How I Got My Name (According to the Venerable Saint KP)

Apparently, my father was a most enthusiastic runner. He used to run to work, run back from work and also run whilst on lunch break. He even ran to his convocation.

His absolutely favourite phrase, as it is for any self-respecting runner, was "Ready, Steady, Go!". Unfortunately, he was, evidently, from a hidden South-Indian island where due to local language pressures, he only learnt to say "Reddy, Seddy, Gho!"

And later, deciding to name me after his passion, he named me Seddy.

In time, I was knighed, and hence became Sir Seddy. And ofcourse, what use is a knight without a coat of armour and a singh? Hence I came to be called "Sir Seddy Singh". Apparently the alliteration appealed so much to me that I legally changed my name.

Of this story, I was not aware and I am extremely glad that dear KP brought it to my notice. I am forever indebted to you for telling me.

Red Baron

When I was 5, I dreamt of flying fancy space ships on long interstellar journeys (like from Titan to the planet Eroticon VI (Still to be discovered)). But as I grew older, my dreams drew more real. So by 7, I dreamt of flying fighter aircraft and being the next Red Baron.

However, reality struck this down as well and I just dreamt of being rich (and buying an island) after that. I'm sure most young boys would have gone through a similar cycle.

However, last weekend, I had a chance to actually fly an aircraft. Well a Microlight can barely be called an aeroplane - it weights less than a small car!, but nevertheless it flies. It flies quite well infact.
That's the little critter. It weighs less than 350 Kgs! It's called the Red Baron, the only connection being the red colour I presume. The name's printed on the front, barely visible from this angle.

That's a chopper - same hanger types. It's huge. And utterly cool as well! But back to the microlight now:

So, me: Sitting in the aircraft, almost read for take-off. This was very early in the morning, mind you. That engine above is an 82 BHP thingy - that's a *lot* of power for such a tiny aircraft.

Aaand we're airborne! Now just climbing to a decent altitude. It was airborne is like 20 metres! (I told you it was overpowered :) )

The insides of the microlight. Look at all those controls! OOoo shiny! So we're now just levelling off and turning away from the airfield. After this, Vineetha (the pilot and instructor), showed me how to use the controls and taught me how to turn using the control stick and the rudder as well as how to maintain course, etc :)

A picture of Bangalore from under the wing. (Bangalore is a good 20-odd Km away from the Aerodrome, but we flew all the way there - didn't take long). The good thing about the engine being overhead is the awesome almost-360-degree view.

So that's us still in the air - I've now relinquished control of the aircraft. The engine is quite noisy so we get to wear these cool mic+headphone thingies and communicate with each other over radio! :D ...

Now we've landed and wheeled the Red Baron back into the hanger. Nidhi actually organized the whole thing for me - thanks a lot :) .. she unfortunately was not allowed to fly since she is a commercial pilot and for some unfathomable reason, commercial pilots are not allowed to touch smaller aircraft. Vineetha, the pilot, was awesome. Towards the end, just before landing, she took these totally cool 90-degree turns where the wings were frikking perpendicular to the ground! That was soo cool!

This is almost as much fun as skydiving! I'm thinking I should get a licence and learn to fly one of these. They cost only as much as a car. Hm... Island or microlight - damn! What a tough decision :P.

Etiquette WIN

So here I was, waiting in line to buy food at a local fast-food place just off campus, waiting nonchalantly for the gal in front of me finished purchasing, thinking of all the yummy foody things I was gonna buy in just a minute. Suddenly, as she finished, some uncle fellow sidesteps the line and shoots his hand out to the cashier, effectively cutting the line.

I mean, how horrible. I was standing there, I was next in line. It's my god-damned turn. Who the hell is he to cut in front of me?

Now this is just plain bugging. Why do people (particularly in India) have no etiquette whatsoever? That queue exists for a *reason*. Ever tried boarding a bus? It's a free-for-all in most places. But IMO the most irritating experience is someone skipping a queue forcefully. It happens a lot more here in Ahmedabad than in Mumbai.

