Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai

Update-
1. Roughly how many movies does Bollywood make in a year?
A: 200
B: 400
C: 750
D: 1000 cristin got -D: 1000


2. In which year did commercial cinema begin in India?
A:1895 no, not this one
B:1879
C:1913
D:1902



3.Which Indian movie was nominated for an Oscar Awards in 2003?
A Devdas
B: Dil Chahta hai
C: Asoka
D: The Legend of Bhagatsingh


4.Name the film in which six perfect strangers plan one perfect crime
A Chhal
B Kaante yes, cristin the answer is Kaante
C Soch

5. One of these statements about Aishwarya Rai is false, which one?

A.Turned down the role of Helen in the film Troy (2004).

B.She was the first choice for the role of Jane Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), but she turned it down due to filming conflicts.

C.Ran the Olympic-torch relay in June 2004.

D.Her favourite film is Casablanca.

E.Has written three columns for BBC South Asia. Yes, cristin, this is the false one.

6. One of these statements is not true of Amitabh Bachchan, which one?

A. Presenter of Kaun Banega Crorepati, India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

B. Is a vegetarian.

C. His favourite screen name is Vijay, which he had as his character name in over 20 movies.

D. Purchased a villa on a man made island on the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

E. He got his break in Bollywood after a letter of introduction from the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi, as he was a friend of her son Rajiv Gandhi.

Name the film from the picture

7.

Cristin got -Mother India









8.





Cristin got- Devdas









9.







Cristin got- Lagaan








10. The movie Bride and Prejudice was directed by Gurinder Chadha who also directed :
A. Dance like a man.
B. Bend it like Beckham. Cristin got this one too, the answer is B.
C. Mitr, My friend.
D. Hyderabad blues.

3 miles an hour

Distance from Toronto to Dublin -
Miles:3261.75 or
Kilometers:5249.14

Number of days for Christmas presents for my family to arrive: 44
So thats 74.13 miles per day
or 119.3 kilometers per day, if I include weekends and such.

3.09 miles per hour/ 4.97 kilometers per hour.

Priceless.

are you?

18/20 means I'm not an idiot.
Reassuring, I can tell you.

brrrr

Today, according to that little weather yoke over there in the sidebar, it was -13C and feeling -24C (I think that's about -10 American). While not quite the coldest place on Earth, I think most people would agree that it's really fairly chilly, you know, cold enough that you might need a scarf.
So, not surprisingly I wasn't too keen to go outside.
I wasn't alone in my reluctance.
This presented a bit of a dilemma unfortunately, as there was not very much food in the fridge.
I briefly considered an Elvis sandwich, which according to legend is the grilled banana and peanut butter sandwich (recipe here ).
I didn't, had an omlette instead, quite good, come round I'll make you one.
Anyway I got to thinking about National dishes. Lots of countries have a traditional stew-type dish -Irish stew, goulash, scouse, borscht even curry and chilli could be considered to be in the same group. But I couldn't think if there was a Canadian version.
Turns out there are lot of traditional foods, depending on the area of this vast country, but no stew type dish.
And now I wondering why?
Does anyone know?

Best Graffiti Ever

can be seen from the metro train when it goes over the Bloor Street Viaduct. Down below is the Don Valley parkway (for my first couple of months here, I wondered who this man Don Valley was. Nobody told me the river was called the Don).
Writen in big, bright multicoloured bubble letters is - Supercalifragialistic.
Every time the train I'm on goes over the viaduct I look at this graffito and wonder how long it took to do, how many cans of paint it must have taken and were there any spelling mistakes?

Then yesterday, I heard that the viaduct is ranked as the second most fatal standing structure in the world, after the Golden Gate Bridge.

Who ranks these things anyway?
Over 400 hundred people have jumped off the viaduct.
The reason this came to my attention at all was because I heard about this documentary. Filmed over the course of a year, cameras running from dawn to dusk on the Golden Gate.

