IdeaGrenade

I'm still alive

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:44:00 +0000

This is just a post to tell you all that I am alive and I will be blogging here. Not soon, but when I cometh, I shall cometh with goodies :P.

Anyway, until you hear from me again, I think these blogs will keep you entertained.

1. Krish Ashok:

The dude is really famous. If you haven't read his blog, you are new to the blog world. Which I am for sure. Really funny. He write for the Indian Express too.

2. Iyer Matter:

Ok. This guy is just too good. He posts rarely, which is kind of sad cause if he posted more frequently, he'd be a star by now.

3. One Knight Stands:

This dude Sujoy has some really interesting articles over at One Knight Stands. Nice pun, I agree.

4. Sottai:

This is a link from Krish Ashok's blog. I kinda like this guys style. Sort of very detached and funny.

5. Olipadai:

This is my band's blog. We've just compiled a bunch of links so you can listen to our songs and join us on Orkut/Facebook etc.
Right. That's it for now. Take care. Ta.

We Shall Rebel

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:07:00 +0000

So I look at Lennon and Zappa,
and the other heroes I look up to,
who had something to say.

I think, where is my ideological hero,
of my land, of my language, like me?
The only ones who can try to fit the bill
are singing or writing love songs.

The few who do say what they think,
are not saying it loud enough,
or are not getting fed for what they say.

I might be the odd guy here,
or maybe it's just a phase,
or I'm just rambling about nothing.
We are after all Palahniuk's middle generation.

Maybe things would be more interesting,
if more of us took out our guitars,
and sang songs about things we really cared about.

Whatever happens though, old people
and others who don't understand,
we shall rebel, like our fathers did,
because we have nothing much else to do.

Azhagu Puratchi

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:23:00 +0000

Download:
Idi da
Maanda Mannan Kaviyam

Arjun did all the music, and the guitar solo in Maanda Mannan Kaviyam is Java. Rest is me, including the bad singing.

Poet and Guitar Project

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 05:23:00 +0000

Download:

As Close to Bliss
Get a Guitar
Sweet Dude

Lyrics

First Ever Award.

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:20:00 +0000

IdeaGrenade won the Blog of the Day award for April 18th 2009.

Sex, Pervert, Shopping mall.

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:07:00 +0000

Shopping mall. Sexy girl in lime green tees and faded jeans. I find a place to sit and I watch. She's going through the ray-bans. Not this one, not that one. She' got style. Ouch, she drops one. She's bending down to pick it up. Good girl, bend a little more. I saw something there. It's the kind that makes t-shirt captions go three-d. Too bad the lime green tee didn't have any caption. There, she found one she likes. She's showing it to her boyfriend. He notices that I'm staring at her. He gives an odd look. Rule number one is "You are not doing anything wrong till you reveal guilt". They pay and leave. I get up and walk around a little. I whistle. You'd have whistled too if you'd seen her. Such legs. I don't even remember her face now. The legs will stay with me till I die. God bless the magazines that say mini-skirts are in.

"Hey"

I turn around to find Suja, my girlfriend. She is looking hot. I'd never noticed that she had such smooth curves.

"You're looking good today" I say as we hug.

Glass breaks. We turn around. Sexy legs and her boy friend are surrounded by a group of saffron clad thugs.

"You marry him right now, or you tie this rakhi. That is it."

I look at Suja, and she looks back at me. We just stand there. Always remember rule number one.

Sexy legs slaps the thug. Bad move sweet heart. Suja grabs my hand and we are gone before they notice.

"You know Neha, sometimes it's good that we are different" she says giving me a sexy smile.

"I know" I smile back, and we break into a giggle.

A Bag of Salt please.

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:21:00 +0000

The next time you're going to believe Wikipedia on anything, keep this in mind. I found it when I was researching something, at about 1.00pm on the 27th of January 2009 :P. The link's here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacks. Someone's corrected it, check out the pic. If you can't read what's written check the para below the pic. And don't smile.

"The game originated hundreds of years ago in Kenya, Africa where Barack Hussain Obama was born. at age 12, he killed 89 police officers, 17 citizens, injured George Cloney, and murdered Muhammad Ali. Jacks were the only playthings boys and girls had were materials they found near their homes. They collected small stones and animal bones and learned to use them in a game. They tossed them into the air in a way similar to today's version of the game. An older version of the game used five stone cubes made of clay, wood, ivory, wood, bone, plastic or other substances."

