tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61427782024-03-07T00:52:24.668-06:00Hob's zeitgeist"To absent friends, lost loves, old gods, and the season of mists; and may each and every one of us always give the Devil his due."Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-53579747163314999892009-03-13T22:07:00.004-05:002009-04-13T14:47:21.578-05:00So I just watched Masoom (the Shekhar Kapur movie.) It was of course awesome.<br /><br />Sadly the video quality on the DVD transfer left something to be desired. T-Series deserves some brickbats. And no subtitles! Terrible.<br /><br />Mr. Kapur, your art needs a wider audience. And better DVDs.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-43783139367019719512009-03-10T21:52:00.003-05:002009-03-10T21:56:18.544-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Gimme back that Filet-O-Fish</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6bJOIqVAD-s&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6bJOIqVAD-s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Gimme back that filet-o-fish<br />Gimme that fish<br />Gimme back that filet-o-fish<br />Gimme that fish<br />What if it was you<br />hanging up on this wall?<br />If you were in that sandwich<br />you wouldn’t be laughing at all!<br /><br />My current ad obsession!Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-45929064418883910402009-01-13T13:21:00.004-06:002009-01-13T13:38:31.128-06:00Wow. 2009 is here and I haven't posted. Let's see what we missed.<br /><br />A trip to Toronto and Montreal. A fantastic meal at <a href="http://notabenerestaurant.com/">Nota Bene</a> for Red K's birthday. Another fantastic meal at Red K's house for Christmas. Another fantastic meal at <a href="http://www.chezlepicier.com/">Chez L’Épicier</a>. New Years in Montreal.<br /><br />And back to mercury-freezing temperatures in Madison.<br /><br />On the positive side, there is going to be an India trip from Jan 30 to Feb 15. Awesome!<br /><br />Movies seen have been <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slumdog_Millionaire">Slumdog Millionaire</a> (Don't miss!) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_Torino_%28film%29">Gran Torino</a> (80 year old Dirty Harry rocks!)<br /><br />Books read have been <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Tiger">The White Tiger</a> (Booker winner. 2 days flat. Needs to be moviefied.)Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-78816293968357314632008-10-18T11:01:00.000-05:002008-10-18T11:03:15.181-05:00<span style="font-weight:bold;">Tim Minchin - If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out (Take My Wife)</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RFO6ZhUW38w&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RFO6ZhUW38w&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-5652609326896133722008-08-26T11:13:00.004-05:002008-08-26T11:53:09.150-05:00Wow that's a long long time between posts.<br /><br />Well, I figure I should start this one slow and easy. With topics that are in my comfort zone like books.<br /><br />I'm currently reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Genome-Autobiography-Species-Chapters-P-S/dp/0060894083/">Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters</a> by Matt Ridley. And <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shantaram-Novel-Gregory-David-Roberts/dp/0312330529/">Shantaram: A Novel</a> by Gregory David Roberts. I'm on chapter one of both books so I'm not sure I can comment with any authority. Genome is written in Matt Ridley's usual easy to understand and yet gripping style (See The Red Queen.) Shantaram is an interesting beast. The descriptions of Mumbai are familiar and nostalgic (especially when he reaches Colaba. I lived there for quite a while,) but his prose is slightly flowery so the book might start to feel heavy in my hands soon. (It is a heavy book. 994 pages!) Interesting both books also have subtitles. I've never quite understood subtitling. Must be a publisher driven trend.<br /><br />In vacation news, I've been traveling all over the place. Let's write about the involuntary vacations first. A trip to Menominee that involved some driving, some bad driver/dongle issues and an almost-bought pasty from <a href="http://tastefullydifferent.com/">Schloegels</a>. This was followed by two consecutive trips to Philadelphia. Both involved 12 hour work days and mysterious driver problems. (Stupid multicore processors and stupider driver developers who can't handle multi-threaded programming.)<br /><br />The voluntary vacations were many but all restricted to Wisconsin. There was a trip to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_Dells,_Wisconsin">Wisconsin Dells</a> and Lake Delton. This involved time spent at the Mt. Olympus water park, a drive-in theater, sushi and four missed exits on the way back home! (Four!) And a week or so later, Lake Delton disappeared. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Delton">No kidding</a>!<br /><br />This was followed by a camping trip to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohler-Andrae_State_Park">Kohler-Andrae State Park</a>. The water at Lake Michigan is freezing! But the dunes cord-walk was awesome and so were some of the pictures I was able to take of a red-winged blackbird.<br /><br />After that was a nice long trip to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Door_County">Door County</a>. This probably needs a post by itself. It was very eventful and involved trips to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potawatomi_State_Park">Potawatomi State Park</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsula_State_Park">Peninsula State Park</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Island_%28Wisconsin%29">Washington Island</a> (where the wheat for Capital Island Wheat is grown!) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cana_Island_Light">Cana Island Light</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitefish_Dunes_State_Park">Whitefish Dunes State Park</a>. (The water at Whitefish Dunes wasn't that cold!) Lot's of pictures of gulls and terns.<br /><br />Finally, there was some impromptu camping this weekend too at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_Dodge_State_Park">Governer Dodge State Park</a>. We were pretty underprepared for this one as we weren't expecting to actually get a spot. So underprepared that we didn't even carry a flashlight! Of course, smart as we were we ended up purchasing a hand-crank lantern from Walgreens instead. It was ridiculous the amount of cranking we had to do for a small amount of light. Overall, apart from a spider-bite sustained by Red K it was fun. (At least we think it was a spider-bite. If she starts sticking to walls we will know for sure.) We also stopped by at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_on_the_Rock">House on the Rock</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lloyd_Wright">Frank Lloyd Wright</a> visitor center but didn't take the tours (of the House and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliesin_%28studio%29">Taliesin</a>) as they were prohibitively expensive. (Thanks to Red K for being my fellow traveler and navigator.)Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-90984544775847725382008-04-20T10:47:00.001-05:002008-04-20T11:00:09.875-05:00So there was this guy see. And once upon a time he used to read a lot of comic books and watch a lot of movies and read non-fiction and then he would write about it all, so his legion of readers could live vicariously through him. Then he started reading fewer comic books and watching fewer movies and reading fewer books and more importantly writing fewer times.<br /><br />Where did the time go? Some of it was spent working longer hours and weekends, some of it was spent going out to bars and meeting new people and talking to them and arguing with them. And unlike comic books and movies and books, people were a lot harder to write about. So his blog started being updated a longer and longer intervals. Some readers called him out on this. Others, their lives equally busy and their blog updates equally delayed, understood. And yet the thought of stopping his blog never occurred to him. I think it was because he was never concerned about his readership numbers (although he did check his stats counter often enough) and he wrote his blog as a record for his future self. Anyway, our story pauses there because I have to tell you about what I did.<br /><br />Yesterday, with RedK and her sister B, I went to Milwaukee, specifically the Milwaukee Public Museum to watch <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_Worlds">Body Worlds</a>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">(Don't click on that link if you are easily disturbed.)</span> Body Worlds is a traveling exhibition of preserved human cadavers in various poses, displaying various aspects of the human body. The bodies are preserved using a process called plastination. All the exhibits had the skin removed so that musculature, bones and internal organs are visible. To display the circulatory system, red dyed plastic was forced through the veins and arteries and the body then dissolved. This was definitely an excellent way to spend 25 dollars and an afternoon. We spent the rest of the evening driving around Milwaukee (pretty but boring) and watching <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Innocence">After Innocence</a> (depressing) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_fuzz">Hot Fuzz</a> (hilarious and surprising.)<br /><br />Tonight, it's time for Samba and all you can eat meat for $33.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-7003307396047957892008-04-01T14:31:00.002-05:002008-04-01T14:34:07.780-05:00What has happened since Feb 1.<br />Birthday. Flu. Emotional hijinks. Travel. More travel. Some more travel. Car wash. DJ Rekha. Spring. Rain.<br /><br />Sentences. The next post, which won't take two whole months to produce, will consist of sentences and paragraphs.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-30635477143838275152008-02-01T15:17:00.004-06:002008-03-04T16:11:01.354-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Driving Rant Post</span><br /><br />I make no apologies about admitting to the fact that I don't like driving. I grew up in Mumbai with it's excellent public transport system. If I'm traveling somewhere I would much rather be doing something much more interesting with my time like talking to friends, reading a book, observing the city or just plain day-dreaming. Driving is a drudge. You have to keep your eyes on the road, and hands upon the wheel. (Apologies to Jim Morrison.) Still, seeing as how public transport in Madison is so crappy, and how I have to occasionally drive to places that you can't reach using a bus or a taxi without paying out of your nose, I drive.<br /><br />My car is the most expensive thing I own. Obviously it makes me want to protect it. Keep that resale value high and all that. And there is also the little thing of me happening to enjoy the fact that I am alive and not dead. So obviously all the other idiots on the road piss me off. And this winter, with its constant shit... sorry ice-storms and record snowfall, things which would normally just irritate me a little, have turned into things that make me vewy vewy angry. Here's a list of the idiots who irritate me and their internal monologues:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Mr. I am going to drive below the speed limit in the passing lane</span><br />I'm driving. And this is the lane I have decided to use. The passing lane. It's a free country and I have paid taxes all my life and I have now decided to drive in the passing lane. Yes, I know I'm going slower than the speed limit but I'm an American and I can do what I want. You can use the slow lane and pass me from the right but then I will glare at you and cough violently. And keep driving slowly in this lane. My lane.