A trek to the very top of the mountain. That’s me standing inches before a 3000 foot sheer drop 
Oh yeah! That’s the path we took 
It’s sheer bliss at the very top!
And the path was often like this!
All this in a magical peak called Thadiyendamol, the second highest peak in Karnataka! Must see for all nature and trekking lovers!
Your Request RQ5366290 to ****** Service Desk has been logged.
Details are as follows :
Assigned to: Natarajan Chandrashekar
Assignee Extn:50509
Logged by: Natarajan Chandrasekaran
Mailid : Natarajan_C
Now read the above carefully. This is the cause of the goof up.
Got a call on my mobile
X:”Hi. This is Natarajan speaking”
Me: “Yes. This is Natarajan speaking”
X :”No. This is Natarajan Chandrashekar speaking”
Me:”Yes. Yes. I am Natarajan Chandrasekaran speaking”
…… and it continued for a while until **TING**
**BULB** began to glow for both of us The key difference lies in the ‘an’ at the end of the name.
Edit: I have been christened ‘NatCan’ at work because of this!
These have been entertaining me daily for almost 6 years now. Nowadays, British comedy is Number 1 among my favourite things in the universe. This is how it all began.
PG Wodehouse
It started in Class 12. I was watching Top Gear on BBC and my friend was sitting next to me reading a short stories collection of PG Wodehouse. It was a special episode which featured the “Ugliest cars ever made” and was rib-tickling, especially Clarkson’s comments about them. My friend, who was not even looking at the TV was rolling with laughter. I asked him what was so funny and he said “This” and showed me a story called The Great Sermon Handicap. I began reading the story and was soon on the floor. This was followed by Purity of the turf ; both stories involved betting. The story is as follows. Bertie receives a letter from his cousin Eustace asking him to come down to the country if he wants to make a spot of money. The letter also continued on the back in which a table is present containing
a. Name of Vicar
b. Town
c. Handicap (in minutes) and
d. Odds
He goes on to find that there is a bet to find the Vicar who delivers the longest sermon. Anything else I say now will only be a spoiler, but rest assured, it will make you laugh.
The striking similarity that we both (me and my friend) noticed was that the unabashed comedy style of PGW, Top Gear, Charlie Chaplin, Mind Your Language etc. Add to that the fact that they were all Brits! It was then that we started off on our wonderful discovery.
Douglas Noel Adams
Now this guy makes me wonder at his genius. He is truly a comic mastermind! The influences of Sir PGW can clearly be seen. I had seen this book in the local lending library called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I started reading the book and was impressed by the “Ways to leave the planet” which was part of the preface. I eagerly began reading the book and I still remember that this was the first passage that I read again and again, laughing all the while. This is the passage
“The second worst poetry in the Universe is of Grunthos the Flatulent, poetmaster to the Azgoths of Kira. During a reading of his poem Ode To A Small Lump Of Green Putty I Found In My Armpit One Midsummer Morning, four of the audience died of internal hemorrhaging and the president of the Mid-Galactic Arts Nobbling Council survived only by gnawing one of his own legs off. Disappointed by the reception of his poem, Grunthos then prepared to read his 12-book epic, My Favourite Bathtime Gurgles when his own minor intestine, in a desperate attempt to save civilization leapt up his neck and throttled his brain, thus killing him”
Other memorable characters whom I found particularly funny were Mavin, the Paranoid Android and Hotblack Desiato, a member of Disaster Area, the loudest band in the universe who was being dead for a year for tax reasons.
Rowan Atkinson and Blackadder
Rowan Atkinson is majorly known for his portrayal of Mr.Bean in the TV series and the two movie adaptations. He does not speak much in these and it came as a complete surprise for me when I found a youtube video of one of his comedy sketches. This guy could talk, after all! And he was so much more funnier when he talks. The sarcasm and the ridiculing tone of voice, sheer talent! Then came Blackadder, which by far, is his best EVER. All the four seasons are hilarious to say the least, but my personal preference goes Seasons 2-4-3-1 . The sarcasm in almost every one of his lines and the insults which are hurled upon Baldrick.
The below is a sample from when Blackadder and Baldrick play “I Spy” to while away time in the army bunker.
Blackadder: “I spy, with my bored little eye, something beginning with T”
Baldrick: “Breakfast”
Blackadder:”What?”
Baldrick: “Yes, sir! My breakfast always begins with a Tea”
Blackadder: “No,Baldrick. I meant the letter”
Baldrick: “It is’nt breakfast then. The postman never arrives before 10:30″
Blackadder:”Oh my god!”
Blackadder is given the task of finding out the German spy in the camp hospital
Baldrick:”I have a cunning plan, Sir”
Blackadder:”Well, I dont want to hear it unless its as cunning as a cunning fox who has just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford”
Baldrick:”Yes, Sir, it is. We go around the hostipal asking people ‘Are you a German spy? If it was me, I’d own up!”
Blackadder:”Yes,Baldrick. There is a tiny flaw in the plan. You see, the Germans are more likely to send a spy who has slightly more intellect than a boiled potato!”
John Cleese, Fawlty Towers and Monty Python
John Cleese is considered to be one of the best comedians in the world. I had heard a lot about him before. I had seen a DVD of Monty Python and the Holy Grail in my cousin’s place and watched it there. Immediately fell in love with the wacky humour that is so characteristic of Monty Python. Monty Python still has cult status and is also famous for giving rise to the term “spam” named after one of their sketches. One person who stood out from the rest of the Pythons was John Cleese. I am a fan of this guy and recently downloaded a mockumentary by him titled How to Irritate People. The most memorable show that John Cleese has been a part of ,however, is Fawlty Towers. The story is a simple one revolving around an extremely rude and neurotic hotel owner, Basil Fawlty, his wife, Sybil Fawlty, the maid Polly and the character who made the show very slap-stick-ish, Manuel, the waiter hailing from Barcelona, who Basil employs since he is so cheap.
P.S.There are many many more like Coupling , Top Gear etc. which are not explained in detail in this blog. Those will follow in a separate blog, soon!
Iron Man is a path breaking superhero movie. Definitely. This was evident from the very start when the protagonist is portrayed as a guy who takes ‘zero accountability’ for his weapons manufacturing – company’s role in the war and the destruction caused.
This is one superhero film which does not stick to the norm and boldly experiments. This is a superhero who has created himself. He has realized what he must and must not do. It steers far away from cliches. The movie is gripping with mind blowing action from start to finish accompanied by some brilliantly appropriate BGM. (The film opens with AC-DC’s ‘Back in Black’ and ends with Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’)
And to add the icing on the cake, this is a superhero who appears without his mask to the public and says “Yes. I AM Iron Man”. The superhero finally comes out of his very large closet!!
OK. I am now on WordPress. Now what? Will I write regularly? I doubt it. Anyway, lets see where this goes
