Neways...

A song on Ricky

2011-03-27T10:17:00.003+05:30

Original song lyrics are at http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/dire+straits/romeo+juliet_20040674.html You would love it if you know the tune as well. It’s a beautiful song by Dire Strait btw.

A dumbstruck Ricky cries aloud at Yuvraj

Laying Australians low with a stupid team that he chose

Finds a convenient floodlight steps out of the pitch

Says something like 'I am from the land of the biggest b^*ch'

Gayle says hey it's Ricky you nearly gimme a heart attack

Ricky's at the check-in counter Gayle says am at Security check

You shouldn't cry around here cursing at Indians like that

Anyway what you gonna do about it?

Gayle the pitch was tampered from the start

And I bet the umpire was rewarded for his part

And I hate the Yuvi's bat

They r gonna realise it was just that the cup was fixed Chris Gayle!

We both are from different teams they both were teams of shame

Both dirty both mean yes and the captains were just the same

And I dreamed the world cup again and it proved to be so unreal

How can you look at me as if I was a school boy who lost a game?

Where they chant Sachin's name and enjoy Yuvi's game

they even loved the Irish and the Kenyan school boys the same

They booed me everyday they booed my sh&* out of me

Now they just say Oh Ricky yeah you know he used to have a bat with him

Gayle when I batted they used to cry

My shots reached the stars above the ball would always fly

There's a place for us you know the commentary box

When r they gonna realise it was just that we grew so old Chris Gayle!!

I can't do the commentary like they talk on TV

And I can't do a commercial the way it's meant to be

I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you

I can't do anything except carry luggage for you

And all I do is miss my bat and the way it used to hit

All I do is leave the ball and look at the broken wicket

All I do is criticize the giants of IPL

Gayle I'd do umpiring with you any time

Gayle when I batted they used to cry

My shots reached the stars above the ball would always fly

There's a place for us you know the commentary box

When r they gonna realise it was just that we grew so old Chris Gayle!!

A dumbstruck Ricky cries aloud at Yuvraj

Laying Australians low with a stupid team that he chose

Finds a convenient floodlight steps out of the pitch

Says something like 'I am from the land of the biggest b^*ch'

Standing firm

2009-11-28T12:42:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Here I am at the crossroads of life trying to argue why I am the best when the world around me is asking me to take blame for something that went wrong. Yeah, you need people of guts and patience to accept blame as some people cannot rest if the blame for the past is not taken by somebody else. They might be blaming themselves until someone else accepts the blame. Fences of defense are built by egoes of the individuals, of the departments, the families, to dodge the blame ball full of dirt. Some people make it their job to throw the blame ball around and that seems to be their day job. There are some who blame it on others when they are bored with life and they feel insecure that they are not working enough. Blame is a very good way of buying time. GOD seems to have floated around blame tickets in air. If you are not able to answer questions, not able to deliver promises, you pick up a blame ticket and buy time, buy understanding from others, superiors. Past is like Earth's gravity pulling you down while you are trying to stay afloat in present aspiring to fly into the velvety skies of future. You need pillars to bear the burden of gravity of the past and let the rest enjoy the fruits of the present. Here is my tribute to all those who take it on themselves to provide solid support to others by standing firm.

The new Srini

2009-11-01T04:00:00.002+05:30

Hi,

I will leave the crap like - It has been really long since I posted on my blog and blah blah..., and come straight to the point. Well the point is - I really don't know. Jokes apart, my personality changed a lot over the last few months and I expect that to reflect in my blog posts and hence my old fans (if at all there are any) may find me different. Don't worry - the Rajnikanth who has so far stolen your hearts will not let you down with a stupid hairstyle or a mellowed down style statement. Life's twists and turns have properly grinded the old Srini and a new complex human being (social animal) has resulted from these circumstances. While the sensitive, romantic, philanthropic side of Srini's personality has made some new profound discoveries, the thinking, scheming, strategizing side of him has provided him good justification to support the greedy, obsessive and other nutcase aspects of his personality. grins grins grins... In any case keep watching this space for posts of more variety, depth, heights, blah blah... I am sure I will not disappoint you with the same selfish crap I have written here every time. Although the narcissitic side of me does show up every now and then and being a bearer of the body that hosts the ego, I have to do enough justice to that wild animal that resides in me. OK, enough crap for the day... C ya good nite....

Lovestruck

2008-11-02T18:13:00.001+05:30

Lying on the sand, looking at the skies
the waves of the ocean tickling my thighs

crescent moon lying in the middle of the stars
descending to kiss me in the late night hours

the calm of the night, the kiss of the breeze
the dance of the stems of the mahogany trees

the beauty on earth and the wonders above
fill my heart to the brim with love

Raindrops

2008-11-02T18:12:00.001+05:30

Raindrops raindrops falling from the heavens
pearls of the blue sky splashing on the ovens

Flirting with the flowers, dirtying the towers
pouring on the covers, engaging the lovers

the showers of the heaven hit the tins of the town
the winds of the ocean broke the silence of the noon

Life's Lessons

2008-11-02T18:08:00.002+05:30

Life taught me lessons
when I least wanted them
the more I sought the riches
the poorer I became

Never was I loved
by the angels of my past
to the demons had I bowed
to get the pride lost

Curt was the voice
the intent was to hurt
my heart stupid coward
had to deal with the dirt

the tears dried on my cheeks
the feelings emptied out
my fears reached their peaks
I was totally worn out

What ensued was peace
and a lot of earthly warmth
as I was brought to my knees
my mind lost its charms

Freed was my soul
from the vanities it owned
greed was the sinner
that got itself stoned

BallHomes

2008-11-01T19:05:00.001+05:30

Hi,

I came across this website - http://www.ballhomes.com/. As a marketing enthusiast, I liked one particular point on this website. The fact that they avoid the shifting of home twice is what I find most attractive. When you study marketing you are told that the more the value you provide to the customer, the more will be customer satisfaction. http://www.ballhomes.com/ handles the responsibility of selling your old home and will help you close the negotiation on the same day you purchase your new Ball Home. Another interesting point is the fact that http://www.ballhomes.com/ concentrates on only one state - Kentucky. It is debatable whether such restriction might halt the future growth of the company. But, concentrating on one particular locality will definitely help the company provide better service to its customers.

