In My Opinion

The call finally came through!

2009-10-20T17:30:00.000+05:30

The wait is over! :) The great IT company that had hired me an year ago through campus placements has finally called us for training.

The relief and joy was short lived though as they gave us this long, long list of things to do, documents to get attested, affidavits to be made and so on and so forth. :( I am spending more money on this job than I'm earning (so far atleast).

Anyway..... months and months of rotting away to waste have come to an end and now I again have a purpose in life... something to do! It's a beautiful feeling! :) :)

Man vs Monkey

2009-10-04T19:32:00.001+05:30

Monkeys are a huge problem all over India. And so it is in our area. The area that I live in is known for the Monkey Menace. Today, we faced another attack. This time it was different. Usually, one or two monkeys used to enter through the open balcony door of the kitchen to steal some dal or channa or oats. This time, they were more daring, more aggressive. They not only stole stuff from the kitchen, they entered the dining room and climbed the table. Not only that, they also snarled at us and didnt run away as we chased them. They infact came onto us. Thankfully, we found a stick and using a chair as a shield, we got rid of them.

But, we still lost some vermicelli, macaroni and a packet of maggi. These were strewn all over the floor. I'm thankful that none of us got hurt in this battle.

Channel Partner?/ Salman Khan

2009-09-06T22:33:00.000+05:30

I wanted to take a new prepaid phone, because of the huge bills I was running up on my postpaid connection. So, my friend and I walked into a local(kirana) shop and asked about the various types of offers available. The shopkeeper immediately told us about a particular offer which was the latest being offered.

My friend and I decided not to take it. We thought we would go for the regular offer. The shopkeeper suddenly looked displeased and started handling other customers. We waited. Then, he returned to us. We asked him to recharge the phone and asked for some specific top ups, which my friend said COULD be done on the same day. (He knew because he used the same service provider and had gotten a new number very recently).

The shopkeeper then objected saying the multiple top ups would not be activated, only one would be activated, we should only get one done, etc.

He then went back to the other offer that he had told us about when we first entered the shop. He was really hard selling the offer. "It's the best offer available, the cheapest" etcetc.

My friend and I were convinced and we went for that offer.

But, we couldn't help but wonder why he was pushing that offer so much?

---------------------------------------------

I was watching an interview of Salman Khan on the TV while I was typing the above.
I have never been a fan of his. I always thought of him as the "caveman", too possessive, always getting into trouble, brattish kind of person.

But, I was really taken by surprise by the interview. The views he expressed seemed so liberal, so well thought out and actually quite mature (for someone with a reputation of a spoilt brat). Not that Salman needs my approbation or wants it :D

XYZ Pilot?

2009-09-02T21:21:00.002+05:30

YSR has gone missing. His helicopter was last heard of at around 10 am today morning.
Yes, it is a cause of worry, everyone is praying for him, so am I.

But, isn't the person who was piloting the vehicle and the other passengers equally important? Is't the Pilot who was considered capable enough of ferrying the Head of a State worthy of mention? When asked about the pilot, a politician (whom I wont name) got irritated and said it was not important and said he was sure it would be some "XYZ pilot". Now, doesn't this pilot have a family? Aren't they equally worried about HIM?

Waiting waiting...

2009-08-21T23:00:00.001+05:30

Waiting to get the call from the Company which selected you during campus placements in such a bore!! We were the first 10 people to be selected in College. Now, EVERYONE else has started working, except us.

The first few months, I relaxed at home. Enjoying what I thought of as a short vacation before my “working life” took off. This turned out to be a huge mistake. So, I didn’t look for a job and now have a 6 month gap between end of my PGDM and my job.  I have a gap in my Resume. This really sucks. I am looking for a job now, but am in a dilemma of some kind. What if this Company calls us within a month? Then what do I do? So I’m in a Catch 22 situation.

Anyway, this free time has given me time to think and I have made up my mind to do CA. A lot of people are telling me if I wanted to do CA, I should have done it before my MBA or instead of it. (As if I didn’t know that). But, my point is, CA will only ADD to my finance knowledge and I WANT to do it now.
Simple.

Ruination

2009-08-06T23:33:00.000+05:30

In your arms
ecstasy I found.

In your love
strength I found.

Love was mine,
I threw it away.

Happiness was mine,
I threw it away.

But I ruined you.

No one can love me
the way you did.

No one can understand me
the way you did.

The one you were
yes, you were.

Yet, I ruined you.

You gave me all you had,
love, patience, wisdom.

You taught me things I'd forgot
laughter, innocence, playfulness.

Still I ruined you
and In your ruination,
I ruined me.

Someone to love

2009-08-06T11:12:00.000+05:30

All my life I dreamt
I dreamt of someone to love.

It would be special,
I told myself.

It would be so different,
beautiful.

He would love me and I would never know pain again.
He would love me and never let me feel alone again.

He would tell me I was the only one,
My days would no longer be spent in tears.

I would be happy, at last
He would make me feel beautiful, make me feel secure.

I just feel so empty now.
No one to give, from no one to receive.

No one to tell my secrets to, no one whose secrets I know
Loneliness has enveloped in its fold.

I was born alone,
I have spent my life alone and I will die alone.

All I wanted was someone to love
God, all I ever wanted was someone to love.

One person god, who would be my someone special.
I have spent a lifetime in waiting, guess I’ll spend another too….

There is nothing to live for now.
Nothing.

All about HIM

2009-07-10T21:51:00.003+05:30

Deciphering the code,
of that young man.

I read his eyes,
I read his mind.

I see the innocence in his smile,
the boyish charm.

I see the mischief twinkling in his eyes,
the desire to live life!

I see the child,
wanting to play.

I see a young man,
ready for anything that comes his way.

He's proud,
He's arrogant,
He's sweet,
He's a charmer!

Cruelty

2009-07-10T21:46:00.002+05:30

Cruelty, my dear
comes easily to me.

I like being rude,
I like being mean.

I like being sassy,
I like being ME.

Maybe that's because of my own misery.
Whatever the reason, sweetheart,
That's me!

Fighting Love

2009-07-10T21:43:00.003+05:30

Hovering over my dreamy soul,
love awaits in a pretty red stole.

Tempting me, luring me,
driving me away from what I want to be.

I don't want to be in love!
Don't want this feeling drowning me in its whole.

Always too weak and too insecure,
love drives me crazy and nuts.

Love is drowning me.
Drowning me!
And I'm not sure I want to fight anymore.

Ingenue

2009-07-10T21:40:00.001+05:30

So much for being an ingenue
so much for being quiet
so much for wanting love and affection
so much for wishing I was popular
so I dream,
I wish,
I crave.
Oh, why must I indulge in wishful thinking?

Voice from my Heart

2009-07-10T21:36:00.000+05:30

How did you know
the cry of my heart?

How did the words that never left my lips
tumble into your heart?

You've seen my love
when I hardly knew it was love at all!

How did you know
of my everlasting loneliness?

How did you know
how much I longed for you?

Althougth I never said a word,
never meant for it to be heard.

Love & Hate

2009-07-10T21:28:00.001+05:30

To be loved or not to be,

stealing Shakespeares immortality.

No, that can never be done!

I might try, so might you.

But, the words belong to one man alone.

Envy it, crave it, hate

without it, I would die!

Yet, I am alive.

Every minute, every second

the need grows.

More I want it, the more I hate

the more I wish I could drive it away.

Harmonica

2009-07-10T21:23:00.000+05:30

Playing the Harmonica
is a messed up game.

Breathe in breathe out,
but the music's really lame.

No rhyme no tune,
it's all noise all the same.

Then why do I play with it you ask?
It's my boredom to blame!

Love?

2009-07-03T10:39:00.003+05:30

Life is mystery to me. I was always a die-hard romantic. Thought that some day I would meet the guy of my dreams, we would fall in love and live happily ever after.

Life has brought me crushingly down to reality. There is no "true love" as I thought there was. No soul mates out there. Just ordinary people. People choose whom they love. Love doesn'tjust happen though people think it does. It's always a conscious decision.

Love doesn't conquer all. It wont if you don't have it in your heart.

Love is transient. It's fragile. It needs to be handled with care.

Love isn't what I thought it would be at all.

What a bummer!

Rant

2009-06-25T17:01:00.001+05:30

Men - What makes them think they have the right to say what they want about a woman and tarnish her reputation for nothing?

Why is it that a man can date as many women as he wants and be called a "flirt" but a woman who dates men is a slut?

Why is it ok for men to wear jeans, but a girl who wears jeans is immediately labelled fast or loose?

Soap Opera

2009-05-21T14:46:00.002+05:30

It was a cold, dark night. She was scared. She was alone. The house empty. The TV was on. Some soap opera playing. A young virgin being seduced by the older playboy.

She was hiding in the kitchen, in the store. She shivered both of the cold and in fear.

They must NOT see her. MUST NOT! At ANY cost! If they did, they would kill her!

The house was in darkness, save for the light from the TV playing in the hall, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

They were in her house now, walking through the hall. Three men, dressed in black.

They stopped in the empty hall. The TV playing on.... now the scene had changed to some fashion designer checking clothes designed by her on a skimpily dressed model.

They looked around. Some one tried to switch on the lights, but they wouldn't come on. What was wrong with them?! They then decided to check the entire house... but they found no one. They went upstairs in to the bedrooms, the kitchen, the dining room...but the house was empty.

Who were these men? What were they doing in her house at this time of the night? Yet, she dared not reveal herself. Her instincts warned her not to. So, she crouched; trying to make herself invisible.

The men finally left...leaving the front door open.

She waited with bated breath to see if they would return. After a few minutes, when she felt they might not, she came out of hiding and continued to weave the web she had been weaving when she first sensed the men.

Orkut

2009-01-19T22:43:00.002+05:30

Until recently, I was filled with a feeling of nostalgia...... a certain sadness. I used to long for some friendship. Not that I don't have any now. ....Just that I was wondering what happened to my old school friends?

I had lost touch with ALL, ALL of them! Not that I hadn't tried or that they hadn't tried. With a few of them, we tried to stay in touch for a while, then the mails stopped, or reduced or ppl changed email addresses........

But, came to my rescue - Orkut! The social networking site I used to crib about until very recently. "What's the point.........?" "There are too many SocialNetworking sites.........." etc etc were my litany of complaints.

But, now I thank God for Orkut. It's helped me make contact with so many old friends! :D

Words(Boyzone)

2008-12-01T17:24:00.001+05:30

Hmm......Lately my favourite song. Can't say more.

PLACED!

2008-10-07T20:25:00.002+05:30

I got the job!! I got the job!! I got the JOB!!
Yippeee!!!
I am soo thrilled!! :D
Have a few more formalities to go through before it's confirmed though... *sigh* hate the formalities.

Till then, I got the job!! I got the job!! I got the JOB!!
Yippeee!!!

:D :D :D

Placements!

2008-10-02T13:45:00.002+05:30

It's placements time in _ _ _. I am sooo tensed!! A leading MNC has come for placements. We had the aptitude test on 30th September. The results came the same day. I got through. Yahoo!

I have the interview(s) on 4th October. I am super nervous about it. I am vacillating between being confident and being a nervous wreck!

Placements season is also the reason why my blogging has been so slow.

All of you PLEASE wish me luck and pray for me (if you believe in God, that is :D)

Delhi Blasts -

2008-09-13T20:53:00.000+05:30

It’s happened again! Another series of bomb blasts. This time it’s the Capital. Another series of blasts that are meant to send all of us into a panic. But, can’t these terrorists see that us Indians are made of much stronger stuff? We aren’t stupid Americans to cry and scream and say we are “traumatised” after the blasts. Tomorrow, I will wake up, get dressed and go to college just like any other day. Just as thousands others will, across the Country. People will go to colleges, schools and Offices. Just like NOTHING HAPPENED.

Get this, dear terrorists. You can kill, you can blast, do what ever you want. But, you will NEVER, EVER break the spirit of India.

I am with you, people of Delhi. I know you are strong, resilient people. You will stick together through this. You will be stronger tomorrow. You will bounce back on your feet in a snap.

May the souls of those who lost their lives rest in peace. I pray that those injured have a speedy recovery. God Bless You.

A Park in the Walk

2008-09-03T22:00:00.003+05:30

Went for a walk today as my eyes started burning after spending hours before the computer. 'Twas a refreshing walk which culminated with me eating pani puri and buying a packet of jujubes (a guilty, childish pleasure of mine - jujubes).

I walked for a while on the streets. I went around the area where i stay. After that, I decided to grace the local park with my presence. :D It was nice as I walked round and round the park - watching the oldies sit and gossip, the kids play, lovers whisper and the over weight and not so over weight huffing and puffing their way along with me. I also saw a cute guy - who turned out to be married with child(ren?).

I also saw something very, very cute. That old adage that says that the best thing to give a child to play with is some mud was proven today as I saw not one, but TWO kids discard the toys their parents were trying to foist on them and play with mud instead. Both were at the opposite ends of the park, yet seemed to have that same fondness towards mud.

One kid had both his parents and his younger sister at the park, the father sitting with his daughter while the mother stood with the boy attempting to stop him from playing with mud. His father then tried distracting him by throwing him a ball. The boy merely turned and watched the ball bounce and his mom had to bend and pick it up and threw it back to his father. (Showing us that throw ball is INDEED a spectator sport). I then walked my to the other end of the park where there was a father with his three sons. Attempting to teach them batting with sticks and balloons. His two older sons were batting away and the youngest was just about the reach out and grab some *yummy* mud when the father whisked him away.

I went on walking round and round. Back to the couple trying to teach their son throw ball and saw that they had given up. The father was entertaining the daughter and the mother standing attention watching her son throw mud all over the place - on his boots, on his clothes, everywhere! I continued my walk back towards the father son combination. Here again, the older two were fighting with each other over a balloon while the youngest (the one who had been stopped from grabbing mud) was staring into space forlornly.

I don't know how their visit to the park ended, but it ended on a happy note for me! :)

Monty

2008-09-03T15:54:00.003+05:30

Our (not so) beloved canteen used to be the home of a mongrel fondly called Monty by all. I don't know when or how he came to live there. He used to live there from time immemorial (I say immemorial coz no one really knows). The canteen was HIS property. He would bark away any other dog that dared to enter his home. There were other dogs around the college, sure. But, the canteen was his alone.

He would even attend classes at times, even those which most students found too boring to attend. And I am sure his attention gratified many sore lecturers who found few students in their class (and most of those few dozing in class).

I have another memory of him entering a class room during an exam leading the invigilator to hurriedly shoo him away (which of course led to the less honest students using the opportunity advantageously).

Every break spent in the canteen would have to be endured with Monty at your side. He had even learnt to paw people to remind them of his presence. As though to say, I'm here too! Yet, Monty was a harmless creature (though he terrified some of the girls in college by his mere presence *laughs at the memory*). He could be found in the oddest of places. At times sleeping right at the door so you had to leap over him. Other times, right under your chair.

Recently, though Monty began to loose weight drastically. He was all skin and bone. He stopped eating. Forget pawing us for food, even food that was given to him would be left untasted. I still remember the last time I saw him alive - he was just standing in one place. There was no life in those eyes. My best friend and I had the same premonition at the same time. We both hesitated to say it, but we said it anyway since we both thought it.

I hope your death was peaceful Monty. I hope you're happy wherever you are.

General Info

2008-07-13T15:43:00.003+05:30

Indo-US Nuclear Deal – What does it mean for the Indian Corporate Sector?

Over 400 Indian Companies will get the share of the nuclear business. This is estimated at over $100 billion, over the next five years. Some of these companies include: Larsen & Toubro, TATA Power, M & M, Godrej and Boyce, etc.

Mrinal Sen awarded Osian’s lifetime achievement award

Mrinal Sen is a famous Bengali film maker. His career spanned over 5 decades. During this time, he made over 30 films, scripted

19 and produced 4. He has also received the Padma Bhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He was born on May 14, 1923 in the town of Faridpur (now a part of Bangladesh). Bhuvan Shome (Mr. Shome) was the movie that launched him as a film maker. It also introduced the wave of “new cinema” in India.

You can find more info by clicking this link:

http://indiancurrentaffairs.blogspot.com/2008/07/13072008.html

The Line of Beauty

2008-07-13T14:14:00.002+05:30

Recently, browsing through a book store, I came across this book called “The line of Beauty” by Alan Hollinghurst. As usual, poor student that I am, I was unable to afford the book. But, I did some research on the dude’s book.

Turns out, the books title is inspired from a theory propounded by another guy called William Hogarth, an 18^th century English Painter, Satirist and writer who came up with this theory about how certain features of a person or thing attract the viewer (the beholder). The book “Analysis of Beauty” was published in 1753.

This stuff can be found at Wikipedia….lol, as usual. Also, read this, this and this.

Mail a bank through the POST?

2008-07-12T20:20:00.001+05:30

When I read this, all I could do was say “WOW!”

St. Thomas Aquinas

2008-07-12T17:59:00.003+05:30

I have been reading up on St. Thomas of Aquinas - Philosopher, theologian, doctor of the Church (Angelicus Doctor), patron of Catholic universities, colleges, and schools.

He was born some time in 1225 or 1227. His mother was Theodora, Countess of Teano. His father was Landulph, Count of Aquino. He showed an inclination towards Spirituality at a very young age. In fact, a seer predicted that he would join the order of the friars Preachers.

He was known to go into “ecstasies”. On one occasion, he was said to have a conversation with God. (A voice came from the crucifix on the altar . . .)

His mother, brothers and sisters did not want him to join the friars and did everything that they could do to stop him, including imprisoning him for 18 months and sending a temptress into his room. But, he stood firm and finally his family gave up and set him free.

Aquinas believed that the existence of God is neither self-evident nor beyond proof. In the Summa Theologica, he considered in great detail five rational proofs for the existence of God. These are widely known as the quinquae viae, or the "Five Ways."

He gave five qualities which he said God is NOT.

God is simple, without composition of parts, such as body and soul, or matter and form.
God is perfect, lacking nothing. That is, God is distinguished from other beings on account of God's complete actuality.
God is infinite. That is, God is not finite in the ways that created beings are physically, intellectually, and emotionally limited. This infinity is to be distinguished from infinity of size and infinity of number.
God is immutable, incapable of change on the levels of God's essence and character.
God is one, without diversification within God's self. The unity of God is such that God's essence is the same as God's existence.

He also gave five arguments which he said proved the existence of God. This Website gives them all.

Many people argue against these five arguments, systematically breaking them down one by one. Some are atheists, others Christians, who believe the existence of God cannot be proven.

Well, you can find more info on this guy at Wikipedia, as usual.

Why you should think twice (or more) before buying vegetables/fruits from a roadside vendor

2008-06-03T22:15:00.003+05:30

Today, as I got off an auto, I realised I didn't have any change and neither did the driver. I asked the driver to get change from a nearby shop.

As I stood waiting for him to return with the change, I noticed a little girl had done "potty" right beside the road (barely a metre from where I stood). She was sitting on her haunches, covering up the potty with sand from the road. Her mother, who works in the roadside vegetable sellers' shop, brought water in a basket (in which people keep collect the vegetables they want to buy) washed the girls bottom with water and then went back to work - sorting out the vegetables. She didn't bother to at least wash her hands with water.

So, next time you buy vegetables from a roadside vendor, think about the places they may have been and the hands that may have touched them!

Meredith Brooks - I'm A Bitch, I am a lover

2008-05-12T23:06:00.003+05:30

This song totally decribes ME! The person who made the vid thought it was by Alanis - hence the alanis pic, but the song's by Meredith Brooks.

Alanis Morissette - Ironic

2008-05-12T22:36:00.001+05:30

I love this song!! LOVE it! I love the fact that the whole Irony in it is in the fact that there IS no Irony in any of the situations she sings about.

Elections

2008-05-11T19:45:00.006+05:30

We're having elections in Hyderabad. This has been a fun experience for me. The Candidates and their "Parties" have come up with the most . . . ahem. . . innovative(?) symbols for their respective party.

Some specimens include -

Banana (Vote for Banana)

Ceiling fan

Television

And recently, we had a candidate pay us a visit . . . politely smiling and asking us to vote for him.
Do I know his name? No. Do I know what he plans to do for the constituency? No. His symbol? Hmm. . . . No clue. Do I plan to vote (for him or anyone else)? No.
I suppose you could call me an irresponsible citizen. I guess I am. But, vote for a banana? WTF?

I can hear another candidates representatives going around in an auto blasting out info that elections are being held today . . . and ofcourse, please do vote for me. . .

Why do these parties have symbols? What do these symbols signify? Last I heard, they are supposed to symbolise what the Party stands for or intends to do. . . banana? Television? Ceiling Fan? Gas Cylinder???

This is hopeless.

(The Pictures are not the originals. . . just some examples I found on the Net)

Art???

2008-05-08T17:42:00.000+05:30

I wanted to throw up when I read this.

Flora, Fauna Part II

2008-05-07T18:54:00.006+05:30

Paradise Flycatcher.

Wow . . . I didn't even know such a bird existed. . . and all along, it's been right HERE in Hyderabad!

I found a few more websites that give info on birds in India. . .

White Throated fan tail (from http://www.geocities.com/rs_suresh/#E)

MS withdraws bid for Yahoo! Part II

2008-05-05T22:20:00.002+05:30

Well, apparently though emotionally, it thrilled me, it doesn't seem to have thrilled the investors. Yahoo!'s shares "plunged" after MS withdrew their bid.

Microsoft withdrawsbid for Yahoo!!!

2008-05-04T12:36:00.003+05:30

I am so thrilled about this! I know this is an emotional reaction, but I was totally against Microsoft buying Yahoo. I am not sure if it made any business sense, as some experts said it did, but given Microsofts' past record, I was agonized over the thought of it buying Yahoo.

I am quite sure that Yahoo! can survive on its own. They can and will start doing better, especially now that the threat of a takeover is over.

Do you think Microsoft will attempt to take over Yahoo! again? I doubt it.
The post title is linked to the news article by PTI.

Marketing

2008-05-03T22:31:00.003+05:30

It's a poem I wrote about marketing for our Marketing Samathi. I never used it for the purpose which it was meant. I'll post it here, instead.
It's a little silly, but cute.

MARKETING

"Sales forecasts to be made,
all those goods to trade.

Sell a hundred today, two hundred tomorrow,
don't bother asking me how.

My! That advertisement caught my eye,
Made me weep and made me sigh.

I wonder how it's done,
Roaming endless days in the sun.

This job seems no fun,
But it's what makes companies run."

Surviving the US Downturn

2008-05-03T21:50:00.002+05:30

Michael Schuman writes about the changing global economic situation with regards to the US being the sole engine of Growth.

I found his article very interesting. . . and as it also agrees with my own point of view that India and China . . . and well, the whole World basically need not hang upon very breath that the US economy takes or does not take.

They can survive on their own too.

Flora, Fauna Part I

2008-05-03T20:48:00.011+05:30

I have lately been looking up stuff about Animals and Birds on the Internet. There are so many Interesting things on the net!! I have sort of developed an interest in the Flora and fauna around us . . . I am amazed at how much I don’t know about them!! OK, so there are some millions and millions of species, sub-species, etc so it’s practically impossible for me to know them all, but I was horrified to see how little I actually knew.

This is Part I. There will be many, many more to come.

I’ll post some pics of Birds here that I found on the Net. Some pics came from the website: http://greennature.com/

The birds that I found include the Curve billed thrasher, mocking birds, warblers and wrens.

I will not describe the birds, I am only going to put up the pictures, which will describe them better than I can.

Curve billed thrasher:

Mocking Bird:

Northern Mocking Bird

Warblers:

Yellow throated warbler

Wren:

The Fray - How To Save A Life

2008-05-02T20:12:00.001+05:30

Oasis - Wonderwall

2008-05-02T20:06:00.001+05:30

Love this song!

A check for $360 billion??

2008-05-02T14:08:00.003+05:30

This one had me in splits!! It's amazing that someone could be this stupid.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080502/ap_on_fe_st/odd_check_for_billions

Annie

2008-05-01T19:49:00.003+05:30

I watch her as I sleep
I watch her everyday
as she watches me.

Her face, it haunts my dreams!
She's so beautiful,
More so than any woman evr dared!
She's so lovely,
Her loveliness hurts my eyes.

Often wonder what she sees when she looks at me.
A child grown too big?
A fool fumbling her way through life?
A dreamer longing to live, yet unwilling to leave her cocoon?

What, my lovely, darling Annie,
do you see, when you look at me?

You look at over your shoulder,
your lips rosy,
pink flowers in your hat,
A half-smile playing on your lips.

You are calling to me,
inviting me into your World,
no, It's MY World.

We walk through the streets of Italy.
You hardly belong there,
you're too lovely,
You're too lovely for any city or Country in this World!

In my Sepia toned World,
we walk through this City,
and I think "Oh, I love you!"
I love you so much....
don't you see?

I live your life,
I live your dreams,
I live your loves,
I live for you,
for you live through me.

Baby dropping

2008-05-01T14:56:00.009+05:30

Source: Reuters

Saw this video on Reuters. I know we've probably seen this all before. But, looks like it's made the news, again.

Those parents are sure made of strong stuff. I wouldn't dare dreaming of throwing my baby down a building, irrespective of how many people stood below holding a white "sheet".

In Memory of a Man I hardly knew. . .

2008-04-29T22:17:00.001+05:30

Today, was the 1^st death anniversary of my neighbour (“Uncle” as we Indians refer to any older relatives, neighbours, friends of parents, parents of friends, etc.) We live in an apartment building. There are four flats on each floor, with 2 flats facing each other. This Uncle lived in the flat opposite to ours with his wife and daughter. His daughter is one year younger than me.

I never spoke to Uncle; he was the shy retiring type. He didn’t mix with people much (neither do I). I kept thinking maybe I should at least say ‘hi’, but never got around to it. I am not that friendly.

I remember the day he died. It was a Sunday. My aunt was here on an official trip. My mom and dad went out on some work. When they came back in the evening, we were surprised to see the door of the flat opposite to ours open and Auntie was crying, surrounded by 2-3 relatives, the Watchman, his wife and kids. Naturally, mom had to ask “What happened?”

Uncle and his two nephews had been killed in a car crash. They were on their way to a wedding. They never reached. One of the nephews had been married barely a year. His wife was in the car too. She survived the crash. Auntie said that Uncle never approved of travelling long distances in the car, but had been convinced to go by his nephews, who really loved their Uncle and wanted him to come along for the ride.

Auntie said she had gone ahead in the train and was waiting for these people to come, at the wedding, and when they didn’t turn up, she tried calling on their cell phone. The phone was answered by Police personnel who informed them about the accident.

I went numb when I heard the news. I had heard of wedding parties being killed, an entire entourage travelling as the bus fell of the cliff or rammed into another vehicle, but this was the first time I was witnessing it first hand. The mother of the two nephews was inconsolable and fainted with the grief. She was a widow and now both her sons were dead.

Uncles’ daughter had her exams; in fact she had gone to college to write her final exam when this incident occurred. Her mother pretended all was normal and fine when she called up. Yes, the wedding went fine, yes, daddy is fine. . .

I saw the photo of the car in the “Eenadu” newspaper. I searched for even a small article about the crash in the TOI, I searched for 2-3 days, but there wasn’t even a single mention about almost an entire family being wiped out.

