Author: thisduck

like winning a new life

I’m in the drive-thru line, waiting for my turn at the mic. As fate would have it, I didn’t get this turn. My window was stuck from the wintery freeze coldness, and it just would not come down. Undeterred by fate, I parked in the lot and walked into the actual Tim Hortons. Ordering a medium hot chocolate, a croissant and a chocolate glazed donut to boot (to eat actually).

Of late I’ve been finding things that I’ve been looking for, so I thought it would be really neat if under this rim was a “winner” sign. Unlike other folk, I have no issues finishing my cup before checking. I can wait… for as long as it takes.

I don’t remember where exactly I found out, but I sensed inexplicable joy when it happened. On my first try! When I got to work I placed it on my desk. People walking by or coming over for a chat asked, “oh did you win?”, “I did, I did, I won!”, my excitement still not translating into words, but holding its own in my eyes. “oh yeah? what did you win?”, I could see anticipation building in their eyes now. “I won another coffee!”, my excitement still high and rising. “oh, just a coffee? I thought you won a boat…”, anticipation body count: 4.

So what if I didn’t win a boat? Is my excitement not justified? First of all, I won on the first try. Second of all, I won another cup! It’s like winning another life, one cup from another cup. This is awesome. I don’t understand why folk are disappointed by my level of excitement.  Why don’t /you/ go win a boat? I’ll enjoy my moments with another life. Thank you very much.

But my luck with the cups doesn’t end here. Two “please try again”s later, I won again. Guess what I won? Don’t try too hard, I’ll just tell you. Yes, I won yet another life. That is 2 wins in 4 tries. Those are very very good odds.

Though the second time, to avoid killing anticipations, I kept the winning cup safely hidden. I’m yet to claim my prizes.

Sunday TED: Juggling

So I figure I will start sharing a TED video every so often. or so often every. or often every so. whichever comes first.

This one is approx 15 minutes long. But well worth watching the entire thing, well worth the standing ovation at the end. It is also extremely funny. If it doesn’t make you laugh, I’ll give you your time back, with interest.

This reminds me of contact juggling and how I should continue to learn that. Contact juggling is much harder than it looks.


gerry

Gerry

I’ve wanted to watch Gerry for a while. But it was always hard to find. I was going to watch ‘Gone Baby Gone’ but thought I should try and watch Gerry before that.

Gerry is a  movie about two guys named “Gerry” and their trek through a desert. They get lost, and they don’t have any food or water.

Gerry is a slow movie. There are stretches of the movie that have absolutely no dialogue. These last anywhere from 1 minutes to 10 minutes. There are multiple such stretches. The average shot length is 60 seconds! This is not your fast paced hollywood movie with an overdose of car chase scenes, blasts, evil villains, awful comic relief and romance/sex. This is just two guys in a desert. I liked this movie.

The lack of dialogue intensifies other sounds and visuals in the movie. You feel the sounds of the walking and the sounds of the winds that much more.

There were bits of the movie that were obviously adlibbed, some of them were great, others not so much. Matt Damon has better improv skills than Casey Affleck.

I will admit that I wasn’t able to watch the movie in one go. I had to watch it in two sittings. Generally I will watch new movies in the early morning when everyone is sleeping. Nights are for tv shows or movies I’ve seen already. I prefer watching movies in one go without any talking or interruptions otherwise. But Gerry, even with no interruptions, I could not watch in one go.

I also found the ending very disturbing. But I really enjoyed the opening of the movie. I will divulge no further information. If you watch it in one full sitting, let me know.

9/10

reminders

maghrib mein ho gareeb, to mashriq mein kya ameer thay
gintee tumhe na wahaan aati thi, na yahaan aati hai

par sukoon ab na raha, raatein khojati hai
neend tumhe na wahaan aati thi, na yahaan aati hai

karti hai baatein tumhari, diloon ko sab ke tang
sharam tumhe na wahaan aati thi, na yahaan aati hai

thodh ke apna ghuroor, karlo khuda ko yaad kabhi
par duaaein tumhe na wahaan aati thi, na yahaan aati hai

Thanks to mystic for contributing the second sher. Although I did modify it a little. I may not have completed the rest of it if you hadn’t asked. so thanks! =)

Hmmm… I want to actually go into an explanation of this. At the same time I don’t. I want folk to read and interpret as they may.

So I’ll say just one thing, yes it’s harsh. It was written as a reminder for us all, so we realize certain things that we should do, and certain things that we should avoid.

interview with noaman

the ali-marx brothers
the ali-marx brothers

So this morning we (Noaman and I) were driving to McCowan RT Station, I was driving and Noaman was on the passenger seat.

He started to sing some song, so I setup the mp3 player to record and slowly moved the player closer the source of the singing. My highly stealth like movements were quickly uncovered though… creating this moment:

[audio:http://www.jaaduhai.com/tunes/adnan/bol2/nomes_sing.mp3]
[direct audio link]

So that is how the recording device was outed. Then after a bit, he started talking about some facebook group post and he slipped into a character with an accent. I clicked on the recorded and the following unscripted hilarity ensued:

[audio:http://www.jaaduhai.com/tunes/adnan/bol2/nomes_interview.mp3]
[direct audio link]

I tried to, but absolutely could not maintain my composure.

This is a true story.

bol ke lab azaad hai tere

A poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz copied from “bol ke lab azaad hai tere”:

bol ke lab aazaad haiN tere
bol zabaaN ab tak terii hai
teraa sutvaaN jism hai teraa
bol ke jaaN ab tak terii hai
dekh ke aahaNgar kii dukaaN meN
tuNd haiN shole surKh hai aahan
khulne lage qufloN ke dahaane
phailaa har ek zanjiir kaa daaman
bol ye thoRaa vaqt bahut hai
jism-o-zubaaN kii maut se pahle
bol ke sach ziNdaa hai ab tak
bol jo kuch kehnaa hai keh le

English translation:

Speak up, while your lips (thoughts) are (still) free
speak up, (while) your tongue is still yours
Speak, for your strong body is your own
speak, (while) your soul is still yours
Look at blacksmiths shop
hot flames makes the iron red hot
opening the (jaws of) locks
every chain opens up and begins to break
speak for this brief time is long enough
before yours body and words die
speak, for the truth still prevails
speak up, say what you must.

[Trans. Swati Sani]

When I read the poem, I thought it was great! And I wanted to say the words already. Then I heard Faiz recite it here (first audio clip), and I thought to myself, “how would I say these words?”.

So here it is, me reciting Faiz’s “bol ke lab azaad hai tere”:
[audio:http://www.jaaduhai.com/tunes/adnan/recite1.mp3]

If it plays funny above, you can access the direct link here:
http://www.jaaduhai.com/tunes/adnan/recite1.mp3

The first bol of many I hope. =D