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Mr. I am going to drive about 6 inches behind your car</span><br />Right. So I'm in a hurry. A real serious hurry. And so I have decided to drive as close to your car as I possibly can. Because no matter what speed you are driving at being close to your car makes me reach where I want to go earlier. Like a whole 20 milliseconds earlier. And time is money. Of course, I know it's snowing and the roads are icy and slick, and if you have to brake suddenly then I will rear-end you. But those are the risks we have to take for my 20 milliseconds.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Mr. I have suddenly decided to take a left turn</span><br />Hey look! It's a traffic light. Here I am in the left lane. Waiting at the light. Obviously, as you can see I intend to go straight, because if I didn't I would have turned on the left turn indicator so you could have moved to the right lane. But I'm going to go straight. I have decided to go straight. Look, the light turned green! Oh my God!!! A left turn. Look, I can turn left instead of going straight!!! Holy crap! This so exciting! I'm going to turn left now. Watch me turn on the left turn indicator. And crawl up and wait for the oncoming cars to finish going straight. Then I can make my glorious left turn! What's that you say? You are stuck behind me because you thought I was going to go straight? Aw, don't be a wuss. I'm making a left turn. Be excited for me. (And sometimes in my excitement I even forget to turn on the indicator. Who cares. I'm turning left.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Mr. I am going to slowly turn right without moving to the right lane</span><br />I have to turn right here. Clearly, if I move to the edge of the right lane you'll be able to keep going straight from the left and we can't have that. It's my job to inconvenience you as much as possible. Making you miss the light will be a bonus. So from where I am in this lane, I am going to slow down, and very very slowly turn right. Look, I almost crawling. Do you think I can possibly go any slower? Let's try! Oh why are you waving your fist at me? I'm just doing my job.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Mr. I am going to build up the suspense about whether or not I'm going to turn right</span><br />There you are waiting at the intersection trying to get out. I'm close enough to the intersection that you have to wait for me to make a sign before you can make a move. But I'm driving slow enough to torture you. And yes I'm driving in an ambiguous lane so you can't tell if I'm going to turn right into the intersection or not. Look I'm turning right. You could have gone anytime! Fooled you! Haha!!Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-55623007498305873902008-01-25T11:56:00.000-06:002008-01-25T13:45:40.058-06:00<span style="font-weight:bold;">Hindi People</span> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodness_Gracious_Me_%28TV_%26_radio%29">Goodness Gracious Me</a> (A parody of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_People">Common People</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulp_%28band%29">Pulp</a>)<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LL3H8nzs7T4&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LL3H8nzs7T4&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Lyrics:<br /><br />She came from Kent, her name was Lucy Parker<br />Her skin was white but she preferred it darker<br />That's why I, caught her eye<br />We met at York, she was a first year student<br />She wore a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sari">sari</a> 'cause she thought it prudent, I thought fine<br />and then in 30 seconds time she said<br /><br />I want to live like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi">Hindi</a> people<br />I want to do what ever Hindi people do<br />I want to sleep with Hindi people<br />I want to sleep with Hindi people like you<br />Well what else could I do, I smiled and said 'Do you want a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vindaloo">vindaloo</a>?'<br /><br />I said I'd find a groovy gig and take her<br />I like The Verve but she said <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kula_Shaker">Kula Shaker</a> their music's tops<br />Just like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornershop">Cornershop</a>'s<br /><br />She said I wanna live like Hindi people<br />I wanna eat whatever Hindi people eat<br />I want to dress like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindi_%28decoration%29">bindi</a> people<br />I want to wear <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehndi">mehndi</a> on my feet<br />but she didn't understand<br />You just paint it on your haaand!<br /><br />Comb your hair and be polite<br />Do your homework every night<br />Don't smoke fags and don't play pool<br />Do extremely well at school<br />Take a medical degree, graduate at thirty-three<br />Move back in with mom and dad, even though they drive you raving mad...you sure<br /><br />You wanna live like Hindi people<br />You wanna see whatever Hindi people see<br />You wanna live with Hindi people<br />You wanna watch your films on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zee_TV">Zee TV</a><br /><br />But you'll never comprehend 'cause for you it's just a trend<br />Dressing up like the Hindi people<br />In your favourite <a href="http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-georgette-fabric.htm">georgette</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwar_kameez">salwaar</a><br />Dancing round with the Hindi people<br />Telling me that you want to learn <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitar">sitar</a><br />but you'll never score with me 'cause I was born in Coventry<br />Coventry oh yeah!Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-64675572729940630112008-01-14T16:31:00.000-06:002008-01-14T16:32:35.363-06:00<a href="http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/004964.html">Sad sad sad</a>.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-80073664036734804682008-01-08T10:35:00.000-06:002008-01-08T11:39:41.013-06:00Taking a cue from <a href="http://imkt.blogspot.com/2008/01/what-privileges-do-i-have.html">KitKat's post</a> about privileges, here is my list (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bolded </span>items apply to me):<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>1. Father went to college<br />2. Father finished college</b><br /><b>3. Mother went to college</b><br /><b>4. Mother finished college<br />5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor</b><br /><b>6. Were the same </b>or higher <b>class than your high school teachers</b><br /><b>7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home</b><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home</span><br /><b>9. Were read children’s books by a parent</b><br />10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18<br />11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18<br /><b>12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively</b><br />13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18<br />14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs<br /><b>15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs</b><br />16. Went to a private high school<br />17. Went to summer camp<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18. </span><span>(For stupid Hindi!)</span><br />19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels<br /><b>20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18</b><br />21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them<br />22. There was original art in your house when you were a child<br /><b>23. You and your family lived in a single-family house</b><br />24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home<br />25. You had your own room as a child<br />26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course</span><br />28. Had your own TV in your room in high school<br />29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college<br />30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16<br />31. Went on a cruise with your family<br />32. Went on more than one cruise with your family<br /><b>33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up</b><br />34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family</p><br />More interestingly, here my mom's list (I'm only guessing and remembering here but I think I should be pretty accurate.)<br /><p class="MsoNormal">1. Father went to college<br />2. Father finished college<br />3. Mother went to college<br />4. Mother finished college<br />5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor<br /><b>6. Were the same </b>or higher <b>class than your high school teachers</b><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home. (Maybe ??)</span><br />8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Were read children’s books by a parent. (Maybe ??)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18</span><br />11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18<br /><b>12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively</b><br />13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs</span><br />15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs<br />16. Went to a private high school<br />17. Went to summer camp<br />18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18<br />19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels<br />20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18<br />21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them<br />22. There was original art in your house when you were a child.<br />23. You and your family lived in a single-family house<br />24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home<br />25. You had your own room as a child<br />26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18<br />27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course<br />28. Had your own TV in your room in high school<br />29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college<br />30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16<br />31. Went on a cruise with your family<br />32. Went on more than one cruise with your family<br /><b>33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up</b><br />34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family </p><br />And here is my dad's list (Again guesswork) :<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>1. Father went to college<br />2. Father finished college<br /></b>3. Mother went to college<br />4. Mother finished college<br /><b>5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor<br />6. Were the same </b>or higher<b> class than your high school teachers<br />7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home<br /></b>8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Were read children’s books by a parent. (Maybe ??)</span><br /><b>10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18. (Maybe ??)