Goodbye 2005.....Welcome 2006

In 2005 we had...

terrorrists who had many a blast...in India, Iraq, UK...and many other places...

a defiant US, who reciprocated blast by blast...

Saddam captured as a rat in a hole...

And Osama still at large...

Big B ruling India's heart...

And metro winning Delhi's heart....

sensex crashing down...and then proving itself as a phoenix...

abu salem in the dock...and dawood still a free bird...

men acting more and more as scavengers of females...

and some men also acting as saviours...

women of tomorrow making their mark...and women of yesterday forcing theirs...

one katrina winning hearts in India...

while the other ravaging US...

Mumbai showing its infallible spirit....inspite of being soaked....

and politics being proved as the dirty mudhole everyone knew it was..

schumaker finally losing off to Alonso...

and Narain speeding away to glory...

as Sania served a delight...while Anand happliy moved a knight....

And as always, Calvin says:





a year that came with many promises...that it passes on to the next one....

wishes, aspirations, dreams, desires....

hopes, feelings & resolutions...

for a better life...for a better world...

tomorrow...and the day after.


May God bless all of you..and may all your wishes come true.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS.....HAVE A GREAT TIME.

And remember...in 2006..

1. Plant a tree.
2. Walk if can...dont burn fuel.
3. Dont litter.
4. Spread love, peace n smiles, not war.
5. Fight injustice.
6. Keep reading coherent rambling :-)

ciao.

P.S: On a sombre note...2005 began with a heartbreak...and ends with another one for me....Hope 2006 will be better :-)

Deja Vu - 1

Date : 22-August
Year : Unknown
Time : Unknown

Soltitude, something that you always need, rarely have. But when you begin having it & enjoying it, it takes the party out of your life. If you prefer to be left alone for some time, everyone prefers to leave you alone for all the time. Something I really don't understand. After all, everyone must be left alone for some time. But then I mustn't generalize this, no. Not everyone will let you have peace un your soltitude. And not everyone will be disrespectful of the fact that you need some time alone. To talk to yourself, and by this I do not mean standing in front of the mirror & watching your reflection cut you down to suze. What I mean is introspection, something that more has to do with you giving a first person account of yourself. Introspection is tough, because most of the time we think about us in a very relative fashion, relative to what others think of us, how does the society behave when we enter it.

Knowing one self is difficult, but when you know yourself, you know all that you need to know. In other words, you get closer to perfection. But don;t aim to become perfect, neither can you.Because that defies the very basis of our existence on this planet, that is to do something even the almighty cannot do : Making mistakes!

P.S: Deja Vu is a collection of some of my ramblings from college days, word-to-word. Hope I sound sane :-)

ciao

Every war....

...has its own decorated heroes.

and every war...

...also has its own unsung heroes.....

Life ain't fair to everyone....

Looks new, doesn' it?

Oh yes it does...thanks to the same wonderful friend who was responsible for the last template change( the dull white to the cool blue ). And this time its the black-grey template...

Well if only I were not so lazy...anyways...

Thank you my friend...for giving me such a great template...and keep doing this every few months !!!

About the absence, well there's a lot of hectic work goin on in the office, so hardly any time left for blogging :-( But this wont be forever and I'll be back soon.

Along with my regular Breview series (that needs to be restarted), I am also going to very soon begin another series, that will contain some of my college day ramblings. I used to ramble then also, but it was on a notebook, and I found it recently. So that's going to be coming up soon....

Though I still don't know what to call this series..suggestions, anyone?

The best suggestion gets, umm, selected!!!
(Ok Ok I m not a big B to go around giving crores...so this is all u get..)

On second thoughts, an ice-cream is up on offer for the winner...:-)...happy?

still not happy!!! sigh...you people are never satisfied!!!

signing off with this dilemma...

P.S: And no, I m NOT dropping off asleep today, for a change *YAWN*

Taggie Taggie again...

Well its Nupur who's tagged me again...

So, as Miss Norah Jones crooned.."here we go again...."


1. What time did you get up this morning? 0630
2. Diamonds or pearls? (If ur a guy - what can u afford for 'her'!) Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Hindi: Deewane hue paagal,
English: Harrry Potter and whatever
4. What is your favourite TV show? Friends, BBC auto show.
5. What did you have for breakfast? Gobhi-matar ki subzi and parathas
6. What is your middle name? none!
7. What is your favourite cuisine? all....
8. What foods do you dislike? Excessively spicy.
9. What is your favourite crisp? --?! Lays', tomato tango
10. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Pyasa, Mark Knopfler(Ragpicker's dream)
11. What kind of car do you drive? Maruti Suzuki WagonR
12. Favourite sandwich? Butter
13. What characteristic do you despise? Back-biting, hypocrisy, ego.
14. Favourite items of clothing? A formal suit(though i dont get to wear it often:( )
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you? GOA
16. What colour is your bathroom? White
17. Favourite brand of clothing? None
18. Where would you retire to? A villa by the beach in Goa.
19. Favourite time of the day? late nights/early mornings
20.What was you most memorable Birthday you ever had? 21st...
21. Where were you born? (I cant remember the name!) indore, India
22. Favourite sport to watch? F1 racing
23. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? No one....
24. Person you expect to send it back first? Again, no one
25. What fabric detergent do you use? Tide
26. Coke or Pepsi? None...left them long ago.
27. Are you a morning person or a night owl? night owl :-)
28. What is your shoe size? 10
29. Do you have any pets? No!
30. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with your family &
friends? I am still working late hours!!ok its not exciting but i m pissed enough with it
31. What did you want to be when you were little? never gave it so much of a thought then
32. What were you doing today? Designing software, coding, testing, User Experience..
33. Name a movie you've seen recently that you're sure many have not and its worth watching. Hotel Rwanda.

Ok...now who should i tag?lets se...with Nupur already tagging half the world in her post :-) , i guess i'll tag her back, so she can tag the remaining half...Nupur will u pls be a darling and do this one for me? I am too laazyy.....

*zzzzzzz.....*

P.S: The author has dozed off to sleep again...so the readers are requested to do thy bidding!!!

"Existence is not only temporary, it's pointless!"

And even then, here;s the day that reminds me that another year of my existence has just ended...

and a new one just begun.

Thank you very very much Akruti...for the wonderful wishes....and I promise to make my best shot at making you smile always...

So far, its been a wonderful birthday, a lot of good wishes coming my way, and I thank everyone for it.

Was also surprised and pleased to receive Somu 's call today...and i couldn't guess who its from initially...well...i sure am getting older.

From now on, I'll connect the dots my own way.

and before signing off, a poem Neha wrote for me...

