How far are you willing to go for your dream?

This is actually a review of a movie. The second one back to back. I just wanted to pick out one of the best scenes from another great movie "Gattaca". There is a scene in it that I have watched over and over again. The scene contains the theme and the heart of this really good flick.

How far would you be willing to go to achieve you dreams? How much of yourself are you willing to loose?

Movie is set in a future of designer babies. Every child is an offspring of what is best in each of his parents. Genetically transmitted diseases such as heart problems, diabetes etc are non-existent. Further, the state is able to use the genetic information to decide who would be better sportsman, a scientist or an astronaut. Into this mix is our hero Vincent, who is not genetically designed and is born with a weak heart. His dream is to go to space. But this is impossible. The state would not allow him to enter into the space program with his weak heart. His brother, correct in every genetic sense makes it to be a policeman. Vincent runs away from home to fulfill his dream. He gets help from another would be astronaut, who is confined to his wheel chair as a result of an accident. Together, they pull an impersonation so that Vincent can enter the space program. Story continues, the deadline for the launch approaches. There is a murder at the space center. The brother comes to investigate and catches the murderer. But there is one person, he has not been able to interview throughout his investigation, who has avoided him - Vincent.

The brothers meet. The policeman understands the fraud that Vincent is pulling. The two argue. Vincent tells him that he is no less of a man because of his genetic makeup. Vincent reminds his brother of the day when he had to rescue him during a swimming contest. The dare was to see who can swim out the farthest before turning back. Vincent had always lost, except for that last time. He won and also had to rescue his brother. It was after this incident that Vincent left home.

The two decide on a rematch. Once more they swim way out to the sea. Vincent is not stopping and keeps going further. His brother is exhausted and unable to swim more.

"Vincent, Vincent, where is the shore? We are too far out"

"You want to quit?"

"We are too far out!!"

"You want to quit?"

"No!!"

.....

"Vincent. How are you doing this? How have you done any of this?!"

"You want to know how I am doing it? This is how I did it. I never saved anything for the swim back!!"

Apocalypto

Another Mel Gibson directed movie. And again, he courted controversy with some groups over his portrayal of ancient Mayans. It is pretty good movie. I wont say great. Great movies are those you watch again and again. I wont be watching this anytime soon. Well except for the scenes with Dalia Hernández (pictured above). There is much violence in this movie. If you can stomach it, you got yourself a decent movie about a different time, set in a primitive and alien culture. In a broad sense it is a story about love, courage and resilience. But there is much happening in the background, you tend to miss out on the storyline till movie ends.

I was told that there is a lot of action in this movie. I did not find much in terms of action. I found more of violence. I know it sounds strange. For example I found "Last of the Mohicans" to be more action packed and contain less violence. I guess what I am saying is there is less in terms of synchronized fighting with an accompanying background score, which would had us in the groove. With movies like Transporter series or Wesley Snipes' or Jackie Chan's, you come out of the theatre feeling you can throw a punch. You don't feel the same with all the beheading and pulling out of hearts from live men.

BJP's answer to the terror attacks

They have lot of ideas these guys. They must have. They are the poster child for all domestic and international terror groups. They demolished the Babri Masjid. They maimed and killed in Gujarat. This is what every terror recruiting agent uses to motivate and send out its men.

Before the Mumbai attacks, they went on and on about protecting motorcycle riding and bat wielding "Sadhvi". That lost them the election in 3 states and voter allegiance. In his speech in Parliament, Advani said - "it is our loss not the congress's win". He got that right.

You cannot play save the Hindu terrorist card during elections. That is hitting too close to home for any Hindu. Babri Masjid - Ram Janmbhumi combine, Hindu marginalisation, yeah, it got them the votes in the outset. Public view is - Yes to Ram Temple, yes to our traditions. Oh the demolition? That was not us. That was bad politicians or hoodlums. Not us. "Ali Bhai, don't look at me like that. I have been your neighbour for years. It was not me." Asking the public to support "Sadhvi" led terrorists? No!! That is definitely not us. For a party that has built itself on the basis on Hindu revivalist ideology, they seem to lack understanding of the basic philosophy which has kept Hinduism alive despite its million plus gods!! This philosophy is written into our history, our upbringing and our blood. It is the acceptance that life is about finding our way to god. And that includes all paths.

