Procrastinated artwork

http://timelesstirade.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/untitled-1.jpg

[image inspired from the movie frozen]
तू धूप हैं झाम से बिखर 

तू हैं नदी ओ बेखबर
बह चल कहीं उड़ चल कहीं
दिल खुश जहाँ तेरी तो मंजिल है वहीं
[तारे ज़मीन पर- खोलो खोलो ]

I ♥ google

ಎದೆ ತುಂಬಿ ಹಾಡಿದೆನು ಅಂದು ನಾನು
ಮನವಿಟ್ಟು ಕೇಳಿದಿರಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ನೀವು

ಇಂದು ನಾ ಹಾಡಿದರು ಅಂದಿನಂತೆ ಕುಳಿತು
ಕೇಳುವಿರಿ ಸಾಕೆನಗೆ ಅದುವೆ ಬಹುಮಾನ
ಹಾಡು ಹಕ್ಕಿಗೆ ಬೇಕೆ, ಬಿರುದು ಸನ್ಮಾನ

ಎಲ್ಲ ಕೇಳಲಿ ಎಂದು ನಾನು ಹಾಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ
ಹಾಡುವುದು ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯ ಕರ್ಮ ನನಗೆ
ಕೆಳುವವರಿಹರೆಂದು ನಾಬಲ್ಲೆ ಅದರಿಂದ
ಹಾಡುವೆನು ಮೈತುಂಬಿ ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ
ಯಾರು ಕಿವಿ ಮುಚ್ಚಿದರು ನನಗಿಲ್ಲ ಚಿಂತೆ

ಎದೆ ತುಂಬಿ ಹಾಡಿದೆನು ಅಂದು ನಾನು

- ಮೈಸೂರು ಅನಂಥಸ್ವಾಮಿ

transliteration extended to include kannada (=

Blog Action Day

Right... For the first time ever, I find myself obliged to post something about the environment having enthusiastically signed myself up for the "Blog Action Day" (for details, see the nice little link in the sidebar). I did it in the hope of finding something to write on my long since unused blog, but the inspiration has evaded me. Maybe I could write a 'ten things you can do to help out' or random rants about the environment demons in the world (that would follow the general tone of this blog anyway). And I'm still waiting for that stroke of genius.

Ah well, here's how to make me happy. Don't litter, biodegradable stuff on good soil is not a problem, but plastic- keep evil off. Try not to use it, anyway. Let me repeat an old independence day rant by asking all people to shun the plastic flags. Replace your light bulbs, use fluorescent lighting. (They come in yellow too, I should know, I use one such.) Edison might have been the greatest inventor and this his best invention, we shall not forget his contribution to science. Just utilize the evolved version instead.

Conserve Paper. A bit rich, coming from a die hard stationery fan who cannot live without paper, but I do try. I do not waste paper, at any rate, and am slowly being converted to electronic methods of creating art (Photoshop/Gimp/Blender/Autodesk anyone?). Print only if you must. It might be a waste of electricity, but I know for a fact that most of the electricity that we are supplied with is hydroelectric. (We suffer load shedding in summer, see.) For notes, use bagasse paper/recycled paper. The processing may pollute just as much, but this way the trees aren't hurt. It is Pareto superior, and will do until the Pareto efficient solution is found.

Stop smoking. Cigarettes, joints, etc are neither good for you, nor for the environment. Many aren't even properly put out before being disposed of, which additionally adds to the litter. If you do not want to live beyond the lifespan of an average smoker, petition for the legalization of euthanasia, no one's going stop you (Though I might file a counter petition, come to think of it). I'm quite sure my readers are not the kind of people who might buy a tiger's skin, or a preserved sea horse or some similar morbid motif.

Go Green!


PS. Posted at 23:26 IST. Made it. (=

Plagiarise

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2129738,00.html

Publishers fail to recognize Jane Austen? Lets just hope that there are some original writers that aren't rejected...

Pottermania again

Ahhh... reading the book on the day of the release (finished it at 1 am on the 22nd) was good fun, despite the angry deadlines shouting at me from over 26th. Verdict: Loved it, comes second of the seven, the first belonging to the Prisoner of Azkaban.

!! Spoilers Again !!!!

Some deaths were rather useless though- Hedwig for example. I'll even say Dobby's death was fine (Kreacher had to come out in the end, didn't he?) but why Hedwig at all???? That Snape loved Lily- expected, with minor doubts about his calling her a 'mudblood' in the 5th book. Naturally, why else would Voldemort not want to kill a muggle born? Added to the fact that Snape was supposed to feel 'remorse' after the Potters died.That she was his friend makes it a little sickening, though, did it have to be that way??? Oh and her letter to Padfoot was possibly the best thing I read in the book- Lovely to know that she wasn't just a memory, the wording of the letter brilliantly done to give an impression that she really did like the marauders (and called them by their nicknames). Molly !!! 'bitch'?? is that it? And oh yes, Neville and his Gran have exceeded all expectations.

