Posts

The one with Conversations on Rape

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Disclaimer: Most of this post is a summary of what has been reported and available on the internet and references have been provided wherever possible. Personal Opinion within the post has been marked as such. Once in a while there is a cause everyone wants to take up arms for. Everyone needs to lend their voice, join hands, march, fight, support, understand, prevent, solve. In this New Year, let us all have the patience to look at this problem that afflicts our society. Let us talk and make sense out of the million pieces of information thrown at us. This post is about the broader issue of Rape in India and it obviously stems from the Delhi Gang Rape Case that has galvanized the Nation. With some Cognitive Dissonance thrown in. As an Indian Man, I am ashamed. The background of this particular case is listed in Wiki with all the references needed. Rape and Rape Culture in our Society and Elsewhere This isn't the first or the last Rape Case. All Rape Cases

The one with a Questionable Cover

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...and an experimental video. This was an amateur attempt at video editing. The song is easy and I've obviously not played it the way it should be, but that's besides the point. The tool I have used for the editing is called Kdenlive . It is a versatile, easy-to-use opensource tool available for Linux/Mac. I used Nikon's 50mm 1.8g while recording, which obviously adds to the beauty of the video with its shallow depth of field (more apparent during the shitty solo that I'm playing). This is "Bin Tere", the Reprise version: Notes: And although I will be listing the chords of the song here, discussion on the strumming pattern may be a waste of space. The most common rhythm pattern that has been played is somewhat DDUU-DDUU-DUDU. You can play variations on this rhythm throughout the song and it will still sound good. Chords C        : 032010 Cadd9    : 032030 Cadd2    : 030010 Cadd2/B  : 020010 Cmaj7    : 032000 Fmaj7    : 003210  F      

The one with Der Lagi Lekin Chords

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Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was a fabulous movie. Here is one of the songs from that movie. Felt I had to figure out the chords and sing it and spoil it for the rest of you :P. Without further ado: Notes: The Strumming Pattern on this song felt like a slight variation of the "Soul" Rhythm. It is like playing "Soul" without the tapping. Obviously, while playing it the way I did, I messed up the rhythm and the bars at many points. Chords G*       : 320033 A        : 002220 D        : 000232 D5       : 000230 Em7      : 022033 A7sus4   : 002233 Intro Arpeggios/Strumming: [D] [D5] x2 [D]Der lagi [D5]lekin [G]Maine ab hai jeena [A] seekh liya [D]Jaise bhi ho [D5]din [G]Maine ab hai [A]jeena seekh liya[D][D5] [G]Ab maine [A]Yeh jaana hai, [G]khushi hai [A]kya, gham kya[D][D5] [G]Dono hi, do pal ki hai ruttein[Em7] Na yeh thehre na ruke[A7sus4][Asus][A] [G]Zindagi do rangon se bane[Em7] Ab roothe, ab maane[A7sus4][Asus][A] [D]Yehi toh hai, yehi toh hai, yahaan

The one with The Legendary Photo

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Ok. Not "legendary" :P You might think this surely is the reason why I do not like being in photos. However, my annoying not-being-in-photos “policy” is a crazy part of my system that has not been flushed. Yet. Reasoning is an irrational, futile & mad exercise. So, on the contrary, or not: I love this photo very much. This has been, for me, a beautiful snapshot of a time I do not have any memories of. Everybody definitely has one of these photos, right? The ones that you never knew could last, nay, haunt you forever. Those that were recalled with stunning clarity at awkward family gatherings. Ah! The ignominy of sitting through those conversations! “Beta, tera woh photo dikhana uncle aur aunty ko” “Yeah, we always wanted a girl...but then we had him” (sigh and silence)....(?!) “Don't be shy...show it to her” (The "her" referring to some chick with whom the prospect of even having a tiny decent conversation has now been nuked in the bud.) At some

The one with The Movies - 1

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They are not long, the days of wine and roses: Out of a misty dream Our path emerges for a while, then closes Within a dream. Let me put it out as cleanly and as clearly as I can: I was mesmerized by these two movies. Meaningful, beautiful and thought provoking cinema. I saw two movies this weekend. Here is a brief description of these movies and the random train of thoughts that went through my head. Anatomy of a Murder 1959 | James Stewart, George C. Scott, Lee Remick & Ben Gazzara. This is a gem of a movie. At 2hrs 40 minutes, this one is comparable to the length of a conventional bollywood movie minus its songs. It can be best described as a courtroom drama. It is not a mystery as the title or the beginning would lead you to believe so. Rather ambiguous ending, but to be frank, I somehow believe it leans to one side (read spoiler section). Read the plot on Wiki or watch the movie. Spoilers & Notes The character of Lee is somewhat opposite to what one

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

...Private I have always led a private existence. Small circle. Creepy and fairly annoying 'no-photo' policy. Much too private. It isn't like I'm a fricking celebrity. Stubbornness, maybe. I found the paranoid invisibility; beautiful. It's easy to be in the shadows. It's too easy to blend*. Not being judged. Not being ridiculed . Not having to stand on the edge. Vertigo of a virtual kind. That philosophy seriously irked some souls. That's not why I'm here though. I am just here. Nutty opinions have a shelf-life. Mine just expired. And no, that does not mean you'll find me on Orkut or Facebook. I do not know what to expect of this move. At the moment, I envision it to be a store. Of Thoughts and Ideas and Opinions. Crass, Discarded, Geeky, Potent, Life-Altering, Earth-shattering, blah. Of carefree satire, senseless jokes, prejudiced views and idiotic arguments. Of photos and sketches and paintings and doodles. Of Music and Noise.