.I write this post as a lament...not regret, but more as an expression of grief, although it's often tough to segregate the two.
The past one year had held a lot of promise, primarily, in the music scene of my life. Having taken a long hiatus from live performances, while in Singapore, i pretty much played alone (except for friday nights). All this musical wanking, i hoped, would eventually lead me to a state where-in, if i were to be part of a band sometime in the near future, i would be 'ready'.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
Playing alone for nearly two years, and the events over the last few weeks has made me realise one thing: I am selfish, hence i make music only for my personal pleasure and growth.
Here, growth and pleasure are not mutually exclusive, and strangely, either one begets the other.From this, i know, playing music is not just some hobby that i'll run to after a hard day's work, nor is it something that i'll ever want to do under inebriation. To me, playing music is sacred. This means, i dont care if the music i make is heard by anyone else or not. The only thing that matters is the process of 'creation'...if i may even call it that. After all, any song of absolute music is either a note-re-organised,augmented or reduced version of any other song...and pithily, that's all there is to it. Yet, i find it so sacred and this i can't explain...yet.
There is more to how music and the human mind works. Any 'familiar' tune i listen to, 'brings back' memories of times when i first got familiar with it. This process of bringing back, transcends almost all barriers of time. I remember VERY vividly the colour of the sky and the 'setting sun' one evening, while i was listening to 'The Carpenters' at the age of Four. I remember at the age of Six, the warmth (or the lack thereof) of water during chilly Bangalore school-mornings when my Father religiously played those select few 'foreign' tapes accessible to a typical middle class family by means of relatives in distant lands. I remember at the age of Seven, playing at home with 'action figures', and my Mother returned from the market, carrying a brand-new, wrapped-up G.I. Joe Bike, while Konkani folk songs played-on in the background. I also remember at the age of Ten, observing how my Brother would lay back and read all those books while listening to tapes of Grammy Award artists of the 80s & 90s...tapes he procured by cajoling my folks...tapes that i owe my entire life in music to. I also remember at the age of Eighteen, falling in love head over heels, while The Beatles' "Abbey Road" and Queen's "Greatest Hits" spun like merry-go-rounds in my hormonally influenced mind.
In,through and out of all these memories, it was never the words/lyrics of a song that actually made me relate with the moment. It was always the 'tune'...the absolute music aspect of the song. This is what i cant explain. Further, it hurts that i can't explain something which evokes such emotions from me; Something that can drastically change my mood literally by the flick of a switch. Music has always been there, its presence shameless and very evident,but its purpose? ...always mysterious, clouded and often contradictory to whatever reason i could attribute. Like a puzzle, music has driven me on a search and has subsequently lead to a near rabid hunger for the answer. Though unrecognised at first, of late, it has reached a different level, both, with respect to the recognition and the intensity of the search. From what i recall, and what i figure, the first step i took towards this search, was inadvertently but undoubtedly, hours and hours of fooling around with my keyboard (also read piano). Hours and hours of playing songs...ANY song. I just wanted to play. I liked the sound, i loved how it made me feel. It generated a great sense of accomplishment to play a song that i heard on a 'professionally recorded tape', and to play it perfectly, 'JUST LIKE THAT'...hence the phrase 'tape-perfect'.
But, there is only so much you can do with playing someone else's song. You may bend it, twist it, shake it and even rock it... but it still isn't yours. The obvious next step is to reach a 'state' where you start playing whatever you feel; An accurate description of this act would be :
"Transcription of thought into art".
Towards this state, i have been inching , for the past few years. Mastery over this state will be, according to me the ultimate achievement. For accurate transcription of thought into art, should imply the reverse from anybody's senses and not just the creator's.
The only problem with this, is that step one lingers, and rather stubbornly. We will always get back into a phase of 're-living' those moments through the thought-transcriptions of others. Step one is also a nasty and easy way out to instill a pseudo sense of skill. I stand by this belief.
It is this feeling that drives me towards solving a problem: something i cant see, hold or worse, explain. For music which has meant so much to me, it is the least i can do: solve the problem.
Follow my art to the end of my dreams, and then even more.
I cant even fathom what happens after step two, but i sure will pen it down, if i figure it out someday. But, by the looks of it, not someday soon.
Over the last one year, i wrote music, toiled, gigged and 'made merry' with a band. I believed that as a band, this would lead to a permanent detachment from step one...it nearly did. Unfortunately, this belief did not sustain. A band, no matter how 'skilled', may need to compromise, and go through reaping the myriad plastic fruits of step one in order to move on to step two; but as long as step two is in the cross-hair, the band will be. Even the focus doesnt matter...its just the direction...'for now', so to speak. Sadly no such thing figured in the cross-hairs. Fame is pseudo and subject to current trends in society, whereas true recognition comes only through original contribution...Recognition does not necessarily imply fame, and according to most people, a band can't survive on recognition alone. As defined by most people, fame for a band is not just a thrill, but a necessity.
I don't define a band that way.
Which is why i am in pain.
Mostly self-inflicted.
