Retrospection!!!!

2011-03-01T22:43:00.001+05:30

She lost her brother yesterday. She would be devastated; the whole family would be devastated. I really don’t know what is going on in her mind right now. I really want to be by her side but that place has already been taken by someone else and its no longer a job for me to do. Oh hell, I so wish that someone was me !

The news of her brother has disturbed me a lot, somewhere I feel like the loss is mine too, don’t know why. I pray that his soul rest in peace, he has suffered enough…

Choices we make !

2011-03-01T12:39:00.009+05:30

My heart sank when I saw the pain on her face, I didn't do anything other than sit quietly with her. I didn't even hold hands let alone embrace her. I was helpless, there was nothing I could do other than being there for her.

As I let her hands go and walked back, I could feel the pain inside me, as if someone has just driven a sword through me, I could feel my legs go weak and each step heavy ! It was a long walk back to the car...I was helpless, there was nothing I could do but let her go ! As always ......

My good friend is furious that I had left everything to be with her, someone who he feels has led me on. He knows that selfishness is not a very strong trait that I have and I would eventually fail miserably when put to test, but I guess he feels for me as I felt for her and probably thats why I always tend to forgive him and his antics. He'll come around...

I have always believe that we are defined by the choices we make and I had made mine, to be with her in times of distress even though I know I would be further hurting myself. I would be with her again, if she wants me to....

Quoting from Hellboy :What makes a man a man? A friend of mine once wondered.... Is it his origins? The way he comes to life? I don't think so. It's the choices he makes. Not how he starts things, but how he decides to end them!

Tragedies of my Life !

2010-12-11T14:17:00.002+05:30

(1) Spicejet decides at 230 in the night that they have to delay their 745 am flight! Fair enough, but does the automated calling shit have to keep calling till I pick up ? This after they have sent me an sms ! Grrrr

(2) My callytaxi decides he has to come 30 mins late , and then he does a DC to get me to the airport , that too in an indica diesel. Have never seen a car stuggle for so much lower end torque or was it the driver ! Nevermind !

(3) One of the hottest chicks have ever seen I see at the airport and guess what she's not travelling with me, wtf she's not even in the same flight ! :(

(4) The air conditioner at the airport is not working and am a polar bear !!!

(5) Am travelling on work on a holiday

(6) Have no clue what the day has in store for me. It better be better that items 1 to 5 :)

What is Love ?

2010-08-25T18:38:00.001+05:30

Love is the desire to extend yourself — at whatever personal cost — for the purpose of nurturing the growth and furthering the dreams of another individual. Love is effortful; it involves personal sacrifice, and it grows slowly. Love is not about “me” — what I can have? — it's about “you” — what can I do to make your life richer? - M. Scott Peck

Feeling Happy !

2009-07-12T23:35:00.004+05:30

Looking at the way the season's progressed, I must admit that though there is not much to cheer about since there's no Ferrari on the podium much and M Schumacher is now history, I do feel a sense of happiness for Button and Webber. These guys have been around for quite some time now (Button started with Williams way back in 2000 while Webber started out with the Minadi in 2002) without much to cheer for. Button has struggled with the then BAR Honda and to see him leading this years championship is nice.Webber too has shown what he can do with his car and to win a race finally must have been a great relief.
I somehow don't see Barichello wining the championship this season. He is way to inconsistent to pull out a stunt like that. He's an amazing driver on his day but somehow he never manages to bring a consistency in his driving and I see him always playing second fiddle to some driver or the other. If it was Schumacher then, it seems like its Button this time around. I wish he could pull up his socks and do something about it (ya ok the Brawn cars were stuggling to get heat into the tyres but still)
After winning the 2007 championship, Kimi seems to be having off years. He does drive well in parts. I don't think anyone will be complaining the way he's driving this year though given the lack of performance from the Ferrari team as a whole. If RedBull continue this performance, the championship will be tightly fought !

Lonely

2009-04-14T16:41:00.002+05:30

A sudden feeling of loneliness has enveloped me in the past few days. I hate this feeling...its depressing ! May be its that urge for attention from someone special...but at this point in time is not there in my life there is no one to call special.... I guess its high time to tie the knot...but where's the girl of my dreams.....helloooo.....sweetheart...do you hear me ??????

Char Dino ka ....

2009-04-14T14:55:00.003+05:30

Char dino ka pyaar o rabba
Lambi judai lambi judai
Char dino ka pyaar o rabba
Lambi judai lambi judai

Tere bin dil mera lage kahin na
Tere bin jaan meri jaye kahin na
Kitne zamane baad o rabba
Yaad tu aaya, yaad tu aaya

Aaaaa….aa..aaaaaaaa….

Khoya raha mein, saason mein apne
Aahat bhi teri, bhool gaya mein
Kitna jeeya hoon tanha raho hoon
Ishq tera bhool gaya hoon

Khoya raha mein, saason mein apne
Aahat bhi teri, bhool gaya mein
Kitna jeeya hoon tanha raho hoon
Ishq tera bhool gaya hoon

Uljha raha mein is zindagi mein
Dil ki duhai dil ki duhai

Tere bin dil mera lage kahin na
Tere bin jaan meri jaye kahin na

Kitne zamane baad o rabba
Yaad tu aaya, yaad tu aaya

Ohhh rabbaa.. rabbaaa..aaaaaaaaaaaa….

Har bebasi mein, is zindagi ne
Tujh ko hi chaha, tujh ko hi manga
Jin raston se guzra yeh dil tha
Manzil mili na pyaar na paya

Har bebasi mein, is zindagi ne
Tujh ko hi chaha, tujh ko hi manga
Jin raston se guzra yeh dil tha
Manzil mili na pyaar na paya

Khud ko chupake rahon se guzre
Dil ko sambhle dil ko sambhle

Tere bin dil mera lage kahin na
Tere bin jaan meri jaye kahin na
Kitne zamane baad o rabba
Yaad tu aaya, yaad tu aaya

Friends - Change - Friends !!

2009-04-10T12:17:00.009+05:30

Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends

At some point in time, we end up at what they call crossroad junctions, in our life. These junctions throuw up a variety of choices and decisions around us. The choices we make mould us into what we are today or what we become tomorrow. We are often at such crossroads in life and unfortunately there is no way to avoid it, avoiding it typically means that we have taken a decision - to avoid !

One such crossroad where we all end up is when all your friends are married, ok not all of them but most of them and suddenly you find that those impromptu / unplanned meetings are no longer happening, the usual sunday hangouts is history and evey plan has to be cross checked since the better half has to be consulted with and you suddenly find that everyone's priorities have changed and you feel grumpy, helpless and wonder what happened to all that we are friends forever shit !

Little do we realize that change (or we do realize but like everyone we resist it) is an inevitable part of life, it is the essence of life and every change does bring about its own discomfort, but though priorities and other change happen, our friends just don't love us any little. They in a way take certain things for granted and one such thing is the fact that we understand and frankly speaking I think we should. We need to appreciate this fact and move on with life because somewhere down the line, we will all have to go through the same thing our friends are going through and our friends, what we are going through.

Adapting to change that comes into their life is not very easy for our friends too, having a new person in their life who's demanding their attention, who's sharing their bed, their bathroom, their room, their personal space and that is not an easy thing to digest. All these things wouldn't have been thought out during courtship, but then even ample thoughts wouldn't have given us an idea on the intensity of the whole situation. The additional responsibilty of one more person in their life takes a longer time to digest, to adapt to. They do and will take some time to cope up with these changes. It is our responsibility to support them during this phase, even if it means just being a silent spectator, even if it means just smiling and saying I understand dude and even if it is going to take them eternity to do adapt to the changes.....after all what are friends for !!

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference

--- ~~~~~~ ---

Is it an Error or a Crime !!

2009-04-01T13:37:00.008+05:30

To Err they say is human and to forgive - Divine, but what would you do to the people who have knowingly committed the errors. An error committed knowingly is not an error but an intentional act legally speaking its called a CRIME !!

What is even more worse is that is that the person has intentionally kept certain life threatening issue away from the person concerned, knowing fully well that when the issue comes to the fore, it is going to affect not only their life, but the life of the other person concerned and everybody else's who by some way or the other are linked to the two of them. You have the right to screw your life, you have absolutely no right, whatsoever, to screw mine !

Even today I see these so called people walk with their heads high not concerned with what they have done and what they have made other person go through. Remorse is a word that does not exist in their dictionary. They expect the others to forgive and move on with life. I am not God, I can still try to forgive but I cannot forget.... I cannot forget what you've done to me, I cannot forget what you've made me go through, I cannot forget the days I have silently cried because of you, I cannot forget the fact that you've taken my trust in you for granted and played havoc with it... I cannot forget....

I can still try to forgive simply because I believe that whatever happens, happens for one's good and I was made to go through what I had to go through for a good reason..whatever, I have learnt my lessons..... Even if I forgive or don't, there may still be some forgiveness waiting for you out there.... because who am I forgive....

Even out there, the rule is the same, forgiveness is granted for the error not for the crime..there is justice waiting to be delivered and justice will be delivered at the right time because as they say "to err is human, to persist in error is devilish"

--Amen--

Quarter Life Crisis !!

2009-04-01T09:06:00.003+05:30

This came as a forward some 10 years back and I found it to be so so relevant and I again happen to get it couple of years back and it was still relevant, I was like man the damn thing is relevant at 20 and at 27. Today at 29 (what did you expect 40!?!?!) when I read the article again, I didn't shake my head for every sentence the way I shaked it when I was 20 and 27. Has anything changed apart from the fact am much older and hopefully that much wiser. Here's the article, let me know if its still relevant, if it is viola you are going through a quarter life crisis :-)

May be we all are going through this same dilemma which you will read in the following lines. Do spend some time in reading the entire passage and then come to a consensus. It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now. You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you. You look at wat ur studyin or ur job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't. One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward. You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you're doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender! What you may not realize is that every one reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out. Send this to your twenty-something friends...maybe it will help someone feel like they aren't alone in their state of confusion... Its called "Quarter-life Crisis." nothing is constant......except change.wats life without a few risks? keep playin the game!

Stroke of Luck

2009-03-23T17:09:00.002+05:30

Kehthe hain na 'Jo bhi hota hai, aache keliyae hota hai', galath kehthe hain

If I had only scored enough, I would have got that medical seat, but I think I would have made a bad doctor, bad would be an understatement. Retrospectively speaking today I feel I was and am not cut out for it
If I had chosen Instrumentation & Control Engineering over Production,things would have been different, how different am not able to predict and frankly speaking really don't know what I would have been doing
If I had got into BIM in 2002, I would probably still working in the financial sector not knowing that this is what I'd want to do
If I had got into BIM in 2002, I would have never realized that my dad had so much of faith and confidence in me that the failure of not getting into BIM never mattered
If I had got into BIM in 2002, I would have never worked my ass out for those 2 years and I probably would have never valued money they way I do today
If I never had those serious accident in a span of 6 months, I would have never learnt to hold my cool when things were not going my way on the road
If the stock market hadn't crashed the way it has, I probably would have never rethought / relooked at my investment profile
If I had got what I though were the wmoen of my dreams, I would not be searching for her right now :-)
If I hadn't gone through shit last year, I would have never learnt her true intentions
If I hadn't bumped my car into the other car the other day, i really don't know what mishap whould have happended on my way to the SRA the same day (I was supposed to go in my car)

Kehthe hain na 'Jo bhi hota hai, aache keliyae hota hai', sahi kehthe hain !!

