No Bullshit Guide To Linear Algebra - Ivan Savov
The Grand Design - Stephen Hawking
My Brief History: A Memoir - Stephen Hawking
The Grand Design - Stephen Hawking
My Brief History: A Memoir - Stephen Hawking
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Supernatural, S13, E15
For a moment there I felt as if I was watching a sequel of 'The Godfather'. With the mafia boss petting the cat like Blofeld, having a name like Santiano Scarpatti (imagine me rolling my eyes like Dean and saying 'Seriously?') and being surrounded by henchmen ready to do his bidding at the drop of a cat, sorry hat, what else was I supposed to think?
I am not entirely sure why people would want to keep a skull or blood of anyone, even a saint, in their homes. But I guess it takes all kinds to make this world. And the episode fairly made my head swim with the number of characters thickening the plot - Scarpatti, Greenstreet, Father Luca, Margaret Astor......wonder how the Winchesters managed to keep it all straight till the end.
Of course, we learn pretty early on that Luca Camilleri is a priest. So it is amply clear that he must be the person whose blood the Winchesters are seeking. How I wish this wasn't revealed till the very end. No such luck.
Couldn't help but chuckle when Sam typed the number memorized by the priest in the browser and out popped the info about it being a parcel available at a location. We better entrust the drones with our deliveries from here on.
'Apostolic Protonotary Supernumery' sounds like a mouthful to me. Tried saying it thrice in rapid succession and failed miserably! I wonder if there can be multiple people with the title of 'a most holy man'. Actually I wonder if 'a' can be used like this in front of 'most'. Seems like I should have paid more attention in my English grammar class.
Whatever. Dean Winchester has his faith back. That's good because I am definitely losing mine in this series.
I am not entirely sure why people would want to keep a skull or blood of anyone, even a saint, in their homes. But I guess it takes all kinds to make this world. And the episode fairly made my head swim with the number of characters thickening the plot - Scarpatti, Greenstreet, Father Luca, Margaret Astor......wonder how the Winchesters managed to keep it all straight till the end.
Of course, we learn pretty early on that Luca Camilleri is a priest. So it is amply clear that he must be the person whose blood the Winchesters are seeking. How I wish this wasn't revealed till the very end. No such luck.
Couldn't help but chuckle when Sam typed the number memorized by the priest in the browser and out popped the info about it being a parcel available at a location. We better entrust the drones with our deliveries from here on.
'Apostolic Protonotary Supernumery' sounds like a mouthful to me. Tried saying it thrice in rapid succession and failed miserably! I wonder if there can be multiple people with the title of 'a most holy man'. Actually I wonder if 'a' can be used like this in front of 'most'. Seems like I should have paid more attention in my English grammar class.
Whatever. Dean Winchester has his faith back. That's good because I am definitely losing mine in this series.
Supernatural, S13, E14
What is the seal of Solomon? What is this Tree Of Life? There was a time when I would have turned to the internet to find answers to such questions. Not anymore. It is getting tiresome to look up biblical references which seem to be increasing with each passing season of this series. In this day and age, when the shows are being telecast to the rest of the world and people of all faiths watch them, it is rather callous to keep on weaving such stuff into the narratives. :-(
Sam really needs to invest in some self-defense class. When is he going to stop trusting people so blindly? Crowley (miss him!) rightfully called him 'Moose'! I wonder if the Bible has any reference to Gog and Magog but really don't want to look it up.
Three cheers for Castiel for beating the hell out of Donatello! He seems to have his mojo back. His swift dealing with the problem was the only saving, or should I say archangel, grace of this episode.
Sam really needs to invest in some self-defense class. When is he going to stop trusting people so blindly? Crowley (miss him!) rightfully called him 'Moose'! I wonder if the Bible has any reference to Gog and Magog but really don't want to look it up.
Three cheers for Castiel for beating the hell out of Donatello! He seems to have his mojo back. His swift dealing with the problem was the only saving, or should I say archangel, grace of this episode.