Streetwalker

2008-09-10T11:51:00.000+05:30

I was walking down the road
in a strange mood, bored
as cars honked 'Pom pom'
I followed no norm

I was irking everyone
blocking every turn
I laughed my heart out
I heeded no shout

I was tickling my inside
not letting a happy ride
I made them stand by
and jus killed their joy

I jus like to have fun
you seem to be the wrong one
honking shouting crying
I'll be this till I am dying... ha ha ha....

Rat Race

2008-05-20T18:28:00.000+05:30

I cry every day over my fate
that has not given me
the fame of the winner
the money of the sinner
the respect a legend claims
the attention a champion gets

There were moments in my life
when they did touch me
as I tried to grab them
they escaped from my grip
like thin air
those moments still remain
in my memory

Can I get back there?
Do I need to? Has
my purpose changed?
Have I changed?
GOD gives me no answers
the questions prick my conscience
that delves on the guilt
built over the remains
of the confusion
over the minutes wasted

HE shows me the sufferings
of the world and tells me
from inside -
"They are my children too,
they too deserve the bread you eat
they too need the clothes"
As the words prick my conscience
and I suffer from guilt
built over my helplessness
the legs that can move
the hands that can touch
the eyes that can shed tears
are bound by the jealousy
the peer pressure that pushes me
to mount the everest never reached
and wave to the crowd
as the brethren who needed my attention
bury deep in misery

Blessed are those
who found a way out
out of the rat race
the stinking stupid despicable hunt
to build castles
over the remains of the needy

An Attempt

2008-05-20T17:27:00.002+05:30

Hi,

I just read this article and thought I should write something. Below is an attempt:

Lost in the pace of life
mourning over someone else's gain
jealous to the core
wearing the mask of competitiveness
I kill the world
unaware of the harm I do
the cars I buy
the hours I ride

I lost my love for the air
the air that lets me live
I pollute it
and throw the blame
on to the government
that runs politics politically
onto the corporate
that runs its business
what am I doing?
dying a martyr's death?
or living a coward's life?
where lies the solution?
At the policy level?
Or at the grass roots level?

the solution lies with us
with each one of us
live we should our ideals
at least a few of them
and spread the word
to those who listen
world is not dead
until there is love
and care and compassion
until there are people
who die to let others live
people who spread cheer
who spread the message
that believes in the belief
that life lies beyond the lies we live

Never Blind

2008-04-30T14:05:00.000+05:30

Never blind I was in my heart
never was I crippled in my thought

My eyes can't see, my heart sure can
feel the nature and its beauty hidden

Sing I can with my heart divine
the song written by my purest mind

Pure you should be deep within
live not blind with your eyes open

Soul Transcended

2008-04-23T14:42:00.002+05:30

He said to the Guru '
I confess I sinned
I lied to the world
I misbehaved with children
I raped females
I killed people
I ate the flesh
I sought pleasures despicable
I deserve to be punished
to be cut to pieces
by the sword of God
I deserve to be humiliated
beaten out of breath
stoned till death
Hey Guru! The disciple of God
Bestow upon my head thy sacred foot
and crush me beneath the sand
send me to the hell I deserve'

The Guru spoke 'I bow to thee
pure soul is thine
that accepts with utter humility
the sins it committed
the material life it lived
the meaningless material life it has given up
the soul that has ascended
the highest summit surmountable
that has placed itself to sacrifice
in repentance of the sins committed
past is the life lived
All I can do is bow in front of thee
forgive I can't the divine present in you
blessed is thy soul transcended'

Meditation

2008-04-22T12:34:00.002+05:30

All my life I asked myself
what is the purpose of life
should I have a goal to attain
to reach the unreachable summit
to save the planet from forces evil
to spread His message among people
why should I live?
to rearrange the pieces on the planet
and build a palace of dreams?
to heal people? to serve them
to give them a helping hand in the hour of need?
Is this why I am born?

All these create commotion in me
they agitate me they make me want to shout
they make me want to cry out loud
I wish to sit in silence and help myself
I wish to help myself fight out the commotion
the agitation - the wish to cry out loud
I wish to sit in peace under the tree
of enlightenment and relax to prepare myself
for another war that needs to be waged
the war is what is the purpose of life
that is what the world makes me think
as I relax and meditate, I give up thoughts
I give up desire - the commotion
the agitation caused by attachment
to that which never belonged to me
I gave up the purpose that never was one
I sat in silence under the bodhi vriksha
seeking in silence, in deep contemplation
the true purpose that made life meaningful
as I searched for the meaning of the meaning

enlightenment dawned upon me
the path is the destiny
the silence the end of the war
was never the means to wage the war
the war you fight to attain peace
should die the suffering should end
the deepest of your self belongs to none
you are not the shallow you
that sees with eyes, lusts for the skin
that finds happiness in dollars
the depth is deeper
yet to be explored, to be explored by you
the ocean of joy is there for you to swim
the contentment in sacrifice
the freedom in commitment
are all yours - the qualities divine

Life ends

2008-04-22T12:29:00.001+05:30

Silence so gross
violence in the eyes
breath sharp biting
thoughts ignited
feelings suppressed
yet silently expressed
expressed the best
as air filled the chest
lips closed n dry
nose sharp n pointed
forehead scarred
ears fuming red hot
hands trembling
ready to kill
with authority
he sucks in air
looks up with rage
tongue dances
and with a striking force
lashes the whip
life ends

Open up

2008-04-03T17:48:00.000+05:30

Open up, tell me the truths
tell me the lies you lied
tell me the life you lived
I wanna see, I wanna hear
I wanna feel the feelings you feel
that you do not reveal
Tell me the moments that made you live
live life to the fullest measure
to the measure unmeasurable
reveal thyself, reveal thy heart
reveal the heart inside thy heart
tear open thy wounds
wounds that kept you wound
that never let you open
that never let you sleep
let them rest, speak up

Open up the windows
the windows that have bound you
the windows tight that make you stink within
open them, let the fresh air in
it won't choke you, it won't kill you
it will heal you and it will fill you
unlock yourself, unwind yourself
a hearty smile is what you need
do not hold tight
to the dearest of your secrets
uncover them, reveal them
and celebrate the happiness the joy
of living naked

Srini Quotes

2008-04-02T17:49:00.001+05:30

There is no end to love
there is no beginning
when did your Mom start loving you
when will she stop
what ends is not love
what starts is not love
love is eternal
You always had love
You live in love, you die in love
What you call love is just a game
A game of infatuation
A game of egoes
Love is what you are
Love is your very nature