Maybe the graffiti should be a helpline number.

no worries

In honour of Australia Day later this week, the Monday Movie quiz features Australian actors.
Name the actor and the film.
And just to make it a little harder all the pictures are upside down.

Update-
1.





Will got-
George Lazenby in On Her Majesty's Secret Service













2.




Will got -
Nicole Kidman in The Others






3.



E got-
Guy Pearse in Memento






4.





Will got-
Hugo Weaving in V for Vendetta







5.










E got-
Naomi Watts in 21 Grams








6.



Will got-
Jeffery Rush in Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl






7.






E got-
Cate Blanchett in Charlote Gray










8.








E got-
Hugh Jackman in Swordfish








9.




Will got-
Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain






10.









E got-
Toni Collette in Muriel's Wedding









11.

...for I have sinned

Maybe it's because of my birthday, maybe it's from watching My Name Is Earl but I'm feeling the need to come clean on a couple of things.

First, Helen G. that I used to go to school with.

A few years ago, on another significant birthday you sent me a card (via my old home address). We hadn't kept in touch after school so it was a surprise.

You included your address but I never wrote to you.

Of course, the grown-up me knows that you were a bit mean to me when we were kids because I was the only one that you could be mean to. Even so, I never could bring myself to write back.

I should have.

vvvf

When I was forced to go to confession I made up sins to tell the priest. Or Geraldine would make them up for us.

I was 8 or 10 years old, and a total wimpy goody-two-shoes, what possible sins could I confess?

Of course, the nuns would have told me different, as just by saying that I was probably commiting the sin of pride or something and then there is also lying to a priest. It's no wonder I gave up on the whole Catholic thing.

,,,,,,,,,

A few years ago, I worked for a well known international company. The job involved a hellish amount of commuting every day and was a hellish place to work. I called it The Hell Mouth.

Anyway, travelling on public transport every day in Yorkshire meant I got a lot of colds and flu.

The deeply unpleasant people I worked with never believed I was ill, so when-ever I had a cold/flu/chest infection I still had to go to work. I sometimes got their mugs from the cupboard in the kitchen and licked all the way round the rim.

Lá breithe mhaith agat!

David Lynch, Skeet Ulrich, George Burns, Federico Fellini, Tom Baker, Buzz Aldrin .

I don't like musicals

I don't like musicals.
I did like Moulin Rouge.
And Chicago.
I suppose The Happiness of the Katakuris and Beyond The Sea are technically musicals and I liked them too.
But still I say that I don't like musicals.
So why do I love Bollywood films?
It all started with Lagaan. Three and three-quarter hours later I was hooked. And it's about cricket!
Since then I have seen quite a few more, some old, like Mother India (I was the only person in the cinema for that one) some new like Water. (yeah, I know it's not a 'Bollywood' film, in fact it's Canadian....)
I have also got quite a few on DVD including some I didn't get a chance to watch before we moved here. The new DVD player (a total bargain for $38) plays all of my discs and I settled down to watch one of Shahrukh Khan's earlier films, Darr.
I have had a few problems with Bollywood films on DVD in the past, even when there is a big sticker on the front delaring 'English subtitles' sometimes the subtitles are missing.
All was well with Darr, until well past the 2 hour mark. Then, the person doing the subtitles must have gone home early, thinking 'well, that will do, I'm sure they can figure out how the bad-guy-stalker gets found out without the dialogue'.
I mostly sort of did but still....

