Slogging Blog

Recently the entries into the blog have been few and far between. The reason has been diagnosed and as it turns out the factors are a few. Primarily the blog was a photo blog, which took shape during my days at Chennai, where I had a good camera phone (SE K750i) and ample time to update. At various times I had equally good phones that were capable of giving great results. Now a day however I am sporting Nokia E61i, which though is a very capable business phone, lacks punch in the camera department.

The other reason has to do with my company policy – which was updated recently – not to allow access to blogs and personal networking sites. I while totally agree with the policy, nevertheless not able to find any opportunity to update my blog.

The third reason is to do with saving on my power bills at home. Earlier my home computer would be switched on for almost all the time. But this has caused me to received four digit power bills, more than double what others receive. To curtail on the expenses I have reduced the time my system stay on and in the process not having enough time to do any productive work on my blog. I hope that the situation improves and I spend more time updating my blog.

A to Z anonymous

Source: See Comments

A is for Awpheesh (as in Office). This is where the average Kolkakatan goes and spends a day hard at work. And if he works for the 'Vest Bengal Gawrment' he will arrive at 10, wipe his forehead till 11, have a tea break at 12, throw around a few files at 12.30, break for lunch at 1, smoke the 7th unfiltered cigarette at 2, break for 5th cup of tea at 3, sleep sitting down at 4 and go home at 4:30. It's a hard life!

B is for Bhision. For some reason many Bengalis don't have good bhision. In fact in Kolkata most people are wearing spectacles all the time....Bhishon Bhalo and Bibhotso.... though means opposite ...used for same situations.. .depending on the Beauty of fairer sex...are close ...almost in a tie for second spot....

C is for Chappell. Currently, this is the Bengali word for the Devil, for the worst form of evil. In the night mothers put their kids to sleep saying, 'Na ghumoley ebar Chappell eshey dhorey niye jabe.'

D is for Debashish or any other name starting with Deb. By an ancient law every fourth Bengali Child has to be named Debashish. So you have a Debashish everywhere and trying to get creative they are also called Deb, Debu, Deba with variations like Debopriyo, Deboprotim, Debojyoti, etc. thrown in at times....as creations of God himself !!

E is for Eeesh. This is a very common Bengali exclamation made famous by Aishwarya Rai in the movie Devdas. It is estimated that on an average a Bengali, especially Bengali women, use eeesh 10,089 times every year. 'Ei Morechhey' is a close second to Eeesh.

F is for Feeesh. These are creatures that swim in rivers and seas and are a favourite food of the Bengalis. Despite the fact that a fish market has such strong smells, with one sniff a Bengali knows if a fish is all right. If not, he will say 'eeesh what feeesh is theesh!'

G is for Good name. Every Bengali boy will have a good name like Debashish or Deboprotim and a pet name like Motka, Bhombol, Thobla, etc. While every Bengali girl will have pet names like Tia, Tuktuki, Mishti, Khuku, et cetera.

H is for Harmonium. This Bengali equivalent of a rock guitar. Take four Bengalis and a Harmonium and you have the successors to The Bheatles!

I is for Ileesh. This is a feeesh with 10,987 bones which would kill any ordinary person, but which the Bengalis eat with releeesh!

J is for Jhola. No selfrespecting Bengali is complete without his Jhola. It is a shapeless cloth bag where he keeps all his belongings and he fits an amazing number of things in. Even as you read this there are two million jholas bobbling around Kolkata, and they all look exactly the same! Note that 'Jhol'with mysterious condiments.. . as in Maachher Jhol is a close second. Jhaamela and Jachhetai are distant 3rd and 4th

K is for Kee Kaando! It used to be the favourite Bengali exclamation till eeesh took over because of Aishwarya Rai.Kee mushkil is a close second.

L is for Lungi, the dress for all occasions. People in Kolkata manage to play football and cricket wearing it not to mention the daily trip in the morning to the local bajaar. Now there is talk of a lungi expedition to Mt Everest.

M is for Minibaas. These are dangerous half buses whose antics would effortlessly frighten the living daylights out of all James Bond stuntmen as well as Formula 1 race car drivers.

N is for Nangto. This is the Bengali word for Naked. It is the most interesting naked word in any language!

O is for Oil. The Bengalis believe that a touch of mustard oil will cure anything from cold (oil in the nose), to earache (oil in the ear), to cough (oil on the throat) to piles (oil you know where!).

P is for Phootball. This is always a phavourite phassion of the Kolkattan. Every Bengali is born an expert in this game. The two biggest clubs there are MOHUNBAGAN and East Bengal and when they play the city comes to a stop.

Q is for Koshchen (question) as in "Mamatadi koshchens Cheap Ministaar in Writaars Buiding."

R is for Robi Thakur. Many many years ago Rabindranath got the Nobel Prize. This has given the right to all Bengalis no matter where they are to frame their acceptance speeches as if they were directly related to the great poet and walk with their head held high. This also gives Bengalis the birthright to look down at Delhi and Mumbai and of course 'all non-Bengawlees'! Note that 'Rawshogolla' comes a close second!

S is for Shourav. Now that they finally produced a genuine cricketer, that too a captain, Bengalis think that he should be allowed to play until he is 70 years old.

T is for Trams. Hundred years later there are still trams in Kolkata. Of course if you are in a hurry it's faster to walk....Trams are still existing in Paris too.......you see !

U is for Aambrela. When a Bengali baby is born he is handed one.

