Destination Infinity's Blog, page 53
October 17, 2015
My New Easy Chair for Reading, Relaxing, and Working :)
I was in a dilemma on what to buy to make my eBook reading (actually listening) easier and more comfortable. I used to lie down on my bed, with two pillows behind me, to read/listen. But that position wasn’t comfortable, and at times I even dozed off. I was thinking whether to buy a rocking chair, a swing supported on the floor, or an easy chair.
During my evening walk I decided to check the furniture shop near my house where I had bought a computer chair earlier. I told the shop keeper what/why I wanted, and he showed this gem of an easy chair.
Initially, I didn’t see the footrest, and I thought it was just another easy chair. Then he unfolded the footrest and asked me to sit on it. That was it: the moment I sat on it and was able to comfortably keep my legs on the footrest, I decided to buy it. He showed me how the back position was adjustable to five levels — I was even more impressed.
But I didn’t show much interest then and kept talking about how difficult it would be without holes for aeration, how the metallic rod is difficult to keep my feet on, how the color is too bright, etc. He then told me the price.
Guess what? This gem of a chair costs only Rs. 1800/- Woohooo 
I stopped all my complaining and gave a wide smile. I had estimated the price to be at least double that. I have seen a few models of easy chairs like this, OK — somewhat better, at 4-6K INR. Heck, I have seen recliner chairs for 15-20K on Facebook (ads).
So, needless to mention, I was sold
I asked if they had any other color, but they told me this was the last piece they had. I immediately paid the cash, just in case some other customer there might get suddenly impressed by this chair 
October 13, 2015
Do you have a designer bookshelf?
Unique Furniture Designs by Preetham Interior Designer
Most bookshelves I see are pretty boring. Rarely, books get their own bookshelves — a rectangular wooden box with compartments and glass doors. Otherwise they are kept on the shelves in the wall, especially when there is nothing else to go into it. Of course, books are also kept in showcases or in TV stand shelves, mostly as an afterthought, once people have stuffed it with all their beautiful dolls and kids’ paintings.
The bookshelf in my house is inside a closed shelf in my room — so we don’t even have one! I wonder how many readers have a prominent bookshelf at home. Do you?
Don’t you think it’s high time books get their own *visible* place at homes? I mean, we give so much importance to education nowadays, and books are a living proof of all the knowledge we have gained. Don’t you think it’s fair to show them off?
In style.
Welcome to the era of designer bookshelves.
The issue is, nowadays, I read only e-books on my Kindle and Mobile phone. I don’t buy books. So that makes the books I already have, even more precious. Another reason to have a bold and stylish bookshelf.
You thought these stylish bookshelves and comfortable chairs are only for families? With the kind of money bachelors are earning nowadays, many are building their own homes. The bookworms among them might very well be interested in having designer bookshelves that stand out.
One more thing I want to do is — buy a comfortable chair for reading/listening to books. Do you remember the rocking chair of those days? Or the easy chair? Am not sure if I’ll find such chairs nowadays — time to visit a few shops and find out. Recently I saw a small swing that stands on the floor, not hung from the wall above. That might make an interesting place to read and can be comfortably moved around, if required.
Have a look at a few designer bookshelves. Cool, aren’t they
Image Credit(s): Preetham Interior Designer, Mangaluru.
Bookshelves switches by Preetham Interior Designer
Wrench Bookshelves by Preetham Interior Designer
360 degree book shelves by Preetham Interior Designer
Book shelves -Double 8 by Preetham Interior Designer
Spanner Book shelves by Preetham Interior Designer
Do you have a separate bookshelf to keep all your books? Is it visible to guests or do you keep them inside a closed shelf?
Destination Infinity
Do you have a bookshelf?
Unique Furniture Designs by Preetham Interior Designer
Most bookshelves I see are pretty boring. Rarely, books get their own bookshelves — a rectangular wooden box with compartments and glass doors. Otherwise they are kept on the shelves in the wall, especially when there is nothing else to go into it. Of course, books are also kept in showcases or in TV stand shelves, mostly as an afterthought, once people have stuffed it with all their beautiful dolls and kids’ paintings.
The bookshelf in my house is inside a closed shelf in my room — so we don’t even have one! I wonder how many readers have a prominent bookshelf at home. Do you?
Don’t you think it’s high time books get their own *visible* place at homes? I mean, we give so much importance to education nowadays, and books are a living proof of all the knowledge we have gained. Don’t you think it’s fair to show them off?
In style.
Welcome to the era of designer bookshelves.
The issue is, nowadays, I read only e-books on my Kindle and Mobile phone. I don’t buy books. So that makes the books I already have, even more precious. Another reason to have a bold and stylish bookshelf.
You thought these stylish bookshelves and comfortable chairs are only for families? With the kind of money bachelors are earning nowadays, many are building their own homes. The bookworms among them might very well be interested in having designer bookshelves that stand out.