Refusal to accept.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
A little less, for a little more
A college is incomplete without its certified ‘adda’. It could be the college canteen, the sports complex, the parking-lot or even the space beneath a shady tree. Sometimes, an adda may also be located off-campus, usually a stone’s throw away. Trees and snack-shacks are famous contenders for the coveted adda status. Still, the likelihood of any area to turn into an adda is always in direct proportion with its ‘Factor of Coziness’ (F.O.C) which includes numerous sub-factors, the important four being:
i) Close proximity to campus
ii) Adequate shade or cover from sun, rain and teaching faculty
iii) Convenient access to ‘snacks’
iv) A guaranteed supply of mint flavoured mouth fresheners
So, unless it’s cleverly engineered to bear REALLY special fruit, a tree fails on the account of a bad F.O.C. Therefore, the perfect adda would be a cross between a tree and a shack: natural, yet cosmetically convenient. ‘Dream on’ some may say, but it actually existed, no, thrived until a few weeks ago, right beside M.S.R.I.T.
‘The Little Shop’: Pretty much a shack that mysteriously seemed to sprout a tree from its roof!
Botanical travesty, Architectural blunder;
An unholy union between stone and wood,
“Raze it we shall” they exclaimed, “with axe and hammer”
“For some such thing’d do more harm than good.”
Good or bad, it existed. The scores of students who’ve passed by the tiled walls and walked on the wallpapered floors of ‘old’ M.S.R.I.T will certainly remember this sweet-sounding-shop; such memories mostly augmented by shades of slacker-student activities. Back in 1999, while still in the first year, I dreaded passing by the shop. One word: Ragging. Barring the occasional trip for some vague stationery item, the shop was off-limits for freshers. “Go there, and you’ll get ragged raaaa!!”. Horror stories would ensue, as any fresher dared to cross that line, in through the back gate. Ok, I may be exaggerating, a bit.
When it comes to ragging, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have skipped out on any ‘horror stories’ and even more so, to have been ragged mostly by a bunch of ‘mild’ seniors (Kowmi, if you’re reading this, we still love you). Back then in M.S.R.I.T, there were many nooks and crannies where a supple fresher (such as my 1999 self) could’ve been ragged. Fortunately for me, most of the seniors who ‘associated’ with me, in such times, were a part of the cul-team. Needless to say, I learnt a lot from them.
I remember one such place being above the old conference hall, above the old library. It was a place known only to a select few. A place with a view! The then highest point (nearly all puns intended) on campus. Looking down from there, you could see the entire expanse of M.S.R.I.T. Only, back then, you couldn’t see much except for green cover. Trees…and LOTS of them. There were other places such as the ‘Medical Canteen’ and a ‘snacks point’. Hardly addas, they were barely watering holes. Eventually, the medical canteen turned sour, policy-wise: ’Engineering students are banned from entering’. Ha! That’s ok, we didn’t need their ‘accidentally non-veg’ fried rice anyway.
Gradually, the trees disappeared. So did this ‘high-point’. Other structures came up, some near, some far. A food court, a nice little eatery near the dental college, and numerous joints for parantas, rolls, all around college. Still, none quite adda-like. Just low on the F.O.C. Tsk tsk!
Throughout this I noticed, the Little Shop stood out, and with each passing semester, as anti-ragging laws were enforced with growing rigour, the shop seemed little-er. What with more people crowding around, juniors and seniors, slackers and toppers, all alike. Like a ‘Woodstock’ of tea-time; only, almost all the time.
The Little Shop served as an ice-breaking venue of sorts (Not to forget, the indomitable Bhatt-re’s shop; which by the way, still stands). This continuous mingling of students from various semesters and streams of engineering is one of the many reasons why most graduates from M.S.R.I.T feel that ‘oneness’ with the institute.
A good educational institute has a distinct culture/mindset, and hence projects a unique ethos through its students. This culture/mindset, needless to say, needs to get passed on if it has to survive. Unless students across various semesters associate with each other, at a forum, fest, maybe a trivial party or even an adda, the feeling, culture/mindset will not propagate. Unfortunately, this ‘mingling’ is waning in recent times. We could owe it partially to stricter laws being enforced on campus. There are institutes choked by such rules, where, in the eye of ‘The MAN’, every student is capable of ‘crime’. Lesser degrees of freedom, especially in an educational institute can curb creativity, stunt intellectual growth and thereby thwart maturity. Fortunately, M.S.R.I.T still maintains the attitude it did a few years ago. “19A” is a testament to that attitude.
After attending Udbhav ’09, I was reminded of how it felt being a student in M.S.R.I.T. I miss those times… terribly! College has always been plagued by demolition and construction, and for years, that seemed to be the only continuity. You break some, to build some. The little shop is no more, but knowing M.S.R.I.T.ians, (and I’ve known more than my fair share) it won’t be long before a new adda is identified and set in place.
Botanical travesty, Architectural blunder;
An unholy union between stone and wood,
Amidst the fallen rocks and evident plunder
A lonely tree stands, where the shop once stood.
-Snehal Pinto
EEE, M.S.R.I.T (1999 to ∞)
*************************************************************
Submitted to '19A', M.S.R.I.T's hot lil e-mag. I dont know if they'll publish it or what... but i missed writing, and i finally wrote something after a long time... so.
i) Close proximity to campus
ii) Adequate shade or cover from sun, rain and teaching faculty
iii) Convenient access to ‘snacks’
iv) A guaranteed supply of mint flavoured mouth fresheners
So, unless it’s cleverly engineered to bear REALLY special fruit, a tree fails on the account of a bad F.O.C. Therefore, the perfect adda would be a cross between a tree and a shack: natural, yet cosmetically convenient. ‘Dream on’ some may say, but it actually existed, no, thrived until a few weeks ago, right beside M.S.R.I.T.
