alwyn and Tony are bloody great. Effortlessly, they rocked with the purest sort of rough-edge glee. Fantastic. Mark had the crowd going with his classic rock voice that makes you melt like butter on a biscuit. This five-piece South Indian convergence of classic and new, rock and yes, we'll say it, roll, has made quite the impression on the Bangalore crowd. The band performed tracks by Mr. Big, Foo Fighters, Coldplay including the track that got them all on TV- the Earth song.
Overall, many of the tracks they managed to get right. Some others, however, are caught between good- but- not-a- good -fit- for a rock concert. If I had the time to stay on till the end of the entire concert I would've loved to tell the band that they put up an awesome show and I swear that with their own compositions they would make Bangalore gods to rock fans. Tony, the music genius of the band is going to be busy writing the lyrics for their upcoming album and I can't wait for them to show B'lore their own stuff. My only complaint is the fact that there were some girls who were screaming crazy whenever Mark came around the corner. Ugh, I hate the stench of hyperactivity. And that's about all I can say about that fantastic concert. Woohoo!
So, I've created a new blog. It won't be an everyday thing like this blog but it will be updated on weekends. I'm attempting to write posts dedicated to one man I honestly don't know a lot about so I'm just going to wing it. Why would I decide to do this? Easy, the voices in my head asked me to. This will be quite the adventure, especially since I hardly stay in love for too long. So the new blog is about Jeff Buckley and my life with his music. Basically, a personal blog such as this one but just the songs played and reviews made will just be on Jeff Buckley's tracks. I can't wait to share the music that leads me to have an outburst of emotion. His songs do not let up in intensity and it will have you singing along. Even if this is not your style of music, his music is still gripping. The lyrics are believable and many people can relate to such regrets. The rhythm of the songs is moving and fit well with the lyrics. The lyrics are definitely the most serious and straight-forward part of Buckley's normal freestyle type vibe. With a 5 minute plus running time his songs never seem long but rather it leaves you wanting more, which is usually why I put it on repeat. If you like songs with layers and no screaming (no offense to screamo fans) this is your guy, your blog. I'm open to suggestions and criticisms that will help me make this blog an interesting read. And with that I leave you with this track by Travis called 'Side'.
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Labels: gordon summers, Independence rock concert, IRock, jeff buckley, jeff buckley blog, karma6, lyrics by sting, mark lazaro, palace grounds, ruan, runa, Tony Das
August 23, 2008
Evuhleen's Downtown for Music
After work I went out with the girls and Ck for dinner last night. All I could think about was my new friend. I imagined the face of my intended, embracing me in his arms- uh! I didn't know I could be so theatrical. I don't think my self-esteem could handle it if it actually happened. My hyper state of existence has thrown me into a tangle of uncertainty and over dramatics.
My addiction to shopping is getting out of hand. I told Ck and Ruan to go ahead and order food while I took Runa to my favorite shopping place so she could get something for Tony's upcoming birthday. I was famished but that didn't stop me from spending a good amount of time buying some clothes. I worry that my priorities are misplaced.
I was all ready for it to be a horrible, hellish experience at work without Shreyas around to check on us. When the day came for him to leave to Goa for a holiday I kept asking him neurotic questions about the process and couldn't take comfort in the fact that he was leaving the team to fend for itself but it's been pretty painless and we've been able to do just about a good job on our own.
Last night, I was in a pretty good mood because I've got two new readers, who happen to be colleagues of mine. Both of them started reading my blog after hearing about it from friends of mine and one of them sent me a message online to tell me that she was a fan. I had heard that the other reader maintained a blog on LiveJournal, I decided to visit his page after the flurry of activity at work had died down. Sometimes I really just love the world. Fabulousness from this blog. Take a gander and see what you think.
In my mind whenever I think of the word 'Guitar Hero' I'm probably thinking Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Slash…way before I'd ever think of the video game. So, by now most of you guys might've heard about Guitar Hero. Personally, I wasn't brought up on video games. So I don't see what the big hoot about it is. The news related to the game is about some 16 year old that has dropped out of school to practice and compete in the game. Is that ridiculous or what? I mean, if you're spending all that time perfecting the push of buttons why don't you just learn the damn guitar. I'm hoping folks out there get it in their heads that there's a difference between the two- buttons and strings.
Chan photographed by Jean Baptiste Mondino for Jalouse '05
Years down the lifeline of rock, entire uniqueness is tremendously uncommon. Everything is an offshoot of something. So when I listen to an artist or a song and it doesn't remind me of anything I've heard before I'm real curious. Chan Marshall is at a point where, like it or not… is going to be included in my blog for more than a post. She's here with 'He War' and she's proved that she's worth checking out. Go Cat Power!
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Labels: cat power, chan marshall, CK, guitar hero, he war, hunger, new friend, peter christopher, ruan, runa, shopping, shouldifollow, Tony Das
August 21, 2008
Height Issues, Dexter review and Chan Marshall...Straight up!
As a kid I was consumed with proportions and sizes. I was so bugged that I was never as tall as dad or my older sister and I used to go out of my way to explain to my tailor that I wanted my dresses to make me look taller.
As I look at my sister's wedding album I think to myself, 'I looked like the friggin flower girl!'
Since I'm talking about the past, I have to mention that when I was real tiny I had the biggest crush on the now late Charlton Heston of Ben-Hur fame and I had told my older sister that I would run away with him but now that he isn't alive I think I'll add another to my list- John Barrowman. Watch his fabulous performance here. His voice is of such fine quality that it is beyond description. Well, maybe he won't go on the list right away but he is sure nice to look at and listen to.
Life isn't too terrific today as I had made up my mind to quit the band that's playing on the 30th. It all happened because I didn't have time for practices and the final day is coming very close. My dear friend Ash made it significantly better by listening to it all and then sharing her warped philosophy.
Dexter is a wonderful series that I had discovered a couple of months ago. 2 seasons with 12 episodes each about a serial killer who satisfies his thirst for slaughter by murdering other serial killers. The world of Dexter is punctuated with adventures and much entertainment. The action is riveting, the humor wicked, the script impressive and convincing enough to grab anyone's attention. I regret to say that the series I've got is actually a bootleg, since the originals are pretty hard to locate (unless one is living in the US or able to order it online). Getting the bootleg is the easiest way to view this amazing series. If you do begin watching the serial, do note that there's quite a bit of gore, profanity and nudity- your average dark thriller. Not appropriate for those below 18 possibly?
Now I must mention the music. I'm quite a huge fan of Chan Marshall known popularly by the name 'Cat Power'. The russet-haired blues singer skillfully channels her strong emotions through truly arresting songs. Her music is delicious to the ear and her voice delivers them perfectly to the point. You can visit her MySpace page here and have a listen to select songs. My favorite pick is the track I've uploaded below. It's a bloody good listen and it demonstrates the breadth of this artist. It's wide-reaching and it's a great piece of work. And so, without further ado, I present to you 'Metal Heart':
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Labels: ash, ben hur, cat power, chan marshall, charlton heston, dexter, metal heart, serial killer serial, short
August 20, 2008
Single Life and John Mayer
While I do feel lonely at times, I have to say that we single people have a better deal.
We're lucky because we can do what we want to without having to check in with anybody else. I don't have to complain to friends about relationship issues, the mess I'm in and how i prefer work or the nearest pub to being at 'his' place. While I like the idea of just having me in my life, a dame such as I have to tolerate the outrageous questions from neighbors and aunts (basically old women) about when I plan to give up the fun life and settle down. Now why would I possibly want to do that?
So, here are the questions I'm asked most of the time and the answers I'm going to give:
When's the big day?
A: Oh! Soon… I'll let you know when I sign the deal to front my own rock band.
No, seriously. When are you planning to get hitched?
A: Long time from now. But when I do, I'll invite you….err…maybe your kids.
Have you at least found The One?
A: Yeah. But he's currently married.
Don't you ever feel lonely?
A: Of course I do. No one else does?
