GTalk Me

Looks Jazzzzy !Doesnt it...

Thanks to Google Blog, to have placed URLs of Unofficial Google Sites that do developments that please the Google Users, as much as Google does.

Here's to Customize your GoogleTalk.

You have plenty of links for you, if you love that Text Smileys. If you are a ardent core programmer, you will find links to make your RPC Calls from Google Talk.. (!). Boy, that one was too very much.

Here's the best part.... Online IM Radio - MERCORA

This is an IM Based Radio, yet to test this feature with a GTalk IM Friend. But this lets me Webcast my own music, and also listen to other music, with Crystal Clear Sound Clarity.

If you happen to Download this one (download available here) try searching for as many Tamil as possible. I instantly hit upon Mazhai audio.

I tried (in vain) searching "Eno Kangal Un Mugame Ketkiradhe".... the instant Hit from "Kalvanin Kaadhali".... YSR is Still Banging on... Listen to it, and you will know.




Its already December !!

Narayanan - you and me

Home - Narayanan - morning - boring - pooja - coffee - Saddam hussain - saurav/greg - 3 new messages - oh !shit ! - 2 minute bath - quick bites - unironed van huesen - idiots at home - kick start - kick - kick - kick -- damn. hectic traffic - dirty sun - sultry - sick bike - all f****** up.

"good morning sir.. " - "good morning Mr. Narayanan, today you have...." - "sir, yesterdays..." - "Narayain... can you come to my room." "yes sir"

12 emails - 20 minutes - 5 response emails - coffee - coffee sucks - meeting in 2 minutes - print out fired - paper jammed - shucks.

hot meeting - embarrasing questions - "that guy is talking too much, as if" - end of meeting - more responsibilities - 30 mins past lunch time - skipped lunch.

more emails to send - more documents to prepare - life is boring - monotonous, dont you think.

4 continuous hours of "stare on your monitor" - stayed long enough - time to go home - kick start - kick - kick - kick -- damn. sick bike.

home - pooja - complaints - power cut - getting late for "art of living " - pooja wont come - irritated - hungry - unironed khaadi jippa - idiots at home

kick start - kick - kick - kick -- damn - the bike wont start - "sukumar.. im not coming today.."

hit the bed early - sleepless eyes - hungry stomach - restless mind - Narayanan - just another IT guy.

1 Message Received

Yesterday I got an SMS from my friend.

It read,

Andangakka Kondakkaari.. Send this Mantra to 10 people and you will get "Masala Vada from a Andangakka". Please dont neglect.

One more..

Thanjaavooru Mannu eduthu, Thamirabarani thanniya vittu
Serthu Serthu Senjadhu Unga Cellu...
Adhu cellu illa cellu illa, Sengallu !

Hmm... Thank God SMS was a free service.. There are hell lot of fwd:SMS that keep coming around..

One such thing is

Ganguly: En paer Saurav, muzhu paer Saurav Ganguly.

Saurav's Doctor: Ivarala 15 nimisathaku maela entha pitchlayum batting panna mudiyathu.
Yarro ivar thalaila vegama ball pottu thakiyirukaanga; ivar oru SHORT TERM BATTING LOSS patient.

Addadddaaddaaaa..... thaaanga mudilayappa...

How would you feel, after reading anyone of the above, when you are sitting inside a meeting room ? I felt funny, and tried all possible facial expressions to control my laughter.

ஜாதிகள் இன்னும் இருக்குதடி பாப்பா !

Stop. Think.

Are you one of the guys who would struggle to abolish the Caste System ? Read on.
Realize a few more Castes we have created.

"இந்த Cycle காரணுங்களே இப்டித்தான்"

"வெறும் Call Centre உத்யோகம் பார்க்கராரா ? "

"AUTO காரன் எல்லாம் கொள்ளைக்கார பசங்க !"

There are a lot more. LOT MORE. We are humans. I know a many of us want to abolish all the categoizations and evolve under a single Roof ! But trust me, we always tend to categorize. We always want to split. I see people praised and critisized based on their jobs. That is how the Caste system started.. And we are "Murpokku vaadhigal" and we still do it.

