After months of dedicated effort, The Magic Space is finally ready, and all set to be launched. This Sunday (May 25) will see Bangalore have The Magic Space, when it is inaugurated at 10AM.

With The Magic Space, Bangalore & of course India potentially have a hotspot for magicians from all over India & the world to drop in to -- to meet and discuss the nuances of the art of misdirection.

I congratulate my friend Giridhar Kamath for fulfilling my and many a magician's dream of having a perfect place to get together, and discuss magic. Thanks Giri -- for ONLY you could have done this. I wish you all the success with this latest venture.

More details on what's expected on May 25 and thereafter can be read at my Magical Musings blog.

I welcome you to The Magic Space ...where spells are cast!

Nakul

My friend Giridhar Kamath (of The Magic Shop, Bangalore) is all set to launch a new and revolutionary magic store called The Magic Space in Bangalore.

Unlike the other few stores we have in the country dealing with magical props, The Magic Space is set to be *the place* for magicians from all over the state and country to meet up to discuss the nuances of the art:

The Magic Space, Bangalore</span> is the perfect place for magicians to get together for a tete-a-tete, to exchange ideas, to read magic magazines and books, or just for a cup of tea/coffee; a next generation Magic Shop where you can catch up with magician friends – old and new.

If just that was not enough, you can also experience and buy all kinds of high-quality magical wares here: from the oldest to the latest product in the world market, from the best in genre to your all-time-favourite item.

My recent conversations with some of the top magicians in the country also shows that the excitement is catching. Magician M Yona, Mega Magic Star Kudroli Ganesh, Cardician Shekhar, Indian Houdini Prahlad Acharya, and many more expressed their keenness in holding lectures and presentations at The Magic Space, Bangalore.

Nothing surprising in there, given that Giri has always been giving that extra importance to the quality of the magic apparatus manufactured by him.

And that's enough to get anybody about the new launch and the upcoming activities. Including me!

I wish Giri and his Magic Space all the magical success it deserves, and more...

Returning to Bangalore on Sunday evening we encountered this rather interesting (and adventurous?) mode of public transportation!





These photos were taken at the Nelamangala Traffic Signal, where the traffic policeman seemed not to notice this blatant violation of traffic and safety laws.





If that was not enough, look at the first photo closely, to notice that the registration plate is BLANK! No license plates!

Disney Magic Show is playing at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium at Bangalore, and true to its name teleports us to the magical world of Walt Disney.

This two-hour show brings our way a delightful show hosted by two human magicians - Benny and Brad, and brings us many magical moments through Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and of course, the irrepressible Goofy.

Mickey, Benny, and Brad all take turns at performing some excellent illusions, designed by Jim Steinmeyer. Being a Disney show, the production is rich and classy, further strengthened by an interactive presentation.

Truly a children's show, adults will also relive their childhood as various cartoon characters make an appearance, in the fairy tale inspired acts. Transported to Alice's Wonderland, we meet Alice, Mad Hatter, and the Rabbit. Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, and the Fairy Godmother come by to make an appearance too!

Based on the Saturday evening show I was a spectator to, I would rate it a 4.0 out of 5 on entertainment, 0.5 less owing to bad audio amplification. The experience of what was essentially a highly interactive and entertaining show was reduced due to the problems of clear amplification.

To rate it purely on a magic front, I would rate it at 3.5 out of 5. While a couple of illusions like the double levitation were brilliant, the rest were pretty much run of the mill.

All in all a good show to watch, at least for the entertainment is provides, to the child in each of us. A must watch, once.


Nakul

Umesh Shebe (a close friend of mine) is hosting his first solo painting exhibition Pratibimb: Reflectionsof Life... on the 1st and 2nd of February, 2008 at the Alliance Francaise, Bangalore. Pratibimb: Reflections of Life will feature Umesh's collective work of drawings, sketches, abstract paintings and modern art.