Cheers
Kaber

January Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:31:00 +0000

Here is the second installment of the 'favorites' post. This January, I'd like to appreciate the following blogs and bloggers for .. er.. existing. ;)

1. Bharath Kishore's photo stream & PCCATS

Origami and anime freak - Bharat used to conduct origami classes on campus, but now he's started teaching online. Do check out his photo stream and Ning network. Origami, enjoy!

2. The God of Small Things

Shrey is sharp and very original in his ideas and presentation. Has got a new favicon recently. I like his style of writing, honest and observant.

3.My Grandpa's suggestions

My grandfather put up a blog recently to document his ideas. Most of them have to do with developing India. I think the blog makes for thought provoking reading.

4. Art Blog

I never followed art blogs till I came across this one.Vatsal's designs make me think - neuron shufflers.

5. Its My Life

Cynical and interesting, Tejesh writes well. Among the bloggers you read when you want to escape.

Pictures of the Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:10:00 +0000

All that is, between the light and the land,
casts a shadow,
and I was trying to capture,
a shadow less frame.

In my room, the lamps define the boundaries for the darkness.
In my garden, the bees cast their shapes on the petals.
I imagine, that the desert dunes make heavenly shade,
and the docks loom over the sea waves.

In the morning, the shadows crackle with an eagerness,
but by mid day, they nap at my feet.
At dusk they extend an arm in friendship - only
to capture my world when the moon comes.

So the only pictures I managed without a shadow,
with not a trace of darkness,
and not a hint of shade,
are the pictures I took of the sun.

The Green Post

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:36:00 +0000

The recession is the best thing to have happened to the world because we'll get a few years more to tackle climate change.

Here are some inventions/ innovations that might be the answer. I'll keep updating this list when I come across something. If you know about something that should be on this list, contact me here .

1. The Air Car

I wrote a huge article about this on my older blog. That link is here. Another article I came across is here. Production starts 2010.

2. The NovaTorque motor

Imagine a more efficient, lighter, motor. A motor such as the one NovaTorque have developed would reduce energy consumption in almost every device we know, which in turn would make a huge difference. Production starts this year. The Time magazine article is here.

3. Green Buildings

Buildings are turning eco-friendly. Materials, energy sources, construction methods. Here is an article about it from the Times of India, and this is a neat site about it.

4. The Atmospheric Water condenser

Water from thin air, even in a desert. Need I say more? Here.

5. Domestic Windmills.

We are moving towards decentralized energy production. Domestic windmills and solar panels will powers our homes quite soon, the grid will become history. Or maybe a backup. Here is a site.

6. LEDs

They will light up your rooms, they will become your screens. They will become smaller. They will change the world. LEDs.

7. Bloxes

I came across this one on the Google blog, the idea is wonderful. Bloxes are cardboard boxes that you can fit about in different ways to create different stuff. They were invented by Jef Raskin. Bloxes was founded by his son Aza Raskin. You might be thinking why it made it to this list. Make bloxes from recycled paper = Viola! We'll have something that can drastically reduce the consumption of concrete, cost of construction, and can be reused. What's more, a few scented cardboard bloxes, and your office cabin will smell sweet (you can even change the scent from time to time). The craziest colours you can think of will be possible - be sure you're using water based paints though :). Huge 3-d jigsaw puzzles. If you build a small creche room with it, your baby will never get hurt. Giant build-them-yourself toys. Your imagination is the limit. I would have classified it under "Green Buildings" but, it seemed so versatile, I had to add it separately.

8. The Smart Grid.

Thanks Kido for the tip off. Here's a link.

This list will be updated from time to time. If you know about something that should be on this list, contact me here .

December Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:37:00 +0000

Here are my favorite blogs for December 2008 and why I like them (in the order of my discovering them).

Summer Diary

This is the wittiest blog I've read, very funny, and entertaining. You half forget that anything else exists in this world when you read Jack. My favorite post is "Chapter 14". He doesn't seem to have posted anything recently.

Definitely Maybe

Definitely Maybe is updated rarely, but everytime Kenneth write's something, it touches you. My favorite post is "Strawberry Swing....."

