My theme: something about books, something about poetry, and something about tech – QA in specific. And Q is Quirky: Q is for Q & A, Quatern and QA

I know I am once again like the rabbit in Wonderland, running late and trying to catch up.. 🙂

 

Only in quiet waters do things mirror themselves un-distorted. Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world.
– Bertrand Russell

Entertainment Corner

Q is Quirky: Q is for Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire)

Q left me in a quandary. It took me a while to recall the books made into movies for this letter; and when I did, I realized that either I have(d) not read the book or watched the movie (or both, in one case) for each one I recalled. For those who are interested, some of them are: ‘The Quiet American’ (now I do want to watch the movie, and read the book), ‘Queen of Katwe’ (based on a true story, so the original book is a biography of sorts), and to go in a different direction by using the title of the movie instead – ‘Quiz Show’ (also based on true incidents and the movie is brilliant).

But I finally picked ‘Q & A’ by Vikas Swarup and remedied the non-reading part by actually reading it (here is where a reading habit helps – you have learned to do it so you can pick up the pace when you need to!). Not many might have read the book, but I am sure many of have at the least heard of the movie – ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ – which was nominated for and won tons of Oscars a few years ago.

The Book and the Movie:

The movie, for those who have seen it, tells the viewer the astonishing story of a boy from the slums who goes on a quiz show to find the love of his life, and knows the answer to every question because of experiences that shaped his life. The movie follows the book in concept – the protagonist participates in a quiz show and knows answers because of incidents in his life; and people who have read the book and watched the movie can draw other parallels as well. But, in many other ways, the movie is very different from the book.

The book, like many Bollywood ‘masala’ movies, has a tad too much of ‘far-fetchedness’, and Coincidental Circumstances Conspire (yes, with a capital C) to bring the melodramatic, tragedy-drenched yet uplifting book to its plot-that-did-not-need-a-twist, bow-tied-as-a-gift ending. Where the movie is more graceful, the book is darker, grittier. Where a love story seems almost central to the movie, the book’s protagonist’s love story is not the be-all of the book, just one part of it.

But that is not to say the book is all that bad (it inspired the movie too – one which has won hearts and accolades the world over). It still kept me interested enough to keep going to that ending I talked about, in spite of the fact that I had watched the movie (read below for more…). It is a quick and entertaining read in spite of all its cliches. And has glimpses of reality – some heart-breaking and others heart-warming – shining through it’s masala movie moments.

Note: This, like a couple other Book Vs Movie posts(Exorcist, for one) I have done this series, is not a book/movie for kids or even teens.

The Question: The Book or The Movie:

When I first watched the movie, I did wonder at all the Oscar (and other) nominations and wins it got. Don’t get me wrong – I had(ve) moments of pride – for example, when I saw those watching the song ‘Jai Ho’ making waves everywhere. But I still wondered, like I do for so many other movies too that get nominations and wins and are overhyped.

But if I have to pick between the two here, in this case, I would pick the movie and I think it would have been the same even if I had read the book first. There is a first time for everything indeed.

[yop_poll id=17]

We listen too much to the telephone and we listen too little to nature. The wind is one of my sounds. A lonely sound, perhaps, but soothing. Everybody should have his personal sounds to listen for—sounds that will make him exhilarated and alive, or quiet and calm… As a matter of fact, one of the greatest sounds of them all—and to me it is a sound—is utter, complete silence.
– André Kostelanetz (on quiet)

 

Poetry Corner

Q is Quirky: Q is for Quatern

What is the Quatern poetic form and how to write it?

This is a refrain poetic form from the French. It is composed of four quatrains, with the first line of the poem acting as the refrain line. It is different from other such forms in the sense that the refrain line moves in this poem. It is the second line of the second stanza, the third line in the third stanza, and the final line of the poem as well. Each line has eight syllables, and meter as well as rhyme are left to the poet.

So, the Quatern:

• is stanzaic – has four four-line stanzas
• has a refrain – L1 of the poem is repeated three times – as L2 of the second stanza, L3 of the third and L4 of the fourth stanza. So the first line and the last line of the poem are the same (are you seeing a pattern in my choices? Not intentional, I assure you!)
• no meter or rhyme specified or needed – left to the poet

More reading and h/t:

• PoetryMagnumOpus
• A quatern poem on the quatern poetic form – enjoyed this read totally

My Example Quatern:

I have one here in this earlier post – and do want to write one more, that will flow better. So will post that one here when it is ready.

Only those who care about you can hear you when you’re quiet.
Jelly Wong

QA Corner

Q is Quirky: Q is for QA

What is Quality Assurance?

So I have been talking about terms used in QA or Quality Assurance in the world of software all these days, and now I arrive at the letter Q. I decided to (or rather had very few/no other options) go with QA- Quality Assurance itself. And just stick to the definition with resources for further reading instead.

Wrapping up the Q post

If I could define enlightenment briefly, I would say it is, ‘the quiet acceptance of what is.’
Wayne Dyer

What are your comments or questions about today’s post? I would love to hear from you. Check out previous posts in this challenge using the links below.

Day 0 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6Day 7  Day 8Day 9Day 10Day 11 Day 12 Day 13  Day 14  Day 15 Day 16 Day 17

Day 18

Linking up to BlogChatter A to Z, A to Z Blogging Challenge, and the Ultimate Blog Challenge