A Trip with Ubuntu

November 19, 2006 Design

I was nurturing a passion of experiencing Linux first hand. After I read and saw some interfaces over the internet, I decided to try out Ubuntu on my home PC. For the unintiated, ubuntu is a one of the many distros available for the Linux kernel; the others being SuSe, Fedora, Mandriva, etc. You can download a copy of the latest version called “Edgy Eft” or ver 6.10 (ISO file, 698 MB) for ubuntu from this address. Please read the instructions before running the Live CD or installing it on your PC.

Some of the web resources on installing Ubuntu were more frightening than helpful to a non-techie like me. In the end, I decided o play safe and run the Live CD without installing it. Everything went off smoothly and the GUI rocked as well. You can do a lot more with the GNOME desktop and change it in whatever way you want it. If I ever gather the courage to install it myself (ubuntu has apparently eased the process than some of its counterparts) it will no doubt be a fabulous experience working on a parallel OS and grasping the knowledge of some new tools. For the time being, I will enjoy my Ubuntu on the CD.

Check these videos for a live Ubuntu experience.

Ubuntu Linux Community logo

Microsoft buys out Firefox?

November 15, 2006 Design

Atleast that’s what this website wants us to believe. It’s offering a browser called Microsoft Firefox 2007 for download along with a complete feature list! The design looks much similar to Microsoft’s IE 7 spotlight. Even the favicon is similar to Microsoft’s. So shall we term it as a website rip, an attempted phishing or simply a figment of somebody’s wild illusions? you can decide for yourself. But IE married off with Firefox is a dangerous proposition to even imagine :-)

The Pride of Maharashtra: ‘Marathi Baana’

November 14, 2006 Happenings

Frankly, I had not heard about this marathi musical until mom excitedly got the tickets for us. It’s called ‘Marathi Baana’ (Marathi Pride) and is playing to full houses all across the state (yesterday night was no exception). The 3 hour song and dance is a demo of the rich cultural heritage of Maharashtra featuring a live orchestra, singers and about 40-50 dancers from both sexes, all dressed up in the native colorful attire, dancing to the live music. The entire team comprises of 125 members. Ashok Hande, whose a veteran of Marathi stage has produced, written, directed and presented the show and also figures in the 4 male singing choir. The musical focuses on the long rich marathi traditions of festivals, folk songs and dances and discusses its plight under the current generation of the marathi population.

Firstly, the show is colourful and thats the only word that comes to my mind. The dancers are ‘fantabulous’ and the singers are mellifluous in their renditions as well. Its proof enough that they have worked pretty hard to get this show running on its feet what with the singers memorizing entire paras of songs and the dancers remembering their steps on every word of it. That said subtle references to the ‘paraprantiya’ (migrant population) during such shows involving the ‘marathi manoos’ (native maharastrian), is always on the cards and is a big turn off personally. This refers to the apparent displacement of the original marathi populace from their native land in mumbai to far-flung places in the northern suburbs and beyond, which is being attributed to the high influx of migrants from outside the state, their illegal settlement & economic progression in this city. One thought that the wonderful cultural platform that the musical ‘Marathi Baana’ offered should in no way be misused to fan the emotions of the patrons who come to enjoy the show. Art has to be set free of all biases against creed or race. But go and watch it for art’s sake and revel in the cultural celebration.

[tags]Marathi, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Marathi Baana[/tags]

The Pride of Maharashtra: 'Marathi Baana'

November 14, 2006 Happenings

Frankly, I had not heard about this marathi musical until mom excitedly got the tickets for us. It’s called ‘Marathi Baana’ (Marathi Pride) and is playing to full houses all across the state (yesterday night was no exception). The 3 hour song and dance is a demo of the rich cultural heritage of Maharashtra featuring a live orchestra, singers and about 40-50 dancers from both sexes, all dressed up in the native colorful attire, dancing to the live music. The entire team comprises of 125 members. Ashok Hande, whose a veteran of Marathi stage has produced, written, directed and presented the show and also figures in the 4 male singing choir. The musical focuses on the long rich marathi traditions of festivals, folk songs and dances and discusses its plight under the current generation of the marathi population.

Firstly, the show is colourful and thats the only word that comes to my mind. The dancers are ‘fantabulous’ and the singers are mellifluous in their renditions as well. Its proof enough that they have worked pretty hard to get this show running on its feet what with the singers memorizing entire paras of songs and the dancers remembering their steps on every word of it. That said subtle references to the ‘paraprantiya’ (migrant population) during such shows involving the ‘marathi manoos’ (native maharastrian), is always on the cards and is a big turn off personally. This refers to the apparent displacement of the original marathi populace from their native land in mumbai to far-flung places in the northern suburbs and beyond, which is being attributed to the high influx of migrants from outside the state, their illegal settlement & economic progression in this city. One thought that the wonderful cultural platform that the musical ‘Marathi Baana’ offered should in no way be misused to fan the emotions of the patrons who come to enjoy the show. Art has to be set free of all biases against creed or race. But go and watch it for art’s sake and revel in the cultural celebration.

The Statement (2003)

November 12, 2006 Movies

It was time to renew the passion of watching movies. The sinister look of Michael Caine on the cover of this DVD intrigued me to pick it up. So for this week, I selected The Statement (2003). The story of the movie is about frenchman Pierre Brossad (Michael Caine) who belongs to the Vichy police, without whom the Nazis could never have murdered some 77,000 Jews in France. Brossad himself is responsible for murdering 7 Jews in a daybreak assault in a village called Dombay. He manages to evade justice by absconding and remains undetected under the protection of the clergy. However, a team of Jewish hit-men supported by some individuals in the seats of power are on his trail to avenge the killing of their brethren, 44 years later. A ‘statement’ proclaiming the justice and the avenging of the death of the Jews would be left on his dead body. Judge Annemarie Livi (Tilda Swinton) and Colonel Roux (Jeremy Northam) are assigned the task of reviving the case against Brossad for crimes against humanity and bring him to justice. Clearly it’s now the case of who-gets-him-first – the bullet or the long arm of justice.

Caine in his interview had said that he’s never played a character he’s disliked so much and it proves in the portrayal. He’s displayed the cunningness of Brossad who always seems to cover his tracks, with the same aplomb as the sick individual who clenches his chest in pain while moving around and shooting his predators. The movie, is based on a novel by Brian Moore and inspired from a real life incident.

» The Official Movie Website

Michael Caine in a scene from The Statement (2003)