Tuesday, January 31, 2006

The Lizard King can do anything

Most people have links on their sidebar, links to people they read on a regular basis or friends who blog. I had a similar blog rolling bar as it was called but then I forgot my password and I had given it some ugly padding. Eventually I got rid of it and added a few new thingys to the side bar. They're looking quite ugly as well. The point of this blog is not to discuss the side bar. That's quite irrelevant really. I've just finished scripting a TVC for some itchy scratchy cream and am a little vacant.
I decided to list out the blogs that I visit and why I visit them. This is not a sugary sweet post as its not me to be that nice, its just and exercise in boredom. Anyway lets see, how do I configure this, chronology or frequency of visit. Getting an alphabetical order is too much for me, its to much of work and I won't get paid for it either.
People who are referred to herewith are requested to keep a pinch of salt handy. Some may know me others would've just visited my blog and for those who don't know me or have visited my blog I have a scalpel. Ever tasted very bad sarcasm?

Supriya- roswitha.blogspot.com: Supriya I've know since college days (i.e not too long ago). I'd rate her as the smartest and wittiest writer I've read. She is also a mofo quizzer with immense gyaan about Lit and Music and Art and other such very very smart things. If I ever start a publication or any knowledge business I'll try and poach her.

Samit Basu- samitbasu.blogspot.com: I came across his blog after reading The Simoqin Prophecies. Nice book, the blog has metamorphosized into a big publicity wagon for his books but I think its only fair.

Aishwarya- bluelullaby.blogspot.com: There was a time when I wanted to start a magazine+website (I still do). The idea had gained some momentum and I went about scouting for writers on the web. Aishwarya's was one of the earliest ones I visited. A fairly good taste in life she depicts. (I have a habit of speaking in inversions). Quite a good critic she seems.

eM- thecompulsiveconfessor.blogspot.com: I used to read this on and off, now a days its more off than on. Does the silverfish ever write I wonder. Because of eM's blog I also got directed to caramelcustard.blogspot.com, thatonly.blogspot.com and a few other similar blogs. The novelty has worn off and I've forgotten most of those links. One really fun thing about these blogs were the attacks they faced from a few radical anti women's lib chaps. From an engaging dialogue it went onto become a blogger bashing game.

Mrinalini- mrinalinisen.blogspot.com: I don't quite remember how I landed up here but the author has a few interesting interests and as a corollary interesting posts. A new read.

Sandeep- sandeepmakam.blogspot.com: This guy is an ad man from Chennai, who, I believe has his own agency. He puts up a good collection of print ads and ambient campaigns from around the world. For me it's a good resource. For the rest of the junta it could be a good place to view arty and scam ads. Do keep in mind that all the jpegs mean that the blog takes awfully long to load.

Rimi- myownfairystories.blogspot.com: Long drawn posts about oneself and bitchy posts about other people. A fun read if you have the patience.

Erebus- specksinuniverse.blogspot.com: Australian based bong I presume with a radio blog. A regular at the quizzes and (I stand corrected here erebus doesn't read fantasy fiction) a fantasy fiction lover. (So there is no combination other than pop music, that I know of) Nice combination, right now he has a boring playlist up so I'm ducking out.

Srin or Srinanda(?)- cha-biskoot.blogspot.com: A by and by blog like mine, a SFF fan too, I think.

Kiruba- kiruba.com: One of the 1st blogs I visited way back in 2004. Started off as a fun blog now its a resource blog with small tidbits of gyaan and opinions.

Teleute- ruinsoftheday.blogspot.com: Short posts that don't allow you to leave a comment. Nice dark lines. Been quite boring of late.

Rashmi- youthcurry.blogspot.com: There was a time when I did a summer job at JAM. Ran into Rashmi's blog late last year. A very opinion based blog and a good plug for JAM. Has had its bit of controversy (read surge in popularity/hits) courtesy the IIPM issue

Govinraj Ethiraj- datelinebombay.blogspot.com: Used to be the Corporate Affairs Editor at CNBC TV18. I've heard he has quit which might be the reason the blog is updated frequently. For those who want very magazine type posts you can read them here.

There are other blogs, which I visit, but I can't recollect their urls. Typing .blogspot.com seems easier which is why you'd not find a live journal or spaces blog here. Guess I'm not in touch with a large number of fun people. That's fine enough I guess, I did great without any blog or phone for long.