‘The Little Shop’: Pretty much a shack that mysteriously seemed to sprout a tree from its roof!
Botanical travesty, Architectural blunder;
An unholy union between stone and wood,
“Raze it we shall” they exclaimed, “with axe and hammer”
“For some such thing’d do more harm than good.”
Good or bad, it existed. The scores of students who’ve passed by the tiled walls and walked on the wallpapered floors of ‘old’ M.S.R.I.T will certainly remember this sweet-sounding-shop; such memories mostly augmented by shades of slacker-student activities. Back in 1999, while still in the first year, I dreaded passing by the shop. One word: Ragging. Barring the occasional trip for some vague stationery item, the shop was off-limits for freshers. “Go there, and you’ll get ragged raaaa!!”. Horror stories would ensue, as any fresher dared to cross that line, in through the back gate. Ok, I may be exaggerating, a bit.
When it comes to ragging, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have skipped out on any ‘horror stories’ and even more so, to have been ragged mostly by a bunch of ‘mild’ seniors (Kowmi, if you’re reading this, we still love you). Back then in M.S.R.I.T, there were many nooks and crannies where a supple fresher (such as my 1999 self) could’ve been ragged. Fortunately for me, most of the seniors who ‘associated’ with me, in such times, were a part of the cul-team. Needless to say, I learnt a lot from them.
I remember one such place being above the old conference hall, above the old library. It was a place known only to a select few. A place with a view! The then highest point (nearly all puns intended) on campus. Looking down from there, you could see the entire expanse of M.S.R.I.T. Only, back then, you couldn’t see much except for green cover. Trees…and LOTS of them. There were other places such as the ‘Medical Canteen’ and a ‘snacks point’. Hardly addas, they were barely watering holes. Eventually, the medical canteen turned sour, policy-wise: ’Engineering students are banned from entering’. Ha! That’s ok, we didn’t need their ‘accidentally non-veg’ fried rice anyway.
Gradually, the trees disappeared. So did this ‘high-point’. Other structures came up, some near, some far. A food court, a nice little eatery near the dental college, and numerous joints for parantas, rolls, all around college. Still, none quite adda-like. Just low on the F.O.C. Tsk tsk!
Throughout this I noticed, the Little Shop stood out, and with each passing semester, as anti-ragging laws were enforced with growing rigour, the shop seemed little-er. What with more people crowding around, juniors and seniors, slackers and toppers, all alike. Like a ‘Woodstock’ of tea-time; only, almost all the time.
The Little Shop served as an ice-breaking venue of sorts (Not to forget, the indomitable Bhatt-re’s shop; which by the way, still stands). This continuous mingling of students from various semesters and streams of engineering is one of the many reasons why most graduates from M.S.R.I.T feel that ‘oneness’ with the institute.
A good educational institute has a distinct culture/mindset, and hence projects a unique ethos through its students. This culture/mindset, needless to say, needs to get passed on if it has to survive. Unless students across various semesters associate with each other, at a forum, fest, maybe a trivial party or even an adda, the feeling, culture/mindset will not propagate. Unfortunately, this ‘mingling’ is waning in recent times. We could owe it partially to stricter laws being enforced on campus. There are institutes choked by such rules, where, in the eye of ‘The MAN’, every student is capable of ‘crime’. Lesser degrees of freedom, especially in an educational institute can curb creativity, stunt intellectual growth and thereby thwart maturity. Fortunately, M.S.R.I.T still maintains the attitude it did a few years ago. “19A” is a testament to that attitude.
After attending Udbhav ’09, I was reminded of how it felt being a student in M.S.R.I.T. I miss those times… terribly! College has always been plagued by demolition and construction, and for years, that seemed to be the only continuity. You break some, to build some. The little shop is no more, but knowing M.S.R.I.T.ians, (and I’ve known more than my fair share) it won’t be long before a new adda is identified and set in place.
Botanical travesty, Architectural blunder;
An unholy union between stone and wood,
Amidst the fallen rocks and evident plunder
A lonely tree stands, where the shop once stood.
-Snehal Pinto
EEE, M.S.R.I.T (1999 to ∞)
*************************************************************
Submitted to '19A', M.S.R.I.T's hot lil e-mag. I dont know if they'll publish it or what... but i missed writing, and i finally wrote something after a long time... so.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Turn away the smoke, those questioning hands
"Too many words,
Too many lies,
Too many seeds,
Too many cries,
Too many thoughts,
Too many lights,
Too many times too many. "
- Plan B, Thermal And A Quarter
One year since the last post. Lots has happened...some worth mentioning, some not. In a nutshell :
One failed masters degree,
gazillion lost follicles,
one hefty student loan,
and upon acquisition of a few fantastic people as friends later, I'm back home... ...back to square 1, or 17-19ish, IF you take into account the EXACT anatomical details of a snake's digestive system.
Talking about digestion, processing thoughts to translate into blog-worthy entries has been tough (yes, as minuscule as they may seem,i have standards too), because every attempt at prose, resulted in poetry...BAD poetry. More like a severe case of writer's block coupled with poet's diarrhea. Poetic Kakkus!
On the 'bright' side, if it could be called that... i'm working again (ALL puns intended) and how!