For me, the benefits of being single are more than the disadvantages. No remote control issues or me being on the laptop or reading or watching TV for endless hours or using up all the hot water. So, for now I'm just going to stick by my point that I am better off solo.
Today, I had the pleasure of viewing a performance of John Mayer on YouTube. Keeping aside the healthy amount of news he gives to the paparazzi he is one of the reasons why music, at this time, doesn't blow big time. His music is extremely notable. It hits you where it's supposed to and the guitars- leave you absolutely breathless. He's one of those artists who can come out with as many albums as he wants to and still remain outrageously famous for each one of them. He produces some great quality music and leaves no doubt in any mind that he's fucking brilliant!
The track below is Mayer's rendition of a very famous song- I love the way he sings it. It sounds rich and gorgeous. The song has a feeling, if I may be so vague. You'll have to hear it.
If you are in search of good music then do a little unearthing further than what's been played on these wretched radio stations and give a listen to something that entices and gratifies you.
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Labels: free falling, great musicians., John mayer, no marriage for me, singlehood
August 19, 2008
Tuesday's Surprise!
I'm 24 so it's appalling that I can still act like a 16 year old sometimes (with great taste in music, of course). I can't rid myself of this excitement- let me share it with y'all before I faint. Brace yourselves: Tony Das got me an autographed CD of Brett Garsed...
and the best part of it is, it's addressed to me!! Yay!!!
For those of you who haven't heard of him before this, Brett Garsed is an Australian-based guitar maestro brought down to b'lore recently by Music biggie Sandeep Chowta. You will love this guy if you like instrumental rock music and I can't wait to listen to this CD called "Planet X". Although I kinda cringe every time I take this prized possession out of its package. I've been showing off the autograph to my manager, who happens to also be a huge Brett Garsed fan. I bet he's happy to finally send me home without hearing another 'I can't believe I have his autograph' from me.
Grab a copy of Garsed's CD if you can. Sure, you can stream his music but it's something else to hold his record in your hands, listen to his music and realize that this guitarist is one of a kind. I don't really listen to too much of instrumental rock music, but I'll totally endorse this one. Garsed's music is a trip and its art. No, I'm not exaggerating. This is what music should sound like.
Today, is RJ's birthday and she isn't here. Miss her so much, particularly today. I hope she's happy, wherever she is now.
Someone has been leaving a huge smile on my face lately. I'm not going to reveal more and jinx it. For now, all I'm saying is that he's a classy flirt and an absolutely charming bloke.
I dig Mr. Big. Especially the single 'Goin where the wind blows'. It's an excellent track; that's the best way to summarize it. I can't understand why this one didn't race the charts and kick out 'To be with you' and 'Wild world', nor why it's been largely forgotten. I guess it might've had something to do with the time period that it came out in. As you listen to this track you become conscious of the fact that this is a supremely catchy song that's delivered with both finesse and intensity.
I'm rambling now. You want the music. So here you go.
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Labels: australian guitarist, brett garsed, goin where the wind blows, Mr. Big, planet x, sandeep chowta, Tony Das
August 18, 2008
Manic Mondays
At the moment the whole of B'lore is currently preoccupied with the live ban. I hate it and if you're like me and the rest of us who are for live music, it makes you want to slap some sense into the authorities. I'm not going to go into my thoughts about this as it will just turn into a rant about human rights and governmental control.
Posters that were part of the Bangalore Protest:
This post is going to be real short as I'm too tired to post properly. I worked non-stop from stupid nine to five o'clock. Today, I reckon I must've be one of the busiest workers in B'lore. In fact, quite possibly, the world. I'm not going to whine as yet- honest, but today involved some real hard work. I now realize that there really aren't enough hours in the day. I suppose most women have known this fact for ages. And it's back to work, again, tomorrow (yes, I know. sigh!)
One day Ruan and me wouldn't stop singing this song and tripping on the lyrics. It was by this band called the Moldy Peaches though the version I'm playing for you here isn't the original. Instead, it's by the Juno couple- Michael Cera and Ellen Page. A modern love song that's highly addictive and terribly listenable.
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Labels: anyone else but you, Bangalore Ban, juno, live ban, moldy peaches
August 17, 2008
The Ideal Weekend
I wish I could walk into a place, rest my thoughts with a nice drink and listen to someone sing. It's hard to believe that B'lore, of all cities, has banned places like those.
Saturday, somewhere in B'lore city, I met Shreyas and Ruan for brunch. Alexis and Venky also joined us. For those who haven't read my older posts. Alexis, is comparatively new to the music scene in the city but she has made quite an indelible impression on the audience. Venkat Subramaniam, known as Venky in music circles, is the Frank Sinatra of B'lore. And that is not an overstatement (hear him here). The 5 of us met with the intention of having a late breakfast together. Six pitchers of beer and innumerable stories later we realized it was late evening and that it was time to move ourselves out of the place. All I can remember as I write this post is the beer and the generous serving of bread, bacon, eggs, sausages and mashed potatoes. It reminded me of regular weekend breakfasts with friends back in my college days.
Returned home drunk and sleepy. Took a quick nap, then went for coffee and got back home because Runa and Ruan wanted to come over and watch 'Grapes of Wrath'. We had read the book in college and I finally got my hands on a great print. But I was reeking of alcohol, a little too sleepy and it was bit late, so we ended up talking about the day. I spoke to Ash after the girls left. She's a good friend who's in Chennai at the moment (taking a break from b'lore or someone in b'lore). After the call I then hit the sack.
I think I'm going to do this weekend-breakfast thing more often. I never want to get myself into a situation where I have nothing to do but watch movies all day. This is how one falls into depression. I need exercise and people.
The weather makes me think of these days as weird and wonderful. It's definitely not wonderful when others have to put up with the nuisance of traffic jams and slushy roads, or worse, flooded areas; but watching the rain just fall, feeling the breeze brush past my neck and the cool air all around - leaves me feeling quite relaxed at this time of year. I'm going to remember these past couple of days as the ones when I breathed the air, learned to wait, stepped out of my world of inhibitions and hoped for better things.
There's beauty yet in this world. Sometimes it's right in front of us that we miss it altogether.
I spent the last couple of hours playing with my niece. Some jumping, some kickball. I gave her my drumsticks, again. Her father will soon have to buy her, her own. Much laughter, then goodbyes. A good Sunday afternoon.
A Perfect Circle- 'Gravity'. For my dearest Ash.
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Labels: abby, alexis d'souza, frank sinatra, i left my heart in san francisco, ruan, runa, shreyas, venkat subramaniam, venky
August 15, 2008
Dark Knight and - Happy Independence Day!
Last evening, was quite an adventure and I can't recall the last time I had an unusual night out. I didn't go out for an old faithful drink but for the new batman movie (Damn CK for not having me seen it sooner). So the movie finally happened because god willed it I tell you. (He knew how badly I wanted to see Heath Ledger.) I must say the movie was pretty damn good.
I had finished work early and went to another office in the city and I just couldn't forget the weird looks I got from techies who looked at me like I was some small sized girl selling cookies or something. My crew and I left the office pretty late and then we got stuck in the rain. Of course, no auto would take us to the theatre because it wasn't far enough for them so we hopped onto a bus- a first for me and it wasn't bad at all. It was one of those fancy Volvo buses and there was no inappropriate touching involved so I didn't have to scream. We got off the bus, got drenched a little more and then entered the icy theatre ready to catch a cold… anything for Heath Ledger. The movie is still fresh in my mind and it seems so daringly real. For two hours I sat in my seat enthralled. One really can't grasp the admiration I have for Heath Ledger's acting until you watch this film. For my friends who thought Jack Nicholson was the best Joker there ever was… Umm… there's no doubt about it now that Heath Ledger was insane in a way that Jack Nicholson never came close to approaching.
Dozens of critics and millions of audience members can't be wrong- The Dark Knight is certainly one of the greatest films made this year. Period. The film consistently surprises you and Ledger is entirely convincing in his evilness and strength.
