Sunday, June 28, 2009

Michael Jackson - Gone For Good


Can you believe it? Michael Jackson is gone, just like that. I don't know why I feel so sad and that every time I see an article in the paper, it kind of reinforces the feeling. I guess part of it is also because as an artist, he was iconic and right up there but with all his antics and troubles, I was wishing that he would have been able to perform his last concert and shore up his image. Very very unfortunate that it did not happen.

My first exposure to Micheal Jackson was when my uncle got the Thriller tape home. I must have listened to it like a million times. Years later when I bought the CD, I could still remember most of the lyrics. The videos were also supercool. Thriller, Human Nature, The Girl Is Mine and PYT remain my all time favourites. After this came the album Bad and the breakdance era and guess whom we all imitated!! We felt so cool when we wore leather gloves (one guy would wear it on his left and the other on his right) and did all the moves. However, my greatest regret was I could never master the moonwalk. The pelvic thrust was right up my alley ;-). After Bad, I did follow his releases but not with the same passion as earlier.

Once in a while, I would listed to the Thriller album or watch MJ videos on YouTube. So on the day he died - 26Th June, I had got back home from the gym and my wife told me the bad news. I just couldn't believe it and in a daze, switched on the TV to validate the news. During the day too, I was checking on the net to see if it is true and something new has come up. Later, my dad also called saying that when he heard the news he thought of me. It was also good to see that so many fans, even celebrities were out there remembering him in many different ways. I think the cruelest stuff was when people passed around jokes around his death.

I think the world will never forget his distinctive voice, his dancing skills and his entertaining videos (like Remember The Time, Black or White) etc. Its just sad that he probably was pretty screwed when he passed and nothing more will ever come from him. The chapter is closed but hey thanks for the great music!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Have Mobile Phones Killed Our Initiative?

According to me, people just don't want to spend some time figuring out stuff anymore. Everything is or should be a phone call away. Why can't folks take a minute out and use their brains? No sirree, you gotta call the other guy and pump him for information.


The reason why I am so pissed off is because recently I had a function at my place. There were four cars coming to my flat. I had given each of them the complete postal address plus the landmarks to navigate. Now, I agree my flat is not in an apartment as prominent as the Raj Bhavan or UB City but it is definitely not in the sticks. All of these guys called me for directions even when they were so close. Earlier, they would have just stopped at a shop or asked somebody and kept coming. There are so many other instances
- Can't find the keys after a 10 second search! Call up your husband or brother or...
- Waiting downstairs for two minutes for someone to come down. Call up asking where are you?
- Driving down the highway and an SMS comes. You just have to take your eyes off and reply

Don't get me wrong. Mobiles are convenient. They are very useful in an emergency. They are also an intrusion. They disturb (especially during the noon siesta on the weekend) and sometimes cause anxiety. So think twice before you make that call for something so stupid and unimportant that you go - Uhhh, why did I call you????

Monday, January 12, 2009

It's Dangerous To Drive At Night In Bangalore

Around a week back, Dad and I were driving back to my place at around 1.30 am. The traffic obviously was very light and we were happily chatting away. I was approaching Cubbon Park from the Hudson Circle side. Normally, both the gates (next to each other) are open and I was surprised to see one closed. I slowed down to take the slight curve and I noticed that there was a man standing outside the gate. His head and torso were covered in a blanket and I was thinking that it was strange for a watchman to stand there. As I came closer, he suddenly pulled out a stick. I slowed down a it more and as I was passing him, he slammed the stick on the car!! Luckily it missed the windscreen and the side window. Both Dad and me let out surprised noises and I managed to bite back some abuses.

I continued to drive off thinking what to do next. I kept watching him in the rear view mirror but he was motionless.
I asked Dad "Is he a cop?"
He said that he was not sure.
I said "Not likely though as he was alone and normally cops are usually at least in twos. Anyway, why would he try and stop us in such a violent fashion?"

As I kept driving I kept thinking that if Dad was not here, I would have probably stepped out to see what the **** this guy was up to. Anyway, I didn't want to worry him and so I kept quiet. We got out of the park uneventfully and reached home. On checking the car, I was relieved to see that there was hardly a scratch. As I walked in home, I suddenly realised - Muggers!! Shit, if I would have stopped and stepped out, probably two more guys would have stepped out of the trees and stolen my money or worse. Wow, thank God Dad was there because of which I kept driving.

So I am putting this one up to make you guys aware of the dangers of driving in a lonely place even in the heart of the city. Couple of other gimmicks I have heard of are
- Someone hidden throws a stone at your car. As your attention is distracted and you take your eyes of the road, another person jumps in front of the car. You probably have already slowed down but this person pretends like he got badly hit. His accomplices join in and start demanding that you pay up money.
- Another car bumps you from behind. You are pissed, you stop the car and get out to yell. You get mugged.
- I would also advise that you do not stop to answer that call of nature.

Here are a few sites that give you lots of tips on how to be safe, on the road or off it. I read it because before this incident happened, I too never thought it could happen to me
http://travelmalaysiaguide.com/tips-on-driving-a-car-in-malaysia/
http://www.maketraveltrip.com/travel-safety-india.html
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Travel_safety_tips?open