Untitled

Cheeky title for a blog but Chittz is awesome. There is a certain sadness in most of her work. What I admire most is her flow. The narration just flows. There is no other word for it. My favorite post is "Plastic Christmas Tree"

Contemplation Glints

There is only one word to describe what Goldhawk writes. Brilliant. Her plots are always things you've heard of somewhere, but her treatment is brilliant. Favorite post, "Conjuncture"

The Loony Lampoonist

Foogarky deserves an award for his imagination. His characters are wild. Among all the fiction blogs I've read, he is the most different. Favorite post, "The Scene Changer"

Kafkaesque

Aditya never blasts anything or hold's anything high. In that way I think he is a very balanced reviewer. And he seems to read prolificly.

Rekindled Imaginations

Ha ha ha. Arjun must be among the funniest bloggers alive. His style of story telling is anecdotal, you think that these stories may be true. His most recent post however seems to be tragic. My favorite post, "Totally Jammed...!!"

Thrunthi Vaa

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:27:00 +0000

Download

Singing (male)
Kaanum Kangal Thanae Vaeru (Isn't it that only our eyes are different)
Kaanum Katchi Kedayathey (Not the sight we see)
Peesum mozhi thaney vaeru (Isn't it that only our languages are different)
Pechin ennam kidayaadhe (Not the thought behind our words)
Sellum paathay thanay veru (Isn't it that only our paths are different)
Nadakkum kaalgal kidayaadhe (Not our walking legs)
Aayunthangal dhaane veru (Isn't it that only our weapons are different)
Yendhum kaigal kidayaadhe (Not our hands that hold them)

Moodiya kanthira, moodiya kanthira thozha (Open your closed eyes, my friend) x2

Seviyae, Seviyae, Seviyae, koncham kelu ( Ears, Ears, Ears, listen)
Ratha aaril neendhi vetri choodiyadhu yaaru? (Who's ever won, drenched in blood)
Mozhiyae, Mozhiyae, Mozhiyae, koncham pesu ( Language, Language, Language, speak)
Unnai serayil adakeyyathu yaaru? (Who's imprisoned you?)

Narration (female)

Aayudhangal eri vanakkam sol (Throw your weapons, say namaste)
Azhi un ratha veri (Destroy your blood lust)
Punnagai kol (Smile)

Singing (Male)

Kathi indri ratham indri (Without weapons, and without blood)
Naadau pala peranthatu (Many countries were born)

Gandhi soona vazhi thozha (Gandhi's path, my friend)
Unnaku indru marantathu ( You've forgotten today)

Moodiya kanthira, moodiya kanthira thozha (Open your closed eyes, my friend) x2

Singing (female)

Aariya maakal azhipathu, veeranuku azhaga (Is it like a warrior to kill innocent people)
Un kuraigala peechal thirpathu thavara (Is it wrong to talk about your grievances )
Puratchi endru Puratchi endru (Calling it a revolution)
Vuyerai parikaathey (don't take away lives)
Arivu illa peechu ketu (Listening to foolishness)
Vuyerai kodukathey (do't give away your life)

Singing (male)

Kaanum Kangal Thanae Vaeru (Isn't it that only our eyes are different)
Kaanum Katchi Kedayathey (Not the sight we see)
Peesum mozhi thaney vaeru (Isn't it that only our languages are different)
Pechin ennam kidayaadhe (Not the thought behind our words)
Sellum paathay thanay veru (Isn't it that only our paths are different)
Nadakkum kaalgal kidayaadhe (Not our walking legs)
Aayunthangal dhaane veru (Isn't it that only our weapons are different)
Yendhum kaigal kidayaadhe (Not our hands that hold them)

Moodiya kanthira, moodiya kanthira thozha (Open your closed eyes, my friend) x2

A blind boy and Rubik's toy

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:32:00 +0000

He held it sacred in his hand,
and fondled it with finger love.
Twisted it madly, almost wrenched,
the colourful plastic cube.

He held it close to his ear,
heard it click beneath his fingers,
smiled to himself while scrambling it again
“I like this” his announced.

“It’s a puzzle” I said, and asked:
“Shall I get you one in braille?”
He held it in front of his vacuous eyelid,
“I think it is more fun this way”

Hippie Santa and Rajinikanth

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 09:05:00 +0000

My barber is the kind of man who’d stand out anywhere. He occupies most of his cramped saloon himself, has a mop of hair from the Rajinikanth seventies and laughs like Santa Clause. He has never missed the first day, first show of any Rajini movie till date.