FOR THE QUIZ, JUST SCROLL DOWN. IT’S THE PRECEEDING POST.

Bono aur woh dono

These questions are being put up sans numbering. Because I'm bored of numbers and also because I goofed up last time and put in a question less. I'm also in a mood to put up some insane posts and photographs. Lets see if sanity pervails.
Also anybody interested in organising a one-off quizzing festival or literary festival say sometime in May or March or something.

What laws were stated in the 1942 short story called 'Runaround'? Bonus for anyone who spells out these laws.

Melinda and Bill Gates and Bono were the TIME people of the year for 2005. Who was TIME 'Man' of the year in 1988?

Which product, extensively used nowadays, did Immanuel Nobel, father of Alfred Nobel, invent?

Dismas- __________- Getas. Simple fill in the blank

In chess, which move’s notation is 0-0-0?

What was the Treaty of Park Avenue? Who were the signatories? (If anybody says FRIENDS I'll put an embargo on them)

Name the brothers whose first names were James and William who made the first milk supplement using malted barley and wheat flour?

In 1955, Theodor Geisel was awarded an authentic doctorate by his alma mater, Dartmouth College even though he had earlier conferred a similar degree upon himself. How do we know him better?

Which well-known fictional character hails from the village of Talsonapur?

The playing surface in this sport can be made of any material as long as it answers to this specification: a standard ball, dropped on to it from a height of 12 inches must rebound to a height of 9 -10 inches. Which sport?

Bonus Q
What famous retort was made to the following exclamation: "Goodness, what diamonds!"?

Monday, January 30, 2006

And the answers are.....

66] Eli Cohen, an Israeli spy based in Damascus disguised as a Syrian, was arguably Israeli’s most successfulspy ever. He passed on vital information about Syrian war plans and defense equipment during the 1960s, which played a key role in Israel’s spectacular victory against Syria during the six-day war. The exposure of his real identity and his subsequent arrest and execution, ironically, had an unintended Indian connection. What was the connection?
- This has a very funda anwer. The Indian embassy was situated close to the Israeli one. Our guys complained about some static in their radio transmissions. the Syrians of course had no clue why this was happening so they asked the Russian experts who zeroed in on Eli. Macabre twist innit?

40] "Peace is a lie, there is only passion / Through passion, I gain strength / Through strength, I gain power / Through power, I gain victory/ Through victory, my chains are broken/ The Force shall free me." In popular culture/fiction, this is called "The ------- Code". What?
- The Sith Code, the lines are a give away. Whoever said The Jedi Code needs to do some serious soul searching.

41] This residential area of lower Manhattan, New York gained a reputation in the early years of the 20th century for its bohemianism, and is associated with unconventional writers, artists and musicians, especially members of the Beat generation. What place are we talking about?
- Greewnich Village. Who wants to argue that the "Friends" aren't bobos

43] The original, dating back to 1952, is owned by Steven Spielberg, who has no intentions of selling it. Market buzz places the value of this item at $100,000 or higher. It is done largely in blue and has three people cowering up against a wall while a shadow lengthens in their direction. What are we talking about?
- The First MAD cover

47] What are the specifications of the Field's Medal awarded to mathematicians? (Poor guys do not get the Nobel)
- The mathematicians have to be not more than 40 years of age while receiving the award. A lot of brrilliant mathematicians have missed out because of this.

62] What is Fredrico Fellini's contribution to the English language?
- Fellini, an Italian director coined the term Paparazzi in his film La Dolce Vita.The word which refers to people who are chasing celebrities in search of a story

72] For those who dwell in Wodehouse, if Jeeves is Wooster’s butler, who are the butlers of Lord Emsworth and Sir Watkyn Basset?
- Beach and Butterfield. This was bloody easy

37] What was the Spruce Goose?
- The huge wooden aeroplane designed and built by Hughes Aviation, for the US Navy, that flew just once for around a minute and 20 seconds, after World War II

39] What did N G Bhansai and Hancock design based on the actress Kamini Kaushal?
- The Filmfare Awards Trophy. Hey that looks like Kamini

44] Names such as 'Jot & Jerk', 'Mount & Show', 'Press & Peel', 'Papillon' etc were once proposed for this invention, later featured at the New York Museum of Modern Art as an icon of beautiful everyday design in its "Humble Masterpieces" exhibit. Name the invention.
- Post Its. This was answered by Jehangir

Monday, January 23, 2006

66-44

Not so long ago I had put up quiz number 8, I suppose. Then I went around on a trivia hunting spree and came up with 10 mor questions. Also I've been asked to collate questions for some upcoming B-School fest, the names which I cannot reveal. So the questions posted today are culled from that file, hence the weird numbering.