Nothing can break and destroy this country more than home grown terror like that which is led by BJP's ideology or regionalism like Raj Thackerays or that idiot Bhukari out at Jama Masjid etc. Let the government fight Pakistan to prevent attacks from across the border. We need to tell our terrorists "enough is enough" and make sure they get the picture in words or bricks.

Better to have been loved...

This posted has been moved.

Bangalore's "CITY" tag

Is Bangalore a city? This is an open question to all of us. Do you feel like you are in a city?

Things that put the "scoff" in Bangalore city,

1. No rapid transport system. It takes 45 mins to journey from Andheri to Churchgate, a distance of 20+ kms. It takes a bloody hour to reach Majestic from outer ring road, a distance of between 8-12 kms.

2. Pray that our Chief Minister is able to source and buy power for us. We have daily power outages for 2 hours plus.

3. We have water shortages in a place where it rains every other month and then some.

4. We don't have a night life. Bars and restaurants close by 11.30. If you still want to hang out late night beware of "nakabandi".

5. Dancing is not allowed. There are no discotheques.

6. You cant find a cheap hotel in the city around Rs. 500/-. Yes, there are a couple but thats' only in Shivaji Nagar.

7. If you are waiting for a bus after 9.30. Prepare for a frustrating 2 hour wait and journey back home. Finding buses at that "late an hour" is difficult.

8. If you are relying on returning by auto after 9.30, get ready to be fucked by CITU card carrying autowallas.

9. Bangalore is a pricey. Most other cities are pricey only when in comes to accommodation. Bangalore is pricey in terms of food, shelter and travel. I have traveled by auto, suburban train and auto again to reach home in Mumbai for less than Rs.30 at 1 am.

10. One of the reasons for the higher price is cost of fuel. We pay more for our fuel then any other city in India.

Is Bangalore is city? Based on population size, may be. But it is a dumb idea to put so many people in place which is not geared to meet their needs.

The Egg vs Chicken story... Which came first?

It is a pet theory of mine. I worked it out way back in pre-university days.

Using the theory of evolution and natural selection which CBSE was teaching us – I tried to figure out which came first the Chicken or the Egg. Since none of us were alive to watch the first egg being hatched or the first chicken laying an egg – we go out on a limb with a few assumptions. Man came from Apes, Tigers from Saber-tooths, elephants from the wholly mammoth etc. Lets say the chicken came from hot-lips chicks (yes, disturbing imagery). These were very similar to modern day chickens but these chickens did not have beaks. As a result we cannot call them chickens.

Now it was difficult for these beakless animals to look for food in the tiny holes on the ground. As a result, their numbers were low. Generation after generation, some of these beakless animals’ mouths got calloused. This is a result of aberration in its genes which is still a recessive trait. An individual gets one gene from each of the parents to form a pair. Off the pair usually one is dominant over the other to various degrees. For the color of our skin – 3 pairs of genes decide our skin tone. However, all the skin tone genes carry same weight. Coming back to our calloused friends. They fair better than rest of their lot. As their number increase, the gene pool for this calloused trait increases leading to this recessive trait forming both genes in the pair. This leads to the growth of the early beak in the new hatchling.

The Chicken and the Egg Story – seen above, the arrival of the modern chicken by whatever timeline and sequence begins at the conception. The bringing together of requisite genetic material. The chicken as we know it followed.

Thus, the Egg came first.

Footnote : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/5019682.stm
I tried to contact these guys in Nottigham University after reading the article in 2006 but never got a reply.

You want a Drink with that?

That reminds. I cant get drunk. I can get close but I cant get drunk. I have a 2-3 drink limit. 2 drinks is half a bottle of quarter - half a quarter or 1/8th. And I cant have a kingfisher bottle of beer faster than 45mins- 1 hour.

Not that theoretically, I cant get drunk. I can! Yes, I am conterdicting myself. But I got two shots of tequilas in me (there was nothing else at home!! And it is raining outside!!!) and I am wiser now. It is just that after crossing my alcohol threshold, I feel woozy and dizzy and it is not a happy place. The 3 times I have gone too far past, I have forced stuff out with a finger pushed deep into my mouth, had a banana (cant go to sleep in an empty stomach) and woke up fresh as a blue bird.. a male blue bird... I hear they are feisty and horny all the time.

I just wanted the record to be set straight.