So this is Democracy !

This happened at UF yesterday :


Toward the conclusion of Kerry's UF forum,Andrew Meyer, a UF student in the College of Journalism and Communications ,approached an open microphone at the University Auditorium and demanded Kerry answer his questions. The student claimed that University Police Department officers had already threatened to arrest him, and then proceeded to question Kerry about why he didn't contest the 2004 presidential election and why there had been no moves to impeach President Bush.

A minute or so into what became a combative diatribe, Meyer's microphone was turned off and officers began trying to physically remove him from the auditorium. Meyer flailed his arms, yelling as police tried to restrain him.

He was then pushed to the ground by six officers, at which point Meyer yelled, "What have I done? What I have I done? Get away from me. Get off of me! What did I do? ... Help me! Help."

Police threatened to user a Taser on Meyer if he did not "comply," but he continued to resist being handcuffed. He was then Tased, which prompted him to scream and writhe in pain on the floor of the auditorium.

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It is shocking - And UFPD should apologize for it's unnecessary use of force !

Apple making the right attempts atleast.

2 months of Cool usage + 100 dollars +Apology from Steve Jobs = I am happy with APPLE again :)

Click here to learn more :

Apple CEO Jobs offers early iPhone buyers a $100 credit

Bill Hicks on Marketing ...I find it so relevant at this moment

I always knew what he was talking about 15 years ago-two years before he died in 1994. Now, I understand it.

iPhone Rocks and APPLE sucks BIGTIME !!

As an owner of an iPhone for nearly 2 months now, I can say without a doubt that it's one of the coolest gadget ever made.Apple has filed 200 patents on this single product.Largest for any gadget ever released in the market.But, I just got the news that APPLE has made a 200 dollar price cut on it.This so sucks.I am outraged.I wanna sue Steve Jobs !!

Some Comments from other early adopters of iPhone :

"I am on DAY 15!!!" lamented a commenter on the Engadget tech blog. "I might shoot myself in the face ... it was nice knowing you all."

"Suck it up — you wanted to be the coolest kid on the block and you were for a few weeks," gloated one poster to the Gizmodo tech blog. "Isn't that worth at least $200?"
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I kind of see the point in the second comment. I am glad I am 2 months old.But, I am still outraged.

The Stupidity of it all

Fireworks

A video of firework display in Groton-New London over the River Thames taken by me.

Better than imagination.

I was there with 20,000 people @ Tweeter center,which was packed to it's full extent.I had never seen so many people at the same time and place in my life.But, Anyways - TOOL came out on the stage after dark with the crowd cheering frantically.And, without any introduction or anything started playing 'Jambi'.The brilliant laser show and lightings came on which synched with the music flawlessly. My roomies were enthralled by that alone :)

And,Yes - they played 'Schism' with almost a minute long added section of drum solo just before "Cold Silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion" part.Danny carey is really a GOD on drums.Another song that I HAVE to mention is 'Lateralus'.Instead of the regular 9 minutes ,they added a 6 minute long drum session with another drummer(I don't know who he was -But, he was good) making the song as long as 15 minutes.Those 6 minutes(Maynard left the stage during this period) was like a "Jugalbandi" from Indian classical music,with both drummers filling in notes for each other.Sometimes playing together,sometimes following each other and sometimes clashing with each other.It was like a lightening had struck the whole crowd of people and they just watched in sheer awe.

At the End of the 2 hour show maynard broke his silence saying just these few lines:

" Hi - All you drunken bastards.Hope you had fun tonight.Drive safely and take care of the people driving beside you. We will see you again soon"

And that's it !

This band is so freaking awesome.No talks and chit chats.No publicity. No MTV.No Interviews.No appearance in their own music videos.No Cameras or Press allowed in their concerts.

And still just through "Word of mouth" -There is no place for you to keep your foot in one of the largest venues in US. The reason being MUSIC for them comes first.The difference between French fashion --and-- True passion.

No words can describe what I witnessed -You have to see it for yourself.

A Dream come true

Time: 3 Years Ago
Place: Room 145,Hostel 5,IIT Bombay

I am browsing through the infinite collections of Music on IITB LAN.
I come across this song called Schism by a band called TOOL.I never really appreciated Heavy Metal so to say(At that time - I was heavily into Grunge) and this band was put into that category.Now,I can appreciate the foolishness in putting TOOL into any genre.Anyways, Three thoughts struck me as I heard Schism,my first TOOL song.