66] Eli Cohen, an Israeli spy based in Damascus disguised as a Syrian, was arguably Israeli’s most successfulspy ever. He passed on vital information about Syrian war plans and defense equipment during the 1960s, which played a key role in Israel’s spectacular victory against Syria during the six-day war. The exposure of his real identity and his subsequent arrest and execution, ironically, had an unintended Indian connection. What was the connection?

40] "Peace is a lie, there is only passion / Through passion, I gain strength / Through strength, I gain power / Through power, I gain victory/ Through victory, my chains are broken/ The Force shall free me." In popular culture/fiction, this is called "The ------- Code". What?

41] This residential area of lower Manhattan, New York gained a reputation in the early years of the 20th century for its bohemianism, and is associated with unconventional writers, artists and musicians, especially members of the Beat generation. What place are we talking about?

43] The original, dating back to 1952, is owned by Steven Spielberg, who has no intentions of selling it. Market buzz places the value of this item at $100,000 or higher. It is done largely in blue and has three people cowering up against a wall while a shadow lengthens in their direction. What are we talking about?

47] What are the specifications of the Field's Medal awarded to mathematicians? (Poor guys do not get the Nobel)

62] What is Fredrico Fellini's contribution to the English language?

72] For those who dwell in Wodehouse, if Jeeves is Wooster’s butler, who are the butlers of Lord Emsworth and Sir Watkyn Basset?

37] What was the Spruce Goose?

39] What did N G Bhansai and Hancock design based on the actress Kamini Kaushal?

BONUS

44] Names such as 'Jot & Jerk', 'Mount & Show', 'Press & Peel', 'Papillon' etc were once proposed for this invention, later featured at the New York Museum of Modern Art as an icon of beautiful everyday design in its "Humble Masterpieces" exhibit. Name the invention.

Friday, January 20, 2006

P- Anzers

1] Start off with a simple, standard music question. I know my 100 is safe so I'll hazard easy questions. Name the artist/bandlthat recorded this song: "They foxymophandlemama, that's me?"
- Pearl Jam

2] What is a violoncello?
-A cello, a bass instrument used in classical music. Keep tapping the G

3] From what platform does the 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' leave Pennsylvania station?
- 29, "Chattanooga Choo Choo" was a Glenn Miller big-band/swing song featured in the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade

4] For whom did Colonel Tom Parker act as manager?
- Elvis Presley. This one was very easy

5] In the Beatles song "Elanor Rigby", what is Elanor Rigby's profession?
- Church Cleaner, simple if she sweeps stuff from the church then she's gotta be a cleaner

6] Reginald Dwight:Norman Cook::-----------:-----------, gimme the names of these artistes.
- Elton John and Fatboy Slim

7] What can we credit DJ Kool Herc with?
-Inventing Rap music

8] Who was the first musician allowed to play an electric guitar on TV ?
- It was Tony Sheridan. He was the lead singer with 'The Beat Boys' comprising Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Pete Best! A curlig googly wasn't it?

9] Why has Motley Crue been banned from NBC?
- Crue will not appear on NBC again because of singer Vince Neil's use of obscenity when wishing bandmate Tommy Lee a Happy New Year on the Tonight show with Jay Leno. Americans are prudes, prudish in a soap dish. Tommy Lee is not the only bad boy now.

10] What are the three primary woods used in the construction of a Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar?
- The standard Les Paul uses mahogany for the body, over which you have a AA maple. The neck is also mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard. Very funda innit?

The bonus answers can still be cracked. For those who don't know the funda anyone who gets all the bonus answers. Gets Rs 500 at the end of the month.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

If it ain't baroque, don't fix it, aka Woh Joe Quiz No. 8

The float never stops at the gate when you want it to. The gammar never sounds right when you think the line is perfect. Johnny Cash played a few songs that sounded great the rest are in the unheard universe. Just like the misty prime numbers the sentences in this post do not have a definite sequence. The music quiz that follows this is a little random, a little Beatles but largely boring. It's also a day old, fermenting in the folder that holds most of the quizzes on this new machine. The last hard disk crashed because of a surfeit of data. Someday work will catch up and then the dog will stop sniffing at my ankles. There you know I exist, incredulity doesn't cost anything. If you need a redundancy ask me.