Today's Deccan Herald (January 17, 2008) carries an article on Page 1 of Metro Life:




For more information regarding Umesh Shebe and Pratibimb: Reflections of Life... please do visit www.ushebe.com

Do pitch in and help spread the word about Umesh's painting exhibition. Most importantly, do drop in at the Alliance Francaise on that Friday and Saturday (Feb 1 and 2, 2008).

Hope to see you there!

Nakul

An Open Letter to the Bangalorean who Drives:

Dear Bangalorean,

I have a question for you; A question I have been meaning to ask anybody who will listen.

How do you drive? More importantly, how do you sleep -- knowing you drive like the way you do?

You hold no qualms for traffic rules, and go where and how you please.
You offer no respect for pedestrians, and treat them the same way you would while playing Carmegeddon -- scum who deserve to be driven over.
You offer no courtesy to vehicles smaller than yours, pushing them off your path and the road -- treating them like they are mere obstacles in your path.

All in all, you drive like you were in a cross-country rally (the roads being in line) on Devil's own mission - to damage as many vehicle and human life as possible.



Shocked? Well, I hope at least some of us are.

I can't help but wonder what has transpired in our social environment that has detached us from the ultimate value otherwise accorded to a human life. We have 'learnt' to treat other vehicles on the road as just that - machines, attaching no human significance to the people inside!

We blare our horns, shout the choicest of swear words, zip in-and-out of non-existent lanes, push anybody close and slow enough off the lane (better still the road), and still manage to take two hours to cover a 15-20 kilometer stretch!

Traffic Signals are a snarl, thanks not only to the bad road management of the authorities, but equally due to our utter contempt of traffic rules. 10 seconds after a signal turns red, we refuse to keep at bay, and try to squeeze through non-existent spaces.

And God forbid the day that the traffic policeman is not at his traditional post - for then it is a free-for-all, ain't it? Except free would be a misnomer -- stuck-for-all-eternity is more like it.

And this is exactly the way it was at 7:30 AM today at the BTM traffic signal. The traffic policeman was AWOL for 10-odd minutes that seemed like eternity. And there we were: Everybody trying to everywhere, when in fact nobody could move an inch for the next twenty minutes; Till the policeman returned to take control of the situation.



And this forced me to think out loud: Why are we like this? Have we lost all sense of civility? Have you an answer or a thought?

Nakul

This was posted as a reply to my friend Bijoy's blog post A bridge to burn at CNN-IBN Blogs.

I post a copy-paste of my post to solicit your thoughts...

---

Dear Bijoy,

"Why the Saffron-bashing?" - That's all I have to ask.

You talk of traffic snarls, and being a co-inhabitant of Bangalore, I can concur with that thought. But ain't every political party and so-called VVIPs to blame here: They hold up traffic to ensure 'important' people can catch their flight, and the rest of us can miss ours. Traffic cops get sacked because HDD's cavalcade has to wait 5 minutes.

So why single out this one stoppage organised by the so-called "saffron brigade"? This could have just remained the immediate trigger for your write-up, but alas, that was not what it is.

I find the constant brandishing of the anti-saffron flag by most sections of the media - and now on blogs too - rather disturbing. We in the writing and media circles seem to take pride in criticising anything that has any inkling to ancient India and what was ancient Indian culture.

We have now stooped to questioning the basic texts that define modern Hinduism - the Ramayana & the Mahabharatha - and questioning the faith of millions that are associated with the same. And if anybody dare ask a question to this - they are termed saffron and non-social.

Well understanding the danger that a lot of readers (other than you!) are going to term me just that, I can't help but ask if ANY such behaviour would be found acceptable if we started questioning events from the Bible, Kuran, and other religious texts.

I respect the other religions, what they preach, and what the respective followers practice. All I ask is let me practice my faith, in peace.

I do not infringe on other's beliefs. Please do not infringe on mine.

Is that a fair thing to ask?

Nakul

PS: Two points on the DMK-related incident: It is utterly sad and unfortunate that two people had to lose their lives, for what is clearly a political issue.

My heartfelt condolence goes to the families and friends of these hapless souls. I pray to God that justice be done, and that the criminals be brought to justice.