<br /></b>11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18<br /><b>12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively<br /></b>13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18<br />14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs<br /><b>15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs<br /></b>16. Went to a private high school<br />17. Went to summer camp<br />18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18<br />19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels<br />20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18<br />21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them<br />22. There was original art in your house when you were a child<br />23. You and your family lived in a single-family house<br />24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home<br />25. You had your own room as a child<br />26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18<br />27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course<br />28. Had your own TV in your room in high school<br />29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college<br />30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16<br />31. Went on a cruise with your family<br />32. Went on more than one cruise with your family<br /><b>33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up<br /></b>34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family <o:p></o:p></p>Of course, I would argue whether certain items in the list would count as privileges. Like "Were read children's books by a parent." Is this question about whether your parents could read or not? And I would argue whether certain items are really indicators of privileges in India, like "Went to a private high school", as far as I know, all high schools in India (we call them junior colleges) are private and relatively cheap. The media portrayal question is moot, I don't think anyone is portrayed negatively except criminals and the corrupt.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-181608937115629952007-12-02T19:27:00.000-06:002007-12-02T19:31:40.767-06:00It was a weekend of snowstorms, ice and musicals.<br /><br />It began as a quiet Friday evening that consisted solely of staying home, watching maybe the first 4 minutes of the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Rider_%28film%29">Ghost Rider</a> with Ms. Non Sequitur and then turning in early in anticipation of the coming snowstorm from hell.<br /><br />Saturday began with a quick ride to KitKat's house in the wilderness to pick her up. I left my house at 9:15am with no sight of snow and returned by 9:45am to white streets! The storm had begun.<br /><br />The snow continued all the way to 6pm, turning into little particles of ice at around 4pm. Driving was going to be impossible but we had to get to State Street to watch Rent at the Overture Center. After a lot of debate (Hob: "No way we're driving! I don't wanna die!", Ms. Non Sequitur: "Hob, you are such a wuss!", KitKat: "Hob you are the biggest wuss I have seen.", J: "There is no way I am walking!"), we all decided to call a cab.<br /><br />The cab was late, but the driver was a someone who wasn't even the least bit fazed by the condition of the streets. I rode shotgun and man was it a scary ride. The cab skid, skid again and skid some more. But luckily we reached Paul's Club with no incidents. A quick Miller Lite for everyone (Cousin Q, JR, The Bowman and Akon joined us at Paul's,) and off we went to the show.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_%28musical%29">Rent</a> was ok. The music was catchy most of the time but the lyrics seemed forced to fit the music. (Vice versa sometimes.) But then again that's a feature of all musicals. Overall, I felt that it lacked something. Specifically, a small carnivorous dinosaur, like a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velociraptor">velociraptor</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinonychus">deinonychus</a>, that would eat cast members sometimes. Now that show I would pay top dollar to see.<br /><br />(If that last paragraph seems bizarre, I would like to add that I actually thought of the dinosaurs <em>during</em> the show. Also a hip-hop musical with rapping instead of songs would be wicked!)Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-66990418592744196922007-11-05T21:47:00.000-06:002007-11-05T22:09:36.708-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Music Video </span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mjTTznXmuF0&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&border=0"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mjTTznXmuF0&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scary Movie</span><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2TVooUHN7j4&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&border=0"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2TVooUHN7j4&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cool Book</span><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_queen">Red Queen</a>Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-74087097269491007722007-10-15T11:46:00.000-05:002007-11-05T22:11:34.219-06:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sour Death Balls</span><br />This was one of my favorite short films shown on MTV India in the early 'nineties.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_rWy-mF4W28&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_rWy-mF4W28&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><!-- <OBJECT CLASSID="clsid:02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B" CODEBASE="http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab" HEIGHT=299 WIDTH=425> <PARAM NAME="src" VALUE="http://www.lumeneclipse.org/11/yu_sourdeathballs.mov"/> <PARAM NAME="AutoPlay" VALUE="true"/> <PARAM NAME="Controller" VALUE="true"/> <PARAM NAME="Scale" VALUE="aspect"/> <EMBED SRC="http://www.lumeneclipse.org/11/yu_sourdeathballs.mov" HEIGHT=299 WIDTH=425 TYPE="video/quicktime" PLUGINSPAGE="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/" AUTOPLAY="true" CONTROLLER="true" SCALE="aspect"></EMBED></OBJECT> --/><br />Of course the video I really really want to see is this one<br /> Title: TREE OF UNITY<br /> Synopsis: Unity brings happiness. This film points out that the parochial tendencies should be thwarted to enjoy the fruit of unity.