Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire, the movie, is simply amazing. Having read the book quiet sometime back I had forgotten most of it which made the experience all the more exciting. I liked the first half especially the yule ball, too many things happen in the end but then it must have been a difficult task accommodating 600 something pages in a 3 hour movie. Since I suck at reviewing movies I'll stop at that. If you are a Harry Potter fan, then you'll not want to miss this. If you are not then you should read all the books, see movies 1, 2, 3 and then watch this one.

Inspired by Fleur Delacour, Cedric Diggory (Dear Dear Cedric!) and Victor Krum, I have finally made up my mind to take part in the marathon (Run Bangalore) that will happen on December 18. I know its not the Triwizard championship, I don't want eternal glory but I have always wanted to take part in a marathon, its high time I stop making excuses and take the plunge. The first time a Marathon happened in Bangalore I was still warming up to the idea of it. Yesterday there was one in Hyderabad for which I had convinced two friends to join along with me. But the transfer happened and I couldn't go. Now is the chance. I'll drop my name in the Goblet of fire (or some place I can register) and start training from tomorrow.

Now if I can only convince my lazy friends to join me.....

Does it matter where you sit?

I have never understood the importance, back benchers assign to themselves. I am talking about people who occupied the last few benches during their student years. On more than one occasion I have had people come up to me and announce with pride that he or she was a back bencher. What is it exactly that they have achieved? They are not exactly bragging about their athletic achievements, I mean how difficult is it to walk all the way to the end of the room and occupy the last bench? Class rooms aren'’t that big. No, that's not it. What they are trying to convey is that they are different form the rest or that they are '‘cool'’. I think its sad that people have to use the help of their seating location to prove that they are better than the rest.

There is a serious problem here if you think about it. Firstly, every other person claims to be a backbencher. Now, that's not possible. It could mean only one thing, people are lying and people are ashamed of where they sit or used to sit. Why is it that we label people who occupy the first few benches as nerds and the ones in the last as cool. It is time we stop this discrimination. We talk about equality all the time, then why differentiate between a first bencher and a last bencher?

But keeping equality issue aside if you ask me, the real heroes of the class, the real victors are the middle benchers. They are inconspicuous, notorious and have the most fun. As a middle bencher, you are not under constant scrutiny by professors nor are you expected to know answers to everything they ask. Look ahead if you cant remember that complicated formula, look back for some much needed entertainment, a snidey comment or a funny quip. You get the best of both worlds. Yes, you guessed right, I was a middle bencher. And am proud of it.

Poster Boy Dhoni !!!

Have you seen Reebok's newest poster with Dhoni, Dravid and Amrita Arora(whats she doing in it???)? For the first time I was gaping at someone other than Rahul Dravid. This is also the first time I am seeing a cricketer pose shirtless (If you ignore Ganguly's taking of his shirt in a fit of rage) and he looks hot...almost like John Abraham and hes got a tattoo!!!!

He is amazing on field ( yeah I do watch cricket and not just ogle at players) and with his 'not so typical long hair' look and his 'oh so hot' body, Reebok has found the perfect poster boy. I wont be surprised to see him hog the limelight in ads now. Unlike Dravid, I hope Dhoni gets to do decent ads even if he has to endorse Kissan jam or Anchor switches.

Talking about posters, what do these green posters which says "Green is not Yellow + Blue " mean? They are all over Bangalore and no one seems to know what it is all about. Any idea?

Surprise!!

I got a transfer back to Bangalore!!! Landed with luggage and all at our door step and surprised mom and dad. I thought they would be worried that I had lost my job or something like that, they reacted normally. Mom has been calling people all day to tell them I am back. Don't know what difference it makes to them.

Hyderabad has been good to me, will miss the place but it feels good to be home. :)

Time flies

Cant believe its actually November, just two more months before 2006. I know I am stating the obvious but the reason this is worrying me is that the resolutions I took on New Years eve, which I also shamelessly announced and made public (as I am doing again), haven't been fulfilled. What was I doing for the last 10 months? Now I have to implement them in 2 months or live with the guilt of not even trying to fulfill them. I think I'll choose the latter.

I still remember that day when we were trying to get drunk on 7 up(or was it sprite?) and I took those four simple resolutions.

1. Improve knowledge in geography, study atlas, world map.
2. Learn more about banking, income tax, mutual funds, bonds, stocks and shares.
3. See money grow using knowledge gained by 2.
4. Visit places discovered in 1. using money earned in 3.

Damn. Why does time fly so fast? Maybe I will carry over the same resolutions for the next year.

Updates from home....

Feels good to be home, got all the attention that I expected. Nothings changed much in the last month, my dog still recognizes me, my room unused, has started growing stuff mostly of the fungal kind thanks to all the rain and oh...Pizza Hut has opened up a new outlet in our neighbourhood, that is something to cheer about. Diwali was fun, though cracker free because the dog hates it. Met up with cousins, uncles, aunts and nephews. Attended poojas at two places. I casually mentioned that people up north play cards during diwali, everyone got excited and we played at uncle's place for quiet some time. I won. Didn't know I was this good. Should start gambling, this way I can save up for that Digicam I have always wanted.

With friends, plans were made, cancelled, remade and postponed. Today visited Garuda mall. Spent most of the time comparing it with Forum. Saw 'Truth about Love' in Inox. Silly raunchy British comedy, waste of 140 bucks. Paid one more visit to Blossoms (yay!) and Corner House. Next will be going to Sigma mall, this new place at cunningham road. More people to meet, more places to visit.

I got two messages from Income tax department. It said 'Happy Diwali. Have you filed your return for Ay 05-06? If not plz do so.' Read more here. Kinda puts you off when you get that message in the middle of all the celebrations. When thay say 'Happy Diwali', do they really mean it?
Anyway I did have a happy one. :)