Sometimes, not getting what you want is an amazing stroke of luck !!!

Fitness Freak !!

2009-03-19T23:18:00.004+05:30

All my life, there is one thing which I have over a period of time done quite consistently – exercise and dieting. I have worked out as if there is no tomorrow and have held on to a diet, actually a variety of diets right from surviving only fruits, vegetables and eggs to rotis as the only supplement to avoiding everything oily and sweet for a whole year or so to not eating non vegetarian food (hard to believe, but yes I was crazy I did this one too J)

After all this have realized that when one says diet, it does not mean eating nothing at all and having just a glass of orange juice, eating a piece of bread or one biscuit (am told that models and actresses follow this kind of diet to maintain their so called figure, don’t know how true it is though), it does not mean eating everything also. What I have realized is that being human after all we are human and are susceptible to the irresistible pleasures of food (at least I am and I know a whole lot of people who are) and if avoided for a long time, it sort of breaks/weakens our willpower that we indulge more than we would have had we given in at that time when we resisted it with all our might. I have learnt it the hard way and I don’t resist now a days but I try not to overeat also. Eat well, drink a lot of water during the day and between meals also, have healthy food, starve atleast once a month, don’t overeat, and freak out when you want to

Remember: Eat like a king in the morning, like a peasant in the afternoon, and like a beggar in the night

Workout !! I think it’s like some mantra among today’s younger folks; well am not very old but still J Consistency in working out is important, shocking the body (getting it out of the usual routine) with different forms and types of exercises help in accelerating weight loss. Swimming is an awesome form of cardio workout, not only does it help you burn those calories, it also doesn’t hurt your knee or other joints like other cardio workouts we normally do and remember you’ll feel famished after a swim, don’t freaking hog !!

Nothing like running/jogging/a brisk walk in the morning (for all those morning people) or evening (for all those night owls like me); on the road or the beach. Do remember to wear good pair of running shoes to absorb all the impact when you run on hard surfaces because we tend to be careless and end up hurting the knee. I however find this an extremely boring form of exercise and even having inspiring music doesn’t quite motivate me enough’

Aerobics: Its not only for women. Many or most men think and fell that aerobics is a very feminine exercise and its for women, its so not!! If any one still feels that way, please change your views. Aerobics is an awesome form of cardio exercise where in scientifically developed steps are brought together in a synchronized dance form along with music which is again scientifically developed. The combination offers an extremely satisfying and calorie burning cardio workout. The successively increasing tempo along with the heart beat and the likeminded people not to mention the pretty women all pushing the limits at the same time will subconsciously make us also push ourselves. Boys this is one place you’ll find 80% of the time filled with pretty women, do I have to give u a more compelling reason to tryout aerobics!!

Gym: There are women who avoid the gym thinking that I am not here to build muscles and avoid the body building or the weights section completely. I see quite a lot of women who spend two hours in the cardio section and don’t even peep into the weights section. Little do we know that strength training as it is called is very important for both men and women. Lifting weights (light weights) am told by quite a few people (doctors included) helps in burning calories throughout the day. This is because when we lift weights, our muscle tissue breaks down and starts rebuilding for the next 24 hours and in the process calories are burnt. That is one of the reasons why we work the same muscle every alternate days and I don’t know the other reasons

Circuit Training: It is a form of strength training. In this, one doesn’t spend more than 5- 10 minutes at a particular machine and will be working out on different machine and different muscle groups in an hour.

Games: We should try and play any game atleast once a week

Best wishes for a happy healthy living, am trying to get there, do please pray for me that this time it’s a permanent consistent one !! God Bless !! Remember working out is not just for obese people, it is equally important for all those thin people !! so go for it !!

PS: Workout atleast for 3 to 4 days to maintain your weight and more than that to see some serious weight loss

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are mine and mine only. Please consult a doctor before you indulge in any form of exercise or diet control. This message is especially for pregnant women, children and elderly people apart from the other normal people

Quizbox's take on my personality !

2009-03-19T16:23:00.002+05:30

I found this link on my friend Sen's blog, interesting and its actually true too, don't know how though ....

Your view on yourself:
You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.
The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You are a true romantic. When you are in love, you will do anything and everything to keep your love true.
Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.
The seriousness of your love:
Your have very sensible tactics when approaching the opposite sex. In many ways people find your straightforwardness attractive, so you will find yourself with plenty of dates.
Your views on education
Education is less important than the real world out there, away from the classroom. Deep inside you want to start working, earning money and living on your own.
The right job for you:
You have plenty of dream jobs but have little chance of doing any of them if you don't focus on something in particular. You need to choose something and go for it to be happy and achieve success.
How do you view success:
You are confident that you will be successful in your chosen career and nothing will stop you from trying.
What are you most afraid of:
You are afraid of things that you cannot control. Sometimes you show your anger to cover up how you feel.
Who is your true self:

You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

Interested, take the quiz here

2009-03-17T17:22:00.000+05:30

Holy cow, have been blogging for 3 years now... freaking hell !!

Dream !

2009-03-10T16:36:00.002+05:30

The guitar has always fascinated me right from my childhood days. The way they play it and shake their head, the fingers moving effortlessly across the stem and the sound (obviously music) was music to my ears

I still dream of playing it that way someday, a distant dream. I started going for guitar classes after school but fate had to play its game, we shifted houses and my dad was adamant that I learn swimming. Well I did eventually learn to swim but I never figured out how to breathe in water J until couple of years back
Well ya so now I have decided to live my dream, I have indeed joined guitar classes and am hoping that one day I’ll let my fingers do the talking for me !!

Experiments with a camera phone

2009-03-01T14:30:00.003+05:30

Well, I wasnt feeling sleepy :-)

Quotable Quote

2009-02-09T11:02:00.002+05:30

L Sivaramakrishnan said when Gautam Gambir hit a six in the 4th ODI between India and Srilanka
"For just a moment the ball was in the air for a long time"

Welcome 2009!

2009-01-01T20:41:00.004+05:30

2008 has been one helluva year for me. I have been through a quite a few ups and downs in the last one year, though I can't quite say the same about my investments... there's just been one way for all of them .... DOWN !!! damn AIG, damn the I banks !! damn subprime crisis !!

2008 personally speaking has been quite traumatic on the emotional front, have come out of it (touchwood!!) though... a long awaited promotion, few good friends tied the knot, and yes how can I forget, exponentially diminishing returns... returns damn my original investments are like heading towards the 'Zero' mark :-)

IPL, beating Australia in Cricket, Olympic medals, Terror attacks, trashing England at their own game, economic crisis, exit of the FIIs, retrenchment, F1's youngest ever Champion winning by a single point (damn that Toyota), Aamir Khan's Gajini and ofcourse the stock market crashing !!

2008 promised a lot of things, but I guess didn't quite live up to it. Of course expectations were much on the higher side. Fingers crossed on what 2009 can offer..

Happy new year and have a rocking and wonderful 2009 filled with health, happiness, wealth and loads of luck !!

Life in a Metro !

2008-12-03T17:24:00.016+05:30

Its 7 screams Mom and I go 5 mins ma.......

and before you know, its 7.30 already and I havent slept enough...

rush to the loo, brush the teeth, shave the stubble away and run in for a splash & dash !!!

the race is on....

trying to beat the clock....

Negotiating traffic.... and more traffic.....

through the world's slowest lift !!!

swamped with work.... pretending to work :-D

getting restless with time.....

waiting for it hit 5.30 pm......

Bang !! time to go ...its party time... its Friday !!

Useful Tool

2008-08-11T13:55:00.001+05:30

Cabs - The Menace!!

2008-05-02T14:28:00.002+05:30

In the quest to become the next IT hub, Chennai is slowly becoming a nightmare for motorists. Already the destination for Engineering education, the city’s roads are scorched by these colourful buses screaming their horns away trying to reach their destination well in time. Thankfully these college busses operate only during the early mornings i.e. well before the 8 to 8.30 a.m. and anywhere between 4 to 5.30 p.m. in the evening and then they are quite for the day

However, the IT and its allied service companies namely the BPO’s have the concept of flexible work timings thereby running pick up and drop services at various times of the day. All pick up and drops are through these Tata Sumo/Toyota Qualis, but the maximum drops are done through these Tata Indica’s

These drivers are the worst of the lot. Absolutely rash to the core and sometimes smashed. We had one almost ramming into us near the Tidal Park a year back and I had one almost hitting me when trying to overtake me on the Velacherry High Road. The most intriguing part of all this is that these taxis carry sticker at the back with a smiley which says tell me how am I driving. Some nerve huh!!!

Wish the Chennai Traffic Police could do a check on these cabs since most of these cabs are from travels leased out to the companies and they look quite dilapidated. Don’t know when they will fall apart!!!

Moving On!!!

2008-04-29T15:06:00.002+05:30

I have finally decided to move on…. It has taken some time and I must say quite a task to accomplish especially after putting my heart and soul into the whole affair, but I guess it was the best thing to do for the both of us and somebody had to do it and as usual it had to be me…. Am gathering some kind of a first mover’s advantage here…

I have always felt and openly admitted that honesty and transparency in a relationship is of utmost importance in building and strengthening the trust between two people, nurturing it all the way long. No trust, no love, period!!

I am not denying the fact that there may be issues of the past one may not want to divulge simply because it’s a thing of the past and has nothing to do with one’s future, but what about those pasts that come to haunt the present and the future…. Pasts that questions the whole fundamental of the relation, pasts that are well equipped to destroy the lives of two people if it doesn’t come to light well in time

Why should either of the two be punished for mistakes committed by their partners in the past… not fair, not fair at all!!

A fellow blogger in her blog had once written, If you don't tell anyone, you can pretend it never happened, but as soon as you tell, it becomes a reality, and you have to face it and that is exactly what has happened. Now that it is out, its time to face the music!!!!

Like I said have decided to move on and I am conciously taking every step I can in that very direction….and I reiterate No trust no love, that’s the bottomline!!!!

- Girish Vaithyanathan

Life is not as it seems to be ....

2008-04-04T11:33:00.001+05:30

Life is not as it seems to be – beautiful!! Wondering what’s got into me, really don’t know

Questioning the things that is happening around me, wondering if it’s the right things that is happening or not, do I deserve such a thing or not…. am not getting answers though

Wanting to question the very existence of the almighty, but neither do I have the courage nor have I lost the faith

Life is not as it seems to be – beautiful!!

Tired of Being Sorry

2008-01-28T17:51:00.000+05:30

I don't know why
You want to follow me tonight
When in the rest of the world
With you whom I've crossed and I've quarreled
Let's me down so
For a thousand reasons that I know
To share forever the unrest
With all the demons I possess
Beneath the silver moon

Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry

8th and Ocean Drive
With all the vampires and their brides
We're all bloodless and blind
And longing for a life
Beyond the silver moon

Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry
I'm standing in the street

Crying out for you
No one sees me
But the silver moon

So far away – so outer space
I've trashed myself – I've lost my way
I've got to get to you got to get to you

Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry
I'm standing in the street yeah
Crying out for you
No one sees me
But the silver moon
(yeah yeah yeah till end)
Maybe you were right
But baby I was lonely
I don't want to fight
I'm tired of being sorry
I'm standing in the street
Crying out for you
No one sees me
But the silver moon

--Enrique Iglesias --

4 long years...