1. The drummer is really talented and the band is not trying too hard to impress as is the case with most of the heavy metal bands.
2. Unusual arrangement of guitars and drums with chaotic beat and rhythm changes.
3. This song would sound better LIVE.
   

and from there the wish to see TOOL live emerged.3 years later
I can still listen to this song and it has the ability to surprise me.
It's almost as fresh as my first time listen ---This is the magic of TOOL.

It never gets old.

For two years the only question I have hated is:
"So,did you go to a rock concert yet ?"
I have always said that I am waiting for the right band to come along,
I am NOT gonna go to a freaking Godsmack concert and
finally - I am gonna get my TOOL !

Time: 12 July,2007
Place: Tweeter Center,Mansfield,Massachusetts

Here is Schism for you to listen :

I know the pieces fit cause I watched them fall away

Mildewed and smoldering - Fundamental differing,
Pure intention juxtaposed will set two lovers souls in motion
Disintegrating as it goes - Testing our communication
The light that fueled our fire then has burned a hole between us so
We cannot see to reach an end - Crippling our communication

I know the pieces fit cause I watched them tumble down
No fault, None to blame, It doesn't mean I don't desire to
Point the finger, Blame the other, Watch the temple topple over.
To bring the pieces back together - Rediscover communication.

The poetry that comes from the squaring off between,
And the circling is worth it.
Finding beauty in the dissonance.

There was a time that the pieces fit, but I watched them fall away.
Mildewed and smoldering, strangled by our coveting
I've done the math enough to know the dangers of a second guessing
Doomed to crumble unless we grow, and strengthen our communication

Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion

-between supposed lovers
-between supposed brothers.

And I know the pieces fit.

Absolute Classic

Whimsical Gibberish

The Whimsical Gibberish

Weekend is here !!

Friday Night: Hard Rock Cafe,Foxwoods(More pictures)

Saturday : Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration(More Pictures)

Sunday : Six Flags,Springfield,New England(More Pictures)

Party is still on ...!!

Having Fun in the Sun - Weekends (Groton -New London-New York-Boston - ?)

Now ,We are talking.The Weekends are the real deal.Explore and Party is the Focus.Groton is a very quiet suburb, with beautiful evenings and sunsets.Shores of River Thames are just 2 mins of walk away from my home.Check out the pics from Groton/New London here

Groton-New London Pics

This place is quite close to both New York and Boston.The second weekend here (Memorial Day Weekend) I went to New York.It was quite an interesting trip.The focus was to cover the areas I had not covered last time. That is - Downtown New York.Check out the pics here:

New-York Pics

The last weekend me and my roomies decided to drive to Boston.Check out the pics here :

Boston Pics

The Next Weekend where will I be ...Who Knows ?

The Pfizer Experience

People have been pushing me for this post. So, here I am at Pfizer Global R & D.Doing my internship for three months.It's a very welcome change from the graduate life.Here is how I spend a week day.

I get up as early as 6 in the morning.Get ready for the office in a slightly more professional way -No more Rock band Tshirts for me or T-Shirts with messages/Torn and Faded jeans.I think I should get a trophy for this.I walk to my office in about half an hour.The work I am doing is mostly experimental work,again a change from my PhD work which is mostly simulation.So, I spend my time mostly away from my computer.And,I like it ! The work is going better than I or my supervisor had anticipated -Full Marks to me :) I leave office at around 5 in the evening. My roomies are two mechanical engineers from purdue university.One of them has an Indian food fetish so he cooks it everyday for me :) (I also cook sometimes :D) We eat and then talk about random stuff and the day is over.

Overall,My randomness in life has decreased. I hope to carry some of it back to Gainesville,Florida(I so miss it !)

La Haine (Hate)

Must see movie.

Heard about the guy who fell off a skyscraper? On his way down past each floor, he kept saying to reassure himself: So far so good... so far so good... so far so good. How you fall doesn't matter. It's how you land!

Virginia Tech Massacre.

Another example of a crazy guy with a gun. A technological campus is assumed to be generally one of the safest place,but apparently it's not.33 people have been reported killed in this tragedy till now.Not much is known about the identity of the shooter or the victims.The only confirmed death that I know till now, is of a professor of indian descent.Professor G V Loganathan.May he rest in peace.