This accident changed my life. It brought death closer to me than before. I am not really worried about me dying. Once you’re dead, you’re dead. What I am worried about my Parent’s death. Because, death is not hard for those who die; it’s hard for those who are left behind.

It was particularly hard because Uncle was younger than my father and almost my mothers’ age, and the way he died. He was sitting behind the drivers’ seat and his skull was crushed by the impact.

So, here I am writing a post in memory of a man I hardly knew. May his soul, and souls of others who died that day, rest in peace.

Some General facts - funny, some useless.

2008-04-27T18:44:00.003+05:30

A boeing 747's wingspan is longer than the wright brothers first flight.
Earth worms have five hearts.
If an Amish man has a beard, he is married.
If a native Hawaiian woman places the flower on her right ear, she is available. (The bigger the flower, the more desperate)
As of 2006, 200 million blogs were left without updates (Includes 2 of mine which I started and abandoned. This is the longest time that I have continued maintaining a blog)
Gandhi didn't allow his wife to take penicillin to save her life from pneumonia but took quinine to save himself from malaria.
Native Hawaiian women were not allowed to cook.
Every year the sun loses 360 million tons.
George Washington Carver invented peanut butter.
The Ottoman Empire once had seven emperors in seven months. They died of (in order): burning, choking, drowning, stabbing, heart failure, poisoning and being thrown from a horse.
Nova Scotia is Latin for 'New Scotland'.

Source: http://www.berro.com/entertainment/general_interesting_facts.htm

Food crisis

2008-04-24T21:30:00.003+05:30

I had recently written a blog about inflation and how it is a global phenomenon. Here is an article from the economist that talks about the "food crisis" and its effects.

They call it the silent tsunami, which I think is an apt title.
(Click on the title of the post which links to the article)

Auto rickshaws

2008-04-23T19:32:00.003+05:30

Auto rickshaws – the bane of the middle class traveler. He is the runt sized king of the road, or so he would have you believe.

They take you where they want to go, they charge you what they want to charge you and you have no choice but to put up with it. After all, most of us are in a hurry to get somewhere and don’t have time to argue or to wait endlessly for that one auto driver who is willing to take you where you want to go at the meter rate.

However, recently I read a newspaper article that made my day. It was about a bold, young girl who was in a hurry to go to her examination hall. She took an auto to be there before time. When she reached the destination, the auto driver refused to return the change. Furious, she then demanded that he return her money. He, obviously, refused. This enraged her so much that she ripped his shirt pocket and took her money back!!

I can empathize with the girl. I remember once traveling to college in an auto. My college is a little in the interiors of the Osmania University campus. So, auto drivers usually crib about having to go back empty. This particular guy was being particularly whiny about it, so I decided to get off and walk the rest of the way. Then, when I gave him the money, he refused to return the change. This really pissed me off. So, I said “Fine, then I’ll get back on and you drop me at the point when the meter charge reaches the amount that I gave you”. Voila! Magically, the auto driver suddenly realizes that he does indeed have the change to return to me!

I must say that not all are bad. There are a few really decent, good auto drivers who do their best . . . but they are few and far in between.

On the whole, it's a hellish ride for us hapless commuters. We need to do something about this menace!

Exams

2008-04-19T19:53:00.002+05:30

Finally, my exams have to come an end!! Phew!! That was FIVE long days of hardly any sleep and tension and with my nose buried in books.

So, I can now chill for three long days before my summer internship begins.

blogs

2008-04-14T22:00:00.003+05:30

Lately, I have taken to reading blogs by other people. . I have come across such a variety of interesting, fascinating and eye opening blogs that made me rethink some of my opinions and attitude.

Some were funny, some emotional, some introspective. All were by Indian bloggers. I hadn't realised that the Indian blogging network had grown so huge. It's another society, all on it's own!

The above link is one such blog that I liked.

I have my exams from tomorrow. My 2nd sem end sem exams.
I have prepared well enough (I'd like to think).

Words ending in GRY

2008-04-06T12:18:00.002+05:30

Yes, We have all seen or heard this question at some point of time or the other.

This question has flumoxxed me time and again. . . It's had me wanting to bang my head against the wall for being unable to think of a third word. . . other than angry and hungry.

FINALLY . . I have found that there ARE other words that end in GRY . . . LOL.
Actually, the question asked is a trick question. But, that is beside the point.

The Words are -

aggry: A glass bead found buried in the ground in Africa. A word of unknown origin. Seemingly always used attributively, as in aggry beads.

braggry: A variant form of braggery.

conyngry: An obsolete dialectal variant of conyger, itself an obsolete term meaning 'rabbit warren'.

gry: The smallest unit in Locke's proposed decimal system of linear measurement, being the tenth of a line, the hundredth of an inch, and the thousandth of a ('philosophical') foot. Also the grunt of a pig, an insignificant trifle, or a verb meaning to roar.

iggry: Egyptian colloquial Arabic pronunciation of ijri: 'Hurry up!', brought back after the First World War by members of British and Australian forces who had fought in Egypt.

awgry: from Old French: being regarded with displeasure.

meagry: Having a meager appearance.

nangry: A variant form of angry.

podagry: Dodder, or the condition of a plant infested with it.

puggry: A variant form of puggree, a light scarf wound around a hat or helmet to protect the head from the sun.

Source: www.coolquiz.com

Where does a Compass really point?

2008-04-06T11:54:00.000+05:30

Contrary to popular belief, a compass does not always point to the north pole. Infact, it doesn't point to the north pole, at all. In the northern hemisphere, it points to the northern magnetic pole (which is the northernmostpoint of the Arctic coast of North America). Another Point is that the Northern magnetic pole moves in a 20 mile radius and changes its course between day and night.
In the southern hemishpere, it always points to the Southern Magnetic Pole, which is in Antarctica.
A Compass is used along with a marine chronometer to calculate longitude and a sextent to calculate latitude.

Jolene

2008-04-02T21:47:00.001+05:30

Heard this Song "Jolene" by Dolly Parton on American Idol sung by Brooke White.
I was at first, quite happy with the way she'd sung it. . . then I came online and heard Dolly Parton sing it on Youtube. MAN!! That was awesome! Put Brooke White's version in perspective.
I agree with Simon Cowell. Her song didn't have that emotion that this song requires. Begging Jolene to leave her man . . can't really sing this song with a smile, can you?

Colbie Caillat - Bubbly

2008-03-29T12:03:00.001+05:30

Another beautiful song.

Plain White Ts - Hey There Delilah - Official (HQ)

2008-03-29T11:34:00.001+05:30

I LOVE this song. It makes my heart ache. LOL, I also love being melodramatic.

Inflation

2008-03-29T11:05:00.002+05:30

The topic of the day - "INFLATION". Every where I go I hear this word. Inflation is huge, global prices are rising. US is heading towards a recession. . . scary, scary stuff.

Last I heard, inflation was around 6.78% (in India). So, what's causing the Inflation? It's the rising prices of the Commodities. . the Cement, steel, food grains, edible oil, etc etc. The World prices are rising, therefore, domestic prices are rising, Countries are banning exports, which is causing further increase in World prices. . .and so the cycle goes.

Rising Inflation is not a domestic problem. It's an International problem.

In India, they have been using monetary policies to curb inflation, so far. Hiking the CRR. But, for how long will this continue? The banning of exports is a short-term solution.

What can the Government do to curb this soon to be spiralling out of control inflation?
Many experts believe the RBI should next try fiddling with the repo rates. I am not quite convinced about that policy.
I am no expert on Economics. . . but I think the problem is far more deeper and I think neither repo rates nor ban on exports is the solution.

Many articles that I have read say that although these are short term measures, they aren't quite the solution. In the long term, the productivity of food grains needs to be increased. The price rise of food grains is due to their shortage and we're facing a shortage since there are not that many takers for producing them, since they are not very profitable. Farmers prefer to grow cash crops.
We need to do something to encourage farmers to start producing food grains again.
Subsidies have been given in the past, but have not been very successful.

Hmm....... So, therein lies the solution. Increase production of food grains, edible oils, etc. But, how?

G. I. Gurdjieff

2008-03-29T10:06:00.000+05:30

Todays blog is about this man. G.I. Gurdjieff.

Who is he? What does/did he do? And Why am I writing a post about him?

Recently, my friend gave me a book titled "Meetings with Remarkable Men". This is an autobiographical account of Gurdjieff. Of course, I had never heard of this man. So, I HAD to look it up.

Georgiy Ivanovich Gyurdzhiev (or Gurdjiev) was an Armenian-Greek Mystic. He married Julia Ostrowska in 1912.

Julia ostrowska -(Picture from digitalseance.wordpress.com)

His date and place of birth are disputed. Some say Russia and others Armenia. His date of birth is said to be somewhere between 1866 to 1877.
In Russia, he established "The Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man" (1919), which he re-established in France in 1922.

The Gurdjieff Foundation has about two dozen centers, mostly in North America.
There are Gurdjieff-Ouspensky Centers in over 30 countries around the world; they are operated by the Fellowship of Friends.

There are, as usual, several people who are skeptical of Gurdjieffs teachings. Some mock him and make fun of him. Others hotly defend him and his teachings.

I am still not sure what to think. I'll read the book and decide.

For further info on the man and his teachings, you can go through these websites.
wikipedia, http://skepdic.com/gurdjief.html, http://www.gurdjieff.org/