<br /> Director: V.G.Samant <br /> Duration: 4.0 mins <br /> Year: 1972<br /><br />Sadly, it's not online anywhere. I found the link at the <a href="http://www.filmsdivision.org">Films Division website</a>. Ah, Doordarshan, how I miss you!Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-44106564089988014772007-10-02T10:35:00.000-05:002007-10-02T14:25:00.207-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Mind-reading machines at the supermarket</span><br /><br />True story. I scant few weeks ago I was at the local Copps supermarket, buying me some lunchtime grub. I passed down the chip aisle and looked lovingly at the neatly stacked rows of Doritos, Lays and Pringles. Picking up two of my favorite flavors of Doritos (Spicy Nacho and Cool Ranch,) I thought passed through my mind. What if they had two flavors instead of one in the bag? It was one of those Holy-Crap-What-An-Amazing-Idea-I-Am-The-Greatest moments. In any event, I still picked up both bags and decided to mix the chips when I got to work. The day plodded on and like all my fantastic ideas, this too was forgotten about, left unused somewhere in the recesses of my mind.<br /><br />Until last week. When I happened down the same aisle in the same store. On that same shelf, sitting among the other bags of Doritos was something that blew my mind to pieces and then stomped on them. It was a bag of Doritos Collisions. Doritos Collisions - 2 flavors - 1 bag - Hot Wings - Blue Cheese. Those bastards. They read my mind. It was clearly a theft of my intellectual property and I wasn't going to get paid for it. I would have to buy my own creation. I couldn't do much about it at this point except show my moral indignation by buying a bag of Jays Chips instead. And buying a roll of Reynolds aluminum foil. I've made a hat out of it and plan to wear it every time I go back to that store. They're not stealing any more of my ideas again.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-83057557327109733642007-09-27T10:40:00.000-05:002007-09-27T10:44:18.470-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >We won baby! India is the 2007 ICC World <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/7009035.stm">Twenty20 champion</a>!</span><br /><br />Here's a pic right after victory!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSDtMPjSgr6U_ApL_Tsr2vI_cZINO2sUGT_XjhMYEAGGhu58a9iipQuATiUkCn_1tA-3F7dvonVgp2WEkZKxob3U3qpeyCKiIHgBkGbTQbBxdu1STCeFGPsu3gJTZ-AqGjmkGvw/s1600-h/80090.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSDtMPjSgr6U_ApL_Tsr2vI_cZINO2sUGT_XjhMYEAGGhu58a9iipQuATiUkCn_1tA-3F7dvonVgp2WEkZKxob3U3qpeyCKiIHgBkGbTQbBxdu1STCeFGPsu3gJTZ-AqGjmkGvw/s400/80090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114909899427813842" border="0" /></a>Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-5173814040466474292007-09-20T17:20:00.000-05:002007-09-20T17:24:25.602-05:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Yuvraj Singh hits six sixes vs England in the Twenty20 World Cup Match!</span><br /><br /><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab visible" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/bob85WbW8cU"></a><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bob85WbW8cU"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bob85WbW8cU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />For my cricket challenged readers, this is sort of the equivalent of a baseball batter hitting 6 home runs in the same game back-to-back. Only better.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-26931890786662161912007-09-17T14:26:00.000-05:002007-09-17T14:39:41.988-05:00Ah! A constant clamor for more posts. My time is limited and I can only do one thing at a time thanks to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male">my condition</a>. So what should I do - cure cancer or write a new post? Write a new post you say? Ok!<br /><br />This was a lazy weekend. Friday revolved around going to the Union to celebrate Kitkat's friends H and D's birthday. This was followed by hanging out at Paul's Club, being refused entry to Frida's as I had sneakers on, hanging out with Hoofers at Crave and finally going home.<br /><br />Saturday was the big badger game and also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthi">Ganesh Chaturthi</a>. So only vegetarian food. Chinese takeout would do nicely. I also finished reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Socialism-Very-Short-Introduction-Introductions/dp/0192804316/">Socialism: A Very Short Introduction</a>. Currently reading the capitalism version of the same book. Will decide what to implement in my new nation-state shortly. Saturday ended at Micheals Frozen Custard with a sundae.<br /><br />Sunday began with coffee on State Street and was followed by watching the Vikings vs Lions game at Lucky's with J. Then I made <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eggplant">baingan</a> curry and fed Ms. Non Sequitur and J while they watched Hot Fuzz. And Ganesh visarjan.<br /><br />Monday, I'm back at work.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-36058108727260364952007-09-04T11:04:00.000-05:002007-09-04T11:20:40.640-05:00State fair, state fair, O how I love thee!<br />Thy caramel apples and pink cotton candy!<br />Thy puff-daddy-on-a-stick and fried alligator meat!<br />Thy chickens and cows and giant sleeping pigs!<br /><br />No seriously, that State Fair had some good food. And Ms. Non Sequitur and I ate a bit too much of it. Meeting Wendell and Big R was fun. Hope they visit Madison soon!<br /><br />Yesterday was spent at Kitkat's place. Kitkat made meat-balls and fried eggplant, her hubby M made chicken curry and rice, Ms. Non Sequitur made Turkish salad, I made fried shrimp and little Ijjac made happy fun time! We watched Van Helsing. It was surprisingly TP. (TP == time pass. For my Indian-English challenged readers, it means decent.)