Raises a lot of questions in my mind,but for now, I am just sad.

Why Tool Rocks and Limp Bizkit Sucks !

Fred Durst(Limp Bizkit) : Tool is one of my favorite bands in the world. Their new record is blowing my mind. They're not really metal, metal...

Fred Durst(Limp Bizkit) : Maynard is the greatest singer of all time.
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James Maynard Keenan(Tool) : I don't really see the connection. Because there is some intensity in some of our songs, I think these bands pick up the surface noise, and that's their influence. ... When I hear these loud, goofy posturing idiots jumping up and down, more concerned about their hairdos than their music, it's just we don't do that, what am I missing? There's nothing to the music that moves me, or compels me to want to sit down and listen to it, which is unfortunate. Maybe I'm just a cynical old bastard

James Maynard Keenan(Tool-Oklahoma Concert): Good evening.You're all planning on having fun tonight... right ? We probably should make some kind of distinction of the kind of fun we are gonna have tonight.Not Like WWF or Monster truck ralley fun.NOT Limp Bizkit - Kidrock kind of fun.The difference being that we don't underestimate your intelligence.
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By the way, TOOL picked up another Grammy for their album 10,000 days while I was in India.Not that it matters.

South Park vs. Family Guy

Family Guy-Stewie Griffin

South Park-Butters

It's an oft debated subject on internet underground message boards and for that matter openly in public by the makers of the show.I have even discussed this with my roommate Rahul Kekre (who,by the way is a big south park fan) many times.

Personally, I think both are awesome shows,which are always pushing boundaries(& people's nerves).

Matt & Trey(makers of South Park) made two complete episodes on South Park (Cartoon Wars) to express their view on family guy.They spoke through Cartman when he said :

Don't you ever, EVER compare me to Family Guy, you hear me Kyle? Compare me to Family Guy again and so help me, I will kill you where you stand! Do you have any idea what it's like? Everywhere I go: "Hey Cartman you must like Family Guy, right?" "Hey, your sense of humor reminds me of Family Guy, Cartman!" I am nothing like Family Guy! When I make jokes they are inherent to a story! Deep situational and emotional jokes based on what is relevant and has a point, not just one random interchangeable joke after another!


Seth McFarlane(maker of Family guy) retaliated in a speech at Harvard, in the voice of Stewie Griffin, saying that the jokes need not always be a part of the plot because they are there to be 'FUNNY'.In another interview he said Family guy will also reciprocate with an episode.I am looking forward to that episode of Family guy.It's very entertaining to see two very good shows involved in such criticism of each other.

Celine

I am so in love with the character of Celine from Before Sunrise/Before Sunset.

Celine: I believe if there's any kind of God it wouldn't be in any of us, not you or me but just this little space in between. If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone, sharing something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed but who cares really? The answer must be in the attempt.

Leaving for India .

It's been 1 & 1/2 years.It's a long time.I think India must have changed a lot in this period.Atleast, I have.I remember these lines from the movie 12 Monkeys, which Bruce Willis says on seeing an old movie after a long time :

I have seen it,but I don't remember this part.Funny.The movie never changes --it can't change--but everytime you see it , it seems different because you're different --you notice different things.

Packing all my stuff right now.I will leave for India in about 6 hours. Hoping to have a month of some serious fun there.

The All Florida Road Trip -The Reunion

So, Manish Mittal (who by the way, now prefers to be called Manish, instead of Mittal) landed in Orlando, Florida on 24th of december. Me & Kekre picked him up in the morning from the airport & headed straight to Universal Studios. And from that moment on we had entered a crazy week of fun and adventure.

We saw some great 4D shows, Shrek and Terminator. I specially loved the ride "Back to the future".Anyone going to Universal Studios must check out this ride.It's like "Spiderman" from the islands of adventure,but kicks so much more ass.

Without wasting anymore time we left for Miami the next day.It was a long drive. So, we decided to play 20 questions.Mittal gave us a toughie with the democrat candidate up for presidency this time.Telling us we ought to know these trivial things.He said his name is Michael Obama.Which, I later found out to be Barack Obama.(He has become a compulsive liar ,keep this in mind the next time you talk to him) .Anyways, the bottom line is that Mittal won & we lost.