In the movie you never see Heath Ledger as the the Joker. Never. It's hard to place the polished jaw, good-looking Aussie as the erratic villain. I was so bummed out that a guy with so much talent like him had to die but you have to agree that he did go out with a bang.
The movie makes you question the strength of humanity through the Joker. It's ugliness. The theme of choice plays a huge part and that is the most crucial test in human character. This makes the experience of watching the movie all the more worthwhile. Director Christopher Nolan has done an outstanding job in transforming the world of comics into a literary experience.
A lot of movies make you sob your heart out or laugh out like crazy; this one just makes your head burst! For those of you who haven't gotten around to watching it, well then rush to the nearest theatre and get yourself a ticket- if not for the batman then just for the terrific and the dark performance of Mister Ledger. Screw the standards of good and bad, villains and heroes. This movie makes you rethink all that.
Today, I got up late and then went with my dad to get my voters id. After that was done I joined my friends for lunch at Koshy's. Bacon, eggs and beer- Mmm…life couldn't get possibly better.
I have cookies on my table, the DVD of 'Lolita' to watch and I have a window that opens out to the little sunlight there is right now. Late last night I chatted with a very old friend and it was so nice to catch up with him after so many years. When I meet most of my old friends they never tell me that I've changed drastically. Well, because I'm of the same height and size since I was in high school and also I look much younger than my age, a trait I've had to endure for awhile now (I've come to accept that I look more girlish than womanly).
Bought a new top in my drunken state – not bad. The feeling is great. I'll have to try this sometime soon again.
Made a new friend- online. Still thinking if it was a good idea.
My friend Ash, wants to set me up on a date with a younger guy. Which is good because I'm starting to forget what dating feels like; but not so good because I don't feel like I've finished up with the old yet.
I'm looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants- Part II. If it ever reaches our shores, that is. Anyways, I'm off to read the newspaper and busy myself with other things like, take a breath, for one.
Going to end this post with one of my favourites. A brilliant track by the Red Hot Chili Peppers called 'Road Trippin'. I must say I love it for the sprawling guitars and the vocals and whether you are or aren't a Red Hot Chili Pepper fan you'll love every second of this song, from start to end. Saying that is saying a lot.
Stay tuned for more melodrama and of course, how can we miss out- Music!
Happy Independence Day!
To Pritham.
Keyed in by Eveline 1 Pulses Say
Labels: aishwarya, Batman, best movie of 2008, heath ledger, independence day, koshys, pritham shah, red hot chili peppers, road trippin, the dark knight
August 13, 2008
I'm hoping I never find it necessary to ever cook in my life. I realize that such a wish would be frowned upon by the many individuals who read this blog but I really hate cooking. Sometimes fights with mom call for Maggie noodles and that I can deal with.
Once upon a time I used to be quite passionate about cooking but the event that changed it all was when I went to visit my dad in Dubai. He was at work and I was all excited about cooking up something special. So, instead of ordering from a restaurant I decided to play chef. A brief search of the kitchen revealed just the ingredients I needed to make some rice and chicken curry.
I opened up the packet of Chicken curry masala and followed the directions given on it. I suppose I used more than I was supposed to because I really wanted the flavor to stick out. I prepared the rice by calling mom who was back home in India. She didn't have the patience so she ran through the entire thing in a hurry and hung up. I had a couple of distractions in between but I thought the food looked as it was supposed to.
My dad came back, I set the table and then we sat down to eat. He picked up his fork and took a bite. He was not one of those fathers who would tell their daughters it was nice when it wasn't just to make them happy. I've never seen my father move at such speed the way he did that day, to the sink to spit out my hard work. Then he spent the longest time trying to rid his mouth of the taste of the food after which he told me, 'You never have to cook as long as you stay with me.' And from that day on cooking began to frighten me. The damage to my psyche is colossal and it would take a shrink a year or two to help me over it.
I received a call today from an old friend who works as an airhostess. She dutifully calls me every month just to make sure I'm not getting myself into trouble. And while she has been absent for many of my failures I thank her for having lots of faith in me and spending all that money on calls to make sure we stay great friends. I remember I cried on and off for the whole day when she left to Doha.
I don't normally address political issues here because thinking about it gets me so angry and depressed but I just have to say that I don't get Indian politics and it's obsession to include everything religious. Corrupt politicians have managed to twist religion so thoroughly to their own ends that they've reduced God to a tool to help them get and maintain power. How can I vote for anyone when I don't believe a word coming out of their mouths?
After I'm done posting this I intend to execute my scheme to take over the world. If you aren't with me, you're against me.
Now, for something fun. The Doobie Brothers… weren't they an awesome band?
The guitars are crisp and it's one of the best tracks out of this band. Also, the instruments explode in this song. The arrangements and the layers sound great. The song accomplishes what it sets out to do and wraps up without any loose ends. 'Long Train Running' is a track definitely worth checking out and if you're looking for something to put you in a good mood then this song comes highly recommended.
To Pratiksha.
Keyed in by Eveline 0 Pulses Say
Labels: cooking, doobie brothers, indian politics and religion, long train running, pratiksha, priscilla personal life, priscilla's blog, priscilla's choice
August 12, 2008
I've been trying way too hard. Things feel weird. People feel weird. The world that I'm trying to repair has just progressed beyond weirdness and all that's left is a big pile of mess that I can't take charge of. It makes the trying and the caring and the not giving a fuck about all too hard.
…..And then I remind myself to take a gulp of air and sit still.
As I walk down the end of my street I say to myself, 'Another day. God help me get through it.' The car should arrive any minute snatching me away from my thoughts. I wait in the cold, my hands clutching my big white bag which is so warm. I inhale the chilly air and I look at my cell phone to see how long I've been waiting: 2 minutes. It should be here any moment. This is what Samuel Beckett referred to as Existentialism. Waiting… seemingly endless waiting. People are being weird and I'm being weird today. I pull my bag closer to me. I'm so cold. I hate being cold. I see my car…
I guess this is what they call the winter blues.
As promised, this weekend I did nothing. I just caught up on sleep and recuperated from a full-on week. 'The Holiday' was the kind of movie I haven't watched in awhile. It was ultra mushy and sadistic. It had my tear glands all swollen up. It was 7 years of my life all squished into a one in a half hour movie and I think I'm over this genre. No wait! Maybe after I watch Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, then I'm over the genre.
In other non-significant news I'm planning a trip to Nagaland in the month of November. I plan to meet relatives and spend some quality time with my best friend Imcha. He's busy with his designer line so we've hardly spoken to each other. After I called him last night and surprised him with my plans to visit his hometown he promised to be there and take me around the place.
That's really it from me for now. Will leave you with a song I was crazy about awhile ago. 'Lullaby' by Atlanta- based artist Shawn Mullins takes me back to some awesome memories. He's one of those singers that can get you to slow down and focus on the moment. I simply love this song and I think each and every single one of you should promptly hit the play button on the player below so you can love it too.
Keyed in by Eveline 2 Pulses Say
Labels: existentialism, lullaby, priscilla personal life, priscilla's choice, shawn mullins, waiting for the next big band, winter blues
August 09, 2008
I've written about it many times and have had conversations with people in which I've complained about famous bands being 'boring' and that they take up a lot of airtime when it should be only right for better bands to be heard and showcased. And the moment I'm done with one of these outbursts I always feel obligated to listen to a well-known song by one of these recognized bands. Yeah…Guilty as charged.
While there are certain items that you should have if you want to be taken seriously as an adult. There are also items that you shouldn't have. So it's time for an episode of- products that make you not-quite-a-grownup-as yet:
- Snuggly quilts or bedspreads featuring Disney characters on it.
- Unframed posters stuck on the wall with double-sided tape or that sticky weird stuff.
- No bookcase for your many books.
- That old chair that every college kid gets when they're excited about studying.
- Little stuff toys sitting out in plain sight.
Any others that I'm missing?