2008-01-22T17:43:00.000+05:30

It’s been 4 long years and we have finally parted ways, not because we couldn’t see eye to eye but more so because I had fallen in love with someone else that I had to let her go

The four years that we spent with each other has been very fruitful and beautiful. It was love at first sight. The first time I saw her made my heart flutter. We have always been there for each other, riding the winds during both happy and sad times. Even during adverse times, she has never let me down. She was one lucky charm for me over these years

Still I had to let her go for more reasons than one, like I said I had fallen in love with someone else. There are no comparisons, but I had to take a decision to let go. The day her new owner rode her away, there was a tinge of sadness in me, but then I cast my eyes on the my lady love standing in my garage and I smiled, may be that was the best thing which has happened to me, my heart fluttered again like it four years back

Order a Foot long and pay for 2 Six Inches

2007-10-30T10:34:00.000+05:30

In case your wondering what the hell is this, well brace yourself this one is one of its kind I think

I sometimes order food from the Subway to beat the monotony of the normal Indian food and also that of the vegetarian food. Couple of days back I had ordered for a foot-long subway melt and the person who took the order said it will come as two 6-inch subs and I was like ok, that’s fine I guess…. The bill came upto INR 335/-

The next day I had not got lunch again, so was going through the menu and I just freaked out, subway melt foot-long costs 235 with taxes works out to INR 264/-. The same subway melt taken as a 6-inch costs be 298 without taxes

I was like what the… I then had to call the delivery guy and the explanations given, as per our billing rules, we bill even a foot-long as two 6-inch subs. This is absolutely unfair on the guy who orders for a door delivery

I have written to the franchisee that runs the Subway Brand of Restaurants in Chennai for an explanation with a promise from the delivery guy that he will check it out also from his superiors on the same
Lets hope for some answers and till such time all those who order through the delivery centre, check on the bills (I am not too sure on the systems followed in other places, am talking Chennai)

2007-09-19T15:38:00.000+05:30

I am not one of those who is anti any language or anti anything other than my mother toungu/state, but the fact that you end up meeting someone who hails from the same city or state or even speaks the language that you do, gives so much pleasure.

I happen to board an auto here and I was just speaking to him, when he suddenly asked me Thamizhah??? and I was yes yes...neenga?? (how about you???) and I found a slight exitement in my voice...

Similarly, the driver for one of the directors of the company for which I work is from one of the southern town of Tamil Nadu and I happen to get a lift to office and he was like Thamizha and I experieced the same pleasure :-)

Guess it must be the same everywhere whether one is anti any lanuage or not..... :-)

Mumbaai!!!!

2007-09-18T15:14:00.000+05:30

I was asked to get my butt out here on a very short notice. This is my first trip ever to this place, but I was everything but exited. Yes, the non exitement can be attributed to the vested interests I had back home in Chennai.... :-)

I had been called here for a week but my stay has been extended for another week and as usual I was short of my necessary amenities and I had to specifically shop around for the same. The place is quite different, it doesn't give me an alien feeling but I somhow feel I might just be a misfit here or rather I feel so because I miss quite a few special people in my life - Family, Friends and all other people who make the place a living heaven

The place is clean and dirty in parts. The malls are fantastic ( I must admit I haven't seen more than 5% of Mumbai, but still.....), the crowd; very eye cathcing and lovely (yes yes, obviously I meant the women). The place offers you more than you can imagine. A carer in Bombay is always considered to be a career on the fast track, but still today given a choice either to stay here or go back home, I would gladly take the first whatever available to home.... because home is where the family is, the friends are and you know who is !!!! ;-)

Penned on the 17th September 2007 @ 23:15 hours

Hilarious

2007-09-04T17:16:00.000+05:30

Got this by email....absolutely hilarious

Tennis!!

2007-08-31T17:57:00.000+05:30

Tennis has come a long way since the days of Steffi Graph and Pete Samprass. Tennis no longer seems to be a game of placements but more of raw power and energy. Its been quite sometime since I actually watched a tennis game, I had the opportunity yesterday

I was watching our very own Sania Mirza play in the US Open. I did not watch the whole match, but saw couple of games in the first set. What struck me the most is that not a single shot either from her or her opponent was played with a soft hand. All shots were played from the baseline and with a lot of power. There was loads of running from both the players from one end of the court to the other

I don't know if many will agree with me on this, but I always felt that tennis was a game of placements and strategy. The ability to think fast and plan shots, the ability to change the power of the return shot and the ability to save energy by running less but making the opponent run more.

Don't quite know if the men's game has also evolved the same way. I miss those soft back hand slashes, the straight back hand return, the drops and the smashes from the net. Of course, I havent watched anything for quite sometime now...Will probably catch up on a couple matched in the next few days.... :-)

2007-08-03T16:06:00.000+05:30

I hate my freaking EGO!!!!!

My latest obsession!!!

2007-07-12T22:17:00.000+05:30

What is love???!!!!????

2007-07-08T12:33:00.000+05:30

There are quite a few love struck couples around me and have been asking them as in how did they figure out that they were in love...just trying to find a right mix of answers....have got everything from I don't know to a very difficult question for anyone to answer to global gyaan....

Well I haven't given up yet and am still gonna go around asking.....let me see if I can get some answers and if anyone does have any please do let me know :-)

This is me....really????

2007-06-28T21:22:00.000+05:30

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

2007-06-23T11:37:00.000+05:30

Me thinks that Abhishek Bachan and Bobby Deol must have expressed their desire to kiss Lara Dutta and lo behold a movie is made. Frankly speaking thought I was actually cursing both of them, thats the only thing that is actually watchable in the movie other than of course Lara Dutta :-D

My Rating: Fuckole!!!

Drivers

2007-06-21T13:09:00.000+05:30

I am wondering again. …and am wondering on what is that thing that shoulders or drives relations, the supporting pillars or drivers of a relationship. Well I don’t quite have what one would call the right amount of experience to comment on this issue, but nevertheless think I should be able to do some justice to the issue.

Relationships we refer shall mean and deem to include friendships, colleagues, boss – subordinate and any other link that could quite define a relation. Now we all get in and out of relationships, some of them are made for life, some of them are short term and some we don’t have a clue of as to when it started and when it ended.

The factors that drive a relation according to me would be trust, understanding, love, expectations, and compromise including other factors. Understanding, expectations, compromise are all offshoots of trust while trust is an effect of love. You can’t love somebody whom you just can’t trust. Trust is the one important and binding factor to a relationship.

So when there is trust, there will be love and when there is love there is understanding and expectations and when there is understanding, there is compromise and appreciation and when there is compromise and appreciation, there is more love.

Lewis Hamilton

2007-06-20T20:37:00.000+05:30

Fernando Alonso didn’t quite expect that competition would come from within the team in the name of Lewis Hamilton. In fact, I have my doubts if Ron Dennis and McLaren themselves expected a situation where the rookie is leading the championship and Ferrari’s are not even close.

I don’t quite favour the silver team as my loyalty is very much skewed towards the scarlet red team, but I must admit that Lewis Hamilton is one helluva driver. The way he soaked up the pressure during the first few laps and also mid way of the US Grand prix where Alonso was all over him. I must say, absolutely brilliant. Not a single mistake through out the 73 laps.

The Canadian Grand Prix was a reveller in its own way, his first race win and again not a single mistake when experienced drivers kissed the wall more than once. The guy has an amazing future…very very sportive unlike Alonso who runs his mouth instead of just concentrating on driving.

Mr. Kimi Raikkonen….. can we get down to some serious driving….

Jealousy is Cute!!!!

2007-06-09T19:49:00.000+05:30

One of my good friends was like ‘DJ your jealous!!!’ and I was like ‘no am not’…for which she was like, ‘don’t get defensive I think it’s cute’…. Is it??? I really don’t know….

Well agreed that when you are really possessive about someone that you tend to get jealous, but more than possessiveness it’s the insecurity that stems from the relation that leads to the jealousy.

Insecurity could be due to a lot of reasons but I think it’s primarily due to not trusting the other person. Now trust is the pillar for any relationship….if that’s lost, there’s no relationship….as they say it takes years to build trust and a few seconds to break it!!

So, is jealousy still cute…. I guess it will be once we discount the insecurity factor :-)

Whatever......

2007-05-27T13:59:00.000+05:30

The complaint now a days is that the generation today does not have a clue on what our culture is and do things which don’t quite classify as the Indian culture. We have cultural/moral police groups all over the place consistently trying to find a drop in the culture quotient…

People comment that going to temples is keeping up the culture, carrying out traditional activities passed by our ancestors is keeping up the culture (am not saying that its wrong, but I don’t believe in carrying on a tradition without knowing why I am carrying it, I still probably do it to please those close to the heart)…. Comments that the generation today goes to pubs, drinks, dances and thereby are a black mark on the otherwise unscathed culture of ours.

Am not arguing here, neither am I going to back my generation, but I can sure say we are all not wrong and we are all not treading the wrong path!!! I can for sure point several instances where various incidents have indeed left a black mark on our culture which still lingers on.

Every society is a mix of the good and the bad, every society has its short comings; every society has what is classified as right and wrong. The same applies to an individual and the country as a whole. It depends on the individual to choose what he feels is right and good after all we have been gifted with the ability to think, to decide between what we think is right or wrong.

Going to a church doesn’t make you a Christian as much as going to McDonalds makes you a burger.

Era of Change

2007-05-24T11:10:00.000+05:30

The millennium brings with it an era of change. The constantly evolving technology and the affordability of the same has augured well for the change. I didn’t know that something called a cell phone existed till it came to India, the generation today talks about a phone which can be used like a mini computer and can also be inter-phased with one. Such is the aura of change that has hit this generation.

I learnt my first bad word when I was in my fourth. Well today I wouldn’t quite qualify it as a bad word because every homosapien has one, am referring the ass-hole. My second was the word fuck (er) and I didn’t know the meaning till I came to the sixth standard. The definition then was to 'the dick of the man is inserted into the cunt of the woman' - crude to the core but it served its purpose. I don’t quite know if the kids today agree with this definition. Of course with the advent of the Internet, definitions are a lot more precise now.

What we learnt in classes 4 to 8, the kids now learn them a lot faster. Bastard was a word that was not used even by mistake and motherfucker was a cardinal sin. Of course, we grew out of bastard very soon and used motherfucker as a choicest of abuses, infact I still do. :-) Bastard infact became an everyday phenomenon and was used frequently to wish somebody (hey bastard, wassup??) or abuse someone very affectionately (you’re a fucking bastard dude!!!).

This brings me to those abbreviation or acronyms, jokes and poems used/creasted and cracked by us during our school days. Infact, it was through one of these jokes that we came to know the existence and the use of the product ‘condoms’ :-D Well, let me see how many I can remember…

Under skirt activity/adventure
Jumping and pumping all night
Rape until she screams in agony
Both of my balls are yours
Please allow raping in schools
After fucking rest in cool atmosphere

Well, that’s it…I cant quite remember the others, but I quite remember the poem, but will reserve it for another day. I know am a bad, bad figure to the generation now, but am sure they have come up with many more expanded versions. They said it right, creativity is best when one is in school…..it comes quite naturally :-)

Laaree Chhooti - The Video!!