Anger

2008-03-21T11:37:00.000+05:30

They hit me, they kicked me
they stripped me, they humiliated me
the rage inside me was seething
as I kept breathing
the anger, the suppressed repressed emotion
aiming to burn them to ashes
it burnt my feelings
my feelings of affection and love
to my fellow beings
the respect I show
the joy I experience
when I feel at home
with people
kith and kin
my brethren
was burning
hatred crept in
it throve on the fire
burnt them-the feelings I attach to them
in me, within me
it burnt my insides
it burnt me
in the past I lived
hating them-the feelings I attach to them
as moments passed
when I realised
I realised my love for them
despite their cruelty
the innocent cruelty
the babies in them
that hit me, kicked me
stripped me
the babies that found joy
in the silliness of it all
the baby in me
that burnt them-the feelings I attach to them
within me
the feelings so sacred, so divine
the memory of the feelings remained
the feelings remained
deep within my soul
feelings that say
I love them the innocent ones

Who Am I

2008-03-17T15:30:00.001+05:30

Am I the body
the hands and limbs
moving randomly
Am I the act of a playwright
Am I the script
that is neatly woven
with the thread of emotions
by the needle of memories
Am I a part of the play
the play that maketh life
Am I the audience
the eye
that sees that hears
that experiences fully
every twist and turn of the play
Am I the spark behind the eye
that glows when it meets the eye
Am I the mirror
nature has created for itself
to reveal itself
to itself
Am I the mindless explorer
exploring himself
Am I the thoughts that maketh the mind
the mind of the explorer
Am I the abstract
the answer to all the questions
Am I the question itself
the question that seeks an answer
but needs no answer
that knows but shies
that knows what it doesn't know
Am I the mystery that hides it all
and smiles in ecstasy
Am I the love
the love that smiles
the love that hides
from the explorer
the innocent one
who reserves his smiles
in search of the truth
and travels miles
as the truth smiles

Colorful dream

2008-03-17T14:15:00.001+05:30

Eyes closed I was
Middle of the night, the light was off
the show began
colours sprang in my thoughts
dull was the day life
filled with strife
my soul came alive
saw the drama
the drama of life
as it never was lived
but can only be dreamed
in the dream
dream uncolored by the reality
the reality that fails to recognise
to recognise what is real
that fails to see with eyes open
that fails to hear
the deafening silence
silence that is deafening
the license
to open up, to forget self
to jump
to sing and dance
to soak itself
in the colors
the colors that fill my dreams
dream I will
the colorful dream

You... filthy...

2008-02-19T16:11:00.001+05:30

Hey you, the cool dude in a pair of jeans
the dude who likes to win by all means

Drugged by comforts, intoxicated with desire
wearing the wrinkled ugly despicable smile

Stop the nonsense, enough of your bullshit
walk straight you horrible culprit

Look into the mirror, you will vomit on it
what have you made of the God's gift

Don't talk about politics you never did vote
the bastards that rule us, are better than you whore

Listen to shit music, if you can't sing, fake
our culture and values are not your cake

Squeeze your brains, dung is what will come out
Shut your mouth, you lost your right to shout

Stop pestering people to get the stupid H1B
Listen to the inner voice, be what you wanna be

What have you done to the society that put up with you
that gave you the education that you very gladly chew

Hitting the keyboard is all you have learnt
All the degrees you got, they better be burnt

Do something good, come out of your dirty sleep
Offer your shoulders to the eyes that weep

Be a hero and make your mom proud
Stand up on your feet above the crowd

Make a difference, break the barriers
Turn the lazy bums into great warriors

Like a warrior, go fight for peace
to the umpteen slaves, bring justice

Only then can you ask God for favours
when you have given up all that is yours

A song to you!

2008-02-19T15:13:00.001+05:30

Hey stranger, another one with two beautiful eyes

I wanna say to you something extremely nice

Has anyone ever sung you a beautiful song

A song that never finds you ever wrong

A song that loves you as you are as you wanna be

that shows you life the way your eyes wanna see

the way your ears wanna hear, your heart wanna feel

the way you wanted it ever itself to reveal

A song that loves you, loves all about you

a song that bows in front of the divine you

A song that makes you wanna smile from deep within

that makes you forget the sorrow that has crept in

Pay for the song with that innocent smile on your eyes

God's gift it is that never does a harm, that knows no vice

If you ever were to cry, listen to this beautiful song

to you and only to you, do I belong

Obama-mania

2008-02-07T18:57:00.000+05:30

Hi,

If you know a little bit of me, you would know who I would support for the presidential contest that is going on in US. Of course, the gigantic, the fearless, the charismatic, the one and only Barack Obama. Read the entire story on this link http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections08/barackobama/story/0,,2066992,00.html . I had watched the video on youtube (don't have the link but you can easily get it if you type in Obama 2004 democratic party convention). He is ammmmazzzing, I never saw anyone spreading the message of hope so effectively as Obama. Most of his speeches are marked with the ecstasy of the crowds marked by some radical statements made by Obama.

Although his appeal for 'United States of America' is very USA specific, somehow I feel the entire world senses a lot of hope with his arrival into the US political arena. I really do not know the nitty gritties involved in the US primary elections, caucuses, etc, but I know he does have a strong contender in the name of Hillary Clinton. Any other day, when a name like Obama had not become this popular, Hillary would have been a sure-shot candidate for the US presidentship. But I am sure America would not want to lose out on the charismatic leadership of Obama and would probably reserve the next tenure for Hillary.

Surface Computing

2008-01-17T05:14:00.000+05:30

Hi,

This video gives a very good overview of surface computing. Why don't you watch it and let me know your views.

Why I became a fan of Kumble

2008-01-11T22:51:00.000+05:30

Unfortunately, these days, when someone apologises, it is seen as either a sign of weakness or an admission of guilt. I am neither unnerved nor are we guilty. In the larger interests of the game, if an apology could help build bridges and smooth things over, then it is better made than left unsaid because of egos.

-- Anil Kumble

Only one team was playing in the spirit of the game

-- Anil Kumble

Hi,

If you are not one of those who gives your flesh to watch a cricket match played by India (I am one of those), you might not have noticed the great controversy that is happening in Australia after Australia's 16th consecutive win under 'cry baby' Ponting's captaincy.

It all started on day one of the test match when Indians' appeal was turned down after Symonds clearly edged a ball to Dhoni. Symonds who was on 30 that time went on to make 162 which just turned the match in Australia's favour. To add to umpire Bucknor's woes, Symonds agreed in a post-match interview that he actualy had nicked that ball.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23000142-11088,00.html

Day 2 and 3 produced some high quality cricket with Australian fight back followed by an Indian classy reply. The centuries made by Laxman and Sachin in this match will still be remembered for long despite the controversy the match has caused.