From the Deccan Herald, December 17 2006:
[...] On Saturday afternoon, the Kerala government issued an order that prohibits spitting, coghing violently and clearing one's nose -- without adequately covering it -- at public places. The various kinds of spitting that have been banned include 'spitting pan' and 'spitting after clearing one's throat violently'. [...]

This is a landmark and progressive (and welcome) order, although the success totally depends on its effective implementation.

I now look forward to such an order in Karnataka, and all parts of India. Mumbai had taken a similar step quite some time back when it banned 'Gutka' from its streets and places.

I do hope that among all the trademark politicking, the government of Karnataka brings about a similar rule here.

Perhaps the High Court here too would issue a suo moto directive to the government to egg them along?

If not, at least the BMP (that likes to proclaim its existence through all the flyovers and underpasses) could bring about such a landmark restriction in the silicon valley.

Yes! I am in a rather optimitic mood today; For I hope that the powers that be pitch in before Bangalore/Bengalooru gets a new name - Scarlet Valley, which is how most parts of the city resemble now!

Nakul

PS: Forgive any typos for this has been posted via my N7710

Well, as I have not really been posting much at the LJ, I decided to start posting some of the daily updates, to get back into the habit of typing in my thoughts...

Today evening I am attending the play 'When the Pythons followed the Actor' at Ranga Shankara. This English comedy play is supposed to be an aptation of Christopher Durang's 'The Actor's Nightmare'. More details on the play are at http://www.vodo.blogspot.com/.

Now let me see if I can get myself to type in a review... Only time will tell.

:-)

Nakul

CNN IBN in B'lore's highway to success jammed! says:

[...] Bangalore's traffic nightmare can be well defined in a few lines.

Bangaloreans say that while in the rest of India drives on the left of the road; they drive on what's left of the road.

In the rest of India, there's no flyover with a traffic intersection; in Bangalore, they have a traffic signal and criss-crossing traffic atop a flyover.

In the rest of India, one-way roads mean traffic can only move one way; in Bangalore, there are two ways traffic can move on a one-way road.

Over the years, Bangalore has been criticised for its traffic.

The city that adds 600 to 800 vehicles to its girdle everyday, (that is, nearly two-and-a half lakh vehicles every year) has just 1,800 policemen manning it.

Obviously, something's just not right. [...]

May I suggest a small correction?

In the rest of the world, there's no flyover with a traffic intersection; in Bangalore, they have a traffic signal and criss-crossing traffic atop a flyover. Also, the only flyover that closes to traffic at 8:30 PM, as the traffic constable has to go home...! (Entry from Richmond Road)

Will Bangalore's traffic woes ever end?

Nakul

As if the Whitefield-Marathahalli stretch (Airport Road, if you insist!) was not congested enough. The road has been dug up thoroughly on one side (see picture), murdering any possibility of smooth vehicular movement.

The result: After 65 minutes of travel, we reach the infamous Marathahalli bridge! And to think the workplace is barely 2.5 kilometers behind!!

Is there any glimmer of hope in all this infrastructural darkness?

Nakul

... and you wonder why roads are bad in Bangalore?

Here's a road laid yesterday in Bangalore that looks especially designed for pedestrians! The vehicles can use the mud...

This is what I have been seeing from the taxi for about an hour now...

One major accident on Sarjapur ringroad has crippled the traffic totally and completely. Rumours are that people are carrying out a dharna (strike) at the accident spot.

Bangaloreans: Avoid Marathalli-Whitefield RingRoad.

The red blotch you see in the center of the hoarding is the "erstwhile" sponsor. 
Possibly he refused to pay up after the printing... So he was erased out!?
Nakul

A restaurant in Bangalore proclaims a No Smoking warning.



In case you do insist on maintaining your quota of heat, they can provide you with hot boiling water ;-)

Talking of signs, here's a signage of a prominent call center training institute that promises to help you better your grasp over the language.



If they had read their signboard a little carefully, business in English language training may also have been much better... not just the foregin languages!

Nakul