2007-05-23T22:35:00.000+05:30

Laaree Chhooti.... Kya Huva Jo Laaree Chhooti

2007-05-23T18:58:00.000+05:30

I have been listening to this particular song from Ek Chalis ki last local. I quite like it and as usual, the remix is just awesome :-)

woh kehte hai na
jo hota hai achche ke liye hota hai
galat kehte hai

kismat ka khel hai saara
phirta tha main aawaara
yeh kya se kya ho gaya
chaar din ki zindagaani
har pal ek nayi kahaani
kya tha, main kya bana gaya
kya huva jo laaree chhooti
jivan ki gaadi looti
kwaab hai toh mujhko na jaga
zindagi ek pal mein saali
yuun palat gayi hamaari
zhoot hai toh mujhko na bata

mumbai, suna tha yahaan aadami puri zindagi apani kismat
slow track se fast track laane mein nikaal deta hai
par dhaayi ghante mein meri kismat
aise slow track se fast track par aa jaayegi
yeh maine kabhi socha nahi tha
saja maja ban jaayegi, yeh bhi kabhi socha nahi tha
last local kya chhuti, saala kismat patari par aa gayi

karlo jo bhi karna hai
hota hai jo hona hai
gujra toh pal yeh phir na aayega
kya bura hai kya bhala hai
waqt hi shaayad khuda hai
ho jaane do phir dekha jaayega
kya huva jo laaree chhooti
jivan ki gaadi looti
kwaab hai toh mujhko na jaga
zindagi ek pal mein saali
yuun palat gayi hamaari
zhoot hai toh mujhko na bata

woh kehte hai na
jo hota hai achche ke liye hota hai
sahi kehte hai

2007-05-22T21:23:00.000+05:30

Today has been a big step forward.... I don't know the consequences...rather am not able to foresee the repercussions today....I am just praying that its the right step in the right direction!!!!

2007-05-08T21:52:00.000+05:30

Every time I get de-motivated, I think it’s over
Every time I think it’s over, I think I should try something new
Every time I think I should try something new, I get a new lease of life.
Every time I get a new lease of life, things get de-motivating again
Am back to square one......

Giving the Word its due!!!

2007-05-06T21:57:00.000+05:30

I got this one through a friend of mine. The most hilarious, creative and innovative things have heard in a long long time, considering the fact that the word is on my vocabulary list and frequently used words 99.99% of the times, guess its time to give the word it actual due!!!!

You can find it here

http://music.cooltoad.com/music/song.php?id=304288

Warning/Disclaimer: Its got explicit use of the word Fuck. Kids and Children below the age of 18, please do not visit that site (not that you are unaware of the existance of the word), but please do so at your own risk!!

CQ's day out - On request !!

2007-05-05T21:56:00.000+05:30

Which part of the week do you the look forward to the most?? Pat comes the answer – Weekend!!! Well that’s no surprise, the only part of the month when one finds time for oneself, family and more importantly friends and I am no different. I am the happiest when am with my friends. J

We don’t do that much when we go out other than what they call as ‘putting mokkai’. A typical evening with the boyz would be stop at woody’s for a coffee and then to the Barista at Besant Nagar for some more coffee, sitting on the seats facing the road and the beach in front of barista doing nothing but putting mokkai and pulling each others legs and then planning a holiday!!

Well if that what I do with the boyz, with CQ….its nothing much different either. At least I manage to meet the boyz one a week, but CQ is a real outing, doing things like movie and actually sitting on the beach. I don’t quite remember when I last did it (I know ash, it was when we met BIM 23, that was just a figure of speech to stress on the fact that its been quite some time)

Well, today was nothing different, after all that confusion and planning yesterday, we met up finally at THE ‘Shakes & Creams’. The place means a lot of different things to each one of us simply because we have been there at different point in time with different people and this was the first time there since we all came together. The only reason why I probably frequented that place so much was because, it was the most ‘decent’ affordable place to go and for 20 bucks, you get lots of ice cream and a full bottle of Pepsi. The place hasn’t changed much (since I went there in 97 – 98 – 99) except they have done up the interiors a little. Otherwise, the waiters there are still dumb and don’t understand head or tail of what we say.

Anyways, we didn’t find what we wanted there, so we decided to go to Pizza Hut close by. As usual from I don’t want da, I actually gobbled up half the pizza :-D and from there we went again, this time to the beach where we plonked ourselves for a good couple of hours and I don’t think none of us sort of realized it till Appy asked what the time was.

Well, what we talked, we talked about everything under the sun – parents, society, love, sex, and responsibility among others – mokkai basically. Well typical MBA’s that we are, we wanted this to be documented, so a blog was proposed to be created. Till we create a blog of our own (figuring out a nice name), I decided to do the honours to document the same in mine….on request from the other three – Appy, Ash and Smitha (in alphabetical order) – sorry people didn’t come out funny as you may have wanted, but this is it!!! [It flowed in the same pattern J so couldn’t quite help it]

2007-05-04T23:16:00.000+05:30

I am what I am - Am I??? :-)

Classification!!!!

2007-04-20T22:14:00.000+05:30

I was stuck at the Bangalore airport for almost more than three hours as my flight to Chennai was delayed by almost two hours. I was sort of reflecting on my days activities, I was sort of reminded of the detail discussion I had with one of my colleagues on the rationale for formation of communities, surprisingly he agreed to what I said. My contention was that, during those times of kings and princes, every individual, be it the king, the minister or the common man had his job/task cut out and hence they were classified on basis of his/her job on hand.

The king’s duty was to protect the weaker class and hence they were called kshatriyas. The ministers and the other learned people of the kings ministry has to help the king with day to day matters and strategizing. They were called bramanas. They were not called bramans because they were vegetarians but because they were learned, they were refined in their behaviour.

While the kshatriyas and bramanas were busy doing their work, someone had to contribute to the economy to fill the treasury; they were the vysyas or traders. Now that brings us to the shutras or the untouchables who apparently do all the donkeys work from toilet cleaning to farming.

Coming back to the present age I don’t think the age old classification holds good as every individual or at least most of them are well educated to perform various roles and hence cannot be classified the original way. Today the only 4 classifications that should exist are two of the natural ones of male & female and two by way we eat, vegetarians and the non – vegetarians.

In today’s world, every individual who is learned and cultured and refined and everything that falls under the scope of the above mentioned words can be and in more ways than one shall be called a “Braman”. Any individual fighting for the country to save his country men or fighting for the rights of the common man, a “Kshatriya”.

Well, the irony in life and the reality too is that we are all hypocrites in one way or the other and I guess I am too. I talk so much anti – community, but I did take full fledged use of the quota system in place when I was studying and I guess I will continue to do so as long as I and the system exist. The only difference being, I do not identify myself much with it unless am forced to or want to, because I don’t think one needs it to succeed in life, but there are those whose lifeline is that, not because they love it so much, because they don’t believe in themselves as much as they do in it!!!!

(All views expressed above are mine and belong to no one but me. The views are not intended or directed to anyone in general or in specific and are not meant to hurt anyone individual or the society's feeling)

2007-04-14T10:39:00.000+05:30

I am not someone who identifies people by their community, caste, race and state. Some people I know are quite well versed in the same but somehow I have never cultivated the art of identifying and slotting people according to their community and stuff like that.

Recently, I have become very wary of people of certain communities based on probably one or two bad experiences and my head keeps telling me not to generalize but my heart just doesn’t seem to listen and am caught in-between, leaving me with a feeling of helplessness and general irritation. I am not able to trust them and that leads to more irritation. I am getting increasingly into a rut and I am not too sure if I can come out of this cleanly. This is anyways a short tem thing, but I can quite see India is unfortunately in the same rut as I am. As long as she’s there, she'll always be the super power on paper but not in reality!!!!

- Girish

2007-04-13T18:19:00.000+05:30

Dont know why, am feeling down, restless and irritated.....with what...i have no clue!!!

- Girish

(Does) It happen(s) only in India!!??!!!

2007-04-05T17:29:00.000+05:30

I am not the most obedient of drivers/riders on the road; I usually cover the whole width of the road when I ride but rarely do I break signals, ride on the wrong side of the road or do something of real danger either to myself or to people on the road. Yes, I have broken signals, but that primarily would be due to a rare loss of concentration.

I haven’t driven across the different roads in the various countries, but I have had the opportunity to do so in Bangalore, Trichy and obviously in Chennai. Apart from this I have also had the opportunity to observe the way people drive in places like Hyderabad, Cochin, Coimbatore, Kolkata, Delhi, Pune, Simla, Kulu Manali and even Agra.

I find that people hardly respect signals and are very impatient when it comes to signals. The timer shows 03, people are off…vroooom!!! There is no lane discipline, absolutely nothing!! Above all this, No one gives a damn about the Stop line. But then, who cares. The cop stands a mute spectator to all this.

Check this out. This happened today morning on my way to work. This happens everyday at this signal. There are loads of signals in the city that are a witness to such disobedience.

The law can do hell a lot of things to curb such acts, but unless the realization & responsibility comes from within, the effect shall always remain nullified!!!!

ABN AMRO Sustainable Development Fund

2007-04-03T17:25:00.000+05:30

Now I am not going to get into whether this fund is worth investing or not. There have been various schools of thoughts on to invest and not invest. I like the concept that ABN has come up with. Incidentally, this is the 25th such fund by the fund house. They have 24 such funds in Europe, Asia and Latin America. For more details please visit

http://www.valueresearchonline.com/story/ipostory.asp?str=9469

Coming back to their advertisement and tag/punch line. It says “we have not inherited the earth from our ancestors, we have only borrowed it from out children” – absolutely beautiful!! Such a strong message and so beautifully presented. Hats off to them!!!

Now… the concept, the concept of Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) as they call it. It’s so different and so new to India. To invest in companies that focus on sustainable development. Now, I am a lot curious to see the list of companies that will make the portfolio and of course thats a totally different question, no one can quite answer right now, will it post positive returns......

Nevertheless, a commendable effort by the fund house…….

Aamle ka ....

2007-03-26T23:06:00.000+05:30

Now….this is one cute ad and that grandma is one of the cutest grandmas have seen till now and I love the way she goes ‘brown!!!!’ and the kids are so adorable huh!!!

What went wrong?????

2007-03-24T23:27:00.000+05:30

India loses to Sri Lanka: Every newspaper/new channel in India will scream/is screaming this headline as I am sitting in front of my computer screen wondering what went wrong. Arguably the best batting line up on paper failed to sizzle and is, as the headlines in every new channel puts it, virtually out of the world cup. Why is it virtually out because we still holding onto a very thin hope that Bermuda defeat Bangladesh, ya right!!!!

You can’t win everything, but you can’t afford to loose it all too….. It’s easy for me to comment that all that was required was some application of mind. It all boils down to common sense after all. Yes there was pressure, but the likes of a Sachin, a Ganguly, a Dravid, should have handled this pressure….. What sets you apart from the other mediocre players is your ability to withstand pressure, the ability to deliver under pressure.