And then, Ponting did something silly. Infact it was Symonds who was silly. He went to Harbhajan and was visibly sledging him and goading him to respond. Once Harbhajan responded, he turned to Ponting who in turn reported to umpires of Harbhajan's racially insulting comment. This was unacceptable to any cricket lover, because everyone knows how much Australians sledge their opponents and 'mentally disintegrate' them - in Steve Waugh's words. Their reaction to Bhajji's comment only shows how mentally fragile they themselves are and their sportsmanship.

And on day 5, when India started batting to turn the match into a draw (India had all the chance in the world to even win the match had the umpires not given some real bad decisions over the first 4 days of the match), things started getting worse. Before the series began, Ricky Punter Ponting had made a deal with the Indian captain Kumble that whenever there was a doubt whether a catch was cleanly taken by a fielder, both captains should agree to go by the fielder's word. He had done a 'magnanimous' act on day 2 of the match when he had claimed he had not collected clean an edge given by Dravid. But on day 5, when it was so crucial for India to stay on, he and his teammates made a mockery of the spirit of cricket by claiming catches some of which were clearly grounded. The umpires who had ultimate respect for the Australian sporting spirit fell into the great Australian psychological trap and judged the Indian batsmen out (2 crucial wickets of Dravid and Ganguly fell that way) and India was already cheated by the hosts. The fact that Clarke the person who cheated the most took 3 wickets in the penultimate over to finish off the match in Australian favour only rubbed salt in the wounds for Indians.

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Aussies_are_true_masters_of_appeal_management/articleshow/2684508.cms

The post match euphoria started after the Indian catain Kumble stated in the press conference that 'Only one team played in the spirit of the game'. The calm and composed but yet unyielding manner in which he responded touched the hearts of many a cricket fan. The fact that there was more reaction amongst the Australian cricket fraternity and fans than expected only shows the evidence.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4349193a6488.html
http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2008/jan/07roebuck.htm

If you thought it ended there, you are mistaken. The charge that was made against Bhajji was upheld by the match referee and he was banned for 3 matches post the match. There was no wonder the Indians felt cheated and BCCI responded in a really tough manner. I can't help but appreciate BCCI's stand during this entire drama. They have insisted on backing Harbhajan and are willing to pull the team out of the tour if the charges against him are not withdrawn. They even managed to get umpire Bucknor removed from the next test match (Although some will argue this was not correct, I as a cricket fan see nothing wrong in the decision taken by the ICC in the interests of the game). While Ponting behaved in a rather immature way by shouting furiously at an Indian reporter who questioned Ponting's integrity in appealing for a catch that was grounded, the Indian captain Anil Kumble won the hearts by keeping his calm and compose and by giving it back to the Australians with utter dignity. He clealry stated to the press how he felt cheated by his Australian counterpart where some claims by the fielders turned the match in their favour.

The match surely will be remembered for all the frenzy it has caused. I as a cricket fan was surely disappointed but am happy that the Indian captain conducted himself in utmost dignity.

I love America!

2008-01-04T08:38:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Well, America is a developed nation. And in a developed nation you cannot throw out pennies to get someone to wash your dishes or your clothes. Well, so what? They have invented washing machines and dish washers. If you think they are costly and not everyone will be able to own them, stop there. They have even invented the coin operated machines. Drop some quarters and zoom... your washing machine starts operating. If you are used to having a chat with the canteen owner at your office when you grab a pepsi, you are in for disappointment at US. You need to drop in coins in the vending machine to grab a pepsi.

Last week, 2 of my colleagues shifted homes and needed assistance from me and my friend. I was advised to flex my muscles before going to help them. Let me list out the facts here - you can rent a truck but not a driver - of course you can if you are willing to shell $400 :-O! Forget about renting man power for loading and unloading stuff. So I was picked up from office on a 24 ft truck. Oh yeah, the colleague of mine was driving and I sat beside him. It was a nice huge truck - I still hate myself for not clicking a photo with a towel around my neck and a beedi between my lips sitting in the drivers' seat of the truck. Anyways, it is quite a huge vehicle to manipulate and if you are thinking of shifting to US at a later point of time, keep in your mind that you will have to drive a truck at some point or the other - unless you wish to live and die at the same place. Whether you want to smoke a beedi and wear a towel around your neck is upto you. So we reached his home and started on the job. A ramp behind the truck can be pulled out to help you roll things up. There is a dolly provided - I would rather call it a trolley - but you can't use it for big stuff - only small ones would fit. So I carried stuff - dresser, sofa, TV, beds, boxes, big boxes, huge boxes. I never imagined a Toshiba TV of 32" screen could be that heavy. Anyways, gripping it was even tougher. So the loading of 60% of one home was done on Friday. Saturday started with the loading of the remaining 40%, then unloading the entire 100%. A nice lunch to follow and we were to set to the second colleague for his stuff. Luckily 80% loading was done by the time we went. So we helped with the remaining 20%. And then the unloading at the destination - thankfully there were more people to help here. At the end we had nice chinese dinner. I felt very proud when I came back - I never might have thought I would be able to carry that heavy stuff. But yeah, for the coming two days, I had my hands and legs aching and had to walk like a robot. I'm Lovin' Ammerikha!

1995 movie - Dangerous Minds

2007-12-28T23:08:00.000+05:30

Hi,

This is an old movie of 1995 and I happened to watch it on TV. Earlier I had watched some movies of Michelle Pfeiffer, but this one by far was her best I have seen. She looks like a perfect fit for the story - a teacher trying to educate the unruly guys. Although I normally don't like those movies where you need to reach for tissues (there is a particular category which I have always liked but not the sad ones!), I was moved by Michelle's acting in some particular scenes in the movie. She gave a lot of life to her character - do try to grab a dvd and watch this one!

District B13

2007-12-27T02:31:00.000+05:30

Hi,

If you have ever liked an action movie, even a part of it - even if you are one of those kinds who hate action movies, do not do NOT miss the movie 'District B13'. It is a wonderful amazing adventurous super movie. I saw the first scene of the movie by chance and could not take my eyes off it. It was directed at a breathtaking pace, with wonderfully athletic actors in the lead roles. The way the characters Le'ito and Damien jump from the ground, on to the buildings, off the buildings, onto the roofs, over the walls, up and down - Oh My GOD! I am never going to say I don't love action in movies. Such splendid action with wonderfully choreographed martial arts - it is seriously unbelievable! And no, they did not use much graphics. The two heroes are I believe originally stuntmen and they did all the stuff on their own. The pace of the movie is just ammazzingg... Trust my word and get the movie - btw, it'z a French movie so you need English subtitles to understand the dialogues and yeah the dialogue are good too!

