Yes, you heard me right. In Guantanamo, they apparently use music to torture their prisoners. They play music really loud, for a long time, until the prisoners break down. Some of the musicians and a human rights group are all up in arms and want to talk to Obama to stop this. I bet Obama is going to have a wry smile on this face when he hears this … and says “So … you are saying that they are using your music as torture ??” . It will be his first test of diplomacy. Lets see if he keeps a straight face!
I thought this would be a great way to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy holiday. I would be on a blogging holiday starting tomorrow all the way until the 30th.
Snow SharksEggplant caserole ! Yuck !Once in a while Bill Waterson used to churn out one of these "Awwwww" posts.
And here you go ! One to pull a light one on the current economy!
A typical Madhur Bhandarkar movie – dark, real, exposing real-life, at times, slightly exagerated, but without that, Indian Cinema will not run.
Good acting by Priyanka Chopra. I think she is maturting into a fine actress. She portrays the roller coaster ride from small town Chandigarh girl, to hot super model, to arrogant model, to psychologically affected failed model, and a big-comeback model. She does a good job especially in the scenes where she becomes the arrogant show-stopper model. You can see the brilliant portrayal of arrogance vs attitude. I always maintain that, the best acting talent is brought out during negative roles — if you are good, you will get the audience to hate YOU. This is exactly what happens. There is a section of the movie, when you start hating Priyanka.
The director does a cameo appearance, and takes a dig on himself, which was funny. We see him in a fashion show, and one of the models comment to the other — “See that guy! He is the famous director Madhur Bandarkar. He is taking a movie on fashion! Cannot he leave anything at all ? Wants to make a film on everything!” — not exact — but something of that nature. The other roles are side roles ; effectively carried out, but nothing spectacular.
One question though — Is it really true (as portrayed in the film), that every other fashion designer is GAY ! Oh man, the last movie that I saw was Dostana, and now I am beginning to wonder, if all the film directors are GAY as well !! (Or is a significant portion of the hindi movie audience GAY ?? *gasp* !)
This teapot let me drooling for some time. But the price tag gave me indigestion, which not even ginger-lemon tea can cure ! [link]
“… unhinge the spout, and drop in loose tea leaves. Add hot water — up to 11 ounces, enough for two cups — then kick back and watch the leaves dance as they turn your brew the exact depth of color you desire …” — wired magazine
A British museum curator has built a working replica of a 2,000-year-old Greek machine that has been called the world’s first computer.
A dictionary-size assemblage of 37 interlocking dials crafted with the precision and complexity of a 19th-century Swiss clock, the Antikythera mechanism was used for modeling and predicting the movements of the heavenly bodies as well as the dates and locations of upcoming Olympic games.
The original 81 shards of the Antikythera were recovered from under the sea (near the Greek island of Antikythera) in 1902, rusted and clumped together in a nearly indecipherable mass. Scientists dated it to 150 B.C. Such craftsmanship wouldn’t be seen for another 1,000 years — but its purpose was a mystery for decades.
Many scientists have worked since the 1950s to piece together the story, with the help of some verysophisticated imaging technology in recent years, including X-ray and gamma-ray imaging and 3-D computer modeling.
Now, though, it has been rebuilt. As is almost always the way with these things, it was an amateur who cracked it. Michael Wright, a former curator at the Science Museum in London, has built a replica of the Antikythera, which works perfectly.
BTW .. the article goes on to say that, the museum curator has recreated this using recycled metal parts !! So well, it is indeed a green computer as well.
Well, saturday morning was spent with God (temple visiting). Visited Agara village and caught up with half a dozen temples (including the 108ft tall Anjaneya and the 150 yr old Venkateswara temple).
Sunday afternoon was spent in gluttony.Hmmm. Shiok is defenitely a place, one should go to, atleast once. I would go there once more, for sure. The service, the food, and the ambience rocks. You notice the very good service right from the time, you park your car. The valet grabs your keys and a steward ushers you inside, and seats you. The ambience is simple, but very oriental. One ultimate thing is that, there is a separate vegetarian section in the menu !! Yippee.
Image courtesy: www.shiokfood.com
We asked the steward to suggest a good veg starter, and he suggested the crispy vegetables in chillies, garlic, and basil (a Thai dish). It was indeed very good. The thai spices soaked in the crispy veg was delectable to say the least. Pleased with the steward’s taste, we asked for a recommendation for the main course. It was surprising (refreshingly surprising) that the steward said, that usually one dish fits two people. It is pretty rare, restaurants are candid about this. You usually end up hauling a lot of food home. So there we were, having ordered the ‘Fresh green beans, tofu, and carrots with ginger and chillies‘. And we had ordered it with ‘Chinese stir fried noodles’. The combination was amazing. R did feel it was a little spicy though. I have peculiar taste-buds – Even the slightest spice can be very spicy at home, but outside food, I dont feel the spice at all !’. After the meal, both of us felt just full — we did not get the how-the-he**-are-we-going to get out of the chair feeling 🙂
Apparently Shiok is celebratng their fifth anniversary, so they had a lucky draw – and so R won a cooking session with the chef – Madhu Menon (oh did I mention, this guy was a techie before he started his restaurant ! :)). We need to schedule this sometime in the future, at our convenience. Service is amazing – when the bill is getting paid, the steward grabs your valet token, and by the time, you are done paying the bill, your car is at the door.
Image courtesy: flickr.com/photos/haynes
Well, gluttony rarely ends in one place ! Shiok does not have a dessert menu. And I recollected one of my colleagues at work, mentioning about a kulfi joint in Indira nagar (hey Im at Domlur, might as well, jump across the flyover to Indiranagar). So off we went. ANd we found the place — Bombay Chowpati Kulfi’. Brilliant in one word. THey have kulfi in about 10 flavours – ranging from 32/- to 50/-. I had dry fruit kulfi and my wife had chikkoo. And then we shared a banana kulfi. The flavours are beautifully infused into the kulfi. Do not keep wondering, go and taste it. Fitting end to our gluttony.