Dear People of Toronto

To the guy in that coat on the TTC: I know it was -11C and 'feeling' -19C (convert here) in the middle of the afternoon, but there was no excuse for that coat. Brown matted fur with a deep V neck fringed with a big fluffy fur collar? The only good thing about it was it distracted from your ear muffs.
To the girl wearing the short denim jacket and midrift-baring top: a scarf does not make up for insufficient clothes. When skin goes that shade of blue it's time to get out the winter clothes.
To the 5 layers guy: While I applaud your preparedness, you couldn't really see where you were going, could you? The hood up, hat and scarf combo really cut down on your peripheral vision and the shirt/jumper/cardigan/coat made it a bit difficult to negotiate the steps. Maybe you and denim jacket girl could work out some sort of compromise?
To the woman behind me at Starbucks: Did you think I was standing in the queue waiting to have a chat with the staff? No? Then why, when I am plainly ordering a coffee did you feel the need to try to order at the same time?
To the guy singing along to his iPod: pretty good, I liked it.

pass the crackers

I think I have finally found a replacement for my long-time favourite cinema, here.
The contender is The Cumberland.
They have an annual membership which gives me a discount every time, early matinee showings every day so that I can see two films a day and still get home at a reasonable time, it was the only cinema in Toronto with the advance premiere of The Good German and it's a straight run on the subway with no changes.
The only down-side so far- the ticket guy trying very hard to persuade me to go see Miss Potter despite me telling him that Renee gets on my nerves. And then proceeding to tell me why he thought she was great, a story which involved the quote "you had me at hello".
I didn't have the heart to tell him I think that to be in the Top Cheddar Movie Lines.
In no particular order these include:
"Nobody puts Baby in the corner" - Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) in Dirty Dancing.

"Is it still raining? I hadn't noticed." - Carrie (Andie MacDowell) while standing in a downpour in Four Weddings in a Funeral.

"You can be my wingman any time." - Iceman (Val Kilmer) to Maverick (Tom Cruise) in Top Gun.

Robin: I need a sign that you've turned over a new leaf.
Ivy: How about "slippery when wet?" Batman and Robin (in fact about 74% of all the dialogue in that film)

Judge Dredd: Emotions... there ought to be a law against them.

Catwoman: Time to accessorize!

Gord Brody: [playing the sausage organ] Daddy, would you like some sausage? Daddy, would you like some sausage? and every other line in Freddy Got Fingered.

Mary Jane Watson: I know you think we can't be together, but can't you respect me enough to let me make my own decision? I know there'll be risks but I want to face them with you. It's wrong that we should be only half alive... half of ourselves. I love you. So here I am - standing in your doorway. I have always been standing in your doorway. Isn't it about time somebody saved your life? Spiderman 2

Which ones did I leave out?

Golden Globes trivia

Some trivia on the Golden Globes which are being awarded tonight.
Update
1. In 1998 Ving Rhames gave his award for his part in Don King: Only in America to another actor.
Who? E got Jack Lemmon

2. Which of the following actors refused to accept his Best Actor award?
Sean Penn
Marlon Brando Woozie got- Marlon Brando
Robert DeNiro
Woody Allen

3. Which of the following has not won the Cecil B. DeMille award for career achievement?
Robert DeNiro
Gene Hackman
Dustin Hoffman
Robin Williams

5. Who holds the record for most Golde Globe awards? No, not Katherine Hepburn

6. Which is the only film to win the Globe in all five major categories (Best Motion Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, Screenplay)? E got- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

7. Youngest winner?

8. 'The Departed' is a Hollywood remake of 'Infernal Affairs,' a foreign film from which country?
Brazil
Japan
Italy
France
China E got - China

9. "Ugly Betty" has made America Ferrera a nominee. Which actress is an executive producer of the show? cristin got - Salma Hayek

10. Which film holds the record for the most nominations in one year?
Titanic Surprisingly, not Titanic
Cabaret
Nashville

Top tip

When it is -4 and feeling -9C don't go outside with wet hair.