“I am painting thalaivar on my door” he said one day.

I had just entered and was sitting on a plastic chair awaiting my turn, reading a Tamil magazine.

“Where?” I looked at him.

He was sliding a razor across the shaving foam on someone’s face. The guy didn’t seem to care what we were talking about.

“On the door thambi, the shop’s door”

He was going to paint Rajinikanth on his saloon’s door.

“Your thalivar might not like that” I said.

He looked at me like I’d said something stupid. Rajinikanth, had issued a notice long back asking people to stop using his pictures without his consent. He did not like people misusing his image.

I explained all that to hippie Santa.

He paused for a moment inspecting the foam on the other guy’s face.

“It doesn’t matter” he said as he restarted scrapping away the foam. “Who’s going to see anyway?”

The next time I went for a haircut, I saw Rajini on the saloon door. Head held high, the setting sun forming a halo behind his profile, smiling in that innocently narcissistic way that only he can. It was a perfect replica of a famous picture, the one from Thalapathy.

I stood there for a second, admiring the even spread of paint on the glass door and the way it played with the light. Then I opened the door, went in and sat on a plastic chair to wait for my turn.

“How is it thambi?” my barber asked turning away from someone’s hair.

“Really good” I said, smiling. The guy getting his hair cut didn’t seem to mind our talking.

“How much did it cost you?” I asked.

“Nothing”

“Nothing! Who does paintings for free?”

He looked at me like I’d said something stupid, again.

“Rajesh. He is from the fan club”

“Rajini’s fan club?”

Santa nodded.

So much talent was roaming our streets painting free pictures of Rajinikanth. Incredible, India!

“Does he paint other things?”

“He used to paint for movies, on walls, but who needs painters nowadays thambi. Every poster is combuter printed”

I looked at my barber. I looked at the image of Rajini on the glass door, the light coming through. I thought about Rajesh, shrugged, took a Tamil magazine from a plastic chair, and started reading.

Kannavu

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:28:00 +0000

Download

Oru kannavai eduthu kannil veythu nadanthen (I saw my dream in front of me as I walked)
Athil kanda katchi ellam, kandu veyanthen (I was amazed by what I saw)
Vaanam parthu nadanthu (Walking, whilst looking at the sky)
Kal thaduki velunthen (I tripped on a stone, and fell down)
Kanner sinthi thudaithu (wiping tears from my eyes)
Meendum ezhanthu nadanthen (I started walking again)

Blogging Mp3s

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 06:54:00 +0000

If you're in the situation I was in some time back - trying to post Poetic on my blog - you are confused. I'll tell you how I managed to do it finally (ha!, anything can be done for free on the net).

I'll explain the situation i was in first.

1. I did not want a pod cast, because managing multiple email accounts, a couple of blogs, a youtube profile, etc, becomes complex and frustrating. A pod cast will just make it even more so. Moreover, I don't upload frequently.

2. I didn't want to download free plugins. I didn't have my own server to install it on anyway.

3. I wanted a simple single line - single file - player.

4. I needed a free mp3 host.

The page for the mp3 player code I used (html - compatible with blogger, and probably wordpress posts) is here.

The page for uploading your mp3s and getting a link is here.

Tell me if you face any problems.

Poetic - a guitar solo

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:50:00 +0000

Download

This is a guitar solo I performed. Check it out. The style of guitar playing is 'karna'. That's the term I've coined for "making the guitar sound karna-tic".

Music

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 05:50:00 +0000

Hey there,

The Tamil songs are compiled under the name "Azhugu Puratchi" ('Beautiful Revolution' in Tamil). The English songs are under the "Poet and Guitar Project".

Cheers
Kaber Vasuki

Introduction

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 05:49:00 +0000

Hello,

I am Kaber Vasuki, yet another idealistic, know-it-all, rebel with no reason, young-one, who thinks he is important, so you can understand why I blog. IdeaGrenade is where I put up my right brain. My left brain is conspicious by its absence, but I'm struggling through an engineering degree anyway. IdeaGrenade has my poems, fiction, music, eco-geek posts and other random notes. Since I put up all my work here, subscribing to this blog, apart from keeping you posted, will make you rich and famous - have faith :P. Those of you insistant on cooler ways to keep up to date can check out my facebook profile/page, orkut profile, youtube account or twitter profile. You can email me by clicking the "Contact" link under 'Clickables'.