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Books by Roger Fisher
International Conflict and Behavioral Science: The Craigville Papers (editor and co-author,
1964)
International Conflict for Beginners (1969)
Dear Israelis, Dear Arabs: A Working Approach to Peace
(1972)
International Mediation: A Working Guide; Ideas for the Practitioner (with William Ury,
1978)
Books by William Ury
Beyond the Hotline: How Crisis Control Can Prevent Nuclear War (1985)
Windows of Opportunity: From Cold War to Peaceful Competition in U.S.-Soviet
Relations (edited with Graham T. Allison and Bruce J. Allyn, 1989)
Getting Past No: Negotiating with Difficult People (1991)
Getting Together: Building Relationships as We Negotiate by Roger Fisher and Scott Brown
How India Sees The World: Kautilya To The 21st Century - Shyam Saran
Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace
International Conflict and Behavioral Science: The Craigville Papers (editor and co-author,
1964)
International Conflict for Beginners (1969)
Dear Israelis, Dear Arabs: A Working Approach to Peace
(1972)
International Mediation: A Working Guide; Ideas for the Practitioner (with William Ury,
1978)
Books by William Ury
Beyond the Hotline: How Crisis Control Can Prevent Nuclear War (1985)
Windows of Opportunity: From Cold War to Peaceful Competition in U.S.-Soviet
Relations (edited with Graham T. Allison and Bruce J. Allyn, 1989)
Getting Past No: Negotiating with Difficult People (1991)
Getting Together: Building Relationships as We Negotiate by Roger Fisher and Scott Brown
How India Sees The World: Kautilya To The 21st Century - Shyam Saran
Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Chupake Chupake (1975)
One of my New Year resolutions had been to watch quality Hindi movies from the 60s and 70s. I am still sticking to it - helped by some of the TV channels which keep airing these movies every now and then.
I knew the gist of this one's plot. Still, it was interesting to see the rest of the story. The protagonist is Dr. Parimal Tripathi - a professor of Botany who is staying in a government bungalow at a hill station for a few days. The old watchman of the bungalow tells him that his grandson is not well but his leave for a day isn't granted yet. Kind-hearted Parimal allows him to go to his village which is at a distance of 4-5 hours' walk. Unfortunately for him, the college girls who were to arrive a day later for their trip show up soon after the watchman is gone. Not wanting to put the old man's job in jeopardy, Parimal takes on the role of watchman himself. To make matters worse, these girls are students of Botany and since their syllabus contains Dr. Parimal's book they become curious about him when they see his nameplate outside a room in the bungalow. Alarmed, Parimal tells them that the professor, a cranky old fellow, is out of station for a few days. When the old watchman gets back the next day, Parimal tells the girls that he is an uncle. But one of the girls, Sulekha, finds out the truth. She is mightily impressed that Parimal took on the duties of the watchman to save the old man's job. And this being a 70s Hindi movie, Parimal also gets attracted to her.
So naturally their marriage gets fixed - in such a hurry, in fact, that it would make today's brides and grooms flee in opposite directions in great alarm! Sulekha's elder sister Sumi and her husband Raghavendra, who are based in Mumbai, cannot make it to the wedding because their younger daughter Ratna is down with fever. When they ask for Parimal's photo, he sends them his childhood pictures. Truth be told, Sulekha is very fond of Raghavendra and after listening to her endless tales of his intellect and abilities, Parimal is rather jealous of him. After marriage, Sulekha and Parimal have to attend many parties at their friends' places. The result is that Parimal starts suffering from an upset stomach prompting Sulekha to declare that she won't go with him anywhere for a few days. Just then her elder brother Haripad shows up with an invitation from Sumi and Raghavendra to visit them in Mumbai. Casually, he also lets it slip that Raghavendra has asked for a chauffeur who can converse in chaste Hindi because his current driver James speaks a rather mishmashed version of it.
That gives Parimal an idea to get even with Raghavendra. He proposes to go to Raghavendra as driver Pyaremohan. Sulekha and Haripad try their best to convince him that Raghavendra will figure out the truth within minutes. But Parimal is hell bent on carrying out his plan. Upon reaching Mumbai he drives Raghavendra nuts with his usage of chaste Hindi and his endless questions about English language. When Sulekha reaches there, the two of them act in such a manner that Raghavendra is convinced that she is fed up with her dry-as-a-stick husband Parimal and is carrying on an affair with Pyaremohan. All hell breaks loose when Parimal's friend Sukumar lands in Mumbai posing as Dr. Parimal (of course as per Parimal's instructions!). Sulekha and Pyare disappear before he arrives. So naturally, Sukumar goes to stay at his friend Prashant's place. He is sweet on Prashant's sister-in-law Vasudha. But Vasudha thinks that he is Parimal and so, being a student of Botany, requests him to teach her. What's more, when he tries to express his love for her, she rebuffs him. Raghavendra is already reeling under the shock that Sulekha has eloped with the driver. When he comes to know that her husband is interested in some other girl, the poor guy gets utterly devastated. Of course, things do get sorted in the end. But till then we are treated to a veritable feast of comic circumstances.