Its a rather new department, which means things are'nt as sorted out as they should be, which also means, i double up as lab-attender, instructor, evaluator and wise-ass... all being very important components of enhancing the 'lab experience'... talk about schizophrenia...No, YOU shut up!!
So on a nice sunny saturday morning, i set out to 'procure' components for the coming monday's experiments. Say hello to the filthy streets of S.P Road, Bengaluru (which ussshole changed the name?) First shop i entered, filled with students and regular folks, it seemed, at the risk of sounding elitist, as plebeian as it could be. Then amidst this, in walks a trio, three cute lil chik-dees... full, with bounce in step, glint in eye, and mint in cud-chewing mouths. I must admit, apart from the obvious sexist tone ringing from this, this was not a scene you'd encounter regularly at an electronic component shop in S.P road... ie: a couple of fair-sexed engineering (i suppose)kids braving SP road junta and stepping into a nasty shop, to buy resistors and LEDs...'Wooh' i say, nice to see the love for electronics spreading.
It's ok that they were chirpy, and jumpy and made a huge ruckus in an already chaotic shop. It's also ok that they cut the line, and asked for their 'stuff' without caring for the rest who have been waiting (read 'Me'). It's also ok that they asked for a wide range of resistances, because they didnt want to bother about the exact values. But my marbles went into hyper-spin-twist mode when they asked for specifically the 'green' resistors, the lower power-rated kind .... for a moment i thought...
'Wow, these chicks want 1/4 watt rated resistors, perhaps for low power applications and for a compact feel to their overall circuit design....maybe its a low power micro-controller based...' When all of a sudden, while lost in my thought, i heard the shop keeper mutter 'INDUCTOR... that's a lil more expensive'
Completely piqued by now, about exactly WHICH circuit these chilli-pillies had in mind, i spiraled into further half-baked technical thoughts
'... perhaps its a tuned circuit, a filter of sorts...'
and i would've gone on thinking unless i heard this :
"...This will go well with the green salwaar..."
If i could recreate a screechy sound of a Long-Playing gramophone record being short-stopped, i would, here, at this point, when i heard those words.Also, noticing that the inductors and resistors had something in common... they were all green.
Upon further shameless eavesdropping, i discovered they were building a bracelet.... a green bracelet of resistors. WTF man!!?! How that bubble burst! Anyway, my 'teacher instinct' kicked into high gear, when i decided to tell them that zener diodes might help beautify their ornaments. However, i decided to cork my pie-hole, and let my partially numbed mind heal itself instead.
Still, a project's a project, i say. Electronic or otherwise. The purpose of any object is rarely justified by just its intended use. Sometimes i feel, art itself supersedes all else. The purpose of science and technology is just to further means to optimise enjoyment of the Arts. And then again, any field is an art by itself... sigh*
So i'm back now.... lots of figuring out to do. Lots of things to catch up on. Fortunately, i'm surrounded by people who care.
More soon, on music and other developments.
Too many lies,
Too many seeds,
Too many cries,
Too many thoughts,
Too many lights,
Too many times too many. "
- Plan B, Thermal And A Quarter
One year since the last post. Lots has happened...some worth mentioning, some not. In a nutshell :
One failed masters degree,
gazillion lost follicles,
one hefty student loan,
and upon acquisition of a few fantastic people as friends later, I'm back home... ...back to square 1, or 17-19ish, IF you take into account the EXACT anatomical details of a snake's digestive system.
Talking about digestion, processing thoughts to translate into blog-worthy entries has been tough (yes, as minuscule as they may seem,i have standards too), because every attempt at prose, resulted in poetry...BAD poetry. More like a severe case of writer's block coupled with poet's diarrhea. Poetic Kakkus!
On the 'bright' side, if it could be called that... i'm working again (ALL puns intended) and how!
Its a rather new department, which means things are'nt as sorted out as they should be, which also means, i double up as lab-attender, instructor, evaluator and wise-ass... all being very important components of enhancing the 'lab experience'... talk about schizophrenia...No, YOU shut up!!
So on a nice sunny saturday morning, i set out to 'procure' components for the coming monday's experiments. Say hello to the filthy streets of S.P Road, Bengaluru (which ussshole changed the name?) First shop i entered, filled with students and regular folks, it seemed, at the risk of sounding elitist, as plebeian as it could be. Then amidst this, in walks a trio, three cute lil chik-dees... full, with bounce in step, glint in eye, and mint in cud-chewing mouths. I must admit, apart from the obvious sexist tone ringing from this, this was not a scene you'd encounter regularly at an electronic component shop in S.P road... ie: a couple of fair-sexed engineering (i suppose)kids braving SP road junta and stepping into a nasty shop, to buy resistors and LEDs...'Wooh' i say, nice to see the love for electronics spreading.
It's ok that they were chirpy, and jumpy and made a huge ruckus in an already chaotic shop. It's also ok that they cut the line, and asked for their 'stuff' without caring for the rest who have been waiting (read 'Me'). It's also ok that they asked for a wide range of resistances, because they didnt want to bother about the exact values. But my marbles went into hyper-spin-twist mode when they asked for specifically the 'green' resistors, the lower power-rated kind .... for a moment i thought...
'Wow, these chicks want 1/4 watt rated resistors, perhaps for low power applications and for a compact feel to their overall circuit design....maybe its a low power micro-controller based...' When all of a sudden, while lost in my thought, i heard the shop keeper mutter 'INDUCTOR... that's a lil more expensive'
Completely piqued by now, about exactly WHICH circuit these chilli-pillies had in mind, i spiraled into further half-baked technical thoughts
'... perhaps its a tuned circuit, a filter of sorts...'
and i would've gone on thinking unless i heard this :
"...This will go well with the green salwaar..."