"Your birthday's not just any day -
It's when the world was blessed
With an angel of a person
Who does his very best

To share a warm compassion
That keeps other's needs in mind,
A bright and sunny outlook,
And commitment to be kind,

Then adds a touch of humour,
A true and honest heart,
And a certain little sparkle
That sets angel-types apart..
Your birthday's not like any other day
The whole year through
'Cause it celebrates the day
The world was blessed
With very special YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! "

"Things are never quite as scary when you've got a best friend."..and I happen to have so many:-)

adios

Why am I sad today?

I am sad today...and I am tensed.

coz one of my best friend is about to go through the same hell that I went through 2 years ago....and I m feeling really sad...

sad, becoz I cant help ...sad becoz I see the tears & feel the pain...but cant be of much help....

the only thing that I can ask God is to give her the strength to go through it....and hope that things will turn out in her favour.

and very soon i'll see her smiling again....

oh lord,
i pray for her to be happy
i pray for things to go her way
i pray that she doesn't suffer...
like i did just yesterday.

give her the strength
to go through this test of fire...
to come out of it smilin...
and things going as her desire.

oh lord, give her...
what u never gave to me.
make all her dreams come true..
thats the best that can be!

amen.

Here she is...

Here are "her" much awaited pics....






Doesn't she look great??

Oh I am so much in love.....sigh...

And she's just done a 1000kms!!! Didn't I tell u they get better with time?

adios

P.S: Breview coming up next.....

Here I am...

This is me..
And there's nowhere else on earth i'd rather be..

So crooned bryan adams....and so say I.

I am back from a very very long break. And I apologise for the length of the break, which wasn't in my control. What else could I say for two weeks of sick leave from office, and bed-rest at home. Sucks, right?

Anyways all that s past now. I am fit n fine, and back at work :-( Also back at blogging and blog hoppin, so i'll be at all your blogs to pester you.

Smyta, thank you..i'll also cherish you as a friend...and what more can be a better friendship present than this return post :-)

Nupur, thanks for the wonderful words. The car is parked in Gurgaon, & I m takin good care of her....:-)

While at the vacation, there were many things going around, in my life, in the world, that I so much wanted to blog about, but couldn't. Life ain't always that fair. Anyways....

My car is doin great. Already 700+ kms, she's in for her 1st servicing today. And I simply am not able to upload the pics due to some problem with photobucket. Will try to resolve it and quickly post those snaps up.

and in the last few weeks, terrorism has proved that it can only claim innocent lives...in New Delhi, in Jordan, in Iraq.....all around the world. If not bin laden, then al-zawahiri(or whatever), if not him, some one else.....

is there an end to this menace? well, moderatism is a way out, but how many are willing to accept it is questionable. Tolerance is not easy.....

And what really surprised me was a small news item that appeared in Times Of India New Delhi edition a couple of days ago..it was about the death of two kids in Chechenya, who were apparently playing throw ball with, guess what, a hand-grenade!!

Shocking, isn't it?

ciao

P.S Thanks to all of you for your Diwali wishes, please accept my best wishes to you and your families.

Here I go again.....

Well its been quite some time that I have written. So here I go...

Nothing new, just that I have been keeping very bad health for the last week...some throat infection that has grown out of control, so my doc has ordered me silent for a few days...and the strong medicines make me feel sleepy(*YAWN) all the time, so I am off bloggin & blog-hoppin...

This is goin to remain as it is for a few days till I get OK, so all my blog-friends will have to wait for me for some time. Hope y'all don't mind. :-)

signing off...

(P.S: I have purchased a new car. More about it in my next post...)

Wonderful Words...

This one for all my friends who are goin through a tough phase in their lives.....

When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on

'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Everybody hurts. You are not alone....

Song: Everybody Hurts
Artist: R.E.M
Lyrics Courtesy : www.lyrics007.com

bahut baatein....

bahut baatein hain jinhe dil mein chupaye rakhta hoon
kayi gum hain jinhe seene mein dabaye rakhta hoon

zamana to humse bahut kuch chahta hai
lekin apni chahat ko zamane ki nazron se bachaye rakhta hoon

kayi gam hain jinhe seene mein dabaye rakhta hoon

jab kabhi kisi ko dekhta hoon gum mein
uske gum ko khushi mein banana chahta hoon
dil mein dard hai, phir bhi hothon pe hansi banaye rakhta hoon

kayi gum hain jinhe seene mein dabaye rakhta hoon

zindagi mein woh sab mila jiski chahat na thi
woh shohrat, woh izzat jiski zaroorat na thi
ek cheez chahi thi kabhi zindagi se
lekin ab uski hasrat ko aasuon mein bhigaye rakhta hoon

kayi gum hain jinhe seene mein dabaye rakhta hoon

ishq ke liye humne kya kya na kiya
apna sab kuch gavaya, aur dil ka sauda kiya
abe usi dil ke tukdon ko deevaron pe sajaye rakhta hoon

kayi gum hain jinhe seene mein dabaye rakhta hoon..

(to be contd...)

Fifty-Five...

Fifty-five,Fifty-five,Fifty-five,Fifty-five,Fifty-five,
Fifty-five,Fifty-five,Fifty-five,Fifty-five,Fifty-five,Fifty-five,Fifty-five,
Fifty-five,Fifty-five,Fifty-five,Fifty-five....


Dude what's fifty-five?

Look there...

Where?

Whack!!!

Fifty-six, Fifty-six, Fifty-six, Fifty-six, Fifty-six, Fifty-six, Fifty-six.....

I tag Somu, Fairy & akruti

18 September ....

A long time ago....

on this day

i learnt that life is all about smiling...

sharing, caring, loving....

giving all away and still being happy....

knowing that i have someone special in my life....

who'll make me feel special every day...every min...every sec...of my life...

a life...

that was to last only 3 years....

18 September 2005

i am lost...

i am alone...

i have a headache....

not to mention the pain in my heart....

RIP my life: 18-Sep-long-time-ago to 18-Sep-2005

I am dead....















or am I??

BREVIEW -3: toeragz

This one has been pending for quite some time, and here it is now:

Teachers teach us a lot of things, they teach us how to add, they teach us how to write... they teach us how to spell, and above all they teach us how to live.

And some teachers blog too...probably they're the best at it too, coz u know, the teacher knows it all.

And this holds true for Sangeeta, who has a wonderful blog, toeragz, all about shouts and whispers, in her own words.

I have been a regular reader of this blog, and there's a few things I really like about this blog. One is that the posts are usually short, crisp, and interesting. Most of the times the posts are full of stories of li'l kids whom Sangeeta teaches(thats jsut an assumption), and they are really sweet stories that make u smile.

Now about the blog template: Very simple fare, the usual white background-black text combination that is very simple, but is always best for readers. There's a mix of some bright pinks & purples in huge fonts at times, but its far & few in between, & I guess thats fine as long as its not overdone.

All in all, a great blog. The only problem is that Sangeeta disapparates for long periods between posts, but what the heck, so do I.