So, I was pissed with this guy.

But what am I to do? Nothing in my upbringing taught me how to deal with it when someone cuts the line in front of you. I mean, 3rd order quantum differential equations I can handle, but this? What do I do?

Not this time. As this douchebag started speaking to the cashier to place his order, aloud (to my friend): I said, "You know what I hate? I hate people who skip lines like they are above such measly things like waiting. I think they're nothing more than mere scumbag earthworms who deserve to be stomped into the ground."

My friend sounded a loud resounding "I agree" and this guy, obviously hearing all this, looks back and stares at me (us?). We stare back and with a slight confrontational-nod, I say, "What? You heard me." in a matter-of-fact way.

With that the guy, visibly embarrased, leaves his cash on the counter and walks out in a huff. I don't know what he was thinking, infact I care not what he thinks. This was an EPIN WIN! :D

We had a good laugh about it later. Serves him right. Scumbag.

PS: I made up bit about the 3rd order quantum differential equations: I don't even know if such things exist.

PPS: Well actually, I'm quite sure they exist, but I still made it up that I can handle them: In truth I haven't a clue. It was just for emphasis ;)

Me

Hi everyone!!! Happy New Year!.. I'll tell you all about New Year's stories soon enough. But for now, I'll wish you all the fun for the new year and leave you with a pic of... just me :D

Worst Day Ever

Freakkin neverending lectures till 6 in the evening. Sprained ankle and horrible headache. Out of dispirin.

Cut finger playing guitar. Not started studying macroeconomics.

I need a life. And also a new brain that doesn't crash so often.

And it's too bloody cold.

Bah.

Chilled

A chilly December Winter's night, sitting under the moon and stars. Comfy sofas and a tall chilled mint hookah. Butterflies, green, red, yellow, blue, on the wall - turning slowly as coals burn bright and crackle.

A lone guy with his guitar sings for us. Far from the streets, it's quiet. A little retreat. Hot creamy chicken soup and, for once, no work to go around.

Life is looking up. A perfect end to a hectic year. And if I can manage that trek at the turn of the year, I'll just sit and look at stars far from the city.

Peace seems just within grasp now.

Smooth Sailing

Life is good. Coursework has reduced substantially and there's lots of free time this semester. All I do everyday is guitar - gym - badminton. Ain't it the life? :-D

We still have classes for 6 days a week unfortunately. But having evenings to do all the nothings I want to is great. I think I can pick up on those projects I've wanted to do but haven't had the time. Along with getting back to Maya, Photoshop, Vue and Bryce :-).

I'm thinking of some new photography stunts - HDR photography and Multi-pass photography. I shall get down to it in a few days.

But now, it's time to clean my room. Tada!

Stray Cat Strut

Today I tripped and fell down stairs and managed not to break any bones. I did twist my left ankle rather badly though. But this post isin't about that.

No. This is instead about Cats.

I'll be the first to admit that in all my years, I haven't associated with them, or got to know them, or thrown them a bone or anything. But lately, cats seem to have been thrust into my life like things that are thrusted into lives without being wanted.

Just the other day, I came back from class, all tired and weary. I open my door and what do I see? A cute orangey cat is plonked right in the middle of my room, staring at me with it's bright green eyes - pretending as if the room is her Kingdom and my books are her subjects. "Off with his head!" she thinks maybe?

"Wierd!", I think. "Damn, confounded! He's back!", she thinks.

And runs straight out of the open door.

Now this is a great mystery to me. How in the world did it get in there? Did it enter in the morning before I left for class? Or is this simply a minifestation of Schrödinger's Uncertainty Principle? But anyhow, I moved on to more profound thoughts, like "What's for lunch?" and soon the Cat-incident was forgotten.

Not yet beaten, the cute cat has yet another brush-in with me.

It was a dark and stormy night. No it wasn't. Yes it was. No, let me tell the story. Damn inner concience.