If i could recreate a screechy sound of a Long-Playing gramophone record being short-stopped, i would, here, at this point, when i heard those words.Also, noticing that the inductors and resistors had something in common... they were all green.
Upon further shameless eavesdropping, i discovered they were building a bracelet.... a green bracelet of resistors. WTF man!!?! How that bubble burst! Anyway, my 'teacher instinct' kicked into high gear, when i decided to tell them that zener diodes might help beautify their ornaments. However, i decided to cork my pie-hole, and let my partially numbed mind heal itself instead.
Still, a project's a project, i say. Electronic or otherwise. The purpose of any object is rarely justified by just its intended use. Sometimes i feel, art itself supersedes all else. The purpose of science and technology is just to further means to optimise enjoyment of the Arts. And then again, any field is an art by itself... sigh*
So i'm back now.... lots of figuring out to do. Lots of things to catch up on. Fortunately, i'm surrounded by people who care.
More soon, on music and other developments.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Subject: Re: Details about macbook.
OK! This one was long overdue...
James is supposedly a Nigerian, trying to sell a mac-book... to me. I am NOT making all this up. I found this info, about a MacBook going dirt cheap. I was, at that time, unfamiliar with popular 'Nigerian Scams'.
Anyway, this is an e-mail conversation between con-man James and me, all of which took place within a day...a few hours actually.
No editing of text... just reversal of order...ashtey.
*******************************************************************
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:35:06 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
To: jamesbent2@hotmail.com
Subject: Details about macbook.
Hey,
Macbook pro for 1000 SGD ?? really ?
Can i have some more details please ?
Thanks
Snehal
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent < jamesbent2@hotmail.com > wrote:
Hello Snehal,
Thanks for your email.
The 17" Apple Macbook Pro laptop is brand new and still sealed in the box. Comes with two years warranty. It cost $1000SGD and the shipping cost is $100SGD.
So the total cost is $1100SGD.
Specificationsfor the 17" Apple macbook laptop include
Processor: 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: 2GB
Hard drive: 120GB
Internal Slots: DVD/RW
4 USB ports
Serial no. MA092LL/A
To place your order, email back with the follwoing informations.
1. Your full name
2. your shipping address in detail
3. Your Phone Number
As soon as the above informations are received, the laptop will be packaged and ready for shipment to you.
Delivery will take max. of 2 days(48hrs)
Shipping is via UPS.
Payment is through western union money transfer.
Thanks.
Reply.
James Bent
Electronics Solution Inc.
25 Lekki Express way, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348087***249
Registration No. 708***14
***---***
Ok Champa... sounds good, but I smell that dead fish in your pocket. Still, since you patiently replied, (to eventually take my money of course) I will return the favour. You do what you have to; just wont let you steal from me.
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:32:47 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
Hi James,
I regret to inform you, i wont be going in for the offer. I already managed to buy a second hand notebook which i could test out first hand.
Thanks for your time.
Regards
Snehal
***---***
There... that was polite, i guess. He wants to steal? thats fine. I'm not preaching to anybody.
***---***
On 8/17/07, James Bent > wrote:
Oh ok.
But i can give you a discount.
Electronics Solution Inc.
25 Lekki Ex.....
.......
***---***
Well... the plot thickens.
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:25:23 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
Oh thanks! but i'm not really looking to bargain. Your price is already fantastic. Actually, I'm paying a few dollars more for this second hand laptop. Its just that, i wanted to test anything BEFORE i bought it. Also, i thought you were operating locally. nevermind. Too bad i'm not from Nigeria.
Anyway, ive already spent my cash :)
thanks and rgds
Snehal
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent > wrote:
Ours is Brand new in the pack, with complete accessories.
oK lets do it this way. For a start.
Pay for just shipping cost, and when you get the Mac Book, and have tested it, you can the pay the rest.
Thanks
Await your reply.
James Bent.
Electronics Solution Inc.
***---***
Ooookay, sister.... lets play!
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:38:39 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
oh man! :0)
this is really tempting... but i've already spent my money. However, if you are willing, i could buy it for a friend. If you could send it over, i'll test it, ( and since you are confident that its fine, because its in the original package you dont have anything to worry about) After i test it, i'll wire the cost+shipping plus 10%
thats 1000+100+110 (extra) roughly 1200 SGD ... but AFTER i receive the package.
Regards,
Snehal
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent > wrote:
Ok great.
But there is one little problem here.
Its company policy that atleast a form of payment must be tendered before shipment is carried out.
What i mean is that, payment must be confirmed first , no matter how small before shipment commences.
Thats why i asked you to pay for just the shipping fee, which is $100SGD.
And when you recive the Mac Book, you can then send the rest of the money.
We do this, so that we can atleast be sure that the customer is for real.
Hope you understand what i mean?
So now i will like you to send me your full shipping address, and telephone number so that your Mac Book can be immediately packaged to be ready for shipment.
Thanks
Await your reply
James Bent
Elect......-
***---***
Naaaice... address, phone number... how about my grannie's panties too?
Ok...no more interruptions...at least for a bit.
n'akkansisya!!!