BRATING: **** and 1/2

Sangeeta, I know you rarely read my blog, but I have been reading yours regularly. Your blog is widely acclaimed, and I can only say that keep going on the way you are.

ciao

( DISCLAIMER: Opinions in this post are entirely the Author's. The author does not intend to cause any hurt to the blogger whose blog is reviewed. In case a blogger is uncomfortable with his/her blog being breviewed, please comment on the breview & the post shall be immediately withdrawn. )

Up Next: Breview 4 - PHANTOM

So till then...keep waiting...and watching.

And do tell me how I fare as a reviewer.

Shaken, but not stirred

I should've said, broken, but undeterred *YOUCH*

Now the facts. Sunday morning 1030 to 1730 was spent playing cricket, with a season ball (leather, red one, u know) , *ow*, and now each and every part of my body is aching...no its hurting like hell!!!....

*oo*aah*ouch*...

iodex doesn't help...and so don;t 100 odd comments that need to be resolved tonight...

*sigh*its gonna be a long night*ouch*

P.S: Both the author's hands are bruised black & blue. He seems to have major swelling in his right hand, and not so minor in his left hand. There is no guarantee of the next post, only if he manages to survive this pain*YOW*..

But it was worth it!!

Love...is it for real?

Another existential question, this time I m questioning the existence of something as fundamental as love.An emotion that identifies life, or rather is embodied by all life forms.

And I say, there's nothing called as love. Love is nothing but compromise. The amount of love u have for a person is actually the level of compromise you are ready to make for that person.

Funny, and also outrageous, you may say. But try to think of it, and you wont find any argument that negates this opinion. Simply becoz all forms of love translate into some or the other kind of compromise...that one/both people involved have to make.

Not satisfied? Ok, let me discuss some situations. Your parents love you unconditionally. This translates into the fact that they can compromise to any level for you. And your love for them is also measured by the amount of compromise(or you can call it sacrifice) that you can make for them. So in simple terms, its the amount of compromise you make.

Still not convinced? Another situation: If you say you love someone, it translates into how much you are ready to let go for him/her. Which again translates into a compromise, doesn't it? And it all usually ends up in marriage, which is another compromise, where the girl compromises by leaving her parents' home, and the guy compromises by accomodating her and looking after her. Any let up in this compromise, and u see marriages in trouble.

So you see, what exists is not love, but compromise. Which is why people find it so tough to define love....

This may be a hard hitting post, but I feel whatever I have written here is the truth. I do not know if some philosopher has already said this, and I dont give a damn if they already have. But this is my own realisation, and I am most willing to hear any arguments otherwise...

adios

Lazy Bum!!!

Yeah that s me....

and in order to live up to my reputation *ahem*...I am lazying off and not putting up a big post....

So this is a lazy bum saying that he'll put up a more readable post very soon *yawn*

till then...*yaaaaaaaaawn*....

adios

P.S. I'll be back!!!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

BREVIEW - 2 : Akruti

If speech is silver, then silence is golden. And when we have silence expressing its thoughts, there can be nothing more valuable....

and that, more or less sums up what Akruti has to offer to her readers. Thougts, freely flowing, beyond the barriers of language, feelings unhindered..that go all the way & touch your heart. Beware, you'll get addicted to this blog once you read it. And this is proved by the number of hits on her blog in the 1 year she's been around.

Writing largely in English, with few bits here & there in Hindi, most of the posts are contemplative, and mostly about her life, and the various experiences she has. One thing I must say here is that though the posts are long, they never get dull for a moment. Espacially when different moods, expressions are highlighted by different colours.

Something about the blog template:

All in all, a very soothing template. The light-brown background has a sobering effect on the reader, who feels nice & relaxed while reading the blog. Each post has a mix of various colours, that keeps the reader engrossed even if the post is long(which it invariably is). Lots & lots of pictures, that blend very nicely with the post. And there s lots on the right-panel, specially the footprints part.

All in all, if you have n't read Akruti, you are missing something.

BRATING: **** and *

Akruti, you have been lighting up many a lives, and encouraging many people(including yours truly) to move forward in life, keep doing so forever.

May the force be with you!

Up Next: Breview 3 - Toeragz

Watch this space...

adios.

( DISCLAIMER: Opinions in this post are entirely the Author's. The author does not intend to cause any hurt to the blogger whose blog is reviewed. In case a blogger is uncomfortable with his/her blog being breviewed, please comment on the breview & the post shall be immediately withdrawn. )

P.S: I am going on a week long sabbatical, starting tomorrow, where all my net access will be cut off! I will come back sometime around 22 Aug.

And tell me how I fare as a reviewer

Life...this week.

This summarizes how this week has been for me...

Hope the next one is better.

adios

BREVIEW - 1 : Wise Donkey

Its not every day that you see a wise donkey, and to this day,I haven't seen a wiser one.

I am talking ofThe Wise Donkey, whose wisdom has made an ardent admirer out of me. Even though the title of the blog advises you to "carefully administer the doses"...I'd say its better to generously administer the same.

WD's posts have always made me think, see a perspective which I would have missed otherwise...and the Aargh diaries really speak of situations that are very much possible, and keep happening in our daily lives.

Now something about the blog template itself ( the usability guy in me speaking out now..)

A very simple, uncomplicated, white background, that does its work well to put the focus more on the text posted on the blog, much as WD would have liked it. The blogroll is a bit cluttered, and I don't know if this is how its meant to be.
Though pink & green seem to be the donkey's fav colours, as they appear as background colours on most of the left-pane, and also on the comments pane.

All in all, a must read blog!

BRATING : **** & 1/2

P.S: Currently, WD is on a vacation, but I hope for an early return. We all miss your wisdom, donkey.

Up Next: BREVIEW - 2: Alochana

Watch this space...

And do tell me how I fare as a reviewer :-)

ciao.

( DISCLAIMER: Opinions in this post are entirely the Author's. The author does not intend to cause any hurt to the blogger whose blog is reviewed. In case a blogger is uncomfortable with his/her blog being breviewed, please comment on the breview & the post shall be immediately withdrawn. )

Who will guard the guards??

This post is inspired by the recent happenings all around us. The BREVIEW series will shortly follow.

Consider the following three incidents:
1. London, UK : Scotland Yard's Anti terrorism cell shoots down a suspect suicide bomber, only to discover later that he was innocent.
2. Kashmir, India: Rashtriya Rifles' Jawans take down four poeple suspect to be terrorists, only to discover later that they were a part of a marriage party.
3. Gurgaon, India: Haryana Police circles a set of protestors and beat them black & blue.

The three incidents listed above(and the many similar incidents that happen almost daily), indicate that law enforcement agencies around the world are on their nerves, shooting just almost anyone who looks like a terrorist.