Keyed in by Eveline 0 Pulses Say
Labels: famous bands, flathead, priscilla personal life, priscilla's choice, priscilla's favourites, priscilla's music, saturday blues, the fratellis, things adults shouldn't have
August 08, 2008
The week has ended pretty well. Had a one-on-one with the boss. We discussed process related issues and then for 15 minutes after that we spoke about my blog. I love my job.
This weekend I intend to stay at home during which I expect to do nothing but eat my way into obesity which would cause me to assume the shape of a globe at which point I would have to withdraw completely from any human relations.
The question that's been on my mind today is: Why on earth am I looking so tired lately?
1) I require sleep.
2) Maybe the tired look is an external expression of the deterioration in my morals;
3) or maybe I'm just getting older?
If the answer is 1), I've been sleeping 7 blissful hours daily. I don't see the point of getting more cos that'll just make me outrightly lazy. And I don't see the use of sleeping when I can perhaps use that time to do something more creative. Hmm…Party!
If the answer is 2), I can ask my uncle the artist to paint my portrait. I shall keep it safe someplace where no one will find it; this portrait, like that of Dorian Gray, will show all outward manifestations of my moral deterioration, while I remain forever youthful and attractive.
And if the answer is 3)) then I should just get married and disappear.
I'm sort of wishing it's answer number 2 but I don't really know how I'm supposed to get that idea to work.
Sometimes all your day needs is one good song for a much-needed uplift.
No point in waiting for Amy Winehouse to get her cocaine effected lungs to work again. In the meantime, this slice of vocal heaven from THE Suzanne Vega doesn't make me care so much for Miss Winehouse. I have to admit that listening to these tunes of Vega's left me wishing for more. I've uploaded two of her tracks because one just wouldn't be enough. These tracks have a certain epic like quality that begs to be heard. Apparently, 'Tim's Diner' (DNA Remix) made it to UK #2 in 1990 (that's what I'm playing for you folks). 'Caramel' has also a special place in my heart because Runa had sung it and she actually sounded as good as Suzanne Vega. Wish she would just get over being so conscious and let me upload her track. But since I haven't got her consent y'all are just going to have to take my word for it. Happy Friday folks. I'll try and post something this weekend if I can. As always. Stay tuned.
Keyed in by Eveline 2 Pulses Say
Labels: caramel, dorian gray, one on ones, runa, suzanne vega, tim's diner, tired looking
August 07, 2008
Me and My Starlight
This post is about the who's who in my life. First up are Ruan and Runa. Runa is short for Aruna. Runa and I go way back. We knew each other from school but started hanging out in college. Ruan, joined us in Post Grad. and we've been together ever since. These two have been my partners in crime and the closest to me. They're both gorgeous and smart with a love for music, singing, reading and some naughty things I shall not name. The three of us even work in the same company. While it gets a little stifling at times it just reminds us that we have each other to fall back on.
Then we have Ck and Shreyas. Ck is my ex supervisor and shreyas is my current supervisor. Ruan, Runa, Ck, Shreyas and me always hang out together and are always upto mischief. Both of these guys are lovely people to know, good-hearted and a lot of fun too. Shreyas loves to give us a show and snap us out of boredom. Ck is funny with a fondness for music, films and crosswords.
Another person who gets mentioned quite a lot on this blog is the Crooner. A recent ex who seems to be on my love-hate list.
Then there's Abigail. She's my little niece. A 1 ½ year old, known by names such as Abby, Lemlem, Aolem and Lemska. She's far too scary for me to look after by myself though she's showing early signs of being quite a hottie and having a thing for fashion.
To my amazing friends- here's One Republic's rendition of Jeff Buckley's 'Last Goodbye'. (I love the lyrics. Hence the scroller)
Lyrics | Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye lyrics
Keyed in by Eveline 0 Pulses Say
Labels: priscilla personal life, priscilla with friends, priscilla's blog, priscilla's crooner
August 06, 2008
Wednesday's with Mister Buckley
Whatever has been written on this blog is purely of my own opinion. I do not write with the intention of causing anyone offense (maybe annoyance). Reader's views will be taken into consideration if they contain humour or praise. However, if the reader's comments don't make me happy then I have the right to not publish it or reply to it.
It is extremely important that you realize never to think that I am an authority on any subject. If you do require advice on matters other than music then see your shrink or lawyer or mother.
I have the right to write in my state of madness and claim to be in love and then say I'm not (unless, I mention 'official' next to it. Which means that I really am in love with Jeff Buckley. I'm not taking that back.)
I'm an experienced screw-up so I have the right to, well, screw up.
If you find the content of this blog too baffling or unfathomable, foolish or senseless, outrageous or outlandish, bizarre or peculiar then just pass on by. While the real me would advise you to do something much more interesting I'm sure you'll prefer my first suggestion.
Another cool song by Jeff Buckley I recently discovered was 'Lover you Should've Come Over'. I've heard Jaime Cullum cover this one. The track has been stuck in my head all day. I'm going to upload it here so y'all can have a listen. This just makes me want to keep on my toes for whatever music of his I can find. Stay tuned folks.
Keyed in by Eveline 3 Pulses Say
Labels: gloomy, jeff buckley, lover you should've come over, priscilla's choice, priscilla's crooner, priscilla's disclaimer
August 05, 2008
Bluesy Tuesday
Today was just OKAY. Apologies for the moody-me everyone, sometimes life just gets in the way. True to form, I was not able to get through a day at work without acting stupid at least once.
I love this picture of CK at Orange Peel with the 1 litre mug of beer.
And now it's time for some random facts about me! So here goes:
- I have a secret love of reading fashion magazines and imagining myself in like an Oscar de la Renta creation.
- I have a habit of buying clothes and then never getting round to wearing them.
- I am obsessed with my pink mobile. Yeah, you heard that. It's PINK!! CK calls it 'the Paris Hilton phone'. Others have called it the 'transformer phone'. I only bought it in that colour because it stood out.
The sofa and TV are calling to me, so that's where I'm heading to in awhile. I just wanted to let you know that….. I'm in love.
It's official.
The signs have been there for a couple of days now - lack of appetite, daydreaming about my affection, sweaty palms, racing heartbeat…
And now the object of my desire is in my possession.
It was Wednesday, July 31st, in an act of unabashed conformity; I fell in love with Jeff Buckley much after the rest of the world had fallen in love with him. 'Grace' was the first Buckley song I ever heard. And let me tell you folks that one song is enough to give you a permit to lust after Buckley. I couldn't get this musician's haunting voice off my mind. His voice personified soul, joy, being and pain. So when I read that Jeff Buckley had drowned at the age of thirty just as his fame was rising, you can only imagine my astonishment. What I'm happy about is that I did discovered Jeff Buckley on my own and like a bazillion others, I thought "Grace" was written for me and only me. Maybe not, but it's still one of the best songs I've ever heard. His music seems so steady and flawless and I'm sure I'm not the only one who supremely admires Jeff Buckley and categorizes 'Grace' as one of the greatest songs ever created. If you're only going to listen to one track today this should be your choice. This single takes music to a new level. The layers in this song are brilliantly well done.
Well another month has come and gone. Another thirty or so odd days will bring to my attention enough new tracks to write about and complement my personal life. For those of you who are new here- Every week I write about one new band, unheard of by many. Sometimes it's just about artists that have been undiscovered by me.
That is all kids. I'll make sure to upload and write about some new tracks for your listening pleasure. Enjoy the music and tell your friends.
Keyed in by Eveline 3 Pulses Say
Labels: CK, facts about me, grace, jeff buckley, jeff buckley's grace, new tracks, orange peel, priscilla personal life, priscilla with friends, priscilla's blog, priscilla's choice, priscilla's in love
August 04, 2008
Friday was great. We had a terrific time. Ate a lot of junk food and laughed our asses off watching Shreyas pretend to be Spiderman. Saturday was even better. Did a lot of shopping and decided to visit my college since I was in the vicinity. Met my teachers and I was so happy to see them. In a conversation with one of them, I discovered that I, too, wasn't the only one who felt differently about certain things. Perhaps there's something about specific thoughts that draw people, who share it, together. I'll skip over the details of how my teacher and me found each other in a class of over 120 students; suffice to say that after a couple of classes and repeated trips to Coffee Day I found a hardy soul and my mentor for life. One of the few people I know, intimately enough, to speak my heart out.