The doe was frustrating. Of course I knew it was Lily... I can't believe I didn't realise it was Snape despite my enduring belief in his innocence. So that was a pleasant surprise after all (and who is he to call Tonks' patronus weak... lets see. Werewolf / deer, who do you think wins in the battle of strength?)

Dumbledore was brilliantly done. Loved the way she's brought out the weaknesses without completely destroying his character (after all, who else believed in second chances). Mr. Goat charmer was great too, with his patronus and the funny name sister... Grindelwald was alive? There's a shock. The only mistake was the 'give Snape mastery of elder wand' idea, considering that if it hadn't backfired, the curse wouldn't have rebounded. Or would it? still wondering. (although Harry would still remain unhurt, considering no unforgivable charm seemed to be working on him)

Lupin... didn't have to die, now, but I guess it was inevitable if the rest of MWPP have kicked the bucket. And if Lupin goes, no point keeping Tonks, so of course, Harry's godfather. Albus Severus!!!! that was stunning. At least Harry accepted the Snape and Lily (though I'm still a little blue) Most people here didn't like the 'nineteen years later' part, wanted epilogue without the mushy family part, but I loved it. Loved the man Harry Potter compared to the teen, loved the 'responsible father' (and godfather) part, the Ron's finally matured (but still sneaking) and so on. Too bad they didn't mention what happened to the rest of the weasly family (why perce in the middle instead of St. George or Charlie??????!)



At the end of it all, Im in bliss, if only I could read it for the first time all over again.

Mooting Muse

In the last few days, I’ve been forced to visit alleyways in my mind I never knew existed. From wanting to moot for the fun of it, I’ve realized the truth in the statement (I think it was by John Grisham) that in the first year, you’re all budding lawyers trying to find your footing, but by the time you reach third year, you’re grateful if you’re not murdered in your sleep. It’s a lawyer-eat-lawyer world out here, and the biggest mouth gets to survive.

I entered law school in complete (and blissful) ignorance of what moots were. I heard about it, attended the moot orientation program, found the demos fairly exciting and decided, well, why not? So it began. I went ahead for two rounds, and then stopped short of the last round. It was, as the idolised mooters had stated, fun, the best part of it being the judges trying to prove that the counsel before them knew nothing. (I asked for an open court, knowing well that I’m more nervous in the absence of a crowd. Private interactions are never my cup of tea…) I found immense pleasure in keeping a straight face while the judges did the same in tearing my submission apart and finding every loophole in my issues. I guess I just loved arguing, and here’s the one place that the judges are opposing you merely to test your skills. That was pure heaven. To me, the frustrations of researching for the brief were worth those 12 minutes of utter bliss.

This year, I was faced with some of the snider realities of the moot. The fact that there was more time ensured that more people decided to join in the phenomenon called mooting. I’d heard that mooting could create bad blood, at times get nasty, sometimes political and sometimes just unfair, but this was the first time I’d actually lived parts of it. Hidden books were the least of our problems. Never does the section on Media Law or Sports law in the Library have more visitors than during the peak of the moot season, when people are desperately looking for hidden books or, on the other side, hiding them there. Every mooter wants that one innovative argument, that one brilliant spark of ingenuity, that one elusive case that would simply turn the entire case in their favour. A stolen case isn’t that bad either; the one who steals always presumes that they have better cases anyway. Anything sought for is given gratuitously. Never expect anything for yourself, unless you’re the one asking for help. Right now, I’ve seen some people (this includes myself) show faces I’ve not known them to possess, behave in ways that just asked for the most judgemental admonishment and at the end of it all, deny all of it. The research was nothing terrible, other than the extreme lack of books. The atmosphere before the speaking rounds, however, was unbearable.

For the first time, I was facing a moot court with displeasure. I knew my own issues, but the whole place had got onto my nerves enough. I entered the court, and then realised why I had tortured myself. There was the judge looking at me with a grin that spoke louder than his reputation that he was going to make mincemeat of me and have me right there for his lunch. I wasn’t disappointed. They did strip me of my best cases and whip me with their counters, but at the end of it all, I walked out of the court knowing that the entire process was worth those few minutes. I wasn’t pleased or anywhere satisfied with my own performance, I just loved the court. At the end of it all, the process might kill me, but the final showdown is always a worthy cause.

Bring it on!!!!!

Here's Looking at you, kid