I am Legend

2007-12-26T23:07:00.000+05:30

Hi,

The good news is - since I am at US for the Christmas season, I could receive the $25 gift movie card that is given away to everyone in the team for the holiday season. The bad news is - I wasted more than half of it on a bad movie - I am Legend. Yep, it is a bad movie. I won’t give stupid opinions like - “It’s a decent plot, but a half baked one but still there are some takeaways” etc etc. A bad movie is a bad movie is a bad movie. It was gripping in the middle, but seriously lacks any meat. It is based on a novel and I think the author lacks the maturity of some other prolific writers of the age. He/she does not give any importance to detail. OK, I accept your idea that some virus spreads out in the world and 95% humans become infected, but where is the meat? Support it with facts - show the transformation. In the end, a touch of GOD is given, but again lacks any depth. Facts may not be required here, but some depth of the sentiment needs to be shown. He tries to put in some concept of destiny in a very naive manner. Will Smith is OK, but can try to be more choosy about the movies he takes up.

Welcome to the Hotel California... Part 3

2007-12-05T22:50:00.001+05:30

The next day we set off to Mystery spot, a nice mysterious place located near Santa Cruz. It was a 1 hour drive through hilly winding roads with nice picturesque sceneries and amazing roads - all of which I had captured on the cam. Mystery spot is a hilly area where gravity laws are defied - no perfect scientifc explanation has been given so far. A person taller than me appeared shorter than me and I could walk slantingly etc etc. It was a nice experience, I did take the photos and the video. When we returned, I was all tired and sis took me to a nice mexican restaurant - Chipotle's. Nice tacos stuffed with Black beans, Guacomela sauce (again the spelling!!) and also some rice item with corn, sauce, beans etc filled my tummy - my GOD that was a meal! I have to take Deepthi to such restaurant some day - she will enjoy it a lot.

I had a nice dinner and set back on the return journey, only to learn at the Oakland airport that the pilot had not turned up!!! After listening to my complaint that my first ever trip within US was being ruined, the United guy offered me a direct flight trip from San Francisco till Philly the next day morning along with accommodation in a nice hotel called Westin. The hotel was good, but the experience was unwanted. I had to take time off on monday and probably will have to compensate by working on a saturday. Neways, that was about the journey. It was great and I am all tired. I returned to my hotel to find my Dell Lappy delivered :-)! I love it!

Welcome to the Hotel California... Continued

2007-12-05T22:49:00.000+05:30

We set off to San Francisco on train. I captured the train journey on the handycam. Nice journey with a 15 minute travel over the pacific bay. we got onto a tram in San Francisco - looks like the trams are a trademark of the city. I captured even that on my cam. Then we reached the 'Fishermen's wharf' from where we set on a Bay cruise that took us through the bay area of the pacific ocean around the golden gate bridge - that is a historical bridge which had opened up trade in San Francisco some centuries ago. The boat then took us through the Alcatraz - which is an island in the ocean. Alcatraz is a prison where dangerous criminals are jailed. It is next to impossible to escape from the prison because of the security there and also because noone can swim 1.5 miles through the cold water to reach the city. Only 2 tried to escape long time ago, one of whom died and the other only survived bcos he was captured by the coast guards.

Then, we spent the entire day walking through the streets of San Francisco - we visited Madame Tussaud's museum over there. The wax idols there were not exact replicas - not the quality ones they have in London and Los Angeles - but they were good all the same. Srikanth took a picture of mine with Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, Salma Hayek, Marilyn Monroe and Angelina Jolie. We bought some ghirardeli's chocolates (did I spell it right?!) and set back to Fremont. It was a tiresome night and I had a good night's sleep. Ankith was in a good mood and sang danced for several rhymes he has been learning nowadays.

Welcome to the Hotel California...

2007-12-05T03:33:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I had been to California over the weekend. It was a long journey - a 6 hour long flight and another 1 hour long flight. United was the airlines I flew by. the operations were bad, I had to run for the connecting flight in Los Angeles with a transit time of 15 minutes only to learn that it has been delayed. And the gate number had been changed 3 times, before they finally flew us through a small flight where even the cockpit was visible to the passengers. The good thing was I met a Japanese guy there who started talking about India. I was wearing a kurta that time and he said it was looking good. He asked me for all the info about India - where do you find the people with turbans, where do you find those guys in mela doing all the tricks with fire, ropes etc. I had to tell him that the cities do not have such population. He was even interested in meeting fakirs. I was amazed at the knowledge he has on the Indian culture, but had to correct him several times of the perception he has. He was so afraid of catching flu over there, etc etc.

The air hostess in the first flight was a 50+ year old lady :(, but she had nice sense of humour which made the travel enjoyable. I got down at Oakland airport to find Srikanth, my brother in law waiting for me. I cannot tell you how happy I felt that time. Here I am in an alien country and for more than a month have not met a relative in person. It was really a great moment to see him and we headed straight to fremont. Fremont was a nice city with a fine weather and wonderful residential localities. I found my sister's residence beautiful. Ankith, my nephew was sleeping and my sis gave me some nice home made chapatis to satiate my hunger. I had a nice sleep. I woke up in the morning and had nice andhra food cooked my sis - rice, donda kaaya curry and mamidikaaya pappu. It was gr8!!!

American Gangster

2007-11-30T20:21:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I have been to a theater for the first time in USA and luckily I have chosen a wonderful movie with 2 great actors and a nice script. We had booked the tickets online and picked them up from the kiosk at the theater - nothing different from PVR or INOX or IMAX theaters in India. The corridor we had to pass through to go to the Audi was not that great and there was nothing to buy - at least I did not come across any pop corn stall or anything like that. Probably bcos it was 10 30 in the night, all of them were closed. You will feel, there is better night life in India than in USA - of course NY, Las Vegas, LA and all have amazing night life here. But, in general, US guys' concept of working is 8 AM to 5 PM and go to bed by 10 PM or so. But, one thing to be noted here is - the staff that greets you always has a lot of energy. The guy who checked our tickets - wished us good evening and showed us the way and waved saying, "I hope you enjoy the movie!" This gives you a good feel.