I wanted to write about my new love, but my stomach is growling and I need to get me some food. So this track will have to do for now. If you are as crazy about him as I am, then do let me know. Comment.
Jeff Buckley 'Last Goodbye'
Keyed in by Eveline 2 Pulses Say
Labels: friendship day, jeff buckley, mummy 3, orange peel, priscilla personal life, priscilla's crooner, priscilla's music, shopping


text:
First a man pummels a police officer with a vuvuzela. Then a US Army employee stationed in Germany threatens to kill his neighbors with an ax if they don't stop blowing those damn horns. Something's got to give.
The vuvuzela has really caught on in Germany, where perhaps it reminds them of the delightful yet forceful flügelhorn. So, of the crowd that gathered in Dinslaken to watch the Mannschaft's match against Ghana Wednesday, more than a few were wielding plastic horns. But, as the crowds in South Africa have shown, it's far too easy to use vuvuzelas for evil instead of good.
One drunk fan confronted a police officer who was directing traffic.
As he turned to the 20-year-old, the man suddenly began hitting and kicking the officer," the statement said. "Furthermore he began pounding the officer's head with a vuvuzela."
The officer was rendered incapable for duty by "severe injuries" to his head, the statement added.
Do we give the fan credit for splurging on a high quality horn, capable of handing out beatings, instead of a shitty plastic toy? No, we do not. But at least he didn't go after anyone with a goddamn ax.
More proof that Germans and vuvuzelas don't mix, or at least alcohol and vuvuzelas, comes from Weiden, where overzealous vuvuzela-wielding fans couldn't shut up, even for a match that didn't involve Germany. A civilian employed by the US Army stationed nearby had had just about enough:
Police in the Bavarian city of Weiden said Friday the 45-year-old man confronted his neighbors during Thursday's Netherlands-Cameroon World Cup game wielding the ax.
They said he was so sick of the constant buzzing and honking from the vuvuzelas since the tournament began that he screamed: "I will kill you," and then returned home.
He did not end up killing anyone, but had he gone through with it, he should fight tooth and nail to get extradited to another country. Outside of Germany, murder due to vuvuzela use is no longer a prosecutable offense.
Drunk football fan beats police officer with vuvuzela [The Local]
Vuvuzela Sparks Ax Murder Threat by Neighbor [AP]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
n the year five thousand one hundred and ninety-nine from the creation of the world, when God in the beginning created heaven and earth;
In the year two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven from the flood;
In the year two thousand and fifteen from the birthday of Abraham;
In the year one thousand five hundred and ten from Moses and the going forth of the people of Israel from Egypt;
In the year one thousand and thirty-two from the anointing of David as king;
In the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel;
In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;
In the year seven hundred and fifty-two from the founding of the city of Rome;
In the forty-second year of the rule of Octavian Augustus;
In the sixth age of the world, when the whole world was at peace: [here the voice is raised:]
A calendar of 1943
Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father, being pleased to hallow the world by His most gracious coming, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost, and nine months having passed since His conception, having become Man, was born at Bethlehem in Juda of the Virgin Mary.
[All prostrate themselves: at the signal of the superior, they arise.]
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. A tolum duplex feast of the first class.
On the same day, the birthday of St. Anastasia. In the reign of Diocletian, she suffered harsh and cruel imprisonment at the hands of her husband Publius, during which she was greatly consoled and comforted by Chrysogonus, a confessor of Christ. Next, she was subjected to a long imprisonment by Florius, prefect of Illyria. At last, on the island of Palmaria, she was fastened to posts with her hands and feet stretched apart, and a fire was enkindled about her. Thus she completed her martyrdom. There had been deported to this island with her two hundred men and seventy women, who gained their martyrdom by being killed in various ways. A memory.
At Barcelona in Spain, the birthday of St. Peter Nolasco, confessor, and founder of the Order of our Lady of Ransom for the Redemption of Captives. He was noted for his virtues and miracles. His feast is celebrated on January 28.
At Rome, in the cemetery of Apronianus, St. Eugenia, virgin. She was the daughter of St. Philip the martyr. In the time of the Emperor Galhenus, she showed many signs and virtues and added holy choirs of virgins to Christ. She suffered for a long time under Nicetus, prefect of the city, and at last her throat was cut with a sword.
At Nicomedia, the sufferings of several thousand holy martyrs who on Christmas day were assembled at Mass. The Emperor Diocletian ordered the doors of the church to be shut and a fire to be prepared around the building. A tripod with incense was set before the door. Then a herald proclaimed that they who desired to escape the fire should come out and offer incense to Jupiter. When the Christians unanimously declared they would gladly die for the sake of Christ, the church was set on fire and they were burned alive. Thus, they were held worthy to be born in Heaven on the very day on which Christ was pleased to be born on earth for the salvation of the world.


text:
|Saratoga Springs, NY
|High School:
|Saratoga Springs
2011: Started all 16 games in goal for the Blue Devils…Registered over 965 minutes in net, making 173 saves for a .452 save percentage…Picked up a team-high 51 ground balls and caused four turnovers.
2010: Started all 14 games in goal for the Blue Devils...Logged 840 minutes in the net...Made 172 saves...posted a .459 save percentage...Had a 5-9 record as Central set a program record for wins...Also recorded 30 ground balls and caused five turnovers.
2009: Appeared in four games as goalkeeper...recorded 10 saves and four ground balls in 73 minutes of action.
Before Central: Played lacrosse and field hockey four years at Sartoga Springs...Named Second Team Suburban Council All-Star as a sophomore...Honorable mention in 2007 and First Team All-Star selection as a senior...National Honor Society member.


text:
Second grader Melissa Mendoza loves soccer, playing with friends and most things a typical 8-year old enjoys, but this little one's spirit of giving is not so typical.
"In one sense, Melissa is a typical kid, she plays soccer, with dolls, but in a sense also likes to help people," said Enrique Mendoza, Melissa's father.
Melissa figured the holidays were the perfect time to tap into people's giving spirit so she decided that her December birthday, so close to Christmas, would be the perfect time to launch "Mission Melissa."
"Instead of getting presents for me, I requested in my invitation for my birthday party to bring canned food and clothing so I can donate," said Mendoza.
The day before her party, she took the microphone during a Chicago Mustang's soccer game in front of a huge audience at the grand sports arena in Hoffman Estates, to make her plea.
"I want canned food and clothing for the poor this year so they can survive this winter," said Mendoza.
Melissa's mother is the Director of Marketing for the Mustangs. During halftime, the two worked the crowd for donations.
"I feel so proud, the most important part here is that she can inspire other kids to do something similar," said Margarita Mendoza.
Her drive to help others inspired the Mustangs to get on the bandwagon. The team is offering free tickets to anyone who donated to "Mission Melissa".
"To hear an 8-year old wants to do something like that for other people is extremely heartwarming, especially during the holiday season," said Ray Kincaid, Mustangs VP of Operations.
At Melissa's school, St. Thomas more in Elgin, the theme has been "to be a blessing to others." It really sunk in for her.
This isn't Melissa's first mission to help. Over Thanksgiving, she served dinner to the homeless and entertained with her piano. She says her inspiration to give comes from home.
"My mom and dad always inspire me because they help others in need no matter what," said Mendoza.
"We kind of feel proud that she takes us as a role model, but it's definitely her. We have been blessed with this little kid, as much as we want to take credit, it's her," said Mendoza's father.
Melissa says the reason for her mission is simple.
"Because it's better to give than to receive, that's the Christmas spirit," said Mendoza.


