Merry Christmas !

Here's to a wonderful Christmas for everyone ! (holds up empty glass)Anyway, I have just enough time for a quick jab - I've been out all day, being tortu... I mean entertaining demon spaw.. my cousins. We did have a lot of fun including me - this is chiefly due to the fact that I was not the one paying. Flury's is definitely the place to be if you want the best cake in the city. I honestly had more fun ferrying my cousins all over the city, than the in actual get together - Christmas lighting, 140kmph on a straight road (Hail Bhishondev), Jim Reeves on the player; I cannot put it better than one of my cousins, Nili, did : Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !
I have to get going now - Have another party at the Sonar Bangla. Best Wishes to everyone, and May Your Dreams Come True...

- Debayan

Wooo Hoo !

Phew. Practical examinations are finally over, and I am freeee (at least, I insist I am. I positively refuse to do anything remotely academic for the next few days. ), and very, very bored - I mean, you can only play MaxPayne so many times.
Xavotsav 2006, will, it appears, from the current state of affairs, be taking place in 2007. From what I hear, Milieu has also suffered the same fate, as we were unintentionally standing in the way of the Almighty Bandh God. I am normally in favour of any and all bandhs - I worship Garfield; however, this is getting to be a bit.. over the limit of tolerance : Bandh to right of them, Bandh to left of them, Bandh in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd. In this month alone, there have been bandhs on the 1st , 5th, 13th, 14th, and another two days of liesure break have been scheduled for the 21st and 22nd - I mean, there have been more bandhs than Sundays this month, for Irodov's sake !
Oh Well. I have this blasted cold which refuses to tace atque abi, and ditto, with reference to more examinations on the coming fourth, fifth and ninth - if, that is, I survive; my mother, after witnessing the inefficacy of medicine recommended by Doctors of Medicine, has decided that 'natural' treatments are in order, and I am being force fed all manner of plants, leaves, honey-extracts, and some other things which my mother assures me I would rather not be aware of. My tongue is green, and my breath smells of neem. Another week of this, and my stomach will start sprouting leaves.
My parents have to attend yet another wedding (reception) today - with the number of weddings that took place this month, India's population should witness a sharp increase in less than a year.
More news as soon as I get bored enough; for now, though,

Toodles.

- Debayan.

Next !

Went to watch Casino Royale today. Tickets were ridiculously overpriced, and they had more thorough checks than the airport (which, unfortunately, is not saying much).
Oh well - any concerns about Daniel Craig not fitting into the role of Bond seems to have disappeared; it is true, that he does not quite fit into the role of the Bond who can fight through a Mongol battalion and complain about the crease on his suit - he does not even attempt it.
In this movie, Bond's unevolved character is highlighted; and a deliberate attempt to deviate from the 'usual' Bond is clearly visible - there are no invisible cars, destructive satellites or lesbian sword fighters. The yeah-I'm-over the-top-but-I-still-rule feeling is not there.
Here, he is still trusting. He bleeds, he is vulnerable - Bond is suave, stylish, but not yet there - we catch a glimpse of the Bond-that-will-be in some scenes; he tells a female agent
"You're not my type. "
"Smart."(?)
"Single."
Bond's incomplete development is quite apparent in many scenes; 'Do I look like I give a damn ?' is his answer when asked if he wants his Martini shaken or stirred. His choice of dinner jacket is corrected by a female agent (!). By all the Gods - my jaw almost fell off !
Bond's old (well.. new) acquaintance Felix Leiter is present, as is Rene Mathis. And also back is this..

The Aston Martin DB5
(this must be said in a tone of suitable reverence)

Superb acting, first class production, excellent script.. Casino Royale is definitely one of the best action movies I have seen recently.

Dhishum.

Note to the K : Casino Royale was mostly filmed in Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
NB. : No scantily clad dancing females present, but the credit sequence is still very impressive.