The inside of the theater was very much similar to PVR or INOX, probably they are better. Bcos it was a night show, there were only some 10-15 guys in the theater all stretching their legs on the seats in front.

Now, coming to the movie, the movie starts at a slow pace with a typical screenplay of a gangster movie. There are hints of the affect of 'God Father' on the screenplay. But, Denzel Washington is one great actor. He completely got into the character of Frank Lucas. Russel Crowe on the other hand, played in a very subdues role, which is very admirable considering the fact that he is a great actor too. He basically lets Denzel run the show and Denzel has no problems with it. Some people may not like the screenplay that much and also - maybe the end. But this is a real life story, so I think the screenplay does justice to it. You tend to appreciate the business mindedness of Frank Lucas. He basically manages his supply chain so well to make millions. In all, it is a great movie and Denzel was superb. Don't miss it!

Bidding site

2007-11-28T20:54:00.000+05:30

Hi,

This time I visited a Free gifts link. This is a link where 'after you become a member' you can play a simple game to win the Sweepstake. The game is pretty simple even for a first time user. The lowest 'unique' number entered will win the Cash prize. You may enter 0. But if another person enters 0, it is no longer unique. Quite an interesting game.

I like their billing method. The membership fee will be deducted in your mobile bill. Well, I really do't know how safe it is to give away such rights to such websites. In any case, people in US who are used to the casino culture may not find it that tough.

The membership fee is a bit costly. But, overall I like the UI design and the simplicity of the game :-)

Insurance site

2007-11-27T00:51:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I was going through a life insurance link this time. Well, since I am in USA currently on business purpose, I thought I should choose one here. The site is decently user friendly but there is too much text for a first time user to go through. There is a form on the right hand side which when you fill out gives your insurance quote, but the website design needs a lot of work to make it "user-friendly".

I was once discussing the concept of structured data with a product manager at a reputed website company in India. You basically structure the data so that the search can be done in an organized fashion and also a first time user of the website knows where he needs to go for the information relevant to him/her. The above link may take a hint from this concept and add some structure to the data on their website.

The resultant page will be something where a user enters the site, you ask him/her a set of questions - What are you looking for? What is your age? Would you want to choose A or B and then at the end display the specific information that best matches the interests of the user. Well, just an idea and makes a lot of sense for insurance websites like this one. They do the same at the call centers to optimise the time a caller spends while trying to get assistance from their call center. Why not do the same on the websites to make the user's time spent more valuable?

Blogsvertise

2007-11-23T11:08:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I like the title Blogsvertise chosen by this link. Although there is not much creativity involved - It is made from the two words - Blogs and Advertise - it conveys the meaning easily to anyone who hears of it for the first time. Although the site offers monetary benefits to the bloggers, they need to publicise their business in a much better manner. Basically, whosoever likes to earn money through this site should feel it is happening in a systematic manner and doesn't play around with the terms and conditions of the blog server they are using.

Neways, I have taken the task of going through some random websites and writing my reviews about them. How do you like the idea?

Cracker of a cricket match

2007-10-01T19:02:00.000+05:30

Hi,

If an American finds the news of India winning a world cricket tournament interesting and sends a congratulation mail to his Indian colleagues, I am sure you should accept that Twenty20, the new format of cricket started with the same purpose, has been successful. I spoke to my American manager and he was all inquisitive about the kind of effect India-Pakistan matches have on the cricket fans. I am sure, I have sold the concept of cricket to him. All praise should go to ICC for introducing the format that binds people to the game.

Now coming to the match, I am a big believer in body language and other psychological factors that affect the result of a game, and since the toss, I could see that India, though nervous, had the belief that this was going to be their day. The way Dhoni spoke immediately after the toss showed that even 'captain courageous' could get nervous, but something in his voice conveyed that they were going to pull it through. Shoaib Malik tried to put on a casual tone dismissing any pressure India-Pakistan match can have on his team, but the tension that he had beneath the surface was evident.

India did not have the best of the starts, but Indian batsmen have matured in the way they are handling innings. They are no longer giving any importance to reputations and are believing in the age old wisdom of building partnerships. The partnership between Yuvraj and Gambhir was actually a good one. Though Yuvraj did not fire, Gambhir kept going and made sure that India had a good platform for a decent score. Rohit Sharma utilised this platform to push the scoreboard just beyond a respectable score. While Gambhir controlled his risky shots, Rohit Sharma impressed everyone with his cool head.

With the runs on the board, Dhoni's men always believed they had a chance and applied pressure the way they had done in the previous matches. After Azharuddin, I feel Dhoni is the only captain who has succeeded in pressurizing the opponent teams. I am not saying anything against Saurav or Dravid - they both were excellent captains, but their captaincy styles were different. Saurav and Dravid lead their teams by setting an example whereas Dhoni's style is that of bringing the best out of his mates and making the right tactical moves to put pressure on the opponent team.

Anyways, RP Singh and Irfan Pathan took crucial wickets for India and the match was almost over before Misbah showed some real guts. Again it was Irfan and RP that pulled back the game with 2 important wickets. Dhoni's decision to give the ball to Joginder Sharma in the final over can be debated till the end of this milennium but the only thing the decision shows is 'Dhoni knows tactics'. It definitely was a surprise for Misbah and he was tempted to go for an uncoventional shot and failed miserably.

The post match euphoria was evident the most in Harbhajan Singh's actions. The way he was shouting and the way he was jumping and dancing just showed how much the victory meant to India. The last catch taken by Sreesanth set the nation on fire. Deepthi and I could not believe it for a second, particularly after witnessing Misbah's batting, and we both were jumping for the next 5 minutes. The tournament has costed me a lot of mobile bill, as I was constantly on phone with my Dad and Vivek Chauhan discussing every wicket, every sixer. Never in my life have I enjoyed a cricket tournament this much. Hope to see more of such tournaments and more wins for India. Chak De...

Indians get past the chokers

2007-09-21T17:01:00.001+05:30

Hi,

I liked Sunil Gavasakar's song at the end of the Thursday match between India and South Africa - 'Chak De, Chak De India! Choke De Choke De South Africa!'

So very true. India batted like men and bowled superbly (except for the umpteen wides given away) and fielded like lions and made sure there was no chance they could not qualify. South Africa never ever believed they could even qualify to the semis (let alone winning against India).