The London incident is a really shameful blot on Scotland Yard. Consider this, the "suspect" was shot 5 times at point-blank range, and officers who shot him thought he was a suicide bomber coz he was wearing a heavy overcoat on a hot day, and took an "unusual route" into the train. I can't comment on the unusual route, but if you shoot someone at point blank range, it means that you could have avoided the shooting also.

So is the Kashmir incident. Did the RR guys even once try to stop those people & search them, maybe that would have saved 4 lives? Or is it that being trigger-happy can solve the problem of terrorism?

The third incident is what happened yesterday, and has shaken my faith in the law enforcement agency, that calls itself "Police". Does being a policeman means you can round people up and beat them like hell?? Yes, the mob had gone unruly, but then its the job of the police to control the mob, not to remove their frustration by beating them up?? The job of the police is to "PROTECT", but they seem to think that their job is to dominate, not protect. Of course, their are honest policeman, whom every Indian must be proud of, but it is incidents like these that shakes the common man's perception of the law enforcement agencies..

There may be an opinion, that says, "Hey, every war has some collateral damage". Yes, but try explaining it to the mother of that innocent brazilian, shot 5 times, by people supposed to protect him.

His mistake: Wearing a thick coat on a hot day......

My Diary Updated

Hi

I have updated my diary...a must read post....check it out.

coherent rambling

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABBBBBBBBBBBB....

You know what s that ??? It means long time no c(see)...

Ok Ok bad return joke...

Feels so nice to write again, after a long break from blogging...though this break broke much of my back....anyways enough breaks for now!!!

Last few days were hectic, and office seemed hotter than hell (OK I dont know what hell's like, but college labs wualify enough). Now with a lot of work behind my back, i'll finally get some rest...

And somehow i think this work has had some effect on my brain ( what, did i hear you say its non-existant???)... but i m not sure.

I'll be posting more regularly now, to restore some level of sanity ( at least ).

Also i am planning for a series of BREVIEWS, that is, reviews of some of the blogs i read, why i read them, what i like about them etc.

And that will be the next post...

till then, have a great time.

ciao.

Blog-breakers

Yeah that's right. blog-breakers- Those bloggers taking a break from the blog world.

This is an increasingly large community, with members being added everyday.

I am glad to announce the existence of this community. It seems that lots of bloggers(including yours truly) are taking breaks from the blog world, for reasons unknown.

Why? Work Pressure? Blogger Block? ET forces?

I have no answers.

adios

P.S The author has gone back to his blogger-break for an indefinite period now. Though he will be consistently bugging other active bloggers thru his vegetative state.
Any one willing to join the blog-breakers community is requested to leave a comment at this post. Maybe there will be a post listing all bloggers taking this break.

I .... WILL....BE.....BACK

in a week's time....

just hang on ...........

Sifting through the debris.....

Today...almost 6 months after the explosion that shook my entire life...i sit to sift the debris that it left (see this)

....trying to analyse what went wrong...why did all my dreams suddenly turn into nightmares...why did all those sweet memories suddenly meta-morphosize into painful thoughts....

and all I see is my fault.

Had I given her a little more time than I did.....

Had I taken off a week and gone to visit her, spend some time with her and give her some confidence...

But am I the only culprit who triggered this? Couldn't she have trusted me? Why did the trust end...and took our lives down with it?

I seem to have absolutely no idea....though taking more blame for this seems to be making me feel better...

somehow its so comforting to know that you were wrong..and not the one you loved! She was right, and maybe she still is.....

i'll retain this debris though...who knows when i'd have to go through it again....some day!!!

who knows, at least not me!!

Thank You....

Let me tell u a story..

Once upon a time there was a lazy bum who wrote a blog. As he made more friends, they all asked him to update the look of his blog. But as we said, he was a lazy bum...so he searched efor an excuse here and there to avoid this work.

Then one day, a Good Friend came along. And took control of the blog, and made it look fresh.

This is the story behind this new look. Though I am not naming this wonderful friend of mine.... :)

My friend is the one who deserves all this wonderful feedback about the new look.

And a big THANKU from me!!

Thanx....

P.S There are a still a few minor changes to make. The hit counter & blogroll would be coming up soon!

appRAIS(E)al - Part 2

Part one was the sad part of the story, part two is the traditional Happy Ending!

Yes...today I finally got the mail for my new compensation...and man..it ROCKS!!!

Its way too much ...far beyond my wildest imagination.....

For a person with just 10 months of work ex (as of date), the hike is mind-boggling..

and all i can remember are my manager's words when I asked him about the raise last time..."you won't be surprised by the hike, you'll be shocked!!!"

Shocked ....? Yes I am....

Happy .... I very much am....

And so is my mom...she is on cloud nine....and should be.

Its been many years since she's been there.

Something I'd say...I'm here today coz of u only, ma! I know u don't surf the net, and u definitely won't see this, but I just want to say its not my hardwork, but yours. Its you who has put me here, and I won't disappoint u ma....

Promise....

ciao.

P.S: Oh, and for all the party seekers, you are invited to a place of your choice at a time of my choice :-) .... so tell me the place..i'll tell u the time!!!

Software Engineer Jokes

Somu pls don't mind...ur name is there many times in these...


Here we go....

Ramu : Hey.. my submarine software is not sinking into the water!!what could be wrong?
Somu : may be u have used float instead of double in the software

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

Ramu: i am very very sure that the guy who just talked to me is a Software engineer...
Somu: how do u say that?
ramu: he asked my physical address instead of my home address!


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

Ramu: shhhh...I think the SW Engr who is sitting in the next cabin must be a farmer before .
somu: How do u know...?
Ramu: he asked me today if there is a way to cultivate the bit fields..!!

-----------------------------------------------------------
Somu : Hey Bull, Can you do me a favor?
Can you pass on this 500 ruppees to Suthi..?
Bull : Sure... why not? But tell me one thing. Tell me whether its pass by value or pass by reference...
-----------------------------------------------------------

ramu: Hey... I think that SW Engg is very very naive..
somu: How do u say that?
ramu: He believes that there is an Arabian Sea next to Arabin Sea.

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

ramu: Hey.... whats time now?
somu: System time or local time...??
-----------------------------------------------------------

ramu: Hey... I have a problem. My system is not booting up!
somu: may be, its internal buses are on strike...check out!

-----------------------------------------------------------
ramu : (while browsing the TV) what is this? I have heard of Star Sports, Star Movies and Star Plus. Whats this Star Equals??? Is it a new Star channel?
somu : No, = operator has been overloaded in Star Channel.

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

seetha : I think that SW Engr is very naive...
geetha : how do u say that?
seetha : He believes "Rascal" is a new version of Pascal!

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

Ramu : why are u wipping ur terminal very often with
a cloth?
Somu : clear command is not working properly for my
terminal. that's why?