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:55:48 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
hey James,
I agree with your policy. but if i'm going to pay via a WU transfer, i'll also need some assurance. Which is why i suggested that you take 10 %. Maybe even 20 %. (Since i'll be selling this piece for a profit.) But AFTER i receive the unit. You can use your shipping partners to confirm my address and identification. I'll produce all my identification papers to the shipping partner, once i receive the unit (and fax address proof and details to you too). That includes my passport details, Citizenship staus, and current adress proof. But, AFTER i receive the unit.
Thanks again.
Snehal
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent < jamesbent2@hotmail.com > wrote:
Thanks for your mail,
Oh i see what you are saying now.
Are you talking about the Western union charges.
If thats the case, you can take the western union charges from the $100 to be sent.
Like i said before, its policy that payment must be confirmed first no matter how small.
So now i will like you to send me your full shipping address, and telephone number so that your Mac Book can be immediately packaged to be ready for shipment.
Thanks
Await your reply
James Bent
Electronics Solution Inc.
---***----
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:05:39 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
Since its your policy that i send a sum, no matter how small, is it ok if i transfer 10 SGD... just to start with... just to prove i'm for real.
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent wrote:
Yes no matter how small.
But you know $10SGD is just too small.
Its not even up 10USD.
I was hoping that you will send may be $80SGD.
Thanks
Reply now
James Bent.
Electronics Solution Inc.
***---***
Oh Har! and Har! too small eh? Policy my ARSE! fakkin smegma-breathed leech! From 1100 to 100, and now 80... how low will he go?
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:16:31 +0800
From: snehalpin.....
well.. thats a very lax policy then.... right now... i can afford only that much. Do let me know if you can work with that. ie : 10SGD. After all, all you need to know is if i'm for real.
I mean, dont get me wrong. What assurance do i have that you wont get back to me after i transfer that 'small' amount ? Of course.. i mean it in no derogatory sense... just a precautionary measure. Do understand. Long story short... i can afford to invest 10 SGD to prove i'm for real, to someone i dont know, regardless of the outcome.
Thanks
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent wrote:
Thanks for your mail,
I know you can afford the $80SGD.
And dont you think that we have tried for you.
You are buying an item worth $1100SGD.
And we just want you to send $80SGD for a start.
God thats good enough if you ask me.
And about assurance, you have nothing to worry about as you are dealing with a legitimate company.
To prove that to you, here a reference.
Hes from the UK. He bought 10 units of the Mac Book from us Last week.
His name is Scott Wuhrer
And here is his number
+4470****5758
You can call him and ask about about the Mac Book and our services too
After that send me an email ok.
I will be expecting your mail.
Thanks
Await your reply
James Bent.
Electronics Solution Inc.
***---***
oooOOoo...'tried for you', 'good enough', Credibility check... using big words he doesn't understand; is'nt he cute?!?
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:34:07 +0800
From: sneh...
well... i'm not asking you to bend your comapny policy. really. And since the purpose of receiveing an initial amount is just to ascertain my credibility, why dont you take a small amount? since i'll any way be paying the larger amount upon delivery. Honestly, i can afford the 80 SGD. but i am skeptical. Call me stingy, but thats how i prefer to do business. I will pay you. and you have my FULL 10 SGD as a credibility check. credibility can be checked no matter if its 10, 80 or even 800 SGD. So, i'll send you 10. But you send me the unit.. i'll pay you the rest AND a 10 % extra fee, for all this rigmarole i made you go through with.
Warm Regards.
Snehal
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent wrote:
Now let me ask you a question.
If you were us, and i was you.
And i wanted to purchase an item worth of $1200.
And i want to pay $10 upfront, will you agree to that?
The money is just too little.
Think about.
Whats the difference of $10 and $80. Its not much.
So why cant you just pay that , and when you get the package, you can then send the rest of the money.
And besides , i already gave you guarantee already.
Did you call Scott, to ask him about our services?
Thanks
Await your reply
James Bent.
Electronics Solution Inc.
***---***
Oh! oh! here it comes... aim, lock ....
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:54:58 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
To: jamesbent2@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Details about macbook.
10 $ isnt too different from 80?? hmmm...then why dont you accept 10bucks???
And if I were you, and you were me (like they were he and john Lenon was the Walrus)
I would'nt accept cash only through WU. I would setup a better portal, to accept cash. But i'm not you, and you are not me. (and they are not he, and John Lenon was not the Walrus... the Walrus was Paul.)
And WHO is SCOTT?? why should i care? really.... how can i believe HIS word? What is this? is this some scam? can i see a website of some sort? Please!
I've had enough. You're DARN right that the money's too little. Because the scam's just not worth it!
Dont ask me for my address, DONT ask me for my phone number, Dont contact me again. And, YOU think about what you're doing.... really... its not right. I politely declined once... but you tried enticing me with silly offers.... shameful!
This is my last email to you. Please dont try to convince me anymore.I find all that you've offered so far to be outrageously unbelievable. So, thanks for the entertainment. I dont intend to waste anymore of my time, or yours... but mainly mine.
Have a nice life!
Sweet, Warm Regards
Snehal
***---***
...aaaahh... wooh! I'm SO spent, baby...rolling off now.
***---***
On 8/17/07, James Bent wrote:
Thanks for your mail,
Such words coming out from you.
I was just trying to be a sales man, if you ask me, thats what sales men do.