Cheers

Kaber

Lyrics - Poet and Guitar Project

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 14:32:00 +0000

Sweet Dude:

He said it tastes better in yellow light.
Like the greener grass, she said, on the other side.
Their world goes round in circles, so do you and I.
Sweet child, I'm still a little child.

Will you keep me close as you cast your charm.
Will you smile the smile you smile like you're not done.
Will you let me in or have you yet.
Will you remember or will you forget.

I'm tired of all those pretty girls,
walking round and counting stares. I know this comes way too soon, but sweet dude, sweet dude.

New guitars strum out of tune. New poets forget meter when they rhyme.
New lovers kiss for far too long.
New is just a function of time.

If you come and ask me, I shall lie. I'll lie.
Cause all I'm doing is bidding my time. My time.
Waiting for you to come around on your own.

New guitars strum out of tune. New poets forget meter when they rhyme.
New lovers kiss for far too long.
New is just a function of time.

As Close to Bliss

There is something wrong with this song
It sounds like something I've heard before
I can't say right from left or wrong
I'm stretched like superman, tummy on floor
Mary Jane in a gold and white gown
Is all rolled up and ready to go

This is as close to bliss as I can get
This is as close to bliss as I can be
This is as close to bliss as I know it
This is as close to bliss by me

Child, I can see you're scared
You ask me if praying will do
You're confused. Is God there?
But I think it's up to you
Mary Jane in a gold and white gown
Is all rolled up and ready to go

This is as close to bliss as I can get
This is as close to bliss as I can be
This is as close to bliss as I know it
This is as close to bliss by me

Get a Guitar

You stumble over grass blades,
Or you're shooting off to stars.
You're a part of a crusade,
Or you're searching for a cause.
You're falling in love, or you're falling apart.
You study under street lights, or draw graffiti on walls.
Go get a Guitar, Pick up a Guitar.

We'll play over the fretboard, pick up a few chords, come up with a melody, sing aloud our thoughts.
Go get a Guitar, Pick up a Guitar.

You're part of a country, or you're an outlaw, don't know where your going.
Go get a Guitar, Pick up a Guitar.

Gods discuss the IdeaGrenade

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Tue, 04 Apr 2000 09:53:00 +0000

God1: The idea grenade, have you thrown it already?

God2: At earth? Yeah I did that.

God1: Ha! And it's name?

God2: I decided it should be a guy. Sathyanarayanan Kavassery is what the parents are calling him.

God1: Weird name (laughs)

God2: But his friends call him Kaber Vasuki.

God1: That's even weirder.

God2: He's the idea grenade remember.

An angel with a huge neon halo pops in between them both

Neon Angel: Gods, we have a problem.

God1: Turn that thing off first!

God2: (Under his breadth) teen-angels

Neon Angel: (turning off the neon halo) God2, you forgot to pull the pin when you threw the grenade.

God1: The idea grenade! (looks menacingly at God2)

God2: Oh, my. (whimpers)

Manifesto

noreply@blogger.com (Kaber Vasuki) — Tue, 04 Apr 2000 09:04:00 +0000

Art is more than just a mirror reflecting the culture of the times. Art serves other larger purposes. The first and most obvious function of art is to entertain. That is the reason that artists (actors, musicians, movie makers, writers, painters...) are always welcome into our minds. Our prejudices are bypassed, our views and beliefs questioned, but we shall continue to gravitate towards the television, the radio, the books and the movies or the child of them all - the internet. Such admiration and devotion to our artists gives them a voice. A magnificient, thunderous voice, which if they so desire can be used to call atention to things we over look or ignore. This brings us to the second and arguably a more important function of art. To educate. To bring to the attention of the society things that we usually avoid, overlook or forget. The third function of art, and the most important one is what I call the coloured lens principle. You look at the world through rose tinted spectacles and the world is tinged with rose. Artists change the colour on your world lens with out you knowing it. Art can change your point of view, or make you think in a way you've never thought before. Art can therefore inspire. That brings us to my manifesto. What is the point of IdeaGrenade? To hone the artist in me. To develop as a writer and musician and to think more.