Freedom ?! One illusion or many ?

Freedom?! Is it what I have on my side of the bars ?

Yesterday was a rather eventful day. I got myself vaccinated against a rather mumps outbreak on campus, saw a rather good movie (Luck By Chance) with friends and took this awesome picture. This photo was Ms B’s idea. Now before babbling about freedom, how about some guesses as to what is beyond those bars ? I will reveal it later, either in updates or comments, but if you are really into spoilers then do click on the link.

Now it’s time to elaborate on freedom. Year 2009, we live in a so-called free world. But then again, I ask the oft repeated question: “Are we truly free ?” In just one day I realized that I am not. A tiny little virus can compromise my freedom, I had to have a needle puncture my skin and deliver some alien fluid in my body so that I could be safe. I could not watch the movie in peace because a couple of lovebirds were *doing* things to each other right in front of me (“Helping each other” – as one of my friends said). There are so many things I want to do, but I can’t because I don’t have the freedom or social sanction to do it. But I realised one thing at the theater. The couple in front were being “free”, but it made the people around them uncomfortable. I guess freedom is totally relative, eh?

We are all bound and gagged by the people around us, the places we live in and the families we are born into. Just as the person next to you inhibits your freedom, you do the same for that person as well. Just because of your presence he has to behave in a certain manner, talk in a certain manner etc. Ironical, isn’t it ? A world of people who are desirous of freedom are in truth the ones who are each other’s captors. Sometimes, humanity is just twisted!!

Technorati Tags: humans,photography,india,life,door,windows,freedom

The Pup on the Pavement

The Pup on the Pavement - found this cute little pup sleeping peacefully on the pavement!

Another addition to my steadily growing collection of animal photos. This cute little critter was sleeping peacefully on the pavement. Mr A, Mr R, Mr N, Ms GB and myself were walking along to have some food and we came across this cute little puppy sleeping peacefully on the pavement. Today, I got conclusive proof that animals are totally photogenic. This was the best picture of the pup that I took, but the pup looked equally good in every snap. I know I haven’t been blogging for the last couple of days, it was only because I was working on my case for the intra moot-court competition that’s to be held on the 28th at my university. Among other things, I’ve been planning on making some changes to my blog and I’ve finally put the ads on my blog. I’ve been thinking of making only one post appear on the home page. If you want to see the other posts, then just click on older posts. I just think it’s going to be more photobloggy!!

Technorati Tags: photography,photos,india,animals,cute,pups,dogs

The Tree In My Dreams

The Tree In My Dreams - this image might hurt your eyes, click on it to view a bigger size.

This picture isn't exactly that of the tree in my dreams but it does come close. This picture was taken around 2:30 pm a couple of days ago. It was just after it had stopped raining. Mr A, Ms S and I were headed towards a certain cafe/restaurant where we regularly hang out. To get to that place we have to cross a railway crossing. Now, what happened was that the train stopped halfway through the crossing. Now, as we were on a rickshaw we were totally stuck. I got down and this tree really intrigued me. So, I whipped out my phone and took a couple of pictures.

The best one was later turned into an HDR photograph and then it was treated to some Photoshop. What you see is the final result. You can actually see a part of the train reflected in the puddle and a part of it in the background. Now, continuing the story, we were getting late. So, Mr A and I had this idea. We climbed through the train, which was effectively dead for all means and purposes, and jumped to the other side. The best part was that as soon as we had crossed through the train, it started moving again. We made it in time to meet another one of our friends, Mr AS.

UPDATE - This photo of mine got featured on A Photo A Day From Planet Earth! YAY!

Technorati Tags: photography,india,trees,nature,water,photos,nokia,train,cellphone

Random Smoking Bunny

Smoking Bunny - Smoking is injurious to health!

STATUTORY WARNING - SMOKING IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH , ESPECIALLY FOR CUTE BUNNIES.

This, my friends, is a smoking bunny. Well, its not actually a cigarette in it's mouth but a piece of rolled up paper. Why?! Well I don't smoke so I wouldn't be likely to have a cigarette on me, especially during class. Yeah, I took this in class today. The bunny here features on Ms SM's pencil bag. I just had this crazy brainwave and I rolled up a piece of paper and stuck it between the bunny and the desk and I even got the ears into position. And wallah! Lo and behold. I had my smoking bunny.

It was an excellent model. Of course there was a lot of luminance noise in the image because it was taken from a cell-phone, so I had to use a lot of Photoshop on it. I'm pretty pleased with the end result though.

Now the main question – Why did I take this picture ? Just felt like it. As my room-mate keeps on saying, “In the heat of the moment.”

Technorati Tags: india,animals,photography,bunnies,funny,message,nokia,camera

A Happy Man and a Lazy Bum

Happy Little Man - taken at the Saras fair, 2008.