Though Dharmendra (Dr. Parimal) is the so-called 'Hero' of this film, character actor Om Prakash, as Raghavendra, plays an equally important part. He has essayed different shades of Raghavendra's personality - be it affection and care for his sister-in-law, his boasts of being able to read any person inside out in one fell swoop, his helplessness upon suspecting an affair between Sulekha and Pyare or his irritation at Pyare's inane questions - with consummate ease. You can't help but feel sorry for this affectionate Jijaji. I wasn't looking forward to watching Dharmendra in a comic role but he has done an excellent job of portraying the mischievous Dr. Parimal Tripathi. Watch him smile innocently every time he gets onto Raghavendra's nerves with one of his pranks. Amitabh Bachhan has vert little footage as Sukumar - he mostly appears as Dr. Parimal. But his sense of comic timing can be seen in his scenes with Jaya Bachhan (Vasudha), who was his wife by then. Asrani (Prashant), David (Haripad), Usha Kiran (Sumi) and Keshto Mukerjee (driver James) complete the rest of the cast.
As far as songs go, I am very fond of अबके सजन सावनमे आणि चुपके चुपके चल री पुर्वैय्या.
All in all, if you are looking for a light entertaining comedy with a few melodious songs, then Chupake Chupake is the movie for you!
I knew the gist of this one's plot. Still, it was interesting to see the rest of the story. The protagonist is Dr. Parimal Tripathi - a professor of Botany who is staying in a government bungalow at a hill station for a few days. The old watchman of the bungalow tells him that his grandson is not well but his leave for a day isn't granted yet. Kind-hearted Parimal allows him to go to his village which is at a distance of 4-5 hours' walk. Unfortunately for him, the college girls who were to arrive a day later for their trip show up soon after the watchman is gone. Not wanting to put the old man's job in jeopardy, Parimal takes on the role of watchman himself. To make matters worse, these girls are students of Botany and since their syllabus contains Dr. Parimal's book they become curious about him when they see his nameplate outside a room in the bungalow. Alarmed, Parimal tells them that the professor, a cranky old fellow, is out of station for a few days. When the old watchman gets back the next day, Parimal tells the girls that he is an uncle. But one of the girls, Sulekha, finds out the truth. She is mightily impressed that Parimal took on the duties of the watchman to save the old man's job. And this being a 70s Hindi movie, Parimal also gets attracted to her.
So naturally their marriage gets fixed - in such a hurry, in fact, that it would make today's brides and grooms flee in opposite directions in great alarm! Sulekha's elder sister Sumi and her husband Raghavendra, who are based in Mumbai, cannot make it to the wedding because their younger daughter Ratna is down with fever. When they ask for Parimal's photo, he sends them his childhood pictures. Truth be told, Sulekha is very fond of Raghavendra and after listening to her endless tales of his intellect and abilities, Parimal is rather jealous of him. After marriage, Sulekha and Parimal have to attend many parties at their friends' places. The result is that Parimal starts suffering from an upset stomach prompting Sulekha to declare that she won't go with him anywhere for a few days. Just then her elder brother Haripad shows up with an invitation from Sumi and Raghavendra to visit them in Mumbai. Casually, he also lets it slip that Raghavendra has asked for a chauffeur who can converse in chaste Hindi because his current driver James speaks a rather mishmashed version of it.
That gives Parimal an idea to get even with Raghavendra. He proposes to go to Raghavendra as driver Pyaremohan. Sulekha and Haripad try their best to convince him that Raghavendra will figure out the truth within minutes. But Parimal is hell bent on carrying out his plan. Upon reaching Mumbai he drives Raghavendra nuts with his usage of chaste Hindi and his endless questions about English language. When Sulekha reaches there, the two of them act in such a manner that Raghavendra is convinced that she is fed up with her dry-as-a-stick husband Parimal and is carrying on an affair with Pyaremohan. All hell breaks loose when Parimal's friend Sukumar lands in Mumbai posing as Dr. Parimal (of course as per Parimal's instructions!). Sulekha and Pyare disappear before he arrives. So naturally, Sukumar goes to stay at his friend Prashant's place. He is sweet on Prashant's sister-in-law Vasudha. But Vasudha thinks that he is Parimal and so, being a student of Botany, requests him to teach her. What's more, when he tries to express his love for her, she rebuffs him. Raghavendra is already reeling under the shock that Sulekha has eloped with the driver. When he comes to know that her husband is interested in some other girl, the poor guy gets utterly devastated. Of course, things do get sorted in the end. But till then we are treated to a veritable feast of comic circumstances.