Questions

It was a dark and stormy night, when he knocked on the door.
It wasn't really that stormy, I suppose.
More than a week ago I answered the knock at my door, it was an engineer-type guy, in a hard hat who straight away starts with "ok, so I'm going to hook these guys up to your water now."
Eh?
I said- 'I'm looking at you blankly, because I've no idea what you are talking about"
This prompted a rant about how the day guy was supposed to have already talked to me, not all of which I caught.
Short version - neighbours next door have a leaky water main in their basement, so have to have the water turned off and the repair guy wants to hook them up to our outside tap.
The hose is already attached to the outside tap at the front.
Now, if anybody had bothered to tell me any of this I could (and did at this point) explain that that tap, doesn't work. In the sense that no water comes out of it, which is really the only purpose of a tap, unless for some reason you like the turning on and off part, but really without water coming out even that gets old real quick.
I say all this because when I told hard het it didn't work, he required an explanation.
Where was I?
Being the nice person that I sometimes am, I suggested the outside tap at the back of the house.
The second time I suggested it, I was actually listened to.
So the hose is hooked up there instead and I'm told at least three times not to turn the water off.
A week goes by, with intermittent low water pressure. No big deal. And no update from the neighbours.
So, another dark and feckin' cold night. Same hard-hat guy back knocking at the door.
This time he all but accuses me of maliciously turning off the water.
I give him my best Paddington Bear stare and ask him why I would do that?
Suitably flustered (the Paddington Bear stare can be very effective) he tells me that the water has frozen in the tap and the only way that can have happened, even in the depths of a Canadian winter is if someone had turned off the water.
He goes away, and comes back.
Turns out next door had turned it off.
The only way to un-freeze the tap, he suggests, is to get a hair dryer to it.
He goes away again.
The tap on next door is frozen too, hardly surprising as it's -5C (23F).
Over the next 30 or so minutes he is back in my house another 3 times. The hair dryer thing will take about 15-20 minutes to work and it's clear that he expects me to do this. He and next-door-neighbour have had words and the whole deal is getting unpleasant.
Question- would any of you stand outside, in the dark and freezing night holding a hairdryer to an outside tap, (even supposing that your hairdryer reached, which it didn't, which is when I decided to give up)?

Next morning, I have no water in my house. The reason? The ouside tap is open and gushing water all over the back garden. I have no idea how long it's been unfrozen and running.
I am up earlier than usual, because of the jack-hammer at 8.30am.

Next day, today, and a second team of work men have turned up to make noise at 9am.
Road works the world over, why do a one-day job with 2 men when it can be 3 days work for 6?
They are out there now, standing around, scratching themselves, trampling all over my garden, trying to get water from the outside tap at the front.
I'm not going to tell them.
Would you?

You may call me....

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Noble Excellency Amanda the Introspective of Waldenshire under Throcket Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

found this via Sandra Over Here

oh look, it's not what's-his-name

Yesterday, while looking for pictures for the quiz, I stumbled across the two websites at the bottom of this post. Both are agencies employing people as look-a-likes. Apparently these people make money looking like celebrities. Wanna guess who they are? or rather who someone thinks they are....
1


SkookumJoe got -Clint

















2






Even when you know this guy is a Jim Carrey look-a-like, it's not easy to see it













3.





SJ got Sean Connery












4.







yep, SJ, it's Mel












5.









SJ got Whoopi










6.






SJ can see it's Robin Williams













7.









SJ says- Matt Cruise or Tom Dillon

officially, Tom Cruise








8.





Emma and Taffy somehow figured out that this guy is a Johnny Depp look-a-like














9.







no, not Michael Stypes (REM) or John Malkovich

woozie and Sandra got him- Bruce Willis










10.






this one is a real stretch, apparently it's- Winona Ryder









11.








SJ got CZJ











12












of course it's Deniro....







13






no, not Letterman

Michael Caine anyone?









14








This woman gets employment as a Jennifer Lopez -a-like











and, my favourite, 15.





Skookum and Taffy got that this guy gets paid to be a look-a-like for Jack Nicholson
















http://www.alltimefavorites.com/minnesota/hollywood/
http://www.rubberfacesagency.co.uk/

Oh look, it's what's-his-name

Between them, you have seen these actors in dozens of films, some have been nominated and some have even won Academy Awards. But do you know their names?
update-
1.