The Way i see it, the "Murpokkuvaadhigal" have only developed a few more castes instead of abolishing.

"The Villiwakkam Auto Stand Union" will become a "Jaathi Sangam". "The Ayanavaaram Mudi Thiruththuvor Sangam" will be one too.. "Chennai Kaigari Vyaabarigal" will become a Vote Bank.

Guys, there are more castes than you thought there was !! What can you do ??

Anbe Venkataachalam !!

Anbarasu : "look, i dont understand your jokes man !!!"

Nallasivam : "Becasue, its not a joke.... முன்ன பின்ன தெரியாத ஒரு பையனுக்காக கண்ணீர் விடர மனசு இருக்கே, என்னப் பொருத்த வரைக்கும் அதுதான் கடவுள்"

Anbarasu : "huh !! heh .... thank you... என்ன திடீர்னு இந்த பணிவு ??"

Nallasivam : "ஏன்னா நானும் கடவுள் !! "

Anbarasu : "haaah !! நினைச்சேன் !! ஏதாவது hook இருக்கனுமே ......"

................

Nallasivam : "A. ARS....... You are a good man."

Anbarasu : "...hmmm :) so, are you.."

Nallasivam : "I know ......" :)

Successful 50th time. Watched my alltime fave "Anbe Sivam" yet again.
Neeyum Naanum Sivamaaampa !!

Avyukta Chips

Just apply Two Filters on Photoshop CS2 and you will get this effect.
But when I showed my mom, she said "Ennada.. Kannellam asingamaa.."

____________________________

Today, at work, we are compensating for the day that was declared a Holiday due to Rains. Looks like today will again be a holiday, because of the rain. Ha ha he haae heeeeh haaa ..yahooo !

____________________________

If you hadnt heard "Pibare Raamarasam" from Morning Raaga, I recommend you listen to it very soon. Early morning. Rain outside. Cold Inside. A little noisy Silence.A Shrill voice. Heavens. You need to hear it.

____________________________

Dont blame it on the Politicians. I saw people who own 2 FLoor buildings, rushing to get the relief measures. They are rich guys, yet run to get the relief, despite the fact that they did not suffer.

On a different Tone, Adengappa Prabhu said people where rushing into CompUSA like hell to get the best deals on the Black Friday sale.

People are People everywhere.

Ketta Naal Mudhal

Kanda Naal Mudhal

What kind of movie is this ?? Looks to me as if 3 people ditching each other. The Movie hasnt overdone the hype. So, it is as silent as it can be before the release. Wish it makes noise after release.

Priya - who's been with Maniratnam directs this movie. Prakashraj is the producer (I really appreciate him for his experiments).

PC Sriram has our eyes. Yuvan Shankar Raja has our Ears. (He already has mine..)

Talk of songs in the movie. Boy, it was released looong back. Seems to be some problems releasing the movie (like Thavamai Thavam Irundhu..)..

6 Songs. Cant expect all of them to be good. No Music Listener will expect all the songs in a movie to be good. Do you know why ? Anyways, 3 songs are just too good in the movie. YSR Rocks.

Kanda Naal Mudhal, is sung by Subhiksha and Pooja. Its a carnatic based song. I wouldnt say it is a perfect one. But i keep hearing this repeatedly. "Ennamo Pannudhu !!" on hearing this song. The way the song starts might irritate a few people. Carnatic music lovers will hate for a simple reason that every Music director adds a fast beat to a carnatic song, and calles it a Novel song.. but the Raagam of the song is thrilling, and got high peaks.. Dont try to sing it in front of people. They might think you are hitting your last breath. Must Hear.

Merke Merke, is a sure hit. Already all the ears in my office have surrendered to this song.Shankar Mahadevan and Sadhana Sargam would have enjoyed singing this plain and simple rythm. This song wins for simplicity. Cool song.. Lyrics are worth a listen.. You are sure to humm the humm (this one features the trailer, i believe).

Panithuli Panithuli, (why do songs always start like this.. "rukumani rukumani","humma humma","oorvasi oorvasi", "oruvan oruvan","ey.. shabba ey.. shabba"... and the list is endless... why o why ?) is a beautiful song, and that I realized very late. KayKay, Shreya Ghoshal and Thanvi have voiced this song. YSR shows his intelligence in music (Thiramaiya kaamichuttar) through this song. In a song, if the instruments support the voices, instead of being independant and showing off, the song is already a good one. This is such a song, with underplayed instruments. "Pesumbodhe Pesumbothe Mounamaanom" appdinnu Uchchasthayiyil paadum bodhu, we melt.

Erimalai Naane, Shankar Mahadevan and Vasundhara Das. This is yet another song, that will remind you of some song or the other. It is in the hands of time, that this song will become a hit. Otherwise, it is just an effortless song..

Other 2 songs, Koo Koovena and Pushing it are just another songs in their genre. Pushing it is YSR's Englipees paattu where he sings in unknown english lines... im getting to hate this kind. Thevai illaye Mr. YSR.

On the whole 3.5/6 have passed. So, this is set with good music. If the movie is getting in the right time, and has a promising story... Prakashraj will win in his efforts. Im placing my bets on this movie. You ?

Anju vechcha Paththu.. Paththu vechcha Irubadhu... vaa naina vaa.

To Notepad Fans

I've seen most of the software developers use Notepad as their slaves. Yet, most of their activities revolve around it. Development in a wider sense means COPY-PASTE. So, Clipboard means a lot to software developers, and Notepad is their Multi-tier Clipboard.

If you fall under that category, or if you use Notepad extensively... here's makig your life simpler.

Welcome to KeyNote.



You press Esc, and the application will minimize to your system tray (not even Start Bar)
And the beauty is, you dont have to save.. It auto saves.

Also, you can store your contents like a Parent Child/ Sibling format..
This is what it looks like.

It is more like an Organized Scrap Book.
Give it a try, when you find time.

The Application Setup is available here.

Rain and Shine all the Way

Yesterday was good.

I started the Honda Avyukta (!) 8.30 Am. Cool Breeze.

Kilpauk Water tank road - Getting Dark.

Kellys - Drizzling... I get down, wear my rain gear.. (just a cap..)

Damaaaal - Something fell from above.. Rain it was.. it wasnt separated drops of rain.. it was like a huge mass of water pouring.. whoopa ! Semma mazhai.. for 10 minutes.. I stood under a tree with all the other fellow Bikers. (This is funny. Standing under a tree, when its raining doesnt keep you out of rain.. It still rains. You can only prevent yourself from those powerful, sharp edged rain drops that pierce your face, when you are trying to pace up.)

After 10 minutes - rain stopped. All the refugees started their bikes and fled, with a few "no. i wont start" bikes staying back below the tree.

Pantheon road - It is shining bright like April. As if nothing has happened.

Hmm.. Chennai Is gone Crazy.. Too very Crazy.

###############################################

Here's another Castpost. An Audio file from Anthimantharai.

I keep getting this music, but am Not sure if this is the same Bharathiraja - AR Rahman movie that won an award even before release.. (and hence didnt run at all). But all the music collection for this movie so far has been excellent. Listen to this one.

I've heard that Naveen is the person who plays Flute for ARRahman. If someone could give me his address, I will go meet him and fall on his feet.. for his Bombay Theme and many many other excellent Music on Rahman's songs and backgrounds.

Even in the Anthimantharai song posted above, the flute rules.

"Thulai Sellum Kaatru Mellisayaadhal Adhisayam"

Cast A Post

Guys, check this out.

You will certainly love it, if you dont want a paid AudioBlog.

Here's my AudioBlog.

Apart from holding a separate blog, you could also post on your Existing Blog, like this.



Castpost

The War of Game Shows

Looks like Sun TV is jumping back to game. Ramya Krishnan features in Sun TVs new game show "Thanga Vettai" (Gold Hunt).

Sun TV already sucked at replicating "Kaun Banega Crorepati". Sarathkumar's flop show "Koteeswaran" did not reach people as expected. But Jaya TV's "Jackpot" is rocking sundays, nowadays.

Vijay TV's "Vasool Rani" is what seems to have triggered up the fire. A very different show with reasonably good questions (some were difficult even) has fastly crawled in to the TV Menu of the audience. The anchor of the show is Balaji (who seems to be a popular Radio Jockey). This guy takes the show with cool pace, and i think he is fairly a good reason for the hit of the show.

Jaya TV has now got Meena to play "Houseful" game. This is a SMS driven game show, where anyone from their living rooms can participate.. This game is what is called "Tambola".. something we used to play in office, occasionally.

Now Sun TV cant be numb, watching all the games (or Game SHows) going around them. So here they are with 200 Gms of GOLD (i guess so, im not sure about the number). Ramya Krishnan will give 200 Gms of GOLD to the Winner of "Thanga Vettai".

Adhayum dhaan paarpome !

Hmm. Get reminded of Playwin's Slogan.
"Khelo India, Khelo !"

Detour - The Cool Hunter

This is some site I've been long waiting for... Wierd and "What the Heck" Gadgets all featured on this site.

The First Image is a Roll out WALL. You just take it with you (easily foldable) and you can make a wall around you, just about anywhere. :)

The second one is a Cable/Wire Winder You can wind up the loosely hanging wires around these creature toys..

The third one is a Cable Identifier.. You can wind up cables with this, and write over it to identify the cable's purpose.


There are much much more on the website.. different gadgets and products that are just not-ordinary.

Visit the website, here. The Cool Hunter.

PS -

• Whats with this ? Im getting more forwards on Krishnamurthi (seems to be a philosopher)..
• I've added back the Google Adsesnse, with just Images banners ads. Looks good... (you know what to do)

Of Slow Songs

One thing that Struck me when I watched "Sollitharavaa" in "Majaa". Immediate thought.

"Suttum Vizhi Sudare" should have been choreographed and cinematographed like this.

It simply didnt require Surya dancing to the beats, and it was close to comedy the way he was dancing. It was a good song spoiled.

Usually, the Oliyum Oliyum days, I used to wait and watch the songs on TV than just listening to it. Because the video part was pulling the audience.. "Uyire Uyire" from Bombay had no dance/special effects/not even foreign location. Yet made me watch it everytime, its on TV.

Its only after watching the movie on theatre, Im repeatedly listening to "Sollitharavaa.. Sollitharavaaaa" from Maja. Its got a Vintage effect. You can easily put MGR and KR. Vijaya in it... resembles a very old song. Still the melody wins beyond replication. Give it a listen.

This song is sung by Madhu Balakrishnan and Sadhana Sargam. Perfect corellation between the voices.

There's another Madhu Balakrishnan song playing on Avyukta. "Kanden Kanden" from Madurey. Its another impressive song, with good editing... Freeze frame worked out well with the Slow song too.. waw !

Many directors struggle to make a Slow song. A very few succeed. Remember K. Balachander showed two people conversing over the phone for 5 minutes.. and made it a Hit song and its always interesting to watch the song. (Sangeetha Swarangal from Azhagan)...

PS - Why does Vikram apply "Kan Mai" to his eyes in that song... looks odd. Probably to make Asin look even more beeetiful.

Meet the Chennai Bloggers

I'm planning to attend it. If you are in Chennai on the mentioned date and time.. Ill be glad to meet you.

Visit www.Kiruba.com for more details on the Chennai Blogger Meet.

New photo on Photoshop blog.

Payanigalin Kanivaana Gavanathirku !

Thanks to GowriShankar for showing the Showcases of IRFCA .

Do you recognize this picture ? It is the Legendary MG Train from Beach to Tambaram.

The picture was taken when the Train headed off to the Shed, after its Last Ever journey on the Beach - Tambaram line. Picture Credits - Jason Antony (Webmaster of IRFCA).