We try to get more customers.
I am sorry if i have offended you. And i will not send you any other email again.
Bye.
Electronics Solution Inc.
*******************************************************************
Aaaaw... c'mon sweety, don't be that way...
"I was just trying to be a sales man".
Woooh! yes, SURE you were.HORRBIAATCH! In the words of Mr.Mani... get some Spiritual healing.
I really would've sent the 10 bucks... if he'd called my bluff... it would've been worth it.
Needless to say, since that day, my mailbox has been brimming with mails of penile size increase tips...'spam for my ham'... Nice!
Did you know 'Extenze' can give you 4 inches to...... *sigh*
James is supposedly a Nigerian, trying to sell a mac-book... to me. I am NOT making all this up. I found this info, about a MacBook going dirt cheap. I was, at that time, unfamiliar with popular 'Nigerian Scams'.
Anyway, this is an e-mail conversation between con-man James and me, all of which took place within a day...a few hours actually.
No editing of text... just reversal of order...ashtey.
*******************************************************************
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:35:06 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
To: jamesbent2@hotmail.com
Subject: Details about macbook.
Hey,
Macbook pro for 1000 SGD ?? really ?
Can i have some more details please ?
Thanks
Snehal
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent < jamesbent2@hotmail.com > wrote:
Hello Snehal,
Thanks for your email.
The 17" Apple Macbook Pro laptop is brand new and still sealed in the box. Comes with two years warranty. It cost $1000SGD and the shipping cost is $100SGD.
So the total cost is $1100SGD.
Specificationsfor the 17" Apple macbook laptop include
Processor: 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: 2GB
Hard drive: 120GB
Internal Slots: DVD/RW
4 USB ports
Serial no. MA092LL/A
To place your order, email back with the follwoing informations.
1. Your full name
2. your shipping address in detail
3. Your Phone Number
As soon as the above informations are received, the laptop will be packaged and ready for shipment to you.
Delivery will take max. of 2 days(48hrs)
Shipping is via UPS.
Payment is through western union money transfer.
Thanks.
Reply.
James Bent
Electronics Solution Inc.
25 Lekki Express way, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348087***249
Registration No. 708***14
***---***
Ok Champa... sounds good, but I smell that dead fish in your pocket. Still, since you patiently replied, (to eventually take my money of course) I will return the favour. You do what you have to; just wont let you steal from me.
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:32:47 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
Hi James,
I regret to inform you, i wont be going in for the offer. I already managed to buy a second hand notebook which i could test out first hand.
Thanks for your time.
Regards
Snehal
***---***
There... that was polite, i guess. He wants to steal? thats fine. I'm not preaching to anybody.
***---***
On 8/17/07, James Bent > wrote:
Oh ok.
But i can give you a discount.
Electronics Solution Inc.
25 Lekki Ex.....
.......
***---***
Well... the plot thickens.
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:25:23 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
Oh thanks! but i'm not really looking to bargain. Your price is already fantastic. Actually, I'm paying a few dollars more for this second hand laptop. Its just that, i wanted to test anything BEFORE i bought it. Also, i thought you were operating locally. nevermind. Too bad i'm not from Nigeria.
Anyway, ive already spent my cash :)
thanks and rgds
Snehal
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent > wrote:
Ours is Brand new in the pack, with complete accessories.
oK lets do it this way. For a start.
Pay for just shipping cost, and when you get the Mac Book, and have tested it, you can the pay the rest.
Thanks
Await your reply.
James Bent.
Electronics Solution Inc.
***---***
Ooookay, sister.... lets play!
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:38:39 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
oh man! :0)
this is really tempting... but i've already spent my money. However, if you are willing, i could buy it for a friend. If you could send it over, i'll test it, ( and since you are confident that its fine, because its in the original package you dont have anything to worry about) After i test it, i'll wire the cost+shipping plus 10%
thats 1000+100+110 (extra) roughly 1200 SGD ... but AFTER i receive the package.
Regards,
Snehal
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent > wrote:
Ok great.
But there is one little problem here.
Its company policy that atleast a form of payment must be tendered before shipment is carried out.
What i mean is that, payment must be confirmed first , no matter how small before shipment commences.
Thats why i asked you to pay for just the shipping fee, which is $100SGD.
And when you recive the Mac Book, you can then send the rest of the money.
We do this, so that we can atleast be sure that the customer is for real.
Hope you understand what i mean?
So now i will like you to send me your full shipping address, and telephone number so that your Mac Book can be immediately packaged to be ready for shipment.
Thanks
Await your reply
James Bent
Elect......-
***---***
Naaaice... address, phone number... how about my grannie's panties too?
Ok...no more interruptions...at least for a bit.
n'akkansisya!!!
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:55:48 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
hey James,
I agree with your policy. but if i'm going to pay via a WU transfer, i'll also need some assurance. Which is why i suggested that you take 10 %. Maybe even 20 %. (Since i'll be selling this piece for a profit.) But AFTER i receive the unit. You can use your shipping partners to confirm my address and identification. I'll produce all my identification papers to the shipping partner, once i receive the unit (and fax address proof and details to you too). That includes my passport details, Citizenship staus, and current adress proof. But, AFTER i receive the unit.
Thanks again.
Snehal
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent < jamesbent2@hotmail.com > wrote:
Thanks for your mail,
Oh i see what you are saying now.
Are you talking about the Western union charges.