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

babu : yesterday I bought a new TV whose terminal is
compatible with computer... but its audio portion
is not at all working
gopu : may be its compatible only with dumb terminals???

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

Vanish: We have shifted our home to RK Puram now...
soni : right shift or left shift??

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

Software DT in Heaven:
ramu : hey.. I coudlnt send a mail to Hell
today...it says mail "demon" not running...
somu : ur case is better! ... for me, it says "ghost
not reachable" and bounces back!

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

enjoy...

adois.

My Diary Updated

Hi folks,

please check my updated blog .

Best Wishes
coherent rambling

Thoughts...

Why can't I control my thoughts....control my mind, and tell it what to think & what not.

Had a chat with her again on the fone today...its like scratchin wounds, preventing them from healing..and it hurts. Hurts me, and I think it hurts her too. I think, but I don't know because I can't say I know her. After what happened, no, I don't know her as well as I used to think.

We both know we are running away, not from each other, but ourselves. It is always so easy to go away from someone, but its not easy to go away from yourself. That also when a part of you wants those wonderful times again....

Those mornings in college, those evenings in the temple, those nights on the phone.

I don't know...but I just want to roll up in a corner & cry...very unmanly, yes, but still. Its like releasing a dam....just that this one is bound to fill up sooner.

Many of my friends say...Hope I was you, but do they know its not so easy being me.

Its just me, myself and the endless black sky. No light....

Going back into the dark....and soltitude.....when will my life be like a life?

I have no answers. Only questions....

bye

SOS (Save Our Surroundings)

Well , now that Somu has set me up for this, i'll continue further...

here's a list of things that i'd like to do for the earth:

1. Use recycled paper, and any products made of recycled material.
2. Say an absolute NO to plastics of any kind, especially the ones u get while u shop.
3. Plant a sapling every month.
4. Buy a non-polluting vehicle ( i'd love to drive a bicycle, but its too hot in delhi for it).
5. Try to reduce wastage, if any of my friends do it.

hmm....i'd pass this on to.
Phantom
Shantz
Deepak
Recca
Neha

and all those who want to pick it up and carry it forward!!

adios

Some poems that I like:

Just a compilation of poems that I'd like to share:

I Am Not Yours
by Sarah Teasdale.

I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.

You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.

Oh plunge me deep in love - put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.

How Do I Love Thee?
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Hope Is The Thing With Feathers
by Emily Dickinson.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

And finally.....something that hits something deep in my heart, whenever i read it.

Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead
by Lord Alfred Tennyson


Home they brought her warrior dead:
She nor swooned, nor uttered cry:
All her maidens, watching, said,
‘She must weep or she will die.’

Then they praised him, soft and low,
Called him worthy to be loved,
Truest friend and noblest foe;
Yet she neither spoke nor moved.

Stole a maiden from her place,
Lightly to the warrior stepped,
Took the face-cloth from the face;
Yet she neither moved nor wept.

Rose a nurse of ninety years,
Set his child upon her knee—
Like summer tempest came her tears—
‘Sweet my child, I live for thee.’

just these for now...btw what are your fav poems ppl?

ciao

The story of a raise....and a party thereafter.

So here it goes...

Once upon a time there was a raise..that took forever to appear.

Well thats the sad story folks. The raise announcement has been delayed to third week of June, and it will be effective from June's salary(that'll appear in July)..so summers 'll b probably dry.

All this due to some 'delay' on part of our managers. Well it shud be a fair game. If I work overtime to avoid delaying my work, shudn't they do the same?? This is a forbidden question, I know...but still...it's gotta be asked.

But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. So the lining here is that the incentive is going to come in may salary(that'll come day after tomo)...

So i'm still game for a small party(possibly at someplace in ggn), once the incentive arrives. and for my friends not in delhi, well guys n' gals..its just gotta be when we meet...

adios

appRAIS(E)al

thats how that word shud be spelt(hope that oxford guys are listening)...

well its the raise part that is more important...but that s getting delayed. so i still dont know how much of a hike am i goin to get...though my boss man says its goin to make me happy...hope it does.

but the rest is fine. the review of my performance was good, with the boss man being happy with my performance. so things look good.

and to all ye treat seekers....ye shall have yer day. when i meet you, you can claim the treat then.

will update this once my bank acc gets updated.

till then..keep waitin.. even I am !!!!

ciao

Busy, busy...BUSY!!

Ya I am busy at the moment....actually I am sort of stealing a few moments to write this.

Coding has begun. And life is beginning to get hectic. With the user interface being approved, the work has begun. And its tough taking time out to even have lunch.

All this when its really hot. So there s not much respite even after office, when the rusty old air-cooler fails to cool.

Today may be judgement day. Our appraisals are scheduled for today. Lets see how it turns up. Hope its good.....

The fingers remain crossed.

adios

What did I do?

This is the sequel to the last post. Lots of comments & opinions on whay should be done, and what not, but nothing near to what I(rather we) did.

First of all, to remove any misconceptions, let me describe my physique. I am 6 ft, around 85kgs, and referred to as Goliath by my friends(they use more exotic names than that, but i'll leave it here :) ).

Now, me and 3 friends(lets say A,B,C & me) go to this hotel. We order teh rice, find the roach after consuming it, and get it on the bill. So C gets outraged and calls for the manager. Who comes in the managers' place to meet us is the head waiter. the guy is really apologetic(again) and takes the bill, telling us that he'll see what he can do.

After ten minutes of waiting, we get the change back(we had given him the money), and to our surprise, there was no change.

As we get up, the manager approaches us.
Manager: "So how was the food?"
A: " It wasn't good"
Manager:"Why?"
A:"There was a cockroach in the rice"
Manager: "So everything got spoiled,huh.."

And we were shocked!!!! The guy had the audacity to say this. Not to be outdone, I add....actually its not fair on your part(the manager is staring at me now). Your waiter took the rice away...we couldn't even eat the roach, and we even paid for it.

The rest, as they say, is history...i said this loud enough for the entire hotel to hear it, so most of the faces were shockes, the ladies started poking around in their food, searching if they'd get one....and we were laughing like anything.

Oh..and the look on the manager's face was worth it. We just left after that...not even asking for the money.

The cockroach was compensated by the look on the manager's face.....

So thats about it....

What do you guys say now...was this the right thing to do??

ciao.

What would you do?

Consider this situation...

You go to a very nice hotel with your friends to have dinner. After eating a substantial portion of rice, you discover a dead cockroach in it(yechh). You call the waiter & show it to him, and he profusely apologises and asks you if u'd like a replacement. You deny.

Later on, when the bill comes, you notice that the rice is included in the bill...

What do you do???

Paraskevidekatriaphobia..

No tis is not one of my latin ramblings....this means fear of friday the 13th, and today is one...