V is for Bhaayolence. Bengalis are the most non-violent violent people around. When an accident happens they will fold up their sleeves, shout and scream and curse and abuse, "Chherey De Bolchhi" but the last time someone actually hit someone was in 1939.

W is for Water. For three months of the year the city is underwater and every year for the last 200 years the authorities are taken by surprise by this!

X is for X'mas. It's very big in Kolkata, with Park Street fully lit up and all Bengalis agreeing that they must eat cake that day.

Y is for Yesshtaarday. Which is always better than today for a Bengali (see R for Robi Thakur)?. It is also for Jubraj Shingh and Joga.

Z is for Jebra, Joo, and Jipper.

IPL 2009- First Impressions

Telecast: I watch it on TV and Set max is doing a bad job. It had at least 5-7 ad breaks between the opening ceremony, which in any other sport or say in Olympics or FIFA world cup would have got nonstop coverage. Sony rather than showing the cricket is more interested in getting the ad buck, which is unfortunate.

Uncertainty: Both of the last years finalists got drubbing. And the not so good teams from previous season did better this time. This paves way for an exciting IPL season two. Every team has a fresh chance t o do well this time and mend their position as of last season.

Pure Cricket: Dravid while receiving his man of the match trophy for his scintillating 66 for Royal Challengers against the other royals, the Rajasthan Royals from Jaipur indicated that this time the game is tough and the better players like (rightly so) Dravid will have good chance of performing. Unlike the Indian pitches which are batter friendly and give scope for innovative joker play these South African pitches are evenly balanced and the chance to the bowlers to win matches.

Old Guard takes Guard: Today we saw, Sachin, Dravid and Kumble performing. While the first one still playing the other two have retired from the short and both forms respectively. This is a welcome sign where the shortest form of game is giving opportunity to the old world players a chance to show the world who the masters are.

New world: Being in South Africa gives IPL a chance to explore the possibility of looking forward to more international venues. It’s undoubtedly a good idea to showcase the Indian might of Cricketing skill world over and promote the game in new locations. Who knows this game can be played in Brazil next season

About being a Devil

It is so much better being a devil’s advocate then being a devil later. One should express one’s opinions then and there when they feel though it hurts momentarily instead bitching about an incident later.

Shore Temple - Mahabalipuram

The shore temple at Mahabalipuram. Last time when I visited there I could not see it as we went there in the after hours.

And then the fight started...

Source - E Mail Forward

My wife sat down on the couch next to me as I was flipping channels.

She asked, 'What's on TV?'

I said, 'Dust.'

And then the fight started...

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My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.
She said, 'I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds.'

I bought her a weighing scale.

And then the fight started...

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When I got home last night, my wife demanded that I take her someplace expensive...

So, I took her to a gas station..

And then the fight started...

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My wife and I were sitting at a table at her high school reunion, and my wife kept staring at a drunken man swigging his drink as he sat alone at a nearby table.

I asked my wife, 'Do you know him?'

'Yes,' She sighed, 'He's my old boyfriend.
I understand he took to drinking right after we split up those many years
ago.'

'My God!' I said to my wife, 'who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?'

And then the fight started...

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I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first.

"I'll have the strip steak, medium rare, please."

He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?"

"Naaah, she can order for herself."

And then the fight started...

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A woman is standing & looking in the bedroom mirror.
She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband,
'I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.'

The husband replies, 'Your eyesight's damn near perfect.'

And then the fight started..... .

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I tried to talk my wife into buying a case of Miller Light for $14.95.

Instead, she bought a jar of cold cream for $7.95.

I told her the beer would make her look better at night than the cold cream.

And then the fight started....

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I asked my wife, "Where do you want to go for our anniversary?"

It warmed my heart to see her face melt in sweet appreciation.
"Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said.

So I suggested, "How about the kitchen?"

And that's when the fight started....

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When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed..
But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first:
the truck, the car, e-mail, fishing, always something more important to me.

Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point.

When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass,
busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors.
I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house.
I was gone only a few minutes. When I came out again I handed her a toothbrush.
'When you finish cutting the grass,' I said, 'you might as well sweep the driveway.'

And then the fight started...

Charminar - Hyderabad

When you visit Charminar, the first thought comes to mind is – is this all? Well there nothing more to see than the Charminar, which itself is an ordinary structure. Ladies will find the shopping very enjoyable.

Kalyanamandapam - My Wedding Place

View Larger Map

This is the place where I will be getting married on the 11th March 2009. To reach here just click on the thmbnail above and find your way to this place.

York Town

These are York Castle walls

The way to the left leads to York Brewery

It was a chilling Saturday evening and could not take many pictures as my fingers were freezing. 

It's a hotel building. Nice isn't it.

This guy is a very famous attraction in York city centre. BTW the city centre was smaller compared to Leeds and I felt like I was in a 18th century English town, just as seen in the TV.

National Railway Museum (NRM) - York

I went to York on the advice of the Pakistani cab driver who took me to visit the Leeds city center the other day. I kind of had to go there because back in India everyone will ask where all you went when you went to UK and, though it’s a miserly 5 day trip, will have nothing to answer. The only place I visited inside was the National Railway Museum in York, because the entry fee was nil. I know it’s a cheap trick but I promised to myself next time it’s going to be better.

This is Rocket, the first train ever built, or close to it.

This is Mallard, the first train to cross 100 mph mark.

Station names.

I guess it was some royal train.

Thse are the train nameplates.