The comment made by Dhoni, "The team believed that they can beat SA even on a pitch as tough as the Kingsmead's and the belief got them through" and the comment made by Shastri, "SA have always looked at the figure 126 rather than the figure 154 and believed that there was a possibility of them getting knocked out. That belief did them in" sum up the mood in the two camps.

I also liked the comment made by Graeme Smith, "We seem to be inventing ways to get ourselves knocked out of World Cup tournaments". I actually felt sympathetic towards the SA camp when they started panicking to qualify for the semi finals. But at the end of it, there is just one statement you can make. THEY DID NOT DESERVE A SEMI FINAL BERTH.

I had watched all the world cup exits of SA:
1. 1992 - Only their 1999 exit was as tragic as the 1992 one. In the semi final encounter against England, their target was revised from 22 runs to win in 13 balls to 22 runs to win in 1 ball - by a stupid rain rule.
2. 1996 - SA having won all their league matches was on a song only to face wounded Windies in the quarter finals. West Indies, having suffered a humiliating loss in the hands of the Kenyans, gave it all they had to defeat the South Africans. Lara's 111 in the match was a world class innings.
3. 1999 - The tragic exit where SA almost scraped it through with Klusener in deadly form. His 2 boundaries off the first 2 balls of the last over just rocketed past the fielders who stood helpless and then Aussies tightened the field to get Donald run out and a first ever tie in a semi final match in the World Cup took Aussies through because they were rated better than SA in the Super Six stage.
4. 2003 - None was as stupid as the 2003 exit where they mis-read the Duckworth Lewis system and ended up with a tie (which knocked them out). Boucher playing a defensive shot off the last ball will make him grimace at himself every morning when he wakes up from sleep.

True that the players' psyche gets affected due to such losses. But the fact remains - If they can't play under pressure they can't win the world cup.

A match to learn from

2007-09-17T14:40:00.000+05:30

Hi,

The India Vs New Zealand match in the Super Eights was a match for the Indian cricketers to learn from their mistakes. Firstly, Dhoni has to realise that Agarkar is not the best bowler to be reserved for the final overs. I understand that during the early overs, he is getting tempted to use the spinners and other slow bowlers which is leaving him with Agarkar as the only option towards the end. But in this match, Dhoni had 2 overs of Pathan left and still he opted for Agarkar.

My sympathies are with Dhoni because he expected him to bowl with the same economy after yielding somewhere around 15 runs in his first 2 overs. Same with Yuvraj. Yuvraj is a kind of bowler who can be given only 1 or 2 overs just to break partnerships. He cannot bowl better than that. The batting lacked the maturity after an explosive start given by the openers. Batsmen just had to stay there to get runs, but they panicked.

And Dinesh Karthik was a culprit in the match. He had dropped the catch of Jacob Oram when New Zealand were batting. Then, he got Dhoni run out and he himself tried to hit too much off Vittori who was bowling amazingly well that too the immediate ball after he got dropped (the last ball of Vittori's spell) - he committed too many blunders and looks like he is praised by everyone because he looks athletic. True he looks athletic and saves some runs in the field once in a while, but he lacks some basic skills to play longer for India. Let us hope he learns soon and the team too learns after its mistakes in the match.

Whhatt...a....mmatchhhh...

2007-09-17T12:09:00.000+05:30

Hi,

The Twenty20 match between India and Pakistan was one of the best cricket matches I have ever watched. Not that, great quality cricket was played, but the match had all the ingredients of a box office thriller. The first ever tie in the T20 world cup and the tiebreaker in the form of 'Bowl Out' was amazing to watch. And the fact that India won the 'Bowl Out' comprehensively was even more satisfying. It was good to note that Indian team was prepared for the 'Bowl Out' and Sehwag, Bhajji and Uthappa are among the best candidates for the same eventuality. I believe no other team would have done this much homework on "Bowl Out'.

Anyways, the match was gripping from the beginning till the end. Although India lost 4 early wickets owing to a superb spell by Asif, Indian batsmen had never given up. It was good to see them play the entire quota of 20 overs and make as many runs as were possible on the pitch owing to the bad weather conditions. The bowling was good and despite some loose balls by Bhajji and Agarkar in the end, it was impeccable. It is time the Mumbai selectors stop pushing Agarkar into the team. He has done enough damage and has proved to be a match winner for the opponent teams. I personally used to be a fan of his bowling as he was a wonderful wicket-taker. But he is too expensive a bowler to be retained in T20. Irfan Pathan who is bowling wonderfully wasn't kept back for the last overs in a match which had all the signs of having a thrilling finish. Anyways, the last 2 balls bowled by Sreesanth were gr8 under pressure and Dhoni's cool head was easily seen in the attitude of the Indian team. Now that India is in the Super Eights, it is time to let the best players be included in the playing eleven.

Pakis need to rethink their strategy

2007-09-13T12:05:00.000+05:30

Pakistan almost lost the match yesterday at least in spirit. But unlike Australia, they did some very good damage control and thanks to Afridi won the match by a comfortable margin.

When Ravi Shastri interviewed the Paki coach Geoff Lawson, he said their strategy was to keep Afridi towards the end who could then accelerate the scroring. Mr.Coach, you got it all wrong. If you had thought Afridi was just an accelerator, in yesterday's match he disproved it.

He is a mad mad hitter. Send him at the top of the order and you will see the difference. Imagine, if Afridi had made the same 22 in the first 2 overs, Paki score would have been some 37 at the end of 2 overs and Scottish bowlers would have been in a disarray and would have bowled defensively trying to save as many runs as possible. But since no batsmen from Pak took the initiative, they started aggressive and Paki batsmen could never really flex their muscles. Well, in after thought, it all looks so obvious. All said and done, Pakistan held its nerves and just did what was enough to beat the Scots.

On the other hand, Australia were in a daze. They never realised that the match was rapidly slipping out of their hands. I am sure the likes of Sunil Gavaskar will now have broad smiles on their faces. I somehow feel Australia has a really tough task against the English. England has very well groomed T20 players thanks to their county tournaments and would fight till the very last ball with Australia. We will have to wait and watch!

