I reed blogs

Do you remember when you first accessed the Internet?

Do you remember the anticipation, the hair on your arms standing on end, the excitement as the modem's lights blinked, and as the speaker let out a wailing cresecendo of a computer trying to connect to the world wide web? The disappointment when you would be summarily knocked offline without any reason? Especially when your browser was halfway between downloading a picture of Pamela Anderson with her Grand Teutons out there for all of humanity to see, and you had got to just above the cleavage?

With Internet Pornography so widely accessible today, it's just not fun anymore to sneak a peek at what goes on between a man and a woman, or two women, and a man (and so on...)

The sparkle of the Internet had just died for me.

Then I began Blogging.

I started blogging, and reading. and my, is there a world out there. Some great blogs, some very talented writers, and the whole experience of being able to read what someone else wrote, like a candid snapshot out of their lives, although slightly voyeuristic, is like a diluted version of being able to read what your girlfriend wrote in her diary. Sets your pulse up a little bit, lets you imagine things and best of all, it lets you see the writer's perspectives from a more intimate angle.
But this concerns only personal blogs, and indeed, some of these pieces of virtual real-estate are maintained by completely self-absorbed people, who love to write in detail about their very exciting lives. Some blogs are boring(like this one), and some are so personal, it becomes a little scary.

On the other end of this spectrum are the 'Professional Bloggers'. writers with talent, a subject and a method. Most of these blogs are maintained with the care due to the grass on the fairways at the Royal Dornoch. Well linked, well-researched(relatively) articles are to be found for all to read. for free. And that is just brilliant.

During this foray into the rarified techno-elite strata of the Net, I have, maybe through subconscious direction, sought out blogs that have the India connection. contrary to my expectations, many Desi bloggers are bringing out weighty articles, as opposed to the pointless drivel that most other blogs churn out. Notable for their opinions and views are the folks at The Indian National Interest, a blog that focuses on Strategic Affairs in the Indian subcontinent. The blogs attached to this portal are quite right-wing in nature, yet very insightful, and they make for intriguing reading.
While we're here, It's also worthwhile to look at some conservative blogs, the most notable of which is run by the rather paranoid Debbie Schussel, A Far-right wing Neo-Con, whose favourite hobby is Islam-Bashing. To read her "blog" is to read the mind of deeply conservative America, for whom she is Jean d'Arc. Some very entertaining content can be found here!

In a lighter vein, a good place to find nice links is DesiPundit, which is rapidly becoming a de-facto blogs index, supported by a large team of contributors. Also notable Are India Uncut, and Jabberwock, both of which feature book reviews; and are maintained by professional journalists. Another Independent Web-based Magazine is called *Pardon my Hindi, a well-designed site, with the associated blog, Turbanhead. Lots of links to YouTube Video clips, media and other stuff.

Taking off from the whole Desi Blogosphere, is EDGE / The Reality Club. This is undoubtedly the place where the heavy-hitters come to. and by heavy-hitters I mean people like Noam Chomsky. Although not a blog by any standard, it makes for some very good reading.

Thus concludes my daily reading list...

Dhoom machade

I had been salivating for months on end now, on the prospect of inheriting the stewardship of the Enfield when I went home. Deciding having one good bike was better than having two bad bikes, I had invested in the long-overdue overhaul of the old warhorse, the outcome of which remains to be seen.

Being the sort of person who likes to do things all the way, I went out and blew $260 on riding apparel.

I had wanted to buy a pair of good-quality winter-proof riding gloves for a long time. Finding them in India is a bit of a wild-goose chase, so I bought these.
Although This may sound weird and make me look like a sissy, I felt that i was a good idea to get a proper, windproof, waterproof and armoured winter riding jacket. By armour, I do not mean a Bulletproof vest, or a knight's iron chestplate, but regular, flexible padding armour. Nice to know that my elbows and shoulders stand a better chance of survival lest the Bullet decides to go skyward.