1] Start off with a simple, standard music question. I know my 100 is safe so I'll hazard easy questions. Name the artist/bandlthat recorded this song: "They foxymophandlemama, that's me?"

2] What is a violoncello?

3] From what platform does the 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' leave Pennsylvania station?

4] For whom did Colonel Tom Parker act as manager?

5] In the Beatles song "Elanor Rigby", what is Elanor Rigby's profession?

6] Reginald Dwight:Norman Cook::-----------:-----------

7] What can we credit DJ Kool Herc with?

8] Who was the first musician allowed to play an electric guitar on TV ?

9] Why has Motley Crue been banned from NBC?

10] What are the three primary woods used in the construction of a Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar?

Bonus Question
Another Beatles question complete the following line- "Well here is another clue for you all-------------------------"

Friday, January 13, 2006

Just for Kicks

Here are the answers to the quiz, I know they're way overdue but a series of unfortunate events is the cause for this delay.
eM has an interesting music quiz up here. Go give it a shot I'll be putting up a music quiz meself right after this post. Dust those amps and string your guitars... why? Justfokix. The bonus question scheme holds.


1] "A good-----should have all the qualities of a pahalwan (strong man)". From this statement a Brand symbol was born. What?
-MRF tyres

2] The Daihatsu Midget was licensed to a company in India, what came off this agreement?
-Bajaj Autorickshaw

3] Complete the analogy Dynamic Vetor: Stripes::-----------:-----------?
-Reebok:Adidas (Come on this was easy)

4] Complete the list or rather start it ---------------, teamon.com, neomeo.com, responses.com, highku.com
-Hotmail.com, all Sabeer Bhatia companies

5] The 'lead' author of this book is an Indian actress and model. Name the book, the actress and also give the concept here. (Yes, there is one)
-Tara Deshpande, The Motive, it was a collaborative e-book. Guess no one wrote into into, or read into it.

6] This is for those hardcore business quiz walas. (Yes I can do that too) What first does HPCL (Hindustan Petro-Chemicals Limited) have to its credit?
- First PSU to be listed on the exchanges

7] This car's name comes from the lack of noise from its engine. What car are we talking about?
-Maruti Suzuki ZEN (Zero Engine Noise)

8] What's a FIDO?
- A coin that is stamped wrong in the mint. Guess its of more value than the denomination, all thanks to PT Barnum

9] This town in popular fiction gets its name from the solution of opium in alcohol. Gimme the name of the town?
- Laudanum from the Asterix, stupid

10] Who designs jewellery for the company called Artex?
-Priyanka Vadhera, her husband Robert Vadhera owns Artex who else would give her a job. Does designing have anything to with being Italian

Monday, January 09, 2006

Trivial At Best

I don't know what originality is. At one time I remember telling someone that it was 1 G and 4 T's only to be told that the description wasn’t original enough. Deja Vu is as much apart of my life as my fish scales or some German word which means fish scales. It seems that most of my ideas have been picked and used before, sometimes just a few days after I first thought of it. So I've given up on originality. You will never see this blog trying to do something out of the ordinary, it will stick to humdrum and record small bits of information only I and my balls are privy to. It will record the going-ons in the industry in which I'm employed, just like scores of other blogs around what has been so lovingly and unoriginally termed as the 'blogosphere', couldn't they have called it 'Blogaia' instead, or 'Blogosht', or ARCOB (A Random Collection Of Blogs). Wait!! I can’t suggest anything that is original.
There is a small little battle on, some sort of battle of wits because of the annual Indie Bloggies Award or some such. The regular biggies are slugging it out with a ‘vote for me’ post and other bloggers accusing these guys of being low and cheap and other, non-socialist behaviour. Come to think of it, being cheap is being socialist isn’t it? Yikes did I ruffle any feathers here? I hope not. I’m not a crusading blogger. Nor am I angst filled or sarcastic. I have no wit or vitriol at my disposal hence the nerdy “Quiz Posts”.
Did you guys know how the word geyser came into existence? It’s from Geysir, a thermal hotspot from Iceland. Oh I just gave that as a tidbit, it’s not to show how smart and wonderfully gifted I am. At best I’m blissfully trivial.
Those who came looking for the quiz, the previous post is the latest one and there is a twist to the bonus tail as well. Just scroll down you lovelies.

