Saturday 21 July, 2007

Harry Potter and the apathetic blogger

Dear one and all in the hall (and in the tent)
Firstly let me start this post by thanking each and everyone of the crickets who reply with their comments. It is truly encouraging especially Tanuj, Nishant, Bronessa and Disha and also the others who have commented grateful to all!



Ok so its that time of the year again when every one goes potters. Every few years Harry Potter mania sweeps across the globe, children, women, teens flock to book stores to read about the newest happenings in the world of wizardry of which Harry Potter rules over.

Ive largely remained immune to potter-mania and I dont have an explanation as to why. I guess Ive never been the one to be mesmerised by the wizardry and the magic that revolves around Harry Potter.

But things came to a boiling point when my mom who was watching CNN-IBN's "potter nama" asked me whether I had pre-ordered a copy of the 7th book. God! I hope she was joking.

OK I must admit, the series is great, well atleast it encourages kids to read. Its more socially acceptable than comic books. But what I fail to decipher is the cult like following that the Harry Potter series enjoys.

Ive seen just one installment of his movies which was the last one and to be honest it really didn't do much for me, infact it was quiet boring for one I didn't know who was harry, how he did what he did and why he did it and secondly Ive never quiet liked movies which are based on fantasies. I was although highly amused by the ohhs and aaahs of the kids in the cinema when Harry performed some death defying witchcraft or whatever it is called.

I only got to know the major synopsis around potter when I was talking to my friend Shreya last night. Every single detail was explained by her and she also told me that she finds the guy who plays harry potter i.e. Daniel Radcliffe quiet hot. One thing is for certain, Daniel Radcliffe likes the fame and dosent mind the ladies that come with it. Hide your daughters that Harry is a cad!...lol :P

I dont really know where I'm going with this post. But I had a question that is bugging me all through this week

DO REAL MEN ACTUALLY READ HARRY POTTER?

Now some would suggest that real men would much rather enjoy a book like "The Godfather" or on the other hand some would describe a real man as someone who wouldn't mind letting out the kid in him once in a while by reading / watching Harry Potter.

Some suggest that this shouldn't be a question at all. They are off the opinion that the books you read do not define your masculinity If you refuse to read or do something simply because it's dubbed childish or nerdy, then maybe it's you that needs to find your manhood.

While others suggest its kinda Wuss to go through a book that is enjoyed the world over by kids and women.

I'm not sure as to where I stand in this debate. As for me I wont be buying the 7th book or watching his movie (unless someone asks me nicely :P) simply because Harry Potter dosent interest me, he never will and never has.

Lastly Id like to add that a 'real man' would choose to read whatever he wants to. Be it a kiddy book, war novels, murder mystery or even porn.

I really am amazed as to how much all of us out there love witchcraft. You dont have to look far to see it, the picture is there right in front of your eyes. In the news papers, on the TV. I fail to understand what this obsession with Harry Potter is all about. Well, as for me I'll just sit back and watch all the madness surrounding Harry Potter around me acknowledge Harry Potter and move on.

Until next time when I plan to write about my favourite movies!
Take Care everyone and please leave your comments :D


Tuesday 10 July, 2007

High BP 1 Rahul 0



OK so I am back! not exactly from the brink of fighting life and death but recovering from High Blood Pressure at my tender age :( , ok so yeah 1 in 3 young Indian males have a High BP. Consider a scenario your good male friend writes a blog to say his blood-pressure numbers are high. Scary High!. He just clocked in with a BP of 176 over 120. You give him a pep talk, tell him to get treatment, and close the web page with smug assurance - glad your not in his place. You never know turns out your buddy and you more in comman than you knew.

So coming to the topic on hand I was admitted in the Holy Spirit hospital on Wednesday night, when my dreams of becoming a pilot came shattering down not for the first time. Most of you know that i have this keeda in me of flying and being responsible for individuals on an airliner, I had infact given a medical examination (class 2 medicals) in January and failed cause of High BP. That is when my fight with BP began. I had assurances over this 6 month period that my BP had reduced through a few random checks, well to be honest it had through constant yoga and meditation. But Wednesday night proved wrong, I went for a random BP check to a doc, where i realised my BP was scary fckin High 176 over 120 man....it was scary the doc seemed concerned my dreams of being a pilot according to him were all but dead, that left a tear in my eye. I was ok trying to get over another failure in my life until i seen my dad...he had tears in his eyes, that image made me sink in depression, why was i such a fckin looser always?

OK enough of self pity. The Doc advised me a few medical tests for the heart, cholesterol, stomach and kidneys. My Dad called up Holy Spirit hospital and got me admitted immediately. As i stepped in to the hospital with the gloomiest face ever the nurses had a look on their face saying 'is this guy suffering from depression?'



Over the course of 3 and a 1/2 days that spent in my room C-209 I had lots of different experiences mostly fun and from it re-emerged a new confidence of succeeding one day if not sooner than definitely sometime down the line. Tests were performed on me over the 3 days every single fckin test was normal my results were excellent. The only problem was my fluctuating BP sometimes high and then 12 hours later normal!.

I made alot of new friends there two priests, a geologist, a retired farmer a few other uncles and discovered a new friend from my college who also was admitted on account of high BP heh heh and he was 21 :p as i said 1/3 young Indian males, oh and not to mention the nurses in my ward from mallu land who were hilariously funny. There was this gay mother fucker in the room next to me who would stare at me continuously whenever I took a walk in the corridor grrr...heh heh. Let me describe my room for a bit it was almost like a 3 star hotel, nice cozy bed, a working ac, a clean and enjoyable toilet environment :p, a comfortable couch, TV, a fridge and a cupboard heh heh all to myself for 3 and a half days and the service was exceptional too and the food was good though i did have apprehensions at first.

The scene at a hospital can be quiet a humbling experience. I say that cause you want the people around you to have a tinge of pity on you. I'd be lying if i said i didn't hey after all its human. On Thursday I took a walk around the hospital just to have a look around to see what a hospital is actually like. I strolled through the ward for children and i seen little children having terrible ailments. I sat for my turn at the diagnosis and seen young adults our age paralysed having kidney failures etc etc. I thought to my self I should fckin stop pitying myself, feeling sorry for them wont make their lives any better. So I just walked up to a few patients and said a little hello and a hi and asked em how they were feeling. Although the deed was small it was fulfilling atleast it bought a smile on their face.

I felt so fckin Happy when my friends came to visit me every single day :D. My friends were a solid support to me through this experience.

On Saturday a senior sister came and visited me. The stern and motherly sorts and gave me a firing heh heh saying it was terrible to have a high BP at my age and ordered me to change my lifestyle :P, I wasn't like mind your fckin business infact I quiet liked it.

I dont know what else to include in this post of mine. I'm falling short of thoughts, I know I would think of something 3 hours from now and say to my self "damn! i forgot to include this!"

Oh yes I have to have to mention my friend Vanda in this post who was like a pillar. Van! your a fckin rock star. Loads of Love :D I havent given up hope of being a pilot cause BP can be controlled within no time just a matter of weeks.

And I'd like to end this by saying sleep is gods gift to humanity :P. Sleep well and you never will fall ill

Until Next time
God Bless and stay healthy !