I was sleeping. I must've been 6 AM in the morning when I heard a thud. Slowly I raise my head and I see a cat scrambling up my bookshelf! There happens to be a window above my room door and she had somehow managed to get up there an jump into my room!

But silly cat.. realizes I'm inside and must now scramble out. She jumps onto my desk, scrambles up my bookshelf, drops all my cards (yes some friends did send me cards on my birthday. Shame on you, all those who didn't.), and jumps out the window again to land on the other side with yet another thud.

Pretty damn cool.

And that brings me to the end of my rant, and to the point which I might as well have just stated instead of rambling on. And that point is this: I wish I could land on my feet like a cat instead of twisting it and having to hop around on one foot like a (slightly defective) rabbit.

Tiny Rebel Moments

Today I submitted my exam paper to Prof. Cauchy, the famous mathematician.

No, he doesn't really teach us - he's French. He is also dead.

The punchline being ofcourse that in the exam answer sheet, where it said "Name of Professor" instead of writing Prof. Koshy, a Mallu marketeer (and a God-level prof), I wrote in big, bold letters, "Prof. Cauchy".

Yesterday, our paper was to "Prof. M.S. Sriram". Feeling adventerous, I swished my pen twice, deftly converted the S's to dollars and wrote "Prof. M.$. $riram" instead. It fits perfectly - he teaches us Accounting! :-D

Back in college I was a rebel. I grew my hair and I jumped out of classrooms via the windows. I scandalized teachers and back in IIT I was a "rebel" too - I took pride in *zero* studies and I generally pretended to admire Ernesto Che Guevara and I also sneaked my car (with Cake music (Frequent car-ers will know what I mean)) out late at night when my parents were asleep.

But no more. In this new college of mine, jumping out of windows is a long way off - decorum demands that I don't even sneeze the wrong way. That's why there's such joy in the little things - a word here, a pun there.

Reports lined with Douglassey phrases and a paragraph in the middle written in Shakespearean English. Vandalism of Profs names in exams. Just little things. But they mark my existence more than all the 23-page assignments that I write.

Today

Today is Friday. It started at a second past midnight.

At a second to midnight, I was on Page 4. At a second past midnight I was still on Page 4. Two hours past midnight and I had moved on to Page 5.

The report didn't seem never-ending. Worse: It seemed never-progressing. Statistical analysis, Function Words, Neural Networks and Madhavan's demented-man laugh floated in and out my conciousness. Excel 2007 focused and blurred as I rubbed my weary eyes.

Four hours past midnight and I fall asleep. Drop asleep would be more accurate. Precisely on the Delete key.

Six hours past midnight. I discover my folly. If it weren't for the miracle of Command-Z, I'd have been strung and quartered by my group already.

Eight and a half hours past midnight. I run to class. There is a surprise marketing quiz. Ouch that hurts.

Twelve hours past midnight. Twelve hours to midnight. I skip class and continue writing the report.

Ten hours to midnight. Page Nineteen. She calls and says that there's a surprise Financial Markets quiz. The light at the end of your tunnel is just a freight train coming your way.

Eight hours to midnight. The report has now grown to 23 pages. Let It Be, Let It Be, Let It Be Let It Be. If there must be an answer, Let It Be. ... And it's off with the Report's Head. SHIT. What SHIT? Well you've heard of JIT? Just In Time. This is all SomeHow In Time.

Seven hours to midnight. My group is proud of me. They treat me to my first meal of the day. Thanks guys.

Six hours to midnight. Mahindra War Room Presentation. Quite spiffy actually.

Three hours to midnight. I run out of dinner leaving a poor soul stranded. Sorry. I had to attend the Mathematical Finance Lecture.

One hour to midnight. The first mail check of the day. The first free minute of the week. The first blog post of the month.

Two minutes to midnight. I like that song.

One second to midnight. It's Saturday now. Time to prepare for today's classes.

Now I'm Free... Free Falling!