The time right now is exactly 11 pm or 2300 hrs, whichever you prefer. I’m sitting alone in my room, trying to find a case which has been dodging me for the last four days.  I’ve spent the last 1 hour looking for that one citation that can help me get started on my work.

It's 11:15 pm now! I spent 15 minutes just typing two lines ?! I stare at the heater for a couple of minutes, pushing my feet towards it and feeling the comforting warmth on them. On a whim, I decide to check out the temperature right now. Its 12 degrees right now, the minimum, as low as 7. I spot my quilt at the end of my bed. I spread the quilt and get comfortable.

Its 11:25 pm and I can hear the constable whistling outside. Its a rather odd system here in India. Around midnight a constable starts patrolling the streets and keeps on whistling as he patrols. I recall something akin to being fascinated with the whole patrolling-at-midnight thing as a kid. Its 11:28 pm now and I seriously should do something about that case. Now, where is that book on contracts ?!

Its 11:30 pm and I find the book. I look through the index and find a new citation for that case. Now what does PC stand for ? Oh yeah, its the Privy Council! Manupatra gives me nothing. I sigh, click on that link to Westlaw and type out the citation. Still nothing ! It begins to get on my nerves. Deep searching into Westlaw gives me nothing either! I sit and ponder for a minute. Let’s see. I got a traceable AIR citation from a lost IA citation. I think the day wasn’t all that bad. I guess the library will help me, if they have AIRs going back to 1924! I take one more look at the time. Its 11:55 pm. I guess its time to edit my mistakes and post this.

Technorati Tags: india,photography,photos,life,real,rant,law school,law

Projects and petitions!

We were all sitting in class today, enjoying a free sociology period because our professor's on leave. It's just been 15 minutes and in walks this new professor. She introduced herself as Ms. D and said that she was the new IPR teacher and the teacher-in-charge of the Internship and Placement Committee. She appeared pretty smart and confident and appeared to be a no nonsense person. But after interacting with her for the rest of the period I came to realize that she wasn't all that she showed to be. Maybe she had her guard up just because it was the first time that she was in our class and all.

By the way, we don't have IPR in our first year. Its in out third year and onwards, but she was there to brief us about the about our internship reports and assignments. We had a compulsory "Law Library" internship after our 1st semester. Quite honestly a rational person would think that such an internship was pointless and had no real value on a C.V. Yeah, we had to do some really lame things like making a bibliography on a subject of our choice and write a book review of one of the books that we read in that library. Stuff our univ. makes us do...

Talking about the univ., these are couple of pictures that I clicked a day ago. It's the lawn in front of our library and there were flowers strewn all over it, flowers which had fallen from the trees. It was a beautiful sight with the sunlight and shadows. Just had to click.

Flower Drops - In color!


A little photoshop and some sepia magic!

Among other things, I read this post by Monika, today. It was about a petition which she had started. A petition to fight terorrism by both Pakistanis and Indians. I hope you guys go and sign it.

Technorati Tags: india,university,college,photos,photography,fun

Pony Parking

I was wandering on the streets of Patiala when I came across this rather interesting sight. A couple of stray , yes STRAY, horses were grazing right next a couple of cars in front of a hotel. The irony of the situation has not escaped me till this day. I guess its only in India where you will find stray horses and cows. But finding stray horses is quite common in Patiala. That was quite a horsey day for me as well. Oh well!

Technorati Tags: animals,photography,photos,india,patiala,street

My Camera & Phone

My cameraphone is a rather mid-range Nokia 6233. In fact its one of the last Nokia 6233s to be purchased in the world.

It looks quite good and has a surprisingly good quality 2 megapixel camera. It has stereo speakers and is 3G enabled. Its a total value for money package. The sound on this baby is supremely awesome and the camera is pretty good too. Although it fails in giving clarity in large images like 1600X1200 it still does supremely well in mid size images.

The full specs are as follows -

2 MP camera

5 MB Built in Memory

Expandable memory with Micro SD card

Stereo Speakers (the loudest in any Nokia mid level phone)

Awesome sound quality

Sleek looks

A tried and tested phone, but sadly it has reached the end of its line. Its not manufactured anymore and I was lucky to get one of the few available models in the world. Some of the more detailed features -

• A small, sleek mobile device with indulgent stainless steel - the perfect balance of features for both business and pleasure
• Real time access to information at all times through mobile broadband
• High quality sound through stereo speakers
• 3G capable
• 2 megapixel camera with 8x smooth, digital zoom and landscape mode
• FM stereo radio and music player
• Enhanced Java email client for easy sending and receiving of information
• Spam filter to avoid junk mail
• Supports video sharing, streaming, and recording capabilities
• Video, MP3, eACC+, and 64-chord/voice polyphonic MIDI ringing tones

• Volume: 81 cc
• Weight: 110 g
• Length: 108 mm
• Width: 46 mm
• Thickness (max): 18 mm

Nokia 6233 Flickr Pool

Technorati Tags: camera,nokia,phone,review,6233,photo