Though Dharmendra (Dr. Parimal) is the so-called 'Hero' of this film, character actor Om Prakash, as Raghavendra, plays an equally important part. He has essayed different shades of Raghavendra's personality - be it affection and care for his sister-in-law, his boasts of being able to read any person inside out in one fell swoop, his helplessness upon suspecting an affair between Sulekha and Pyare or his irritation at Pyare's inane questions - with consummate ease. You can't help but feel sorry for this affectionate Jijaji. I wasn't looking forward to watching Dharmendra in a comic role but he has done an excellent job of portraying the mischievous Dr. Parimal Tripathi. Watch him smile innocently every time he gets onto Raghavendra's nerves with one of his pranks. Amitabh Bachhan has vert little footage as Sukumar - he mostly appears as Dr. Parimal. But his sense of comic timing can be seen in his scenes with Jaya Bachhan (Vasudha), who was his wife by then. Asrani (Prashant), David (Haripad), Usha Kiran (Sumi) and Keshto Mukerjee (driver James) complete the rest of the cast.
As far as songs go, I am very fond of अबके सजन सावनमे आणि चुपके चुपके चल री पुर्वैय्या.
All in all, if you are looking for a light entertaining comedy with a few melodious songs, then Chupake Chupake is the movie for you!
Supernatural S13, E13
Finally, the clueless Winchesters got to know that they had been talking to Asmodeus while the real Castiel had been locked up in Hell. These guys need to use some secret phrases to they can figure out if they are dealing with the real guy or not. Every guy, and his uncle, in this show is able to change form and voice at the drop of a hat! Turns out the Winchesters have tumbled out of one clueless state right into another - the chances that they will figure out that Donatello has been influenced by Asmodeus are next to none. Even a snowflake stands a better chance in Hell!
Frankly, I find the whole 'draining of the angel graces' thing pretty hilarious. As if that wasn't enough, now Lucifer has this angel Anael on tap. Fill it, shut it, forget it! I wonder who came up with this idea of a live Angel Grace Station. Oh, and BTW, what's the deal with these angel names? Is there a rule that they have to end in 'el'? Demons don't seem to have any such restriction when it comes to their names.
And now folks, hold your breath! Asmodeus has got hold of an Archangel blade. And there seems to be one more resurrection - Archangel Gabriel. I don't want to even remember which season he had died in. Just how many kinds of blades are there? They just keep popping out of woodwork and only the bad guys seem to lay their hands on them.
I have a sinking feeling that it is only in the Season Finale that things are going to happen in quick succession - Jack, Mary, Michael, Kaia, Gabriel, Rowena, Lucifer, Arthur Ketch, Asmodeus, Castiel and the Winchesters. One Hell of a party!
Frankly, I find the whole 'draining of the angel graces' thing pretty hilarious. As if that wasn't enough, now Lucifer has this angel Anael on tap. Fill it, shut it, forget it! I wonder who came up with this idea of a live Angel Grace Station. Oh, and BTW, what's the deal with these angel names? Is there a rule that they have to end in 'el'? Demons don't seem to have any such restriction when it comes to their names.
And now folks, hold your breath! Asmodeus has got hold of an Archangel blade. And there seems to be one more resurrection - Archangel Gabriel. I don't want to even remember which season he had died in. Just how many kinds of blades are there? They just keep popping out of woodwork and only the bad guys seem to lay their hands on them.
I have a sinking feeling that it is only in the Season Finale that things are going to happen in quick succession - Jack, Mary, Michael, Kaia, Gabriel, Rowena, Lucifer, Arthur Ketch, Asmodeus, Castiel and the Winchesters. One Hell of a party!
Supernatural S13, E12
The love spell should have given me ample hint. But it didn't. Well, at least not till about a minute before the redhead made her appearance. Really, was it so necessary to bring back every dead from the last, and other past, seasons? First it was Castiel. Then Arthur Ketch. Let's not forget Michael, Bobby and Kevin Tran, albeit from the alternate world. And now it is Rowena. I never trusted the woman an inch and never will. Crowley rightly called Sam a 'Moose'. I wonder when he managed to locate and tear off that page to hand it over to Rowena. As the Americans say this will come back one day to bit the Winchesters in the ***!
In other news, glad to see that Castiel has made it out of the Hell. Not so thrilled that Lucifer is with him. What would it take to kill this guy?
Why is the alternate reality version of that Dreamwalker Kaia taking forever to catch up with the Winchesters? Looks like it is only a matter of time before Jack shows up with Mary in tow. Not looking forward to her reunion with Ketch though. Given Jack's superhuman capabilities, wonder why he can't resurrect his own mom aka Kelly?
Can't believe I am already waiting for this season to end.
In other news, glad to see that Castiel has made it out of the Hell. Not so thrilled that Lucifer is with him. What would it take to kill this guy?
Why is the alternate reality version of that Dreamwalker Kaia taking forever to catch up with the Winchesters? Looks like it is only a matter of time before Jack shows up with Mary in tow. Not looking forward to her reunion with Ketch though. Given Jack's superhuman capabilities, wonder why he can't resurrect his own mom aka Kelly?
Can't believe I am already waiting for this season to end.
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