It’s my week for asking for help!

For my homestudio, I need to soundproof acoustically treat a small area, and for that I need some of that egg-carton shaped foam that is usually used for packing things like motherboards.

Some pics:

Note – I do *not* need cardboard egg-cartons. I know where to get those, but I dont want those

Does anyone know of a source in Bangalore where I can buy this stuff? Please let me know. I need about 200 sqft of it. The thicker the better.

Thanks!

[Update] Corrected the classic newbie mistake of mixing up “soundproofing” and “acoustic treatment”. I am lucky to have neighbours who quite enjoy the noise, and have no complaints. What I am trying to do is correct a problem with the internal acoustics of the place.

Lots of people visit my site every day, even more read my diary via RSS. So maybe one of you can help me out here:

I am trying to find a source for a “Balans Chair”, also known as a “Kneeling Chair”. This a chair design that forces good/correct sitting posture, without the use of a backrest. My long hours over two decades of sitting down and working are beginning to take their toll.

Here is an example:

Here is an example of a more modern office type version:

If anyone knows of a source for chairs like these in Bangalore, please let me know, and I would be ever so grateful. There are plenty of sources outside India, but I need to buy these locally – importing is not an option.

Many thanks in advance!

I have made some changes and shuffled a few things around on my sites – AtulChitnis.com, AtulChitnis.net and COMversations.com.

Nothing that you should notice, but in case you *do* come across something that isn’t working like it did before, please let me know.

Thanks!

[Update] Great summary of the issue can be read here.

I am half Indian and half European. Both my homelands have now adopted policies related to software patents that undermine my professional and personal interests, in order to curry favour with a few companies in the USA.

Is there any country I could consider migrating to that has more sense in its head?

[UPDATE]: Permissions issue with photos link now fixed. Sorry folks, not enough coffee.

Saturday evening finally saw the Radio City gig happening at Cubbon Park, featuring Phenom and Thermal and a Quarter.

And it certainly was a night to remember, in many more ways than one, for everyone who was there.

Read the rest of this entry…

And so, finally, Phenom‘s entire album is out, with the release of “Coloured for this World” yesterday, and “Unbound” earlier this morning.

All that’s left now is that people download the songs, listen to them, discuss/comment/criticise them, in forums, mailing lists, journals, blogs, or wherever you normally voice your thoughts and opinions.

Point others at the site

WeArePhenom.com/unbound

and encourage them to download the songs as well, and distribute them as far and as wide as possible. They are published under a Creative Commons license, so not only is it completely legal to download and distribute them – you are morally obliged to!

If you know anyone in the press, point them at the site as well. Stress how important it is that this form of publishing succeeds in two ways – to get the music out to people without the band going broke over it, and (hopefully) that some music publishing firm takes notice, and signs these guys. Everyone wins.

If you are in Bangalore this weekend, show your support by attending their show in Cubbon Park on Saturday, the 26th of February, at 7pm. If you are so inclined, download the lyrics from the site, and sing along. *Nothing* is as encouraging (and noticable and supportive) for a band to find thousands of people singing along with them.

And if you are a band yourself, or just a solo artist – take notice. The world is changing, and guys like Phenom are changing it. If you have not had much success getting yourself published, take heart – things are looking up.

Damn it – where was the Internet when *I* was younger?

Question: What’s better than getting many cards from your friends and loved ones on your birthday?

Answer: Getting *one* card – signed by almost everyone of your friends and loved ones. Even better – getting handed that card, with nearly all of them around you.

Read the rest of this entry…

Heh – cool!

My favourite little rock band – Phenom, just announced that they are going to play one of their most important gigs ever: they are performing at the Airtel Radiocity Live, Chapter 1 concert on February 26th, in Cubbon Park, Bangalore.

Why is this an important gig for Phenom? Because for the first time, they are hearing their name announced almost every hour on the radio – Radiocity 91FM. Promos are running (click here for a sample), and the publicity is going to be intense.

The other group playing that day is no slouch either – Thermal and a Quarter – another group I follow semi-religiously.

Nothing is going to keep me from being at Cubbon Park on the 26th. I missed Phenom’s gigs in January because I had to travel, but I scratched *everything* this time to make sure that I am here for this.

For those who came in late – go check out Phenom’s website – download some of their songs, you will see why I like them.

For those of you who get the Bangalore edition of the Indian Express, check the back page of today’s CityExpress supplement.

The article “SPACE jam” is about rock groups not being able to find places to practice in, and quotes Mrinal about problems for the group after graduating, saying “After that, it was some guy‘s basement or someone else’s room. We had to lug the equipment around. Right now it is all in my room.”

So now we know who “someone else” is, from the room statement.

A photo (that might look like a familiar setting to some of you) accompanies the article. Yep – that’s Sashi of Phenom, jamming in my basement some time in 2003. The photo was taken from this set.

Heh – so I am “some guy”.

Three years ago, I had put out a plea for help when I was looking for a song – the song used in a Bridgestone Tyres advertisement on TV.

This was the text of the diary entry:

Help! That new Bridgestone tyres advertisement jingle is stuck in my head! The one that shows a car driving down a long and winding road, and starts with “On and on …”.

Help, that thing is stuck in my head and won’t let go!

Three years later, I *still* have not found it, but because of my diary entry, I get at least 2-3 queries every month about it, thanks to Google.

Is there *anyone* out there who can help? Do you know what that song is? If you do, please let me know, so that I can get back to all these people and put them (and me) out of misery.

Many many thanks in advance!

[Update] No, I have not yet found the info, but here are the lyrics of that part of the song:

“On and on and on we go
Ride that bumpy path just take it nice and slow
Head for the highest moon
Sing a simple tune
On the long eternal road”