<br /><br />Later in the day, Ms. Non Sequitur and I hung out with teacher Q and arty R at State Street Brats and The Vintage. Gin and tonics FTW!<br /><br />And of course, classes started today at UW-Madison. I wish I could take a class or two.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-69300872104796928182007-08-31T15:16:00.001-05:002007-08-31T15:20:46.523-05:00Summer is almost over. It was a good summer. Lots of sunny days and lots of parties. Fall is next and hopefully will bring with it some exercise.<br /><br />We had the first game of the Fall Ultimate league and we won! Go team Magneto! (I have to think of X-Men-ny shout-outs for the team. Mutant Liberation! Down with humans!)<br /><br />This evening, I drive off to Minneapolis with Ms. Non-Sequitur to meet Wendell and her hubby. And to go to the Minnesota State Fair. Cotton candy, caramel apples and corn dogs. Maybe I'll buy a cow.<br /><br />And right now I'm almost falling into a food coma. I just returned after having a super meal at the Shish Cafe. You gotta go!Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-6810042051642053092007-08-23T12:28:00.000-05:002007-08-23T12:43:17.007-05:00I'm blogging under threat here. Someone on my blog-roll (and I won't say who) threatened me with removal from their blog-roll if I didn't update my blog. So here goes, blogging under pressure.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What have I been doing? </span><br />Not exercising. I'm what you'd call skinny-fat. Thin with a gut. And the last two months or so, thanks to the gym being closed on weekends, and frisbee, my body has, shall we say, deteriorated. Luckily, classes will start at UW-Madison from Sept and with it the gym hours will go back to being normal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What have I been reading?</span><br />I started reading The Extended Phenotype. I was in the middle of Maximum City when the library decided that someone else deserves to read it first. Hopefully, I'll get it back and find out what happens to Manoj the Crossdresser. I also realized that I have too many comic books and probably need to sell some of them. After I have read them one last time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What have I been eating?</span><br />Too much <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_fat">partially hydrogenated fat</a>. And it's not good for me. Don't eat partially hydrogenated fat people, it kills puppies.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What have I been listening to?</span><br />The College Dropout and Late Registration. Mr. West can't really rap that good but he can sure produce a nice sounding album. Drive slow.<br /><br />Well, there's your post. Hopefully I won't have so much <span style="font-style: italic;">aalas</span> next time and will update quickly enough.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-53302439870880166202007-07-30T10:40:00.000-05:002007-07-30T11:46:40.045-05:00Oh widdle bloggy-woggy have I been neglecting you? It's because I've been sleep-deprived and drunk.<br /><br />After I got back from Amsterdam, that week was spent recovering from jet-lag. This activity involves struggling to wake up, having many, many cups of coffee all day, and then struggling to fall asleep at night. It's a lot of fun.<br /><br />Just when I thought I had succeeded in bringing my biorhythms in sync with the other residents of Madison, a week was up and Commodore's Cup had begun.<br /><br />Commodore's Cup is the Hoofer Sailing Club's annual competition. It's a week long event, with about a dozen teams competing against each other. The competitions include sailing, windsurfing, and non-sailing stuff like flip-cup and a talent competition. My team was the Redneck Yacht Club. It involved dressing up like a redneck all week. Wifebeaters, gas-station hats, everything! Mid-week was toga night so I found old sheets and slung 'em around me and hey voila, I'm a Roman. And then a bunch of us in togas decided we had to go to a bar, so we walk all the way to the Plaza in the middle of State Street in our togas. Did I mention that there was free beer every day during Commodore's Cup?<br /><br />At the end of the week was the Commodore's Ball. A formal affair that began with a pre-party at a friend's house. The night progressed to ballroom dancing, (my taking Ballroom 101 in Summer 2003 helped a little bit!) This was followed by the usual going to bars in tuxedos and gowns. We Hoofer members aren't afraid of attention.<br /><br />The week after Commodore's Cup I traveled to Charleston, WV again for the same customer. They seem to have cleaned up their act though 'cause I didn't see cigarettes next to candy in the vending machines again. Instead I saw Kashi snack bars! I was flying back on Thursday. Of course the city of Detroit loves me, so my flight into Madison got canceled and I spent the night in Detroit.<br /><br />Friday it was back to the Terrace for a Hoofer's social and playing the game of Wait-I-remember-your-name-just-give-me-a-second. Saturday was the Simpson's movie with nerd-or-geek J, JJs going-away party and dinner with Wendell and Domestic Nemesis at the Maharaja! It was fun to meet Wendell and talk about capybaras.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-17964463457683857702007-07-12T12:57:00.000-05:002007-07-17T08:25:03.570-05:00This update is late.<br /><br />This should have been posted maybe two or three days ago. Right after my incredible trip to Amsterdam, London and Brussels. Here's what happened...<br /><br />Day 0: D and D's wedding. This was on the Monona lake front and was beautiful. Excellent food, an open bar and great company. (Ms. Non Sequitur and her super cool sisters and their ultra cool friends.) The happy couple exchanged vows at sunset. Pics on Ms. Non Sequitur's blog.