Amazing to note how many people believe in this superstition that 13 th falling on a friday is unlucky. And even more amazing is the fact that this superstition exists in the so-called developed nations like Eurpoe, Britain, US. What's there to fear in a number , I say.

But my friday the 13th was amazingly well. I finished most of my work, got a little word of appreciation from my CE, and that's about it. Otherwise this has been a very much normal day..

though I don't know the origin of this phobia...can anyone educate me on this one?

A Dream within a Dream

A beautiful poem by Edgar Allen Poe... Read on

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep - while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

Figure this..

that my blog now has a blog of its own...though it exists in, and carries my profile (that devilish grin creeps back on my face)...

the address is: http://diaryofablog.blogspot.com/

and I won't post on it...this blog of mine will.

aloha

Oh, My suffering blog

My back is broken
And my fingers hurt...
My head is spinning
Due to all that work....
And I want to write
But too tired I am....

I know this ain't sense...
Neither does it rhyme
But oh, my suffering blog...
Thou shalt have your time.

Protect man from harrm by wife!!!

so goes a heading in the times of India today....here's the link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1098622.cms

Sheer example of women power, I'd say. So this reinstates my belief that there are cases of men being harassed also. And I also know that there are many such cases that go unreported, of uncooperating wives, nagging wives, wives who think they are smarter and try to look down upon their husbands, sometimes even embarrasing them in public. In countries like the US, husbands are also entitled by the law to file harassment cases against their wives...but do we have such provsions in India?

Then there is this another interesting story : http://epaperdaily.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?
Daily=CAP&Enter=true&Skin=TOI&GZ=T&AW=1115266656218

where a man is asking the court to prevent his wife from having an abortion. This is a really complicated set of questions out here.

1. Does a woman have the absolute right to abort a child, without the consent of her husband?
2. Does the court have enough authority to prevent a woman from aborting, on request from her husband?
3. Even if the woman is stopped from aborting the child, will she also not have the right to ever visit or see that child(considering that she never wanted the kid in the first place)?
4. Can a man be given the full responsibility of raising the kid alone(considering that the mother is needed during the first few months)?

The funniest part in this entire episode is the reason for the couple's seperation. In the husband's words: “Upon her return she began to have bouts of homesickness and said she could not bear the thought of spending the rest of her life here,”...homesickness after marriage?? Another debatable issue...

Can homesickness be a ground for divorce? Does marrying a man who lives in another state not mean agreeing to live with him far from your home??

Lets see how these two cases turn up in the future!

Why?

Why do things remain in memory even though I want to forget

why do I still hope for miracles that are not going to happen

why do I still wait for the one who has left,
and is never going to come back..

why can't I forget all this, even though I've forgiven...

why don't I just carry on with my life..

why, is this burden so heavy on my back?

Why do I still wait...for the moments that are never going to happen

why do I still plan for a future
that is not going to come.

why am I still holding on to a love..
that I have lost.

why can't I live alone again..when I've done so in the past.

Wish I knew the answers to those, but then a question remains...

Why ... do I still love her..and want her back?

Why......

Superpower India?

Oh monday morning...u come once in a week..and we all so loath thee..

Ha..one stupid attempt to make some poetry up..oh why do I even try?

and my morning times of India says: "India, a superpower without fire"

A wonderful article, and I sincerely want to thank TOI for putting it up front. What amazes me, though, is that the highlighted fact here should be that most of the defence deals are waiting due to bureaucracy and reed-tapism...and the country blames the politicos, not that they don't deserve the blame, but not in entirity. The armed forces need to be technologically upgraded constantly.

I have a question here. Do we lack talent in India that we always have to look-out for technologies from elsewhere. When Indians can be the talented IT workers, who says they can't be dedicated and talented scientists? But as the saying goes.."its all in the money, honey!"

The state of DRDO, and other such defence research organisations is well known. There is an exodus of scientists from these firms to join IT companies offering them huge pay packets, and this is alarming. if India's defence is always going to be dependent on foreign arms supplies, all dreams of becoming a superpower must be abandoned.

A part of the defense budget must be allocated to research, so that DRDO & others are able to recruit more skilled personnel, get new equipment, and deliver on time.

This is not planning for today...its planning for tomorrow...maybe the day after too.

And maybe this future superpower can pay some heed to the people who work so hard to make it a superpower...see that its women are secure, its children not famished, and it does not depend on anyone else....for anything.

amen

Life is getting busy...

Heck ... my life these days is so very busy...

all day i m making class diagrams, making code-structures, sitting in design discussions, and staying up late to finish up work. The deadlines are getting really tight...

but otherwise life s fine, just a little tired these days. And also a feeling of fear as every year I suffer from a bad time syndrome, starting right from today.

Guess this started from class 12, when I had a near-fatal accident on this day...was in hospital for quite some time...and from then onwards every year I face really bad luck for a couple of months starting from today....and I am really scared.

I have tried to work out of this, but the incidents around me during these days generally manage to reinforce my belief about this period.

And there is not much actually going on in my life to talk about....though I still wonder why did I had the heart break a few months ago....well I am trying very hard but at lonely moments....I really miss someone to share my feelings with.

I am back to my lonely life again, and I now guess this is my destiny. If this is, I choose to accept it. After the recent happenings in my personal life, I am not left with much strenght to fight again....

lets see which way life turns in the coming month....towards me or farther away from me...

Just to quote something I remembered from shrek 2: "I'll die at your ruins..but I hope that you're happy"...

Re vera, cara mea, mea nil refert.

adios...

Proud to be...an Indian

Found this profile of an Indian on http://www.blogthings.com/Indian.html

You Know You're Indian When....