If thats the case, you can take the western union charges from the $100 to be sent.
Like i said before, its policy that payment must be confirmed first no matter how small.
So now i will like you to send me your full shipping address, and telephone number so that your Mac Book can be immediately packaged to be ready for shipment.
Thanks
Await your reply
James Bent
Electronics Solution Inc.
---***----
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:05:39 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
Since its your policy that i send a sum, no matter how small, is it ok if i transfer 10 SGD... just to start with... just to prove i'm for real.
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent
Yes no matter how small.
But you know $10SGD is just too small.
Its not even up 10USD.
I was hoping that you will send may be $80SGD.
Thanks
Reply now
James Bent.
Electronics Solution Inc.
***---***
Oh Har! and Har! too small eh? Policy my ARSE! fakkin smegma-breathed leech! From 1100 to 100, and now 80... how low will he go?
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:16:31 +0800
From: snehalpin.....
well.. thats a very lax policy then.... right now... i can afford only that much. Do let me know if you can work with that. ie : 10SGD. After all, all you need to know is if i'm for real.
I mean, dont get me wrong. What assurance do i have that you wont get back to me after i transfer that 'small' amount ? Of course.. i mean it in no derogatory sense... just a precautionary measure. Do understand. Long story short... i can afford to invest 10 SGD to prove i'm for real, to someone i dont know, regardless of the outcome.
Thanks
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent
Thanks for your mail,
I know you can afford the $80SGD.
And dont you think that we have tried for you.
You are buying an item worth $1100SGD.
And we just want you to send $80SGD for a start.
God thats good enough if you ask me.
And about assurance, you have nothing to worry about as you are dealing with a legitimate company.
To prove that to you, here a reference.
Hes from the UK. He bought 10 units of the Mac Book from us Last week.
His name is Scott Wuhrer
And here is his number
+4470****5758
You can call him and ask about about the Mac Book and our services too
After that send me an email ok.
I will be expecting your mail.
Thanks
Await your reply
James Bent.
Electronics Solution Inc.
***---***
oooOOoo...'tried for you', 'good enough', Credibility check... using big words he doesn't understand; is'nt he cute?!?
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:34:07 +0800
From: sneh...
well... i'm not asking you to bend your comapny policy. really. And since the purpose of receiveing an initial amount is just to ascertain my credibility, why dont you take a small amount? since i'll any way be paying the larger amount upon delivery. Honestly, i can afford the 80 SGD. but i am skeptical. Call me stingy, but thats how i prefer to do business. I will pay you. and you have my FULL 10 SGD as a credibility check. credibility can be checked no matter if its 10, 80 or even 800 SGD. So, i'll send you 10. But you send me the unit.. i'll pay you the rest AND a 10 % extra fee, for all this rigmarole i made you go through with.
Warm Regards.
Snehal
---***---
On 8/17/07, James Bent
Now let me ask you a question.
If you were us, and i was you.
And i wanted to purchase an item worth of $1200.
And i want to pay $10 upfront, will you agree to that?
The money is just too little.
Think about.
Whats the difference of $10 and $80. Its not much.
So why cant you just pay that , and when you get the package, you can then send the rest of the money.
And besides , i already gave you guarantee already.
Did you call Scott, to ask him about our services?
Thanks
Await your reply
James Bent.
Electronics Solution Inc.
***---***
Oh! oh! here it comes... aim, lock ....
***---***
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:54:58 +0800
From: snehalpinto@gmail.com
To: jamesbent2@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Details about macbook.
10 $ isnt too different from 80?? hmmm...then why dont you accept 10bucks???
And if I were you, and you were me (like they were he and john Lenon was the Walrus)
I would'nt accept cash only through WU. I would setup a better portal, to accept cash. But i'm not you, and you are not me. (and they are not he, and John Lenon was not the Walrus... the Walrus was Paul.)
And WHO is SCOTT?? why should i care? really.... how can i believe HIS word? What is this? is this some scam? can i see a website of some sort? Please!
I've had enough. You're DARN right that the money's too little. Because the scam's just not worth it!
Dont ask me for my address, DONT ask me for my phone number, Dont contact me again. And, YOU think about what you're doing.... really... its not right. I politely declined once... but you tried enticing me with silly offers.... shameful!
This is my last email to you. Please dont try to convince me anymore.I find all that you've offered so far to be outrageously unbelievable. So, thanks for the entertainment. I dont intend to waste anymore of my time, or yours... but mainly mine.
Have a nice life!
Sweet, Warm Regards
Snehal
***---***
...aaaahh... wooh! I'm SO spent, baby...rolling off now.
***---***
On 8/17/07, James Bent
Thanks for your mail,
Such words coming out from you.
I was just trying to be a sales man, if you ask me, thats what sales men do.
We try to get more customers.
I am sorry if i have offended you. And i will not send you any other email again.
Bye.
Electronics Solution Inc.
*******************************************************************
Aaaaw... c'mon sweety, don't be that way...
"I was just trying to be a sales man".
Woooh! yes, SURE you were.HORRBIAATCH! In the words of Mr.Mani... get some Spiritual healing.
I really would've sent the 10 bucks... if he'd called my bluff... it would've been worth it.
Needless to say, since that day, my mailbox has been brimming with mails of penile size increase tips...'spam for my ham'... Nice!
Did you know 'Extenze' can give you 4 inches to...... *sigh*
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