<br /><br />Day 1: Amsterdam. I was picked up at Schiphol airport by Cali A, Jersey R and Mumbai S. We headed straight to the Flying Pig Uptown and settled in. If you ever go to Amsterdam, I would recommend living at the Uptown Flying Pig hostel. Clean rooms and incredibly fun people to hang out with and a bar that stayed open all night! Of course, I had to catch a 4am bus to London so couldn't party as much.<br /><br />Day 2: London. Cute T picked my sorry, sleep-deprived ass up from the airport. (Travel tip: If you wanna fly from Amsterdam to London use VLM airlines.) I had had two hours of sleep the previous night and spent the whole day wandering around in London like a zombie with T who was extremely eager to show me <span style="font-style: italic;">everything</span>. Tower Bridge, London Tower, St. Pauls, Millenium Bridge, Covent Gardens etc. Then I took the London underground and traveled to my aunt's place at the edge of town. How I stayed awake in the train I have no idea. But it was worth it because my aunt had made delicious Indian food. And to finish off the night we went to an authentic English pub called the Old Cherry Tree which was really old (built sometime in 1700s) and served some great beer. Sleep.<br /><br />Day 3: Woke at 11! Wow! Hadn't slept in like this since, well, since a couple weeks ago. Anyway, my aunt made some authentic English breakfast for me: sausages, bacon, grilled mushrooms and tomatoes and eggs over easy. Delicious! Then a quick train ride back got me back to downtown and it was more site seeing with T. T's mom had stayed over the previous night due to the crazy bomb scare and in the evening her sister A came down from Oxford. Delicious Indian food for me two nights in a row! The night ended with a late excursion to Westminster to see The Big Ben.<br /><br />Day 4: An early morning flight got me back to Amsterdam. But not before I forgot my jacket at T's place. Ah, well, I get another excuse to go visit her! Within half an hour of reaching Amsterdam my friends decide that we're going to Brussels that day. This was not such a good idea: the train ride was a whopping 4 hours long! Damn! We got to spend only 4 hours in Brussels. We took a bus tour and learned all about Brussels' past. Over and over again. After that we sampled some authentic Belgian beer and tarts. Another 4 hours on the train. Spent mostly sleeping.<br /><br />Day 5: We went to <a href="http://schans.webvanced.nl/English/Home">Zaanse Schans</a>. Windmills, cheese-making, Albert Heijn coffee museum, bakery museum, Toy museum, etc. etc. So many museums, so little time. At the cheese shop we sampled some excellent cheese such as aged gouda, aged goat cheese etc. etc. In the evening, we decided to relent and finally visit on of the 500 or so Argentinian steak houses in Amsterdam. (Why so many? I have no idea!) Great food and free shots of jenever and grappa in the end. Then we went for a pub crawl. 5 or 6 pubs, free drinks at each one, and shots along the way. Yours truly reached the hotel at 6 or so!<br /><br />Day 6: This was supposed to be when we went to Dusseldorf. But when S called at 9:30am my roommates were in a sorry state from Day 5. So like the brave little soldier that I am, I got ready and joined S. We didn't go to Germany but instead roamed around in Amsterdam. Dam Square, Madame Tussauds, etc. etc. (Who knew there was a Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam? I didn't.) At around 2pm or so my friends finally woke up. So I decided to have a nap instead. Later at 4 we went back to Leidseplein, and danced in strange sounding discs like Sugar Water etc. We decided to have a quiet night and came back at a relatively early hour. 3am.<br /><br />Day 7: Airport. Flight. Finished reading The Selfish Gene. Watched Garden State. (Natalie Portman is muy cute.) Spent almost 6 hours hanging out at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. Finally got back to Madison and was driven home by Kitkat.<br /><br />Day 8: Work as usual.<br /><br />I miss you Amsterdam. And London. And even you Brussels.<br /><br />(The next trip will be to a beach though. No matter what!)Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-22569147947585937672007-06-29T13:27:00.000-05:002007-06-29T14:23:09.472-05:00Update time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is Hob currently reading?</span><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Selfish-Gene-Anniversary-Introduction/dp/0199291152/">The Selfish Gene</a> by Richard Dawkins. This has been the most gripping non-fiction book I have read in a while. Recommended reading by everybody!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is Hob currently doing?</span><br />Playing around with Ubuntu 7.04 on Microsoft VirtualPC 2007. Oh, the irony!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is Hob excited about?</span><br />Cousin Q's friend's D is getting married on Saturday and Hob's gonna go!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is Hob really super-excited about?</span><br />Flying out to Amsterdam on Sunday! And spending two days in London with T and aunt S! And the rest of the time in Amsterdam! Amsterdam! Lalalalalalalalala! Amsterdam!<br /><br />Phir milenge, break ke baad!Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142778.post-87205269166554260952007-06-14T16:58:00.000-05:002007-06-14T17:05:46.273-05:00<blockquote>Ambition is defined by what a man wants to become. Some people want to become rich men and women with multiple degrees, make a million dollars and live the American dream. Some people want to make a modest amount of money, hump as many chicks as possible, and discover themselves while traveling. Whoever said that the former is a stronger more viable ambition needs to rethink or isn't wise enough to understand the full scope of 'ambitious'.</blockquote>Sometimes you read the funniest things in the funniest places.Hob Gadlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577403659485039737noreply@blogger.com3