text:
Demand Increases for AnyMeeting All-in-One Web, Video and Phone Conferencing Platform Now for iPhone, iPad and Android Tablets
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA–(Marketwired – Mar 5, 2014) – AnyMeeting (http://anymeeting.com), developer of web and video conferencing tools specifically designed and priced for small business, announced today that AnyMeeting for iPhone is available free, for immediate download on the Apple iTunes App Store. The AnyMeeting iPhone release follows the recent launch of AnyMeeting iPad and Android tablet apps, which have already been downloaded more than 50,000 times.
AnyMeeting customers and large distribution partners are now tapping into AnyMeeting all-in-one Web and video conferencing platform for its powerful and simple mobile capabilities, in addition to the ease-of-use and affordability it has always offered.
AnyMeeting Innovative Push-to-Talk Capability Clears Conference Call Noise
With this release, AnyMeeting iPhone introduces a new push-to-talk conferencing model, designed to eliminate background noise, echoes and other problems commonly associated with conference calls. AnyMeeting is designed to make conferencing more effective and efficient for business people on the go.
"AnyMeeting is focused on delivering the simplest and the most affordable conferencing tools for small business," said Costin Tuculescu, founder and CEO of AnyMeeting. "Now, with AnyMeeting for iPhone, customers gain powerfully simple visual conferencing, readily accessible wherever they need to go."
With AnyMeeting for iPhone, You Can:
- Launch a meeting via the AnyMeeting.com website
- Participate as an attendee from anywhere, with the ability to view the presenter's screen, shared documents and webcams
- Join the conference call via the iPhone without entering PINs
- Participate in audio through iPhone microphone and speakers, with single-tap push-to-talk capability
- Join the video conference using your iPhone's front or back facing camera
- Collaborate with text chat, see public meeting notes, and access attendee list (if shared by presenter)
- Pinch to zoom meeting content
Adding the Visual Element to On-the-Go Communications Increases Effectiveness
"A rich, full-featured mobile web conferencing experience gives people the freedom to meet effectively and engage with others visually from anywhere at any time," said Andy Nilssen, Sr. Analyst and Partner at Wainhouse Research. "Adding the visual element to on-the-go communications increases its effectiveness — and demonstrates to customers and prospects that the business using it is on the leading edge. Simplicity across devices is essential for driving adoption."
AnyMeeting is an easy-to-use, full-featured Web conferencing and webinar software platform designed to meet all the conferencing needs of small business, with 6-way video conferencing, phone conferencing, screen sharing, presentation sharing, meeting notes, recording and now available on iPhone. AnyMeeting for Android phone is expected to be available in early Spring, 2014. For more information, please visit www.AnyMeeting.com.
About AnyMeeting
Based in Orange County, California, AnyMeeting pioneered the small business Web conferencing market in 2009 with a completely free, full-featured and easy-to-use web conferencing service tailored for small business. Since then, it has grown to more than 500,000 small business users of both its free ad-supported service and low-cost ad-free options. Designed specifically for small business, AnyMeeting offers a complete web conferencing and webinar service built on the company's proven Software as a Service platform. Meeting hosts are able to invite up to 200 attendees per meeting with no time limits, and enjoy a full range of features including integrated video conferencing, phone conferencing, screen sharing, presentation sharing, recording and social media integration. AnyMeeting is the best choice for small businesses, independent professionals and just about anyone who can benefit from online meetings. Current investors include Tech Coast Angels, Pasadena Angels, Maverick Angels, Sand Hill Angels and Keiretsu Forum. For more information, please visit www.AnyMeeting.com.


text:
Santa Trivia
Who is Santa Claus?
It wasn't until 1809 that Americans had
an actual description and drawing
of St. Nicholas.
For centuries, St. Nicholas has been remembered by Christians for his generosity toward children and the poor. The real St. Nicholas lived in Turkey, where he served as bishop in the town of Myra, during the fourth century. According to Dutch legend, Sinter Klaas (St. Nicholas) brought gifts at Christmastime, either through an open window or down a chimney. This legend is the basis of the Santa Claus we know and love today.
Prior to the 16th century, gifts were exchanged during the feast of St. Nicholas on December 6. After that time, German Protestants began celebrating Christkindl on December 25, a feast day for the Christ Child. Soon the two days merged into one, although, today many people in Europe continue to celebrate both days. As early as 1773, the name "St. A Claus" appeared in print.But Americans did not have a detailed description of St. Nicholas until Washington Irving included a drawing of him in the 1809 publication A History of New York. Then, in 1823, Clement Clarke Moore wrote 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (or A Visit from St. Nicholas). It was Moore's account that characterized Santa as a jolly old man who rides in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer and slides down chimneys to deliver gifts.
Who's Tracking Santa Claus?
"Deter. Detect. Defend." This motto of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, better known as NORAD, applies to the Canadian and American agency's responsibility to defend the airspace of Canada, Alaska, and the continental United States. However, each December 24, NORAD is also involved in tracking Santa Claus's sleigh ride across the globe.
Using data obtained from a worldwide network of radar and satellites in space, NORAD staff and more than 360 volunteers begin reporting on Santa's progress at 5:00 a.m. MST. Real-time updates via e-mail, the Internet, and telecasts are transferred into streaming audio and video updates and then translated into French, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, and English.
Which Cities are Easiest for Santa to Visit?
Santa loves to travel to the places
with the most snow!
Those with snow, of course! According to the Statistical Abstract of the United States, the average snowfall each December in the following locations is more than two feet:
- Valdez, Alaska
- Yakutat, Alaska
- Blue Canyon, California
- Marquette, Michigan
- Muskegon, Michigan
- Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
- Mount Washington, New Hampshire
- Syracuse, New York
Does Santa Really Exist?
Yes, Santa Claus really does exist -- and he lives in Rovaniemi, Finland! At Santa's Village, you can visit Santa in his workshop and watch his trusty elves building toys and decorating for the holidays. You can also stop by one of the gift shops and pick up Santa's favorite Finnish candies or a toy from Santa's workshop.
In keeping with Santa's North Pole address, Santa's Village is located in the Finnish Lapland on the Arctic Circle. The Lapland is a region that includes northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway. It is north of the Arctic Circle, an imaginary line on the surface of the earth where the sun does not rise on the winter solstice or set on the summer solstice.
What are Santa's Favorite Reads?
- Olive, the Other Reindeer, J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss
- Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey, Robert Byrd
- The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg
- Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters, Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack
- "The Gift of the Magi," O. Henry
- The Snowman, Raymond Briggs
- The Wild Christmas Reindeer, Jan Brett
One of Santa's favorite reads is Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
What are Santa's Aliases?
Christmas gifts are bestowed by different gift givers in
various countries. These include Père Noël in France, St. Nicholas or Sinter
Klaas in Holland, Father Christmas in England, the Three Kings in parts of Latin
America and Spain, and Santa Claus in the United States. In Germany, children are visited by Christkind, an angelic
messenger of Jesus.
Santa Claus may visit American children, but in Syria, children receive
Christmas gifts from the smallest camel of one of the Three Wise Men.
Babouschka, a grandmotherly figure, brings presents in Russia, while in Sweden, Jultomten, a gnome who rides a sleigh, does the honors. Syrian children receive gifts from a camel of one of the Three Wise Men, reportedly the smallest one in the caravan. And in Italy, a kindly old witch named La Befana leaves gifts for children.
Can you Name any Reindeer Facts?
- Reindeer are one of several subspecies of caribou found around the world.
- Reindeer are herbivores, which means they eat vegetation. In the summer, they eat leaves and herbs. In the winter, they eat lichen and moss.
- Reindeer generally don't run very fast. In fact, a white-tailed deer could outrun a reindeer.
- Reindeer use their antlers like a shovel to break through
the crust of snow to reach the vegetation underneath.
Reindeer are healthy herbivores. They feast only on leaves, herbs,
lichen, and moss.
- Reindeer are various colors, including white, dark gray, and brown. Males can have light-colored manes, necks, and shoulders.