Who is Joe?

And on the seventh day God rested, I rested on the fifth, the sixth and the seventh. Then I sat on a quiz on the eighth, finally on the ninth I realised that I couldn't count that well. So unable to count I wore the barren day off (would somebody kill me for the line, anybody, dhiskyaauon).
You have till tomorow to get the answers and the 100 bucks are waiting. And yeah the funda behind the bonus question has become very interesting. At the end of the month, i.e. 31st Jan 2006 the first person to give me the answers of all the bonus questions will get 500 bucks, yup, you read right. All you need to do is collate the answer and get the monies. Of course this means that starting today I give no answers for the bonus questions.
So lets start off with the first quiz for the week.

1] "A good-----should have all the qualities of a pahalwan (strong man)". From this statement a Brand symbol was born. What?

2] The Daihatsu Midget was licensed to a company in India, what came off this agreement?

3] Complete the analogy Dynamic Vetor: Stripes::-----------:-----------?

4] Complete the list or rather start it ---------------, teamon.com, neomeo.com, responses.com, highku.com

5] The 'lead' author of this book is an Indian actress and model. Name the book, the actress and also give the concept here. (Yes, there is one)

6] This is for those hardcore business quiz walas. (Yes I can do that too) What first does HPCL (Hindustan Petro-Chemicals Limited) have to its credit?

7] This car's name comes from the lack of noise from its engine. What car are we talking about?

8] What's a FIDO?

9] This town in popular fiction gets its name from the solution of opium in alcohol. Gimme the name of the town?

10] Who designs jewellery for the company called Artex?

Bonus Question
Connect Mark Cuban, Martha Stewart, Tommy Hilfiger and Donald Trump

Friday, January 06, 2006

The answers to Q6 and I wonder...

Here are the answers to the easiest quiz in the series. Now I'm wondering whether to put one up right away or wait until Monday. Anyone want to play??

1] Connect Wimbledon, Wales and Snatch.
- Vinnie Jones. This hard man played football for Wimbledon in the season during which they won the FA cup, he was also part of the Welsh national football team. He later acted in Guy Ritchie movies Lock Stock and Snatch playing a hard hitman in those.


2] A sitter for any football follower. This nation, alongwith England has played international football for the longest period. Which national team are we talking about?
-Scotland

3] Yet another easy one. Who are the members of the G.I.R.L squad?
-Dee Dee, Mee Mee and Lee Lee. If you've watched your cartoons you'd know that Dee Dee is Dexter irritating elder sister. Mee Mee and Lee Lee, are her friends.

4] Connect John Frankenheimer, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Joe Carnahan and Tony Scott (some funda here)
- All directors of BMW films that won a lot of acclaim. Each film showcased the prowess of BMW cars. I have around 8 of these films with me, they're short films, anyone interested in a copy??

5] "Short, broad chested with a large head; small eyes and a thin grey beard, he had a flat nose and a swarthy complexion, showing the evidences of his origin" This description is used to describe which king?
-Atilla the Hun

6] "Fast and the Furious" had its characters playing a video game on their Playstation in a couple of scenes. What game was it?
- Grand Turismo 3

7] The US has the Big Foot, Nepal and India have the Yeti, what elusive legend does Australia have?
- The Bunyip

8] Lets hit some old world logic puzzle here "Five men are standing in a circle. They know they are wearing at least 2 white hats and at least 2 black hats. They do not know what colour hat they are wearing. How many of them will figure out what colour their hat is? Of course they aren't allowed to communicate in any manner whatsoever." (An old quiz circuit favourite)
- 2. Two men will see three hats of the same colour, and one hat of a different colour. Since they know there cannot be four hats with the same colour, they will know their hat colour is the same as the one man with the different coloured hat. The two people who see those colours will know their hat colour. The other three will see a balanced number of hat colours, so they won't know what colour their hat is.

9] How did the antibiotic Bacitracin get its name?
-Extarcted from the bacillus in Tracy's arm.

10] I don't think we've had a cricket question. So here's to rectify the error. An Australian team toured England in 1868, the first by any Australian cricket team. What as odd about the tour?
- The team consisted of only aborgine players and had to be smuggled into England as they didn't have the permissions required to travel.

Bonus

Why do I have a Bonus question instead of Question No 11?
- This one still awaits an answer