Your dad is some sort of engineer or doctor. Your parents say, "Don't forget your heritage." You know what's going to happen in every Hindi movie before it happens You're father and grandfathers have hair on their ears An Asian woman comes on campus and people ask: "Is that your mother? Well then, is it your sister?" Your relatives' houses smell like incense, mothballs or both Your parents say, "Calculus? I took calculus in 8th grade!!" You either really, really want to go to NYU or really, really want to stay away from it "You want a stereo! When I was your age, I didn't even have shoes!" Your dad still pulls his socks up to his knees, you know, the ones with the blue and pink stripes at the top. Your family owns a tennis racquet. You buy corn oil by the gallon. Your family owns butcher knives bigger than your head. You arrive one or two hours late to a party and think it's normal. Everyone in your family has pet names, which sound nowhere close to their real names. You are standing next to the two largest suitcases at the Airport. You talk for an hour at the front door when leaving someone's house. When your parents meet strangers and talk for a few minutes, you discover you're talking to a distant cousin. Your parents don't realize phone connections to foreign countries have improved in the last two decades, and still scream at the top of their lungs when making long distance calls. There is a sale on any item, you buy 100 of them. You have a 'Singer Brother' sewing machine at home. Your mother has a minor disagreement with her (or your dad's) sister and doesn't talk to her for ten years. You hide everything from your parents. Your mother does everything for you if you are male. You do all the housework and cooking if you are female. Your relatives alone could populate a small city. Everyone is a family friend. You know no one who has studied music. You went to a university as far away from home as possible. You still came back home to live with your parents after you had finished. Your best friend got married at the age of 16. You like the meat well done. You eat onions with everything. You use chilli sauce instead of tomato ketchup. You say you hate Indian films but secretly watch them with your parents. You teach Westerners swearwords in your language. You order Indian food in your own language to impress the people you're with but the waiters don't understand you. You avoid public places when with a member of the opposite sex, especially if there is an acquaintance within a 250 miles radius. You always say "open the light" instead of "turn the light on". You secure your baggage with a rope. You're walking out of customs with your trolley at the airport and you see all twenty-five members of your family who have come to pick you up. You go back to your parents' country and people treat you like a member of...the royal family. You're parents would freak out if your sister wore a crop top baring her midriff...but wearing a sari is perfectly acceptable Your parents call all your friends "Beta" whether they are Indian or not Your parent are panicking if you aren't married when you turn 25 Either you really like Indians of the opposite sex or you can't stand them Your mother measures wealth in gold and diamonds A horoscope must decide your wedding date Your parents drink 6 cups of tea a day You are sick and tired of answering questions about "the dot" Your friends could not explain your religion to someone if they tried You could not explain your religion to someone if you tried You have cousins you have never met, whose names you don't know, but who insist they're related to you, even though they bear NO resemblance to...anyone YOU know. Your parents push the concept of an arranged marriage on you and try and demonstrate how well it works whenever they're not fighting. You notice that whenever you go to another Indian's house, your parents always talk about work and business. The second you pull out of someone's driveway, your parents start talking...about them. Every few months your parents say when they're moving back to India No one ever seems to call ahead of time to say they are coming over for a visit. You're proud to be Indian - and you pass these jokes on to all your Indian friends!

Just loved the last one!!!!

ciao...

New pope!!

This just in...the world has a new pope...Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger...Pope Benedict XVI

Just checked out cnn.com....the smoke is finally white..and christians all over the world have a new leader.

I was a great fan of the late John Paul 2, particularly after having read an article on him in the readers digest. A great person who even met the guy who shot at him, and forgave him!! Someone who had seen a lot oftough times in his early days in Poland...but he did a lot for his "Mater Polonia" (Mother Poland) after he became Pope.

A really great person who had broken all rules when it came to meeting the common pubilc. Someone who canonised a lot of saints around the world.

John Paul 2 might be orthodox considering his stand on issues like abortion, birth control, cloning etc. but his immense humanity covers for it all. One of the most wonderful people to have ever lived.

They say that you need two miracles to become a saint. But for John Paul 2, there wouldn't be a shortage of miracles, considering that he lead christianity during very tough & changing times.

John Paul 2, may you rest in peace.

And may your new successor carry forward the good work that you have done....

The only one thing that I rue is that there were a few childhood idols whom I thought I'd meet when I grew up. One was Mother Teresa, another was John Paul 2...... well it seems that this wish of mine remains unfulfilled....

May there be peace in the world.....

adios

Long time no blabber....

so here I go again....

Just had a bad experience with insurance & bank guys....that goes on to prove my belief : "As long as you are not their customer, you are the king. When you are a customer, THEY are the kings"

Yup this one left a bad taste in my mouth..(and reduced my bank balance by around 8k.) just because my stupid insurance agent told me that clearance dates for my ECS are from 1st to 7th every month, and the stupid bank sends my ECS on 27th every month... so I got fined for an ECS bounce(just like a cheque bounce)..for no fault of mine...and I had to shell out double the premium for my policy.....too bloody bad!!!

I just hoped these people learned to be a bit "customer friendly" as mentioned in that freakin customer satisfaction doc....

And yet, somehow, life manages to go on....in its own rythm.....unconcerned with everything going around it (and also in it)!!

Though what amazes me is the wonderful attitude that people have. And also the oh-so-frequent mood swings. Welll......

This week has been less hectic on my schedules, and I've begun to play badminton again...though I've lost rythm & form, but some practice will do good.

And so went another week......

And before I go, a latin phrase I found very much to my liking :

sum ergo edo

means

I am, therefore I eat

oops...lunchtime .... gotta go...

caio

Something just wonderful...

Not my rambling today...but a beautiful piece of poetry that found its way into my mailbox as a fwd: . .. . . its wonderful....and here's how it goes:

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say "Hi"?

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift.... Thrown away.

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.


Left speechless after this one...

adios.

Hope

what a wonderful four letter word...probably the second best word in English(after Sorry), that everyone relies on....

Someone once said," the entire world relies on hope!" . Very true. Hope is the only thing that remains with a person till his very end.

I still remember a wonderful story about hope that I had read in 3rd grade. It was titled "Pandora's Box". When the box was opened, lots of troubles & problems came out of the box into the world. But from underneath them all came out Hope. And hope has been with manknd ever since. Great story,this.

Whatever be the origins, hope lingers around always. There is always a hope that things would turn out better. Always a hope that wrongs would be set right, always a hope that life will be good to you.....always a hope.

Although it sounds more like making false promises to yourself in the time of hardship, but hope certainly brings a cheer to you, even if you know that you are hoping against hope. Its that little relief that comes along with hope makes it all the more better.

And I'm still hoping..........for better times, for my life to come back to me......still hoping.....against all hope......

ciao

Ramblings from the week

My heart was broken earlier .... now its shattered!!

It just got official. I have now been asked never to call, mail, sms, or try to get in touch by any means. Although I had expected this, but I didn't know it would be so tough actually... to think of all those wonderful moments......sighhhhhhhhhh....but its all past now.


Finally after all this time, I finally have my heart back. The difference being that its now shattered in to tiny pieces, & I intend to let it remain that way. Just like some poet said(guess it was robert frost, could be wordsworth for that matter):

The woods are dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep...
And miles to go before I sleep.


Some questions still remain.....& I know that one day I'll get the answers to all of them. One day.....


Came back from home on Monday. And was really amazed by a kid I met on the train. This guy was just in 2nd grade, and was sharper than any 5th grade kid. I haven't heard a kid introduce himself so perfectly. And boy, was he sharp. He was playing with some toys(atleast something normal), knew of words like teleportation(i never even heard of them till high school) and was interested in a gentleman's laptop more than his toys. Sharp kid....
And believe it or not, I forgot the dude's good name, though I can remember it begins with S.

And got lots of stuff, a new mobile (Nokia 3220), and lots of nice memories bout this trip.