- The only female deer to grow antlers are reindeer. Each summer, both males and females grow their wonderful racks, but males usually shed theirs in late November to mid-December. Females keep their antlers until spring. Because all of Santa's reindeer are depicted with antlers, one might conclude that every one of them, including Rudolph, is female.
After testing your Santa trivia knowledge, you should know all there is to know about Santa Claus and his reindeer. Find out how much you know (or think you know) about Christmas trees. Continue to the next page to test your Christmas tree trivia knowledge in the areas of world records, types of Christmas trees, and more.


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Skip Hire Durham from YourLocalSkipHire.co.uk
If you're looking to hire a skip in Durham, you've come to the right place. YourLocalSkipHire.co.uk is one of the UK's leading providers of skips for hire, offering a reliable and professional service to business and residential clients.
The right project needs the right skip – which is why we've made our skip sizing guide available to all our potential customers. Before you request your quote, make sure you've chosen a skip that's large enough for your waste disposal requirements.
Book your YourLocalSkipHire.co.uk skip by typing your postcode into the box above. We'll then get back to you with a no-obligation quote for delivering the skip you want to hire to your Durham address. It couldn't be simpler! You can also give us a call on 0330 1130 700 to discuss your skip hire needs.


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Triangle 16mm Yellow Gold Plated Silver Earrings with Swarovski Crystal
24K Yellow Gold Plated Sterling Silver Earrings made with Genuine Swarovski Crystals.
Height: 2.9cm
Width: 1.6cm
Metal Options:
24K Yellow Gold Plated Sterling Silver
Color/ Stones Options:
Available in more than 5 Colors/ Stones.
Aquamarine, Bermuda Blue, Crystal AB, Golden Shadow, Jet, Light Rose, Red Magma, Silver Night, Violet, Vitrail Light
Made to order. Ships in 7 Business days
Estimated Delivery:
Ships from our Australian Warehouse in 7 Business days.
30 days , Store credit or exchange. No question asked. No return or exchange for custom or personalised products
5 to 15 Business Days
Shipping time vary for each product, Please check Description. Your package may be delivered in multiple shipments without any shipping cost. /
Check Shipping Time for each product in Description


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Edited 24 September to add: if you like this tutorial, check out my new pattern for matching cushions! It's available as PDF or printed pattern, is in my Etsy store now and uses a new interfacing method which is not only quicker than most patchwork, but also super-good for supporting precious but aged scraps of fabric.
As promised, a post that is not about my garden. Nor is it about my wedding, a fact that will surely astound any friends and family who are reading this!
I made a custom order about two months ago from vintage sheets. Much like my Grandma's Vintage Sheet Quilt, these matching twin quilts are made from sheets and pillowcases from the 60s and 70s: the kinds of sheets we had in our house when I was growing up, as well as the kinds of sheets I wish we had. I took pictures along the way and thought that others might be interested in a tutorial.
This is the simplest kind of quilt I've ever made and it can be constructed with nothing more than a sewing machine, a flat space, and an iron. It breathes new life, beauty and strength into sheets that have worn in some places: worn and faded patches can be discarded, and the good fabric kept. Experienced patchworkers might feel a little impatient to get past the details in these instructions. I've deliberately tried to make it simple, because a vintage sheet quilt is the perfect low-cost, high-reward first quilt for a newbie.
First, cut out your pieces and arrange in a pleasing pattern. I used a large square cut from an A4 piece of paper as my template, drawing around it with a soft pencil. Those who have fast cutting equipment will doubtless prefer to use that at this stage.
Then sew some strips together and iron seams flat. In these single bed quilts, I went for eight squares across, so I built in fours. If placement is important, place a pin in the bottom right hand patch. Then you'll always know which way is up when you go to replace the strip in your arrangement.
Then sew fours together into eights, and so on…
…until you have one half sewn together! Again, use a pin in the bottom right hand corner.
Then pin and sew the two halves together. At this stage you can lay it over some batting and backing. When putting your three layers together, tack them together in an all over criss- cross pattern, or use a series of safety pins (this last option is better for everyday use quilts than those you'd like to be *perfect*. Now quilt it.
Alternatively you can lay it over a second full sheet and tie it together. A lovely example of a simple, tied coverlet can be found here. I used soft flanelette for these quilts. With any other style of quilt, I'd use cotton backing because flannelette doesn't last forever. But let's face it: vintage sheet quilts aren't going to last into your grandkids' lifetimes. They're soft and they're for enjoying now.
Bind the quilt with commercially purchased bias binding, or cheat by folding and sewing a pretty ribbon around the raw edges 🙂
That's a whole quilt — or in this case, two quilts — made with no more equipment than a sewing machine and an iron.
Then find yourself a picturesque cat.
And you're done.
Flickr set is here.
This is the first tutorial I've done at pinsandthimbles. Did it make sense? I'd be grateful for any suggestions you might have!


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Olivia Holt, Shay Mitchell, Daya & More Look Glam at Runway to Red Carpet Luncheon!
About Photo #1141308: Olivia Holt, Shay Mitchell and Daya all look so good! The three stars were all seen walking the red carpet at the Runway To Red Carpet luncheon hosted by the… Read The Post Here


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I've been using linux for a while, but I always had root access, so permission problems were no big deal. But now I don't have root access and it's driving me mad.
I have a ssh access to a web server. This means I have access to my user
gabitoptalentro, and also to the
apache user through PHP backticks. I have problems with some
tmp folder (not
ls -l says this:
drwxrwxrwx 2 gabitoptalentro toptalentro 4096 Jun 15 19:15 tmp
When I try to
touch a file (
touch tmp/QQ) to create it in this folder it works (the file is created), but it doesn't show up in
ls -l. Here is the entry from my ssh account:
-rw-r--r-- 1 apache apache 0 Jun 15 19:37 QQ
So the file actually belongs to
apache, but
apache can't read it.
I also tried to
chown the whole folder to
apache, but it won't let me (
chown: changing ownership of ...: Operation not permitted). Wtf, it doesn't let me give my own folders to someone else?
So, do you have any idea how I can get myself out of this mess and help
apache read it's own files?


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In the News
Celebrating the Schlesinger's First 70 Years
Radcliffe Fellow Sean Graney's Four-Star Shakespeare
Radcliffe fellow Sean Graney loves to combine works of art. During his fellowship, he has worked on creating All Our Tragic, an adaptation of Greek tragedies. As the founder of The Hypocrites, Graney has also worked to devise works based on notable Shakespeare plays. Harvard Arts speaks with him about two of these works, Romeo Juliet and 12 Nights.
Letting Shakespeare be Shakespeare? Where's the Fun?
Will Your Clothing Spy on You?
Like it or not, we have entered the era of assumed ubiquitous snooping yet have not begun to parse the implications. CNN reports on Harvard Law School professor I. Glenn Cohen RI '13, who spoke at the Institute about privacy and wearable technology.
The Monuments Men: Rescuing Art from the Nazis
Listen to Radcliffe Institute Fellow Lucia Allais, Robert M. Edsel, Author of The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History, actor Matt Damon, and moderator Diane McWhorter RI '13 address the real-life task force of museum directors, curators, and art historians, referred to as the Monuments Men, who entered Germany in the last stages of World War II to recover art pieces stolen by the Nazis.
Potential En Masse
A Monument to Saved Art
A Lab Focused on Healing
The Myth of the 8-Hour Workday
In 1914, the Ford Motor Company announced its intention to implement the eight-hour workday, for which Ford employees would be paid $5.00 a day. One hundred years later, Lizabeth Cohen, professor of American Studies at Harvard University and dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, reflects on Ford's intentions and the company's impact.
What if an Actor Tried Really Hard to be You?
None of us will ever know what it's like to be another person, which is what makes a new performance art project at Harvard so fun to consider. Conceived by performance artist and Radcliffe Institute fellow David Levine, it's called "Character Analysis," and features actors who study ordinary people and go out into the world, behaving like the person they're trying to become.