After checking into the hotel & parking our car in heavy rains in Miami, we decided the best thing to do is to get drunk.So, we found a nice place called 'Chocolate' and ordered drinks after drinks & ended the night with 3 shots of tequilla . The total bill was close to 240 dollars.But ,who cares ! - it was two years that we three had met.

Next day when we woke up, kekre wanted to experience the metro rail of Miami. So, we decided to go to the last point of metro rail, where there was a Mall too.After roaming around in the mall for a little bit & eating chinese food for lunch ,we came back.Whilst coming back we were given the first moment of silence by Mittal.We forced him to shut up his incessant blabbering for like 5 mins.where he did not ask any stupid questions or explained any interesting incident to us.

Then, we went to Miami museum of natural history.After that we headed to south beach of Miami.Where, we had some pretty interesting conversation about research & life. Mittal once again lied about everything in general.

The next day we left for Keywest & Key largo,which was filled with scenic routes & bridges.Atlantic Ocean on both sides & straight roads.We reached the next destination of Key west,which is the southernmost point of US.We decided to do some water sports in there.After rejecting many options like parasailing, kayaking etc. etc. we did speed boat ride for like almost 2 & 1/2 hour.We drove our boats ourselves & there were atleast two points in our ride when we thought we would be thrown out of the boat.But luckily that did not happen.

After that we drove around in key west & found a very nice restaurant.There we ate delicacies like Fried Alligator tails.After that we returned back to key largo where we had our hotel booked for the night.We took some time in locating it because Mittal was 90 % sure it's "Day's Inn" ,which in the end turned out to be "Key Largo Inn".

Next day we planned to find a beach in key largo & we drove around for like 2 hours but could not find any. So we decided to return back to Gainesville.

The next day we decided to slow down things & went to a very calm countryside of the historic town of Micanopy. There we browsed through a selection of old books & got some real nice books.From there in the evening we left for St. Augustine.Mittal sat behind the wheel & gave us some more thrills.Ohh did I not mention before ,Mittal is an 'excellent' driver if you have never been on a rollercoaster, but want the thrills of it.He cannot tolerate any car in front of him for more than 15 seconds .He gets bored by the color of it & has to change lanes or overtake it.Speed limits are for pansies & it's quite alright to drive at 85 mph in a speed limit of 65 mph.

In St. Augustine we loved the ocean side Walk,Fort,Beer & Wax museum, then we got back from there to Gainesville.This night was the 'Truth' night were Mittal did not lie for most of time or as he likes to say it said 'Half -Truths'.We called Singhal & had our shares of laughs.Me & Kekre bugged mittal till dawn.

Next, Afternoon when we woke up ,I was forced to buy a ticket to Busch garden for the day. We left for Tampa bay.But ,when we reached there after a drive of 2 hours, their parking lot was full .So we were unable to utilize the ticket for that day.We had our lunch there in Tampa.We then decided to return back to Gainesville ,but without any planned direction.We set out in the general direction of Gainesville from Tampa. We wanted to get lost & that's exactly what happened.The good thing was that we encountered some truly scenic routes on the way.We found an unknown beautiful lake,where we stopped & rested for a while. It was also the most Hilly area in Florida.After that we returned back home late in the night.

We slept early as the plan was to go to Busch garden again the next day. This was also the last day of the year. Also, the last day of Mittal in Florida.We woke up real early & reached Busch garden. It is famous for it's rollercoasters.Mittal pushed me into getting onto 'Sheikra' the largest vertical fall rollercoaster in the world.I was so scared ,but somehow I sat there & took the fall. After that everything was easy. It was real fun. Infact , this was the only good thing that Mittal did on this trip(So much better than falling asleep in the backseat of the car).To push me onto 'Sheikra'.After that I was ready for any rollercoaster .'Kumba' ,the next rollercoaster was a piece of cake even though we were all sitting on the front seat.After watching a 4d show & some other water rides, we were ready to drop Mittal at the Orlando Intl Airport. So we left for Orlando form Tampa. This was the end of the trip with Mittal.We dropped him at the airport at 6.45 p.m. After that we had to wait a couple of hours to pick up another friend of ours Vaibhav from Orlando Airport.His flight was delayed for like 1 & 1/2 hour.After that because of taking one wrong exit in Orlando, we had to spend the new year's eve on the road ,8 Miles from Okahumpka Service Plaza on the way to Gainesville.


Check out the Pics here :

All Florida Road Trip Pics