I have no complains against the comeback man except one that he should have restrained from playing that shot early on. Sachin Tendulkar…hmmm what can I say…the mans been around for quite some time now, plagued with injuries in the last few years….he seems to be only a shadow of a man he once was…..and still carries the tag that he fails to deliver when required the most…. Of course we quite forget what he has delivered…we always forget…don’t we…

I just don’t know why our think-tank always favours Harbhajan Singh over Kumble while the latter is a world class player who has delivered when required. Dravid…well he ran out of partners…..he lost hope when he saw Dhoni get out and one could quite clearly see it on his face. Our tail just doesn’t wag….it has never did…..time to rethink our strategy……

I think Zaheer Khan along with the other speedsters should be sent back to bowling school for some real training on line, length and accuracy. These guys have been around for quite some time now….have played the likes of Glen McGrath, have seen him bowl tirelessly ball after ball just outside the half-stump making you to play. These guys have to learn to do that to be respected and to be a world class bowler. At this level, there’s no excuse you can’t afford to spray the ball around.

I know Sachin’s a genius and doesn’t even have to bother playing cricket now…but I think he needs a huge boost of confidence and I think he should start playing some domestic cricket and if possible some county cricket too…..in fact the whole bunch of them from Utappa to Dhoni and even some of the bowlers should be sent in to play domestic and then county cricket only as batsmen to hone their batting skills.

There has been some other views saying that these guys should stop endorsing brands and play more cricket….I really don’t care as long as you play good cricket…..ah….man these guys don’t seem to be doing that also…..wake up boyz rise and shine …. We are still with you… we still love you….whether you get the cup or not……!!!! So get down there and just play!!! *Sign*

Mind Blowing....

2007-03-24T22:50:00.000+05:30

Mind Blowing....

http://www.formula1.com/race/news/5822/770.html

Golmaal Golmaal....

2007-03-22T12:26:00.000+05:30

Call me weird or call me what you want…. Me think this song is amazing…. and for some reason or the other, the songs just stuck in my head… its got a very enchanting/captivating tune and am dancing …even when am humming it….am moving to the tune….however bad it may sound …. :D

golmaal golmaal everything is gonna be golmaal

jaane kyo dil yeh kehne laga hai

ab toh tu dil mein rehne laga hai

bas gaya hai tu meri ragon mein

dil sitam tere sehne laga hai

golmaal golmaal everything is gonna be golmaal

teri baahon mein aati hoon main saare jahaan ko bhula ke

lele teri panaahon mein tu ab toh gale se laga ke

teri baahon mein aati hoon main saare jahaan ko bhula ke

lele teri panaahon mein tu ab toh gale se laga ke

if u say u want me i gotta say u got me

teri chaahaton mein huaan hai yeh haal

golmaal golmaal everything is gonna be golmaal

Race Results

2007-03-19T12:16:00.000+05:30

For more details visit http://www.formula1.com/

Rebellious Thoughts!!

2007-03-19T11:58:00.000+05:30

There is always some madness in love. But there is always some reason in madness.
There are no facts, only interpretations.
Hope, in reality, is the worst of all evils, because it prolongs the torments of man.
Whenever I climb, I am followed by a dog-called “Ego”.
Is man one of God’s blunders or is God of one of man’s blunders.
Thinking men cannot be overruled.
Growth is caught and not taught.
The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident, which everybody had decided not to see.
I was thought wrong once, but I was mistaken.
To solve big problems you have to be willing to do unpopular things.
The discipline of writing something is the first step toward making it happen.
We are continuously faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.
You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.
When you die, if you got five real friends, then you’ve had a great life.
Talk to people in their own language. If you do it well, they’ll say, “God, he said exactly what I was thinking.” And when they begin to respect you, they’ll follow you to death.
To be great is to be misunderstood.
Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can.
Shallow men believe in luck. Strongmen believe in cause and effect.
The only way to have a friend is to be one.
The best effect of fine persons is felt after we have left their presence.
Always do what you are afraid to do.
We become what we think all day long.
You cannot do wrong without suffering wrong.
No great man ever complains of want of opportunity.
Imitation is suicide.
What lies before us and what lies behind us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
People see only what they are prepared to see.
A hero is no braver than ordinary man. But he is brave only five minutes longer.
He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.
The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain.
If you never change your mind, why have one?
Creative thinking is not a talent; it’s a skill that can be learnt.
Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it.
Unhappiness is best defined by the differences between our talents and our expectations.

Welcome to the new season!!!

2007-03-18T23:59:00.000+05:30

The start of a new F1 season and for the first time in so many many years without Michael Schumacher. Of course, Ralf is still there to carry that Schumacher name but unfortunately, he does not seem to be even a shadow of his brother……quite unfortunate!!!

This year has started off well for Kimi and Ferrari to some extent, a gearbox failure forced Massa to start 16th on the grid, but then again Ferrari decided to give him a new engine and had him start right at the back of the grid just to salvage any point he can get going into the next race at Kuala Lumpur and boy oh boy and he did just that …from 22 to 6th….brilliant drive but personally felt he could have actually come 4th had he pushed a little harder but then they know better and being on a one stop strategy and I guess he was right in driving the way he did.

Kimi blazed away right from the beginning and didn’t have any excitement during any part of the race except for on lap 46. The only failure that the Fin’s car had was that his radio stopped working so cutting off all his communication with his pit crew.

Incidentally, Renault was no where in the reckoning in this race, of course the season has just started and this may not be a preview of things that can be expected as we get halfway down the season…but still…..

Some major colour changes to the cars and quite a few new drivers this season. Looks interesting…..can Ferrari pull it off this season, can Kimi do a Schumi for Ferrari, can Alonso perform a hatrick, can Renault pull it off…..Can Massa become the No. 1 driver for Ferrari….lots of questions…..we need to wait for an answer…till then….enjoy the race and drive safely!!!!

Mozhi for the second time!!!

2007-03-18T23:37:00.000+05:30

I usually stay off from movies I had already been to recently, but somehow the experience the second time around I must say was scintillating. Even though I knew what was coming next, the spontaneity and timing actually had me in splits all the time and I didn’t have a clue of the time again…it just flew!!

I didn’t quite say anything about Swarnamalya and Pritviraj last time around, but this time around if I don’t say anything then it’s just not fair at all…. Swarnamalya stole my heart when she tells pritviraj who the man in the picture was….there was the sadness in her eyes…beautiful!!!!

Pritviraj towards the end when he walks into Jo’s room all pissed…and actually speaks his heart…I was actually moved to tears…it didn’t strike me last time…this particular line ”in life you cant quite question the credibility of a few thing, you need to and have to take them by their face value” …how so true!!!

Now, going for it the third time might just be the heights….but am tempted to try!! ;-)

Patience!!

2007-03-13T23:39:00.000+05:30

I don’t regret what happened….. I feel good, but the effort has been lost because the message didn’t quite get through… had I had been a little patient and put it differently, may be ….may be the message would have gone through. Again a long shot…like they say, it’s easier to wake a person who’s sleeping than a person who’s pretending to be sleeping…. When one chooses to ignore and is not ready to understand what the other person is saying, there’s no message….there’s no point to be put across…..but still do I stand justified?!?!?!? Only time will tell!!

- Girish Vaithyanathan

People!!

2007-03-12T23:00:00.000+05:30

There are different types of people and though I may have not traversed the length and breath of the world, I have managed to meet most of them…but am sure there are other kinds of people who I have not come across till now….

Like I said, people are of different kinds – the straight forwards, the back biters, the selfish, the generous, the dictators, the lenient, the cunning, the slimy, the helpful, the ambitious, the jovial, the serious, the list could go on and on and on…..these are what you can probably call traits or the basic underlying character of the person….and every person is either one or a combination of them…..

Am not an expert on judging what kind of person he or she is but to some extent I have quite judged them right the first time…I have faltered too…no doubt on that….but somehow I don’t quite understand how a person can change to undefined non understandable, un-comprehendible degrees….

When you lead a team, its your responsibility to be magnanimous enough to take responsibility of your teams short comings (you'll anyways take credit for their incredible performance), after all at the end of the day, you are what you are because of your team and vice versa….you are your team….you can’t afford to be petty in your actions and thoughts…..

You shouldn’t at any point of time be insecure and sport an inferiority complex….if you do it simply means you’re not confident on yourself and your abilities… Simple as that!!! Even if you do and still somehow are on the fast track to the top, you need to remember where you came from…you need to have those feet firmly pasted to the ground….simply because the one’s who have made it to the top have simply because they have had their feet on the ground ……firmly anchored…!!!!

I see tough times ahead….. I hope I have enough patience in me to see it through, I do firmly believe there it couldn’t get worse and every thing is after all learning at this point in life…. But I have a limit…. A threshold….it could get dirty if I am pushed to it…..am praying I don’t …am praying I don’t!!!!

- Girish Vaithyanathan

Coimbatore!!!

2007-03-07T22:08:00.000+05:30

Did you know that this is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu, I actually didn’t. I have been to Madurai and the adjoining places N number of times but somehow I haven’t been to Coimbatore at an age I can recollect. I have some friends who hail from this place by virtue of mostly being born there and am sure they will vouch by what I say that today, it’s a great place to be in.

Today Coimbatore is what Bangalore was probably a decade ago till it was discovered. Coimbatore is also on the lane to fame, and when it does it going to snap the town of its sleep.

Coimbatore is in proximity to the ‘textile country’ of Tiruppur and houses a few textile units also. The city is almost brimming with corporates but adequately spaced through out the city. Name an industry and you’ll have then there, from textile to auto ancillary to sugar. The beauty is that most of them operate out of the city but probably have their production units elsewhere and thereby have managed to provide the city with some peace, not entirely though.

The city is also populated with educational institutions (read engineering colleges) just like Chennai. As of for now there are not many places of attraction for a party animal like me except for temples like the famous Marudamalai Murugan temple some 40 odd Kms from the city and the Siva temple at Perur. The people seem pretty sweet and if I may say so trustworthy, at least the driver of my cab was….but of course you never know, every city will have its own baddy!!

Net net the city is a delight to be in but whatever you do, if you don’t know the place stay away from the auto waalas, they freaking fleece you. The charge the heaven that you’ll actually feel sorry for bad mouthing the Chennai auto waalas!!!

Mozhi!!

2007-02-27T18:12:00.000+05:30

I actually can’t believe it, but I managed to catch this movie in Madurai of all places. It’s not that I have anything against Madurai, but it’s been almost ten years since I visited that place and the time just stopped there and I quite pictured Madurai to be just like it was ten years back. There has been an ocean of changes but quite a few things remain even today.

Mozhi (language) is a movie about 4 people, 4 different people essayed by Prakashraj, Pritviraj, Jyothika and Swarnamalya. Let me be pretty upfront here, I loved the movie and I give a … for what the critics might say!! I didn’t think the movie was one bit boring, I didn’t think it was slow (my cousin thought it was). It was a clean movie with absolutely no violence and with a brilliant timing for comedy.

If Prakashraj was his usual best, Jo was wonderful. Not a single word through out the movie, but her expressions said it all. Kudos to her for that!! Its not easy to act without speaking a single word and am a little curious to know how many retakes were there when she acted.

A simple concept, very nicely interwoven with everyday life. It doesn’t quite tackle a few questions that might come up in reality. Prakashraj may have to come up with a sequel addressing the couple might face post marriage.

An Alaipayuthe captured the problems faced post (love) marriage and it still stands out there freshly etched in your mind. If Mozhi has to be fresh in our mind, probably the sequel would do the trick. Till then, please do watch this movie if you are up to it!!!

Take your pick!!

2007-02-24T23:13:00.000+05:30

It is actually not appropriate to include the E50 in the comparison but then being ‘Blackberry’ Compatible and also being positioned at the entry level as a business phone, I feel it should be included in the comparison.

Right then, we’ll start with the E50, it’s definitely a slim genius. The E50 comes in silver and black. For all those people who croon over the black colour, this is one awesome pick!! The phone is loaded with features like office, PDF reader, SMS reader, 1.3 Mega Pixel camera and to top it all it comes with 70 MB shared memory. I am not sure about this one, but there was this feature where you can separate the personal numbers from the official ones and either of the ones can be switched off. It comes with an alpha numeric keypad with a joystick.

The E61, well I fell in love with the phone and after a lot of research and deliberation recommended the same to one of my senior colleagues. Why the deliberation, because I found it a little too wide for my comfort. Actually way too wide!!! But it’s a sexy phone and comes loaded with features like the WCDMA and the ‘Qwerty’ Keyboard (they say dedicated keys) apart from being ‘Blackberry’ Compatible. The one thing I quite miss on this phone is the camera. Can’t quite figure out the rationale, but Nokia could have provided the E61 with one. The rationale of business phones not sporting a camera does not hold good as the E50 comes with one, the I-Mates and O2’s also sport cameras on few of their models.

Now, last but not the least the Sony Ericsson M600i. I did fall in love with the E61 but that was until I saw the M600i. It sports the same ‘Qwerty’ keyboard but differently. It doesn’t quite have dedicated keys, but it serves the purpose brilliantly. It’s a ‘Blackberry’ compatible phone and one of the first few phones sporting what they call the ‘3G’ (third generation) technology. Has a 64 MB shared memory and comes with an extendable memory that can be extended upto 1GB as of for now. I do have a complain though, the memory card is micro in nature and absolutely differentiates itself from all other memory cards including the ones Sony uses on its other phones. So, if you have a memory card that you thought you can use it in the M600i, well sorry about that, you just can’t unless it’s an M2. Again I don’t understand the rationale, no camera!! Especially when its big brother the P990i sports one and its father the P900 and the P900i sported one. The M600i is supposed to be a scaled down version of the P990i. Apart from this, the phone features a touch screen and a scroll button (just like in the P990i) to access the menus. Apart from this, the phone can also be used as a Walkman phone as it has a good media player. The M600i comes in sexy black and lovely white. This phone however has a drawback the battery just doesn’t last. Sony may have to do some R&D on that one. For all those people who want to move to the next level of the so-called ‘PDA’ (personal digital assistant), this is the one. It’s slim, sleek and sexy!!!

Disclaimer: Evaluation is purely my view on the phones. Please do your homework when you buy phone as criteria’s and priorities differ when it comes to buying phones!!!

Strong Leader

2007-02-24T01:14:00.000+05:30

With greater powers comes greater responsibility.

There are leaders, there are good leaders, there are bad leaders…..but the need of the hour is a strong leader. A strong leader is not one who needs to have amazing communication skills, not one who is a great team man, not one who does not give his own interests top priority….but one who is able to put his foot down when needed, who’s able to take the blame to shield his peers, who has the sense and the vision to see long term and not compromise on a few things just to satisfy short term goals.

We have seen many leaders…..have we seen strong ones???? We have had a Gandhi, a Bose, a Hitler, a Lincoln, etc…..Are they good leader or strong leaders??? I wouldn’t have probably even thought about this six months back, but am forced to now…

No one realizes the worth of an individual when he/she’s there. This applies across dimensions and ages. I probably miss this person very much, not because he was a great or a good leader, but because he was a strong leader, strong enough to give you the credit you deserve, strong enough to preserve his resources, strong enough to put his personal agenda behind, and more importantly shield you when required. I really miss such a leader….

Another Leaf !!!

2007-02-20T16:36:00.000+05:30

I loved the way she looked, I loved the way she looked at others, I loved her eyes (always thought they were beautiful), I loved her hair, I loved the way she walked, I loved the way she dressed up (mostly in black, she was stunning when she did), I loved her lost look, I loved her intellectuality!!

She was always a mystery to me and I loved mysteries. In the whole process of unraveling this mystery I stumbled across probably one of the most rebellious of women by thought and by actions. Everything she did and everything she spoke, everything had a hint of a nonconformist – a maverick!!

But this just didn’t last that long. On a day when France celebrates its independence day, we had to separate. The whole affair was short and was over in minutes. There she went from my life. Mysteriously as she came she went.

- Girish Vaithyanathan

Commercialization!!

2007-02-15T22:56:00.000+05:30

Commercialization has reached dizzying heights particularly in this age of science and technology. Everything you can think of is now being commercialized and India is well catching up or should I say is very much in the lead.

Call it the western influence, call it what you want, but I feel this is ridiculous. Mother’s day, father’s day, Valentine’s Day, freaking hell, I am sure there will soon be a sex day (a day of sex and only sex and more sex)!!!

I am not an expert on the western culture but as far as I know, the concept of looking after your parents is a culture that stems from India and the westerners are not known for this. I just don’t understand, all your life you don’t give a shit about your parents and then on mother’s day and father’s day you go tell them you love them….what crap!!!

You don’t have to wait for a particular day to tell anyone you love them…. Call me old fashioned, call me what you want, but I still feel this is ridiculous. I wanted to just have a quite dinner with a friend as it was my special day, my freaking birthday and can you guess what I was told by the hotel guys, ‘sir, stags not allowed’. I just freaked out (not that my friend was a guy, but still), WTF!!!

If this wasn’t enough, all these so called hotels were charging the heaven. On a normal day, it would cost at a maximum of INR 1,500.00 to dine at the TAJ but on the 14th, the charges were INR 5,000.00 per couple. Freaking hell!!! All I wanted was to enjoy a quite dinner with a friend and this is what I get.

I probably wouldn’t have been so irritated if it was not my birthday, but still!!! Grrr!!!

Anyways belated Valentines Day!!!

Madai Thirandu !!

2007-02-15T22:12:00.000+05:30

The most happening song at the discs now a days....

2007-02-14T17:30:00.000+05:30

I am 27 today. Well its not a great achievement to be proud off, since it does not require any big effort. I have learnt quite a few lessons, won some, and lost some… whatever!!! My uncle actually fell off his chair when I told him am 27.

I am working today, atleast am supposed to, I was just thinking about my last few birthdays and how I sort of spent it. I quite remember my 23rd birthday. Made so many plans, fixed every thing up and then my ex CEO calls me and says meeting in Calcutta, come over!! Well what can I do, but go. My first birthday in my first company and I spent it on a train. Can you believe that!!

Well, if 23rd was disaster, my 24th was worse. I was again on the train in an unreserved compartment on my way to Hyderabad L my butt was sore without adequate blood flow.

My 25th was not that bad considering the fact that I was not on the train. Funnily this time around too I had a sore butt thanks to both my batch and my senior batch giving me bums!! A few friends wishing me and that’s about it…

My 26th birthday was again in college. All my good friends were there to wish me, actually hung on only to wish me J Managed to save my butt this time as everyone wanted to get on with the movies, it was the BIM Talkies night!!
Well, today don’t seem to be having any major plans. Probably should go out for lunch with a good friend. The hotels are charging the heaven here and at some places they are very clear that no stags allowed, what the… the valentine day has taken the sheen away from my birthday….whatever!!!

Leafs from Girish’s diary!!!

2007-02-14T14:47:00.000+05:30

We haven't spoken for quite sometime now, almost 2 months to be precise, courtesy me Girish Vaithyanathan!! I didn't see a valid reason as to why we should.

Renuka Shaseedaran and I have been friends for almost 2 years now. This friendship I must admit has gone places, from a time when we just refused to put the phone down to not knowing what to talk now other than the usual what’s happening and nothing much, the conversations stagnates just there.

Fights were regular but well spaced, but over a period the gap just fell drastically and now we end up hurting ourselves more than required. Renu by nature never makes any decisions like ending a relation, but then someone has to. For the betterment and peaceful living and to save each other from the agony, I decided to end this relationship, a relation I tried hard to save!!

It’s been two months now; suddenly she decides to call me, why? Because it’s my birthday in two days and she wants my address to send me a gift. I don’t understand why? What have you achieve, where are we going from here and where is this whole thing heading. I just don’t understand.

Either I just don't understand the women clan at all or I just don’t understand some one in particular from that clan or both. Am I the only dumb f**k around or do I have company??

I am ninety today and my wife eighty-nine. She lies beside me as pretty as ever. Her eyes still sparkle as they did seventy years back. Renuka Vaithyanathan, I love you!!

- Girish Vaithyanathan

All characters in the above story are a work of fiction, any resemblance to anyone dead or alive is pure coincidence.

What a day!!!

2007-02-13T23:22:00.000+05:30

What a day it has been??? Everything was going all right till that nail decided to enter my rear tyre tonight. Two bags, a helmet and a 180 cc bike with a flat rear tyre is not easy to deal with, every revolution of the wheel is like eternity!!!

The only puncture shop on that road was closed for the day and I had to push my bike at least for a km to hopefully get to an open one. Finally had to disturb my mom to get the guy near my house to come over to get it done and what do I get, a drunken idiot!! Trust my luck!!!

Well I must admit though that he did manage to get the tyre running and goes on to say that he had to do a lot of job on the tyre… I don’t know, will have to check on the tyre tomorrow morning to see if it’s a job well done. I hope its ok tomorrow, that’s the last thing I want early in the morning!!!

Anyways God Bless that guy!!!!

Grrrrr....!!! @#$%^& ..........

2007-02-12T21:53:00.000+05:30

Either I just don't understand the women clan or some of them from that clan or both. Am I the only dumb f**k around or do I have some company????

I am Chevrolet

2007-02-12T17:31:00.000+05:30

This was the ad campaign that GM India carried out just before the introduction of the Chevrolet brand of cars in India. This was similar to the campaign carried out in the US as an ‘American Revolution’.

GM India tired the same concept here. Incorporate the culture of India and touch a cord with the Indian population. The concept again here is called ‘Emotional Advertising’ where one uses advertisements to appeal to certain emotional desires.

Now I just love this ad simply for the way it was taken, simply for what it conveyed (or atleast what I understood at that point in time), for an automobile lover ‘The Chevy’ is the brand to own.

I couldn’t get my hands on the storyboard and hence it was not a part of my all time favourite ads list…. But nevertheless this one was always there in my mind and hence is an all time favourite too.

Apparently the whole idea of the ‘I am Chevrolet' campaign is to make the brand culturally relevant so that it meets the need of the Indian market. Now how far this ad made an impact I really don’t know, I sort of went into wilderness for sometime ;-)

Trivia !!

2007-02-12T13:59:00.001+05:30

One of the take aways at the play was this 'Durex' Trivia. Found it pretty interesting, have a look....

My all time favourite Ads!!

2007-02-11T18:57:00.000+05:30

10.

9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.

No specific ranking, it's just I like them in the same order ....