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99 questions/Solutions/10
From HaskellWiki
< 99 questions | Solutions
(*) Run-length encoding of a list.
Use the result of problem P09 to implement the so-called run-length encoding data compression method. Consecutive duplicates of elements are encoded as lists (N E) where N is the number of duplicates of the element E.
encode xs = map (\x -> (length x,head x)) (group xs)
which can also be expressed as a list comprehension:
[(length x, head x) | x <- group xs]
Or writing it Pointfree (Note that the type signature is essential here to avoid hitting the Monomorphism Restriction):
encode :: Eq a => [a] -> [(Int, a)]
encode = map (\x -> (length x, head x)) . group
Or (ab)using the "&&&" arrow operator for tuples:
encode :: Eq a => [a] -> [(Int, a)]
encode xs = map (length &&& head) $ group xs
Or with the help of foldr (pack is the resulting function from P09):
encode xs = (enc . pack) xs
where enc = foldr (\x acc -> (length x, head x) : acc) []


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Governor to head to fundraisers in Seattle, New York City
New York event includes potential presidential candidates
MADISON, Wis. — Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is headed to Seattle on Thursday and New York City later this month.
Walker will be attending a Sept. 23 fundraiser in New York City for the Republican National Committee along with three other potential 2016 presidential candidates. That event is being hosted by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and Jets owner Woody Johnson.
Walker is scheduled to be joined at the fundraiser by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sens. Marco Rubio and Rand Paul.
The event Thursday is a fundraiser for the Washington Policy Center, a conservative think tank in that state.
Local union members and other activists in Seattle are scheduling a protest of Walker's appearance there, saying his "divisive anti-labor, job-killing, environment-damaging policies aren't welcome in Washington."


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Interview: The Summer of Larry (Ellison) Is About to Sail Into Port Via America's Cup
A few weeks ago, Larry Ellison threw a party in San Francisco for the premiere of "The Wind Gods: 33rd America's Cup," a documentary that also called attention to a whole lot of high-tech sailing set to take place starting in July in the San Francisco Bay.
But that 34th America's Cup has been under some level of scrutiny of late, ever since an accident the day after the screening that resulted in the drowning death of a member of the Artemis Racing team, after its boat dramatically capsized in the San Francisco Bay.
That possibility of danger is abundantly clear in "The Wind Gods," which was produced by Ellison's son and successful movie producer, David Ellison. (His production company — Skydance — is also behind the new "Star Trek Into Darkness" blockbuster.)
This documentary certainly isn't a 3-D spectacular, but it is a pretty dramatic paean to how the tech mogul's sailing team, BMW-Oracle, after a decade of failed attempts, finally snatched America's Cup in 2010 in Valencia, Spain, back from the Swiss team Alinghi and its leader Ernesto Bertarelli, a former Ellison friend.
Emphasis on former, according to "The Wind Gods," narrated in basso-profondo tones by actor Jeremy Irons and in the construct of the underdog — in this unlikely case, Ellison — against the villainous snob from Europe.
This despite the huge advantage BMW-Oracle had via its USA-17 trimaran, with its breathtakingly massive, fabulously computerized rigid-wing sail, for which price was apparently no object.
"Someone once asked me if it's worth $100 million to win the America's Cup," said Ellison in the documentary. "It's certainly not worth $100 million to lose the America's Cup."
Ellison was full of bon mots like this in "The Wind Gods" and also at the event, held at the new America's Cup pavilion on the Bay and chock full of the Oracle team members — such as skipper James Spithill — as well as the enormous silver cup itself that now has a new carbon-fiber base similar to the materials the boats are made of.
"The biggest lie told in professional sports is, 'We're just going out there to have fun,'" he said in a panel discussion after the film was shown. "There's one team that wins the championship — all the rest don't."
And Ellison later noted about being on the fast-moving boats in cold weather: "It's very much like driving a car from Chicago to New York with the top down in January."
After the panel, I did an interview with Ellison about the upcoming defense by Oracle Team USA, an effort that has been seen quite a bit of controversy over the dangers of the new boats in the upcoming race, called AC72s, which are 131 feet high, 46 feet across and 72 feet long.
Even before the accidents — there was a first capsizing by Oracle before the Artemis' — the cutting-edge design has led to a series of worries about the success of this 162-year-old race and if a major lessening of the size and scope is needed now. Even Russell Coutts, the legendary sailing champion who is CEO of Oracle's effort, said as much in an article in Wired magazine titled, "The Boat That Could Sink America's Cup."
"No matter who wins," Coutts said to Wired, "they are definitely going to make changes: make the boat smaller, bring the team budgets down, stuff like that."
Due to the high costs, though, there will only be the three teams that will compete in the Louis Vuitton Cup — also known as the America's Cup Defender Series — that starts July 4, rather than more than a dozen that are more typical. Oracle Team USA does not compete in this part of the series. It will face the winner in the finals, which will take place from September 7 to 21.
Ellison is certainly not sanguine about the issues raised by the hyped-up boats and the extreme pushing of the edge, which in truth have been a reality since America's Cup's very beginnings.
But the unusual, perhaps never-to-be-seen-again, nature of the boat design is part of the reason for the film about the 2010 race, he said.
"It was important to document it, because that trimaran, that thing, 23 stories high, we knew it was never likely to sail again," he said about the USA-17, which is now in a shed in San Francisco. "Not very many people would see it sail and it was such a spectacular piece of technology."
In fact, its very existence was in question, due to the legal wrangling over the boat that Ellison had with Bertarelli, which is chronicled not in the Alinghi leader's favor in "The Wind Gods."
"You don't think he's going to like it?," asked Ellison, with a sly smile, about Bertarelli's arrogant portrayal in "The Wind Gods." "He tore up America's Cup rules and he did it because he thought he could get away with it and he was desperately afraid of losing."
Since the documentary needed to be only 56 minutes for television, a lot about the boat's technology was left on the cutting room floor.
"The engineering is phenomenal, there are 2,000 sensors on the mast," said Ellison, who noted the new one for the upcoming race will also be outfitted from back to front with cameras and microphones.
"It's primarily for the television audience," he said, due to the efforts to make this America's Cup, which will take place in perhaps the most picturesque setting under the Golden Gate Bridge, more interesting to viewers (races will be shown on NBC and elsewhere).
Ellison said he hoped that people not particularly interested in sailing will find the races gripping, although perhaps not in the same way he did when he first learned to sail taking lessons at the University of California at Berkeley when he first arrived in Silicon Valley. He was instantly entranced.
Why the attraction?
"I was always in love with the idea of sailing and the freedom it represents, the fact you can go anywhere with just the power of the wind," he recalled, saying a series of National Geographic articles by Robin L. Graham about his solo 1965 sail around the world as a teenager was inspiring to him.
"It was an idealized version of it, but it was that combination of freedom and self-reliance that impacted me," said Ellison. "What's the right word? Independence. If you are a control freak [like me], you think that's pretty great."
Ellison has not decided if he will be on the AC72 — as he was at the last America's Cup — as part of the crew in the finals.
"I am not sure, but I am getting into shape in case, although it's a chore," said Ellison, who is working out by running and playing tennis, but still makes fun of all the various athletes — including some on his sailing team — who are on a gluten-free diet.
Having already competed professionally, he said he might be satisfied to not compete himself, which does not seem very much like Larry Ellison.
"Whoever is best should be driving the boat," he said. "In this case, that's not me."
America's Cup practices on the San Francisco Bay resumed this week by Oracle, as well as Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand, for the first time since the accident — but with a drop in maximum wind limits and a list of new safety requirements. Artemis, which has had a new replacement boat brought in, has not decided if it is going to compete as yet in sailing's premier regatta.
Until we know more and the next race begins, here's the trailer for "The Wind Gods" to look back on the last one:
And here's Ellison very funny interview with me, which took place exactly one year ago, at the 10th D: All Things Digital conference: