3D Movies, I Boycott

Imagine wearing a pair of shoes over another pair of shoes or a hat over your head and another hat over the first hat. Its both irritating and preposterous. That's why it had to take the genius of James Cameroon and an army of designers, technologists and what not to bring out Avatar, a movie that marked the beginning of 3D into mainstream cinema. While there was a technological awe associated with the movie, the reason 3D technology went so well with the producers is that it, supposedly, prevents piracy.

After Avatar there has been a rush of movies being made in 3D. Any Hollywood movie that is worth watching these days is released in 3D. If at all there are 2D versions, they get released in some obscure theaters in some obscure corner of the city.

All this was fine as long as the technology did not require wearing those stupid glasses. I mean they are nothing but a hassle. First you go to the theater and deposit money to get a pair of glasses. Then you are not sure if they are upto the standard. So you wear them and do a cleanliness check. Of course, its only when the movie starts do you realize that the glasses are no good in translating the movie into 3D. But its too late. I also have this feeling that the 3D glasses reduce the brightness and, at least for me, end up giving a headache. I think its a conspiracy against people like me who wear spects. Wearing spects over spects! How ridiculous. I wish all these producers have to wear a pair of hard leather shoes over their other pair of shoes for their whole life.

To get my voice heard, I have decided to make my money talk. From today onwards, I boycott all 3D movies till there is a better technology where those stupid spects are not required as an add-on. Or better still, producers revert to those good old 2D formats. Most movies are not worth the 3D conversion effort anyway.

Feelings

"A Christmas Carol" is a particularly moving piece of literature. I read the adapted version of the novella for stage enactment during my high school and ever since it has been on the back of my mind for the novella's projection of the ever nagging eventuality that a person might face.

For the uninitiated, A Christmas Carol is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly businessman who detests the world and everyone around him and there is a certain sense of reciprocity to the feelings. Then, on the eve of Christmas he is faced with three ghosts who take him through a journey that changes his (remaining) life forever. A masterpiece by Charles Dickens, read it to believe it (I am no fan of Charles Dickens but this work is really awesome though some might find it a bit childish). Though, Scrooge is a highly successful businessman, in the journey to his 'success' he keeps on loosing those near him. The result is a person with a lot of potential sources of happiness (read money :P) but no one really to share it with. (Another piece of work that conveys this message very well is "Into the Wild" but in a different light).

Now, for me, what's so creepy about this book is that in real life I so often meet people like Scrooge that I am afraid that given enough time I might also become one. I like to think of myself as an optimist but truth be told, the number of grumpy old (though many of these are not exactly old) people around at times sucks out all the optimism. I understand that people have their experiences and points of view but it is difficult for me to grasp when money is given precedence over feelings. I feel really sad for people who are not able to sympathize with other people and their situations. People who, either by their innate nature or conscious thoughts, decide to exploit someone or put someone in misery. I pity them because they are eventually doomed to a 'Scroogian' life and am afraid of them because their attitudes might rub off on me. And hence I read and re-read "A Christmas Carol" to remind me of what I must never be.

Places I Want To Visit

So many wishes, so little time. But while I can I'll at least make a list, just in case I get lucky with enough money, time and companionship. Here's my list of places I want to visit:

• Bhutan : Long overdue. The place somehow mystifies me, especially those on the cliff monasteries.
• Easter Islands : Boy, aint these structures amazing. I want to believe \m/.
• Rio De Janerio : Ok, its in Brazil and has amazing beaches but Christ the Redeemer is why I want to visit this place.
• Varanasi : The oldest city in the world. Must be something about this place that has enabled it to survive this long. Pity that we have managed to destroy the beauty of "Ganga Ghats" at most places, both in an environmental and a moralistic sense. But nonetheless, I long to visit Kashi.
• Angkor Wat : Is it beautiful or is it beautiful. I don't like to visit temples because there are so many people there and the long queues irritate me. Sure would be pleasant to visit a temple where there is no dhakka-mukki. Sheer peace. But that cannot happen in India.
• The Grand Canyon : No words for this, really.

Surely not a complete list but at least a start.

Things I Want To Do

Its been 6 months since my last post on this issue and here is the progress review, as promised:

1. Visit Bhutan - Remains elusive :(
2. Play Mafia with some of my old friends : Check - Thanks to an alumni trip organized by Thrillophilia to Coorg.
3. Do something with as much passion as those people at TED
4. Get a real job: Hopefully soon
5. Do pull ups: Have started to train specifically for this at the Gym now
6. Run 4 kms. in 20 mins.: I guess I should get over this now. Its becoming sort of a drag.
7. Visit to the tall crane cabins
8. Learn to dance
9. Learn to play guitar: In progress

At this juncture in my life, a lot of things seem to be linked to pt. 4. Lately, I have been trying to decouple my life with this important aspect of life. Not sure how successful I will be. In that context, I plan to review my progress of these things one month after I succeed (even partially) in pt. 4.

Friends

A man is what the society makes of him. In that context I have been very fortunate to have had some of the most amazing people around me. This blog is a dedication to each one of them and what qualities they inspired me to instill in myself.

Akhil - Humility
The Gola (Aneesh, Shashank, Vinod, Sonik, Sandy...) - Perseverance
Ujj – The art of giving
Amit – How not to be jealous and move ahead in life by helping others
Avi – How the contrarian view of life is always so positive
Ady – How to just chill out at times, no matter how critical the situation
Dhadda - Persistence
Kanishk – The power of passion
Rohit Prasad – Panicking never solves anything
Aakash – Do what you are supposed to do, anyway
Gunjan – He introduced me to “Sunscreen” – the song
Karthik – Give notes, without any grudges
The VLSI group – Persistence, hard work and humility
Prof. RNB – Perfection and how to always be a child. Enjoying – the most important thing
Prof. DNC – Shit happens, what’s important is how you take it and come out of it
Dr. Mahant-Shetti – Humility; power of combination of an educationist and an entreprenuer
Jain (Vivek)– Being what you are
Sharma (Vikas)– Perception is reality
Nipun – Do something, things are not going to change by themselves
Sapre – A friend in need
Kaushal – Don’t ask what you deserve; ask what you want

I would like to put in a story around each of these to tell why I think the way I think but I guess that's for another time.

Writer's Block - Paradox

Its funny. I know hardly anyone reads this blog and yet while writing a post, I am stuck, afraid of what conclusions these phantom readers of mine might draw. Now, its not that I plan on writing something out of the world or anything. Its just that each post of yours discloses so much about you that you are afraid. A fear that is peculiar and paradoxical. I mean you write to express yourself, an act that inevitably is a mirror into your feelings/thoughts and what not. However, the idea of someone knowing you simply through this mode of expression is amazingly scary. At least to me it is.