One more thing I want to do is — buy a comfortable chair for reading/listening to books. Do you remember the rocking chair of those days? Or the easy chair? Am not sure if I’ll find such chairs nowadays — time to visit a few shops and find out. Recently I saw a small swing that stands on the floor, not hung from the wall above. That might make an interesting place to read and can be comfortably moved around, if required.
Have a look at a few designer bookshelves. Cool, aren’t they Image Credit(s): Preetham Interior Designer, Mangaluru.
Bookshelves switches by Preetham Interior Designer
Wrench Bookshelves by Preetham Interior Designer
360 degree book shelves by Preetham Interior Designer
Book shelves -Double 8 by Preetham Interior Designer
Spanner Book shelves by Preetham Interior Designer
Do you have a separate bookshelf to keep all your books? Is it visible to guests or do you keep them inside a closed shelf?
Destination Infinity
October 9, 2015
Great Minds Discuss Ideas; Small Minds Discuss People? (Quote)
“Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.
Don’t you think there is something wrong with this quote? First of all, I don’t like the idea of segregation of people into great, average, and small. I think all types of people have been put on this earth to fulfill a certain purpose and it is not appropriate to categorize them. At least not in a degenerate manner like this.
Secondly, how good are ideas and events without people? If you’ve worked in any company or if you’ve been to any family function, you would have noticed that most of the time the discussion is about ‘people’.
It is the people who make/break things.
One can discuss hours together about ideas. But without people to execute and work on those ideas, those will get nowhere. An in depth understanding about people can be obtained only by discussing about/analyzing people, don’t you think?
Once the right person is put on the job, events and ideas will automatically take shape. I am not saying ideas and events are not important. But, looking at it from my perspective, I feel people are the most important piece of the puzzle.
Or, do you think I am misinterpreting the quote? Maybe the author is talking about gossip, judgement, and other such things. But even that is necessary to understand people and get things going.
No?
Destination Infinity
ToI’s Times Chennai Festival: Oct. 16 – Oct. 18
Times of India is organizing the Times Chennai festival from Oct. 16 – Oct. 18, 2015. This is a three day fest featuring popular music artists who will be performing Live at Sir Mutha Venkata Subbarao Hall, Harrington Road, Chennai.
As per their ad in their newspaper, people can collect free/complimentary passes from Times of India office at Chamiers Road, Nandanam, Chennai. These will be available from 10 A. M. to 6 P. M. on a first-come-first-served basis. Only one pass is available per person (that’s what I heard), so you may want to go with others who want to attend the concerts with you.
Here’s the schedule: (All these start from 7 P.M. on the respective days, according to their ad)
16th October, ’15: Indian Ocean band Live performance (passes available from Oct. 7)
17th October, ’15: Karthik Live performance (passes available from Oct. 8)
18th October, ’15: Sona Mohapatra Live performance (passes available from Oct. 9).
So if you go now, you’ll be able to get passes for all three shows, if they have not been exhausted already I am planning to go to at least one of the shows. Let me see which one I’ll be able to make it to.
Destination Infinity
Guys, try K. P. Namboodiri’s Soap and Toothpaste
Here is my latest find at the Organic Shop – K. P. Namboodiri’s bathing soap and toothpaste. Actually, I was thinking about buying an organic hand-made soap, but then I saw these soaps and decided to give it a try.
The one on the left — Glycerine one with Herbal oils is too good (both brown and green). Do you know the feel you get when you apply Navaratna thailam to your hair? That’s the same feel I got for my whole body once I bathe in this soap Also, since the soap sticks longer on the skin, I need to scrub a bit longer, and I feel that makes it all the better. This is the first soap that has ever made bathing exciting! The one on the right is normal — like hamam, etc., Try the one on the left in the above pic. It’s too good
I was using that Aloe Vera toothpaste, but once I tried K. P. Namboodiri’s soap, I thought why not buy the toothpaste from this brand as well. So I bought the above shown herbal white toothpaste with natural rock salt and guess what, it’s good too. I like it Need to check what else this company, based in Thrissur – Kerala, is manufacturing. Next I may try their shampoo.
These are available in the organic shops in my area. Check them out at an organic shop near your house.
Destination Infinity
Masala Padam Review: A Lesson on Why Formula-based Movies Work!
Masala Padam is a lesson/lecture on why formula-based movies work in India (makes money, engages the audience, etc.). In this movie, although the makers have tried to wrap a story around this ‘message’, it’s the message that takes the center stage. The story seems to have been twisted (quite blatantly during the climax) to justify the ‘message’.
An experienced producer’s movie is trolled by Online reviewers for being ‘unrealistic’ and ‘un-artful’. The producer is called for a interview (in a TV show?) where he challenges a group of youngsters to come up with a good story without masala elements, and will sell in the box office. They accept the challenge.