Yes I know that this blog hasn't been updated in a while. It has to do with the fact that I don't have free time anymore.

But enough with the excuses. I wanted to post this set of pics for a while now... Pics of SKYDIVING! :-D

Not surprisingly, my mom was adamantly refusing to let us (my bro and me) skydive. So when I saw a poster which read: "Skydiving: Because your mother told you not to!", I just had to click it :-D

And yeah. Skydiving is like the most awesome thing in the world. First they strap you on nice and tight to a harness and take you up to about 10,000 feet. And then they open the door! Wow the rush as you see the ground, all tiny now, with the wind in your face. It's awesome. And then you realize, "Frack, I'm about to jump out of an airplane at 10,000 feet!!!!" - The most awesome feeling *ever*!

When you jump out, it's cray! You're all tumbling and you see the sun, the plane, the horizon, the sun, the ground, the plane and you're turning and rotating and falling and it's a total overload!

Then comes the freefall! For almost 30 seconds! Falling at a terminal velocity of 220 Kmph!!! Scream your heart out! And then the parachute deploys and the final graceful fall gently to the ground like a feather.

Someone stepped on it

my toe
takes on colours
of a primitive television:

green in the morning
purple by 'noon
and rotten by the good 'ol eve'

.

Stop laughing.

Retro / Rasta

I man.

Here be da pictures of da Rasta.


Every body want to talk like rasta. Wanna look like rasta. But only I and I be true Rasta. You overstand I brederen?


The Great Jah commands I to click on da pictures.


Until the Coming of H.I.M., peace, I brederen. May the 70's be everliving.

Rastalavista, Baby :-P

Spring Cleaning

Every once in a while, it becomes a necessity to clean that cave I live in. Not 'coz it's too dirty or anything, but mainly because people around start getting suspicious as to where all the rodents are coming from. :P

Well anyways, once a sem, I turn my room inside out, remove the dirt and push everything back in. The room is still filled with loads of crap, but it's clean crap now :)

Here's the Spring Cleaning Process of Jan 2nd 2006. Starts off around 4:00 PM.

Step 1: Removing stuff from the room and dumping it in the corridor.


A lot of stuff, isin't it?


Waay too many guitars! Yes: It's true... My room is like a graveyard for guitars. People generally come in and dump guitars there. 5 of them are in view.


Mark Knopfler and a Czech Shotglass :)


Me and the CG Web Badge [And if you're asking... yes I have now cut off those amazingly cool locks of hair :(]


My music system. 5.1 Bose Speakers, A subwoofer that's bigger than most PCs and a harmon/kardon amp!!! Waay Cool!!! :D :D


A close up


Well.. time to get to Step 2. sigh.

Step 2: Clean the room.

Avi tries to solve a Rubik's cube whilst we clean. He didn't succeed. (See that confused look on his face?)


The Brave Muskeeteers: Baccha and I
Ofcourse Me being as "adept" at cleaning as I am, Baccha had to do most of the work. Thanks BTW.

After Step 2 is done, we move on to:
Step 3: Look around and praise self at the brilliant work done :D
And also celebrate a little and stuff like that.

Who's the King huh?


Step 4: Putting stuff back
The desk is now filled!


Aaand those guitars are on the bed. People! Please take your guitars back!!

Look closely: In the pic you'll notice a shiny red epiphone elec guitar. Yeah.. that's mine. Awesome isin't it?

So.. we finally end at around 9:30 PM. Man... a job well done :P

I Can See Clearly Now

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright
Sun-Shiny day.

What was that? Well a couple of days ago while going in a train from Kanjur to VT, some freak in a hurry to get off the train knocks my glasses clean off. I never found them. They were a new pair. And they cost 2.5k!!

So, for the last couple of days I haven't done much. Just mostly complained that I can't see clearly. Now, i've got new frames. And they ROCK! I Can see Clearly Now :D

Check out my new ones: They have "attitude" written all over ;)