I remember a lot of Ardent Fans (Adharsha in Tamil) of the MG Train were on the last journey. Train to those people was a part of their life. Actually a very important part of their life.

The IRFCA Showcase features a lot of photographs, thats not just picturing the Train as such, but with Tons of beauty added to trains.

Look at this picture. It says the theme.

The train is heading to Heavens. It wont run anymore. With the Inner Lights off and just the Headlights on, the photographer has lied on his back, and taken the Photo.

You might want to take a look at the Photo Gallery of IRFCA.

Off Beat : Thanks to Chakra's email.. He sent me a few Sivaji's Punch Dialogues.. Here's my Favourite.
Singathe konja mudiyathu...Sivajiya minja mudiyathu..

Yesterdays Dilbert Rocks

Click picture for a bigger one. It simply rocks.

SATYA - THE OTHER SIDE OF TRUTH

(Thanks to PK for lending me the CD)

Boy, this is a wonderful movie. Makes us think there is a Manirathnam in Mumbai too. Ram Gopal Varma has directed the movie in Style. It will not be a too exciting movie for Tamil audience, as they have sen more blood and violence. Still, the portrays of life of two guys, Satya and Bikku who become friends, is something that will rest in minds for a long time (if you watched the movie).

Satya, (JD Chakravarthy - last seen on Kannathil Muththamittal) comes to Mumbai looking for a living. Circumstances make him join hands with the Underground Mobs, where he becomes a Pal to Bikku another Dada. Then there is Vidya (Urmila Madonkar) for Satya to get in love with. After that the movie runs till Bikku and Satya Die.

To me, after seeing movies of all Tamil heroes as Dadas, this movie is no good. Yet, there is something every director can learn from this movie. Screenplay.

You would expect a action movie like this to be very fast. Amazingly, this movie is paced at a steady speed. No hick-ups. Hindhi guys always tolerate this 3 hour movies. The Director takes his own time, (and our time too) to slowly recite the story with a lots of reality.

For instance, The commissioner who is pesturing the underworld walk out of his room. Then we hear a low-thud. People walk out and see their Commisioner is dead. No Music. No camera effects. Nothing. Your blood will run cold. The movie is got brilliance everywhere.

Specially the Music and Background Music. Sandeep Chowta and Vishal Bharadwaj are the music guys, and they have done a contemporary work. Infact i wanted to write this post for just mentioning the music.

Some unconventional music in this movie. The Background music is the power of the movie. Badhaloon Se is a song that break the convention and melt on ears. Im repeatedly hearing this. Im struggling to find out the voice behind it.

With Ram Gopal Varma, it looks to me from here as if, there is a lot of room (and money) for experimentation. As Lazygeek mentioned earlier on his post, we certainly need Ram Gopal Varma in Tamil, for these kind of experimentations.

I think we have enough directors. We only need producers.

Quick Trivia : Theres a report on Google Analytics, and its called "Visitor Loyalty".

Kumaramangala Birla

• Kumaramangalam wins Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year award
• Kumaramangalam Birla eighth youngest billionaire

This is Kumaramangalam Birla, Son of Aditya Birla and Chairman of Aditya Birla Group.

He is in newspapers and webpages for the past few days for those achievements mentioned on the top. I tried replacing Kumaramangalam with Keerthivasan. Looked Good.. :)

Thats right. Anybody would want to be in the limelight this person is currently in. And he seem to deserve this because he brought back Aditya Birla group back to business, when the group was Warned of falling apart. From then on, Kumaramangalam, who took over from his father has taken the Group in the path of growth and prosperity.

Asia Times has an article about him. (and many other sites are featuring him).

At a young age, the boy billionaire has hit upon a winning formula: he lets the achievements of his companies, and not his immense wealth, do the talking for him.

Read this article. To me, it was a difference than reading the same old Wipro and Infosys story.

Quick question for you.. how do you pronounce "Entrepreneur".. few of my CA friends pronounced it in a way that sounds like "On-thra-pruno(r)"... Once i start pronouncing it properly, i will try and become one.. :)