Taffy got- Graham Greene







2.






E got -Jim Broadbent








3.







no, not Hal Holbrooke
E got- Seymour Cassell











4.



Taffy got- John Turturro











5.





Taffy got- James Earl Jones








6.








Taffy got- Sam Elliott







7.








Taffy got - Diane Weist











8.






Taffy got- David Morse











9.







Taffy got-Oliver Platt














10.






Taffy got- Michael Clarke Duncan





maybe more later

A job opening...

Toronto: Friday, January 12, 2007 at The Royal York Fairmont Hotel at 100 Front St. W.

Global Television is giving five lucky women from across Canada the chance to join 21 privately cast homegrown models on the special Canadian editions of Deal or No Deal. The suitcase-sporting models are one of the signature components of this international smash hit, and are instrumental not only in the playing of the game, but in supporting Host, Howie Mandel in keeping the excitement and suspense alive. Natural charisma, wit, warmth and enthusiasm are a must. If that's you, read on! DRESS CODE: Come dressed to impress the judges. A cocktail/party dress, or a skirt and sweater or blouse - whatever you feel presents you at your best. Pants are not acceptable, and dress shoes with heels are a must!
Read the rest of it here.

I really thought I had a chance at appling for this until the second to last requirement:
12. I represent and warrant that I am a minimum of 5'7" in height, and I am physically able to walk up and down stairs in time to music and carry a briefcase in a simulated version of an episode of the program.
Um, yeah, maybe not.

Useful when travelling the world.

In Germany-Sie stehen auf meinem Fuß.


In Russia-Вы стоите на моей ноге.


In Korea-너는 나의 발에 서고 있다


In Norway-De står på min fot.

In England- I'm dreadfully sorry, but you appear to be on my foot.

In Ireland- Fer fecks sake, get off me bleedin' foot.

and another thing...

Couple more things I forgot to put in Room 101 the other day.
Live audiences for TV shows who whoop and shout at the slightest thing. All that 'whoo' nonsense. Stop it.
People who say "It's always in the last place you look". Of course it is.
Web sites with embedded sound.
Commercials that are much louder than the program, so that I am constantly having to adjust the volume.
Websites or blogs that make me "sign-in" or become a member in order to comment. Nothing I have to say to you is that important to me.
People who make unnecessary noise. Would it kill you to close your mouth when you are eating ,or chewing gum? And while you are at it, stop sighing and drumming your fingers and clicking your pen and going 'ahhh' after EVERY SIP OF YOUR DRINK AND, you get the idea.
Best Buy Tried to buy an ipod nano in this hell hole. The staff were stupid AND arrogant, what a great combination. Never going back. So in it goes to Room 101.
People with no concept of personal space. I used to work with someone like this, who didn't think he could have a conversation with me unless he was standing on my foot.

Once all these things are gone I'll be a lot easier to live with, and then everyone is happier and the world is a better place.

To Do list

I don't go in for New Years resolutions, except for the one to never make them.



So this is a list of stuff to do, soon...



1. Post that letter. Just before Christmas a letter arrived for the family who used to live here. I promptly wrote- Return to Sender on it and put it in the post box the very next day.



The damn thing has come back again. I'm now tempted to get snarky on it.



2. I would say 'take down the Christmas tree' but himself wants to keep it for another week, so it can stay.



















3. We need to sort out our mobile/cell(I can never remember which I'm supposed to call it) phone package. Did you know that the phone companies think it's ok to charge for incoming calls? What fun.
4. Really make more of an effort to post more often on the neglected blog.

First

The topic for this week's Movie quiz is first lines, as suggested by Erik. What with it being the first day of the New Year and all.
Happy New Year to all.
Name the film.