Then the group follows three guys from varied walks of life, each of whom they plan to make as characters in their movie. They request the assistance of Lakshmi Devy and she accepts to help them. She then starts mingling with all three characters and reports their activities, feelings and emotions. How will this affect their real lives and what happens to their script, is the story.
While I feel this is a different attempt at making a movie, the story is unrealistic, and there is too much lecturing to the audience. The comedy by Shiva is a bright aspect of the movie, and based on the applause, I guess people enjoyed it. I surely liked it. Graphics was good and the music worked. Otherwise, the crowd applauded only when their favorite stars were shown. Ajith Kumar got the maximum applause, if you wanna know.
Let’s look at two recent movies that were commercially successful and won the hearts of movie goers, critics and reviewers: Kakka Muttai and Papanasam. Did these two movies follow any formula? Were they not realistic? Didn’t they make money?
The notion that a formula-based movie is what the audience want, which is what this movie tries to justify, is slowly getting outdated. If it was so simple, all formula-based movies with big actors/actresses will become a super hit. Do they?
Along with masala, people also want to see a good (and a believable) story with believable characterization. At least that’s what I want to see when I go to a movie. If the story is not strong enough, no formula will work effectively.
I think Parthiban’s ‘Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam’ was a better attempt in this genre. Because in that movie, characters discuss what might/might not work in a movie, as a part of the story. They don’t lecture the audience, unlike this one.
Destination Infinity
October 8, 2015
Kamal’s Next Movie: Thoongavanam (Amazing Trailer)
Thoongavanam is Kamal’s next movie, releasing shortly — probably within a month or so. It stars Kamal Hassan, Trisha, Prakash Raj and Yugi Sethu. From the trailer, you can say it’s a crime thriller. Let’s hope it’s different and as good as it is portrayed in the trailer. This movie will be released in Tamil and Telugu (as Cheekati Rajyam). It has been directed by Kamal’s former assistant, Rajesh M. Selva. It seems, the filming was finished in 38 days! After Kamal Hassan’s wonderful performance in Drishyam, I am eagerly waiting for this movie. Hope it will be released without controversy — good movies don’t need it anyway
Everyone is raving about the trailer (embedded above) — don’t miss
Destination Infinity
My next Movie: Masala Padam
Masala Padam is a Tamil movie releasing this Friday, October 09, ’15. Based on the above embedded trailer, which is quite impressive and well edited, I am planning to watch the movie first day first show. I don’t have huge expectations, but since Shiva is there, I hope there will be some comedy in addition to all the ‘Masala’. It seems, Lakshmi Devy, the heroine of this movie, has also written the script. Let’s see how good it is – I will review it on this blog once I come back.
Destination Infinity
October 3, 2015
Bloggers Meet @ Ciclo Cafe, Chennai (WriteupCafe.com)
WriteUpCafe, a social network for bloggers and authors, organized a bloggers meet @ bicycle-themed restaurant: Ciclo Cafe, Kotturpuram, Chennai. Since it was at 7:30 A.M., I was a bit hesitant to go. But the offer of free food/beverages/desserts and meeting fellow bloggers was too inviting, so I went
The day started with slow bicycle race. Since I don’t remember when I cycled last, I didn’t participate as I was not sure if I’ll even be able to balance the cycle now! That reminds me of the BSA SLR and Hercules MTB of my childhood days. How long I used to cycle for tutions and net browsing, back then.
Then we were given some cheese balls/nuggets while a few presenters took to the stage. First, Venkat from Tandora Networks spoke about how they are trying to connect artists/authors to the appropriate audience using big data technologies, among other things. Next, the team from Young India (a subsidiary of CII) gave a presentation on the benefits of joining their network and participating in their events/initiatives.
Then we were given a few slices of pizza and desserts. The cake was too good After that was the presentation by Siddharth Iyer of WriteUpCafe.com. It seems, we can join this network and share our blog posts, books, etc. There are also interest-based groups, if you are in the mood to socialize. Their latest venture is Muvi Cafe, a site about latest movies, news, etc.
That was followed by an introduction session for each blogger/author. I forgot to tell you, earlier in the day, we were given a small sticker and were asked to write our name and something describing us. My entry was: “Rajesh, Sustainable-Living enthusiast”
Don’t you think a bicycle-themed cafe is a good idea? This restaurant is a collaboration between TI Cycles and Absolute restaurant. So, you can eat/drink and buy cycles also. The cycles displayed here cost from 16K to a few lakhs! But un-geared cycles should cost less. I am inspired to buy a cycle myself — but not sure if I’ll use it regularly and maintain it 
Don’t you want to take up bicycle riding? It offers many benefits
Destination Infinity
Photo(s) credit: By Destination8infinity (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...)], via Wikimedia Commons.