Source: www.agencyfaqs.com

Love Letters!!

2007-02-11T02:27:00.000+05:30

If you’re wondering if this is one my usual how, where and why about love letters, well you’re wrong this time, its not. In fact it’s actually about this play by EVAM. My third play and well quite an eye opener especially if it is not an adaptation of a pretty famous novel.

This particular play actually has a very nice concept. How two childhood friends keep in touch with each other till the others death through letters. Through every important event in their life is shared through letters.

Aptly named, the story actually shows how the two characters love each other without realizing the same. The play is about 90 minutes with a 10 minute recess and the only thing that they do is read letters, of course as theatre artists you expect them to emote and its there in just the right quantity. Could get a little boring, but it's not an absolute waste of time. Its definitely better than watching two people running around trees!!

Nevertheless, every play has been a new experience and looking forward for more. Till then do watch these guys in action.

www.evam.in

2007-02-10T11:29:00.000+05:30

The Countdown has begun......

Should I or Should I not???

2007-02-08T23:45:00.000+05:30

I was reading this article about quality written by one of my friends. You can find the article at http://eaglezview.blogspot.com/2007/02/made-in-india-is-it-of-good-quality.html. I am and am sure a lot of people will agree with the fact that one doesn’t hesitate to pay that much extra for quality, be it a mp3 player or ‘quality’ of service at the so called star restaurants.

I was just wondering, I am ready to pay for quality which stems from the brand name, but should I pay for safety. Safety is something that has to be a part of any product or service offered at the same cost.

A very simple example is that of an automobile. OEM’s charge extra for airbags, ABS, sensors, etc, etc. All these safety features are standard fitments of cars in the D Segment (Read Laura, C Class and above, Mondeo, Scoda Superb). Till some time back, rear seat belts were also not available on the base variants until they were made mandatory.

I wonder why these features are monetized. I understand that the average Indian gives more emphasis to fuel economy and price, but still aren’t we entitled for better things in life. Why are we the dumping ground? I love Honda for introducing the same variant all over the world. Of course, cars are tailor made to suit the local conditions, but still over all they are the same. Unlike a few other car makers who sell outdated cars in India.

I am still trying to figure out any other product or service where I pay for the safety…not quite been able to though, but am sure there exists many such products!!!

I am sure about one thing though, you pay dearly if you don't wear a helmet!! Now that is one aspect of safety I don’t mind paying for...

Anyways, so….should I or should I not????

I must be crazy!!!

2007-02-06T22:19:00.000+05:30

I just took this test Which Led Zeppelin Song Are You? Quiz , I must admit...its quite funny...and i like the henchmen and killing part!!

You Are

When The Levee Breaks

You are a dominating person. People don't stand in your way. Everybody basically does what you say. And if they don't, they better start, or you just might have one of your henchmen kill them.

Just like "When the Levee Breaks" dominates Led Zeppelin IV, you dominate your world. You don't have time for nonsense (it's surprising you even took this quiz) and you would love to be dictator of the world someday.

You are dark and scary, and you probably don't at all care about this quiz, if you even bothered to read your results.

Its all about credibility honey!!

2007-02-06T18:24:00.000+05:30

Have been working for almost a year now. In this short span, I have worked on quite a few proposals. Fortunately or unfortunately for me, some of them didn’t happen, quite a common phenomenon in the industry.

They didn’t happen due to various reasons, may be because of exposure norms, top management not comfortable, non-identification of proper cash flows, un-comfortable security, etc, etc. The most important reason of all this is the credibility of the promoter.

Now, Credibility is a function of two variables.

Ability to pay

Willingness to pay

Now, I would be a fool to lend money to a person who does not have the willingness and the ability to repay the facility. Then there are people who have the ability and the willingness and hence we do not foresee any problems with the facility. So who in the end becomes a defaulter?

As can be seen, a person with the willingness and yet lacks the ability is a defaulter as his business may have run into problems due to a slump in the industry. If one trusts the industry and the capabilities of the individual, he will pay you back every penny once he turns his business around, its just the question of time.

Now last but not the least, the person with the ability but absolutely no willingness is a wilful defaulter. He might have the capabilities to turn his company around, but still not want to honour his commitments. Its madness and a cardinal sin to pursue with someone like him, but some times one is so short sighted that they miss out on this one important component.

At the end of the day, his financials may be great, top class but if he doesn’t want to pay…. He just won’t pay. So, all this credit analysis of the company and its financials fail, if the credibility does not exist right from the very beginning.

Net net, when one takes a call on the proposal, it has to be done based on various factors and one of them being, credibility!!!

Ads that caught my attention..

2007-02-05T18:08:00.000+05:30

There are quite a few advertisements that appeal a lot to me. There is this latest one by surf excel bar. Have not been able to get my hands on the storyboard. The ad is shot in a marriage set up where you have people eating in the traditional way – on the ground, from the banana leaf and by the hand.

You have a foreign kid also eating and making a big mess of himself by wiping all over his kurtha. The parents see and are like oh god he’s eating with his hands. Now there is this old lady eating next to the boy and she immediately pips, ‘ we eating withu handsu and washing with handsu’ and she turns to the kid and says, you eating you eating….

Nothing great about the ad, but its cute, it appeals to you. Similarly, the new SBI Life Insurance ad (pension scheme I guess) built on the concept of “you’re young when you’re old” is brilliant simply because of how the whole ad is taken.

A gang of old retired men playing cricket continuously disturbing young children trying to play video games (I think, am not too sure) by hitting the ball into their house and how the kids admonishes them by saying, you guys keep paining us like this. We can’t enjoy two minutes of peace with you guys around and says I can’t give you the ball.

Another oldie peeps out of the next window and says, that old fellow is always like that 'grumpy', here take I have a spare ball and then you have the voice over saying blah blah old life enjoy blah blah…a brilliantly executed ad. Hats off to the guys who did it.

Story Board Courtesy: www.agencyfaqs.com

Customer Satisfaction!!!

2007-02-05T11:51:00.000+05:30

I am bloody impressed!! This one little act has ensured that I’ll endure with this bank for some more time now, not that I am unhappy but this is not an indication of the bad things that might come up. Ok let me stop being pessimistic here.

This little pamphlet came to me today morning. I was wondering what is this early in the morning. I was quite surprised to see what was written on it. I must admit am trying desperately to cut down on my credit card spending and the bank is trying double hard to ensure that I use their card more and what a way to make me to that… double points during the whole of this month…hmmm….

I actually felt good when I saw this, the bank is actually playing with my emotions here. Whether I like it or not I will be anyway using my card for a few things like fuel but the bank has made sure I will only use theirs and not anyone other card.

Incidentally am also cursing the bank for sending this to me so late as I had used some other card for booking some train tickets and have ended up with 35 points less. Grrrr…

Nevertheless, I am, as of for now, a pretty satisfied customer and also impressed with their marketing strategy!!! Have been trying quite hard to find out what marketing strategy it is called. My eminent friends from my college don’t seem to recollect and I just don’t have a clue…ya ya its only been nine months. Have been googling all morning amidst my other work and finally have landed up with what it’s called… its called “Emotional Marketing” …Sigh!!!!

Blood Diamond

2007-02-04T21:08:00.000+05:30

Don’t know why, but have always carried this impression that Hollywood and emotions don’t go together even though there have been a slew of movies with a swing of emotions. The more recent Transporter II was evident of the same.

Have been hearing quite a few reviews on Blood Diamond and got an opportunity to watch it yesterday. For the first few minutes of the movie I was like what have I got myself into. The movie hadn’t even started. The movie unfold beautifully showing the family ties of the Africans before how the families are separated and how the young children are taken by the rebel camp where they are trained to kill, kill even their own family if they come before them.

How the so called developed countries were using them to get the diamonds at dirt cheap prices and also how they toyed around with the demand supply of diamonds to make their business fare better.

Di Caprio as the diamond smuggler trying to get his hands on that big diamond with Jennifer Connelly as the journalist trying to get a story out of him with facts to make people stand up and take notice of what is happening out there. The subtle romance in between them is shown so beautifully with neither openly confessing but giving each other ‘hints’.

I could go on and unveil the whole plot but that wouldn’t be fair on the people who haven’t yet seen the movie, so I would just conclude by saying it was a movie well made, guess that should enough.

Oh yes, just not me to say nothing of the lady in the movie. Have always had a liking for Spanish women and now have added Irish to the list. :)

Punctuality!!

2007-02-04T01:04:00.000+05:30

“No one important is ever present to appreciate punctuality.”

--unknown--

At six thirty in the morning, my mom goes.. Jei elzhu mani aachu, elzhundiri (Its seven in the morning, get up!!!)…..I would take a look at my mobile phone and go back to sleep but very soon my mobile phone alarm would scream loose control…how much I like that song, but I hate it at seven in the morning.

By the time am out of bed and finished with the morning routines, am running behind schedule and it’s already 8.20 am and I had to get to work by 9 am. We do have a grace deadline of 15 minutes, but I prefer getting to work by 9. I get my breakfast packed too and am off to work, rather am rushing to work. It’s going to be a mad day and it starts from the time I start running behind schedule.

Pushing the bike to the limit, through the small lanes, treating bikes and buses alike – with disdain, cursing co motorist for travelling at 35 kmph when am trying to push my speed to 70 kmph, cutting through traffic at neck breaking aggression, timing the traffic signals just to be on time. Wonder if it is worth it after all.

After all this, I get the feeling we are off today as the whole office is empty. Heaving a sigh, I go to my desk wondering about what has been said about punctuality – “ The only thing about being punctual is that there is no one to appreciate it” – how so true!!!

Appraisals!!!

2007-02-01T19:04:00.000+05:30

There was a light flurry excitement at work today. Appraisals forms had come by mail. It has to be filled in consultation with our boss. Appraisals are that part of the year where the employees are truly under some kind of stress. It starts from today in our organization.

Within the next 15 days we would be rated anywhere between FE to BE. Sometimes I wonder if this at the end of the day is an actual reflection of my capabilities. What if I have not been utilized to the maximum, what if I am a very low profile person who shies away from human interaction, what if I have rubbed the wrong person on the wrong side. So where do I stand, well that I guess only time will tell.

We‘ve studied so much about appraisals as a very important and effective form of evaluation an employee. What we have not been taught is the actual human angle to appraisals. Of course there are things that cannot be taught and there are people who will not learn unless put through the grind, but prior knowledge always helps. J

I will have to go through the painful process of an appraisal now. I quite anticipate how ugly it’s going to be… Wish me luck!!!

Teachers !!!

2007-01-29T18:18:00.000+05:30

Teachers play an important part in our life. They at times are crucial in carving our career and life path. Some of them may look very trivial but would have had a huge impact on our lives that may have gone un-noticed due to various reasons.

There have been teachers who also have done otherwise, identify a talent in you but fail to nurture the same. While there are some who after spotting the talent, encourage someone else who just doesn’t deserve it and in the process kill the talent.

Teachers are supposed to be impartial and treat every student by merit, but at some point in time, they develop favourites for various reasons and there are teachers who make it evident also. That as far as I am concerned is very unfair to the other students sitting in the class.

Am not cribbing because I could have taken to theatre as a serious career option considering my interest in the same, had my teacher who was in charge of all cultural activities encouraged me at that time when I needed it the most. Somehow without adequate motivation, the talent has been restricted to the four walls of my room. There are probably more students like me today who are more bathroom singers and actors.

The opportunities and the exposure that the students of the newer generation have are phenomenal and un-imaginable at the time when I studied, not that I studied in the 70’s but still by the time the technology caught up, I was done with schooling.

Today I remember my teachers with mixed feelings…. but everything said and done, if I am what I am today, its also because of the same souls who have gifted me the most valuable thing on earth called knowledge that is good enough for me to conquer the whole world and I guess that is good enough!!! J The not nurturing of the talent may be forgiven!!!

Tere Bin.....

2007-01-25T12:46:00.000+05:30

Am sitting in office....head pounding, feeling all feverish and for some reason depressed too and of all songs this one just keeps playing in my head....adding to the depression......

tere bin main yun kaise jiya
kaise jiya tere bin
tere bin main yun kaise jiya
kaise jiya tere bin

lekar yaad teri raaten meri kati
lekar yaad teri raaten meri kati
mujhse baaten teri karti hai chaandani
tanha hai tujh bin raaten meri
din mere din ke jaise nahi
tanha badan tanha hai ruh nam meri aankhen rahe
aaja mere ab rubaru
jeena nahi bin tere
tere bin main yun kaise jiya
kaise jiya tere bin
tere bin main yun kaise jiya
kaise jiya tere bin

kabse aankhen meri raah mein tere bichhi
kabse aankhen meri raah mein tere bichhi
bhule se hi kahi tu mil jaaye kabhi
bhule na mujhse baaten teri
bheegi hai har pal aankhen meri
kyun saans loon kyun main jiyu
jeena bura sa lage
kyun ho gaya tu bewafaaa mujhko bata de wajah
tere bin main yun kaise jiya
kaise jiya tere bin ...
tere bin main yun kaise jiya
kaise jiya tere bin ...
----From the Movie Bas Ek Pal-----

A song whose remix rocks the discs in chennai....and more importantly rocks you when you hear it..... if the original sounds amazing...the remix just rocks.....!!!! I hate these songs for what they do to you....but I just can't stop my self from listening to them either....

Her memories continue to haunt me....

2007-01-23T13:11:00.000+05:30

Have you ever needed someone so bad, yeah Have you ever wanted someone you just couldn't have Did you ever try so hard that your world just fell apart Have you ever needed someone so bad
-- Def Leppard --

She no longer happens to be part of my life....I don't call her anymore....My mobile no longer plays the ring-tone once assigned only for her....But her memories continue to haunt me....I've tried my best to move on and move on I have....Yet her memories continue to haunt me...It was I who took the call to severe the whole relationship...it was doing no good to both of us....The more we held on...the more pain....atleast for me.....What do I do....Her memories continue to haunt me....I wonder if I should pick up the phone and try once again...To try and re-build the whole thing again...But the thought of enduring the pain is holding me back....For I know its not gonna work at all...for one broken...broken....The wounds will heal...but the scars will remain....As her memories continue to haunt me......I will have to learn to live with it.....Sometime I wonder why we met....of all the people in the world.....Why did we have to meet....its very easy for me to say there is a reason....We met for a reason and we have served the purpose of us coming together.....We are not together today....but still her memories continue to haunt me......We will get back again one day....when none of this will matter.... The past will not be spoken about....leave alone reliving it…… We were once best friends but there will be no evidence of the same…As she’ll no longer matters as her memories would have long stopped haunting me by then…..

This Time Last Year!!

2007-01-21T22:38:00.000+05:30

Year 2007 has actually started in a very funny way for me. Am still searching for the 'ME' inside and I guess the search will and should never end.

Year 2006 has been both good and bad, forgettable and un-forgettable for more reasons than one. This time last year I was fighting one of the most unforgettable (should I call it a war, I dont know...I guess I will) wars against my placement committee. Today, its all past, we have no hard feelings, I hang out with some of them...I know it and they know it, we were carrying out certain duties assigned to us. I always knew I was stubborn, but I never knew to the extent I could go till that time when I put my foot down and said, you have decided then so have I.

This time last year, I was also trying so hard to make up with a friend. Things had already gone very sour, very very sour. We were still trying to make things work. Some how it didn't last that long, but there is absolutely no remorse, we've tried our best (may be our best was not good enough)!!

Also some time during the same year, some silly fight has put an end to another so called friendship. Still cant figure out what went wrong there, but I know that we just didnt try!! Am not too sure, if we'd ever get back again.

Well 2006 was not that bad actually, I graduated!!! Am an MBA now and I don't know how :D. Some cemented friendships, some new friends......

Coming back to 2007, have entered it with mixed emotions. Lost some friends, won a few...still digging in further into me in seach of something....Lots of moments to forget from the last year, lots of moments to cherish from the last year....Lets see what the year 2007 holds for me....

Mrs. De’ Monte

2007-01-19T18:54:00.000+05:30

A teacher affects eternity:he can never tell where his influence stops.
--Henry Adams--

My Class I and Class II teacher. I can never forget her or the lashing I got from her for forging my father’s signature on the report card, not that my marks were bad but I forgot to get it that fateful day. My friend or rather classmate forged her dad’s signature and got away with it while I managed to do a really bad job that she actually found out and gave me whacks with her cane on my palms.

I decided two things from that day. Never ever even for fun try to forge my dad’s signature (and believe me I haven't till date) and always keep your stuff/ work for the next day ready the previous night itself. That quite explains my paranoia for time.

Relationships & Expectations!!!!

2007-01-19T17:14:00.000+05:30

Have been through this and still believe that how much we may dispute on why should we have expectations in a relation, it is an underlying fact to any relation. Expectations exist.

I was just talking to my IT guy on why he’s been so sober the whole day when the conversation slowly moved towards women, relations and expectations. When my accounts head came up with an amazing illustration. He said you stick two papers, what do you think binds them. We were like ‘glue’!! He says exactly, the glue is expectations.

Coming to think of it, I have not seen any relation, which works without expectations. To sum it up, relations are like derivatives where the underlying asset is expectations J

People who made a difference!!!

2007-01-19T16:00:00.000+05:30

All our life, we have a whole lot of people who come in and out of our life. Some of them touch a cord in such a way that even when they are not there, you know they've made a difference.

This is my little attempt (of course in parts) to remember those people who have and are still making a difference to my life.

Attitude Matters!!!

2007-01-19T14:52:00.000+05:30

It seems Dave Anderson and Jim Murphy joined the American Railways on the same day. Twenty years later, Dave was still doing the same job but Jim had become the Chairman of American Railways. Dave said,'I cam to work for $1.75 an hour; Jim came to work for Ameican Railways. That made all the difference.'

how so true!!!

Five Point Someone by The Madras Players

2007-01-11T16:16:00.000+05:30

Am not a great theater enthusiast. This is my second visit to a play. I thoroughly enjoyed my first play couple of months back and this prompted me to look forward to this play. I did quite a bit of homework to find out that The Madras Players were doyens in the field of theater acts.

I was a little apprehensive as to whether they will be able to do justice to the characters and the book. I must admit they did do a really good job. The way the adaptation was done by itself was brilliant and the actors actually played their characters brilliantly. I do not have the experience and the expertise (or rather I didn't find any difference) to comment on the way they spoke English, i found it to be just fine. I really liked big eyed uttara krishnadas a lot, she sparkled in the small role she had. I just should not comment on the veterans Mr. PC Ramakrishna and Co, they were brilliant. Incidentally, the director was supposed to be the youngest in terms of directing theater plays and she had done a brilliant job on the direction front.

Overall, the two hours spent there was worth every penny and am looking forward to watching more plays now.

2007-01-08T18:17:00.000+05:30

Our President Mr. Abdul Kalam decided to come down to Chennai. Now I have a lot of respect for him but I don't think the public should go through hardships just because he's in town. Friday night, the traffic was stopped for an hour around Adayar from 9.15 to 10.15 pm, when people are itching to go back home after a long tiring day.

What I didn't understand that why should the traffic be stopped for an hour, in today's age of technology why is it so difficult to keep track of his movement and how difficult is it to stop traffic in a matter of 15 minutes. One hour is ridiculous and that too at a time when the junta is tired, hungry and itching to get back home!!!

Now something else happened out there and reflects the sad state of affairs our country is in. I asked one of my fellow bike rider standing next to me as to why has the traffic being held up. He goes on to say in tamil, Governer vandrukaaru (the Governer has come) and when I was busy wondering which governer has actually come down, our man goes on to say, avar thaan pa, abdul kalam (you know, Abdul Kalam). I was stumped, I didn't know what to say. As it is I was hungry, tired and irritated and the last thing I needed was to tell him the difference, not that it would have made a great difference to him.... I decided to chill out by listening to some music on my phone, thank heaven for some small mercies!!!

Some Thoughts!!

2007-01-05T17:49:00.000+05:30

1. Don't waste your time on someone who isn't willing to waste their time on you.

2. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them, knowing you can't have them!!

3. Complex problems have simple, easy to understand wrong answers.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

6. If your wife wants to learn to drive, don't stand in her way.

7. We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like? – Jean Cocturan

8. A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.

The Travelling Angels

2006-12-28T17:39:00.000+05:30

My latest post was just 5 mins back...I just received this mail from a client wishing me happy new year...but it came just in time to boost my morale. These are not things that we do not know, but accepting them makes the difference. Like I said in my previous post, change is inevitable, the sooner you embrace it, the better. :) His mail made me feel better, wanted to share it with everyone I know and I don’t know too...hope it raises your spirits too...happy New Year everyone!!! And hey this is my 50th post...not bad huh :)

The Traveling Angels

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement.

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.
When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied..."Things aren't always what they seem."

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good nights rest.

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, "How could you have let this happen?
The first man had everything, yet you helped him", she accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die!"

"Things aren't always what they seem", the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it.

Then, last night as we slept in the farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem".

Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way you expected. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later.

Climbing up the corporate ladder!!!

2006-12-28T17:19:00.000+05:30

Work has been such a revelation for me in terms of what one has to do to move ahead in life. I see life becoming more and more difficult for me the more I try to stick on to my so-called principles and beliefs, more so because in this world where materialistic benefits are sought after, morals don’t hold.

As they say, change is inevitable, embrace it, resisting will do you no good. I didn’t feel the pinch or the necessity to deviate from my beliefs in my previous job stint as the performance and my capabilities were measured by how well I serviced my clients, how good were the products produced from my stable and how well was I able to get my work done at the end of the day with out passing on the damage to the customer.

All the above mentioned is null and void now. All that matters now is that my performance and capabilities will be measured by how well I lick, since I seem to be taking good care of my clients and anyways I don’t have the decision making powers like I did in my previous job to take a call on the clients.

Now, my well-wishers have been constantly advising me – licking is not to make sure your capabilities are noticed but to make sure your capabilities don’t go un-noticed. Well neither am I in a position to dispute this nor am I willing to accept it…. can I call it catch 22!! Probably yes, guess I can :)

As much as I keep telling myself, am beginning to realize that yes, it’s the need of the hour. It’s going to take sometime and I am learning the hard way, but am learning nevertheless. I would probably try and lick my way to the top in 2007 :)

Good ad!!!

2006-11-09T11:03:00.000+05:30