Wanted to ramble about the latest stings (carried out by some TV guys), but won't. Everyone has a right to privacy & I don't want to give my views on a topic that concerns someone's personal space.

Hey Shantz & Vishal, the party remains due... big time.

And before I go... something I liked from a forward...

I.N.D.I.A. I Nearly Died In Adoration.

adios....

"Holi"day time

Lots of holidays coming up... tomorrow onwards....

Part of hem are my creation... takin 2 days leave from work & heading out home, thus getting the entire week off. A well deserved break from work after a long time (last one was in Nov)

Also I am really happy for Shantz & vishal, both are going onsite to Dallas in Apr... hope your visas get cleared up & u r headed for the "land of freedom" pretty soon. Though the party still remains due......

Looking forward to lot of rest at home, away from work & computers....though I gotta get myself a new cellfone... lets see which one I pick up.

And finally meeting up with family...poor guys rarely get to see me these days....though its been much the same matter for the last 4 yrs or so. Guess they must have gotten used to this "visitor".

And after a long time, me feeling great today. Was pretty low for some time, but now I guess I'm back in action. Just goin to get charged up & then 'll be all up & goin from monday.

Life ain't fair.... but then it won't be any fun.

Life Sucks!!

Nothing new, I know, still, life sucks.

Its really amazing to know how much is there in this world to do, & its even more amazing to know how little is really possible. I know that all of you "i m possible" types would be crying foul...to heck with ya'all....

These days its pretty boring. Life has become very monotonous, except for the daily evening badminton sessions.A movie every weekend (it was constantine this time) also does not help out much. There is rarely any time to relax.

When I was small, my parents & teachers used to say "work hard now & u'll enjoy in college" . In college the profs used to say, "work hard now & u'll enjoy when u get a good job". Damned liars, all of them.

Aaaargh!!!! It sucks!!!

It couldn't be better. It could be worse.

adios

Are disasters all about compensation

OK... will talk about only one disaster here, of which I know a lot. The bhopal gas tragedy.

A long time ago, in the cold month of december, there was a gas leak in a town called bhopal. The gas was MIC(methyl iso-cyanate), very poisonous. Lacs of townsfolk died, several lacs affected and living their lives in gassed misery..... this was the introduction.

After the gas leak, the govt announced compensation for all affected people. Fair enough. But what the govt did not ensure(as always) that everyone who was getting a chunk of that money was worthy of it or not. I myself know of people who weren't affected, who didn't even belong to the city, but who are getting huge amounts of compensation. Very unfair.

And what about the affected who got the compensation? Well most of them are still living out in slums, having spent all that money, and waiting for another round of compensation, that'll be shortly dispensed. So nice.

Would it not have been better to give these people some source of income rather than the money itself?Sounds good to me, at least it would have provided better lives to many of these. Just like the chinese folk tale, where the younger brother does not give food to a beggar, but takes him to a pond and teaches him how to fish!!

I'd rather see the govt. spend that compensation money to generate jobs reserved for these affected people, clean up their localities of the poisonous chemicals that still linger in the water, give them better living condidtions.......but I guess giving away money just sounds so good, to the short-sighted Indian voters and politicos.....hell why does everything always come down to this???

"POSITIVE" work environment

I am really anguished today......

just learned that there is going to be another series of tests out here at my office to prove if i am 'competent enough'.....gimme a break guys..

there already have been loads of tests out here, and they still want more. So I guess its high time I barfed out my opinion on these.

Y'know when I was in college, I loathed tests.They do nothing but test your cramming ability. And the toppers of these tests generally are the dumbest guys around when it comes to implementation. Not always though, but mostly. One of my prime reasons for doin a job right after college is that I HATE TESTS. But now things are back to square one. Tests & more tests again....the best part being now I am paid to answer these....

I guess our managers like to see how good we are. I think that should show from our work. But by taking these tests they are simply stressing us guys out. Rather than thinking of any innovations that we might be able to bring, all we think of is the test scheduled n some future date. The test results do more bad than good to the team's morale....after all everyone won't get good marks, and those who don't feel degraded.

don't know what this world is coming to......hell .... as though i give it a damn.

The great Indian democracy

Sometimes by looking at the state of Indian democracy, I really wonder why the maoists in Nepal are fighting for it in the first place?

India is a great democracy. Elections are held freely, fairly here. Agreed, though with a pretty heavy heart. In the next few days, Indian democracy will be tested for these virtues when the states of Bihar, Haryana go on polls. It is common knowledge in India that any election that is held in Bihar is rigged to a great extent. Although the EC tries its best to ensure a fair election, things are not so great. Its pretty simple, either you vote for party x or you are dead! Or something like, if you poll 100 bogus votes then you go to sleep with a full stomach that night.

In every industry, customer is treated as God. You are answerable to your customer. I guess the same logic must apply to the politicians as well. After all, it is the public that elects them, that puts them on those chairs(or kursis). The actual reflection of this committment is the Indian parliament, but by looking at the proceedings I wonder if these people are representing the people who elected them or are they simply fighting for their own ideologies, putting self before nation. Although this may sound hasrh, but the arliament sessions have become a mockery of the Indian democracy.

Someone must do something, rather everyone must do something. Only then there is hope.
Otherwise the day is not far when the democracy will crumble, fall apart, & we'll all be at the mercy of the, hell what's the big difference anyways........

Ramblings of a broken heart...

huh..well..here's a topic close to my heart. What is love? is it something that makes you into an object that can be manipulated by circumstance, fate, chance, or by the person you love? Or is it some great feeling that leads to total bliss? I don't know. Well I have fallen in & out of it, but the experience left me poorer. I learnt nothing new, lost my heart, gave away my freedom & got pain in return. Its easy to set your loved one free, its hard to let go. You try to find every small thread of hope & try clinging to it, but when it breaks you still don't let go, you look out for another thread.

I have read a lot of opinions about love, have my own two-piece to add to it, but don't know if its all true. Well love is blind, for that matter, but it also makes the lovers blind. Blind to the reality around them. And as with reality, it always hits you hardest at the worst time. Life really knows to play mean..

Well I know I sound very pessimistic, low , whatever..but i m trying to forget, trying not to hold on....

May God help me. and the countless others who have been in similar situations.

just to quote calvin before signing off

"Your heart falls into your stomach & splashes your innards. This condensation shorts the circuits to your brains and you get all woozy. Your mouth disengages and you babble like cretin until she leaves." - opinion on love

signing off ......

My first post

Hi all


This is my first in a series of coherent ramblings. I am pretty new to writing a blog, but guess I'll learn as time passes by. Something bout myself. I am Ashish, working as a software engineer, loving Calvin 'n Hobbes, Formula 1 cars, reading Dan Brown, and from now on, writing blogs!!

Lets see how this works out....

Signing off for now..

@$#!$#