Update-
1. I never knew the old Vienna before the war, with its Strauss music, its glamour and easy charm - Constantinople suited me better. E got - The Third Man

2. "You never did eat your lunch, did you?”“I'd better get back to the office. These extended lunch hours give my boss excess acid." Will got- Pyscho

3. I believe in America. Taffy got -The Godfather

4. I am Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, your senior drill instructor. From now on, you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and last words out of your filthy sewers will be 'Sir!' Do you maggots understand this? Woozie got -Full Metal Jacket

5. "You look a little blurry. Let me zoom out okay?""Okay.""Okay. Got you."

6. "October is inventory time. So right now, Statler Toyota is making the best deals of the year on all 1985 model Toyotas. You won't find a better car with a better price with better service anywhere in Hill Valley..." E got- Back to the Future

7. My name is H. I. McDunnough. Call me Hi. The first time I met Ed was in the county lock-up in Tempe, Arizona ... a day I'll never forget.." Taffy got- Raising Arizona

8. I was sitting with my friend Arthur Cornrom in a restaurant. It was an ... cafeteria and this beautiful girl walked in and I turned to Arthur and I said, 'Arthur, you see that girl? I'm going to marry her.' And two weeks later we were married and it's over fifty years later and we are still married . . . ." E got- When Harry Met Sally

9.. "Ahem.""Waaah!""Who are you?"" We are three wise men."" What?"" We are three wise men."" Well what are you doing creeping around a cow shed at two o'clock in the morning. That doesn't sound very wise to me." Aunty Helpful Dictator got - The Life of Brian

10. "No, forget it, it's too risky. I'm through doin' that shit.""You always say that, the same thing every time: never again, I'm through, too dangerous.""I know that's what I always say. I'm always right too, but . . ." Woozie got- Pulp Fiction

11. We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold. Taffy got-Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

12. With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully, or desperately, toward the freedom of the Americas. Will and Woozie's Mom got- Casablanca

13. 'How you doing Keaton? Taffy got -The Usual Suspects

14. 'My name's Turkish, funny name for an English man, I know.' Roxy Hart got - Snatch

15. Neighbors heard them screaming at each other like for two hours, it was nothing new. Then they heard the gun go off. Will got- Se7en

16. Once upon a time there was a lovely princess, but she had an enchantment on her of a fearful sort. Aunty Helpful Dictator and Woozie got - Shrek

Room 101

"You asked me once," said O'Brien, "what was in Room 101. I told you that you know the answer already. Everybody knows. The thing in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world."
Room 101 was the torture chamber introduced to the world in the novel 1984 by George Orwell.
Most people know this.
A lot of people also know about the BBC radio and TV series.
Over the years that the show has been running, the guests have consigned some of the most annoying things to the room; including cricket, Jeremy Clarkson, God and novelty underpants.
All worthy additions.
I have a few of my own to add.
Impenetrable packaging. Why does everything have to be wrapped up so securely that the only way in is with a carving knife? I'm a bit of a toiletries junkie, I love lotions and bath gels and all of it. Christmas day, I have a box of newly acquired supplies(not the one you got me Stella, that was relatively easy to get in to). First the ribbon around the box. Managed that one using my teeth. Then the box is sealed on each side. Each bottle is secured to the plastic tray with a sticky pad. Finally I have the bottle in my hand, only to find, a plastic seal around the lid too.
Four levels of defence for shower gel.
Television shows that force me to shout at the TV. I'm talking about you CSI, also looking in the direction of anyone who tries to do an Irish accent and don't think you are getting away with it American car ads. When the 'scientists' on CSI manage to grow up a pure fungus sample in an hour, the geek in me wants to punch them, or at least flick their ear.
American car ads, which we get when he is watching his team, tend to be either 'look how great this car is, you get 4 miles to the gallon' or 'this is the best country in the world and if you don't buy this car you are not American'.
Does any one know if putting your foot through a TV screen hurts?

I think this may be a recurring theme....
What do you want to go into Room 101?