Trip to Araku Valley

2007-09-07T12:35:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Araku – If you have not heard of the name, let me try to use my pen to describe the beautiful mountainous area near Vizag. Dad, Mom, Deepthi and I attended my cousin’s wedding and were happy to catch up with many close relatives some of whom I had not met for years. The plan was to travel back home the same day until Deepthi proposed a trip to the Araku valley area to spend a nice day. It was easy for her to convince me and Mom, but Dad put up a strong fight having got tired of back-to-back journeys. But then, I always had confidence in Deepthi’s persuasive skills. Deepthi not only made him agree to the trip but also managed to get a booking at one of the jungle resorts in Araku valley region. She booked a ‘Wooden Log Hut’ accommodation for the four of us at the ‘Jungle Bells’ resort in the village named ‘Tyada’. Hold on if you want to know more about the jungle resort and the feel of the tribal culture we had experienced there.

So, the four of us set off from Vizag in a train that started early morning. The rail journey was one of the best I had - through tunnels that took us into the heart of the Eastern Ghats. Although I hadn’t kept a count of the number of tunnels, I could hear the 9 year old kid sitting nearby yelling at the top of her voice, “50”. We came across several beautiful lush green valleys and chill waterfalls that shone in the early morning sun.

We got down at the station ‘Borra Guhalu’ meaning ‘Borra Caves’ and walked down the railway tracks and then off them to get to the entrance of the caves. On a board that was hanging at the entrance, there was a description of the history of the ‘Borra Caves’ and also the scientific explanation of the formation of caves in the mountains. The name ‘Borra’ is a telugu and oriya word meaning hole and the caves have been named so as – ‘years ago when a cow fell off the mountains into a huge hole, the caves were discovered’. Legend says that the cow had fell through the caves into the river flowing at the bottom of the hills and came out alive. That had triggered the belief that there was something divine attached to the caves. The river was named ‘Gosthani’ river. Gosthani translates to cow’s udder.

The scientific reason for the formation of the caves seems to be the flow of water for years together through mountains breaching the rocks (something of that sort). Several structures of stalagmite (or was it limestone – plz bear with my feeble brains) have been formed inside the caves due to the settling down of the dripping liquids into various shapes. These structures have triggered the imagination of the people who believed that idols of various Gods have been formed naturally inside the caves.

After reading the description, we walked down the entrance of the caves. It was a beautiful sight. The hole at the top through which the sunlight beamed would have triggered the imagination of writers like Enid Blyton. We hired a guide who took us through the caves showing us various structures which have been imagined to be Lord Shiva, Parvati, etc. And then he pointed us towards certain dangerous locations inside the caves where a lot of honey combs resided (2, 3 people who ventured in there never returned. And then he showed us the top of the caves which was black (ash-like) in colour and told us they were all bats. Deepthi asked him, “I hope the bats won’t attack us”. He assured us they won’t. Some of the structures there seemed to have got the black ash like colour due to the bats (probably some deposits from the bats which he did not want to talk about).

Then, he showed us a place at the top of the cave where there were some idols people worshipped. We walked up there and realized that it wasn’t as easy as it looked. Getting down was far difficult because a small slip would have costed us our lives. We came back to the entrance of the caves all exhausted because of the hiking. On the way back, he showed us various locations inside the caves where famous movies – ‘Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari’, ‘Guna’ and ‘Jamba Lakidi Pamba’ were shot. If I were in the production team of those movies, I would have lost 10 Kgs by the time the shooting had finished. We came out with huge satisfied smiles on our faces. Deepthi was all smiles as she knew everyone was thankful of her. It was not all over yet.

We took a jeep to ‘Tyada’ where we had booked a room in a jungle cottage. It was a hilly road and we reached there in 40 minutes. ‘Jungle Bells’ was a nice resort with several wooden cottages built on the lush green hills. We had to climb to our cottage ‘the Wooden Log Hut’ – a wooden hut-shaped accommodation mounted on logs which were planted into the hill. There was a balcony and 2 rooms with attached bathrooms. We finished our lunch and had a nice afternoon nap all tired from the hiking. We were in for a surprise when we went down to the jungle restaurant in the evening for tea. The tribal women were about to perform the tribal dance ‘Dhimsa’ in an area just next to the restaurant. I finished my tea and was all set with my digicam to capture the tribal dance. Some men came and lighted a fire and to my surprise were heating the ‘dhol’ in the fire. Deepthi said heating the ‘dhol’ would help them produce louder beats out of it. The tribal women walked in, all of surprisingly same height. They were wearing saris in the tribal fashion (tucked into the blouse).

Bang on time, the music started and the 13 women holding each other at the waists started moving in an amazingly synchronized fashion. I was not tired of watching them dancing the same steps for about an hour. Each time after going around the stage twice, they would all gather in a circle screaming in a high pitch voice. The dance was a treat to watch except for some 5 minutes in the middle when one of the crazy guests got on to the stage and danced rather awfully causing annoyance to the tribals. He was soon pulled out of the stage and the tribals danced merrily leaving us with a taste of their culture and lifestyle. After the dance, we 4 finished our dinner and went back to our cottage. Dad and Mom went into their room, but Deepthi and I decided to enjoy the moment by dancing like the tribals. Hearing our footsteps, Dad and Mom came out and immediately Mom joined the party. The 3 of us held each other by the waists and danced like the tribal women for about 15 minutes on the balcony. It was truly a great moment I will remember for years to come, the 3 of us just hopping around merrily holding each other’s waists. Dad got a bit conscious to dance but he sure was helping us with the choreography and was a good audience.

With thousand watt smiles we went back into our rooms and had the best sleep of our lives. We got up early morning the next day and set off in a bus to reach Vizag from where we caught a train to Rajahmundry and reached home at about 3 PM. This surely was one of the best places I have ever visited. So when are you going to visit ‘Araku Valley’?

Dravid should step out...

2007-08-30T15:21:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Dravid's decisions have so far been pathetic to say the least about them. To start with, his decision to not enforce follow on in the Oval Test was one of the worst and most timid decisions taken by any captain of any national cricket team. What kind of message are you sending across to your players and your nation? That you can't even take a gamble to increase your lead in the test series? It all reflects the attitude of the India batsmen. Indian batsmen have long forgotten their natural game and are just playing to satisfy their critics. Sachin no longer would clear the field in the initial Powerplay overs as he is afraid that the moron sports news reader of some stupid channel 'Aaj Kal' or whatever would term it as lack of responsibility on his part. Saurav only plays to stay long enough at crease because he wants to re-cement his place in the team. Although Dravid cannot be blamed completely for the batsmen's attitude, his decisions reflect the insecurities of the Indian batting line-up. They all know they were stars at a certain point of time and the public expectations of their performance are huge. That is the very reason why they do not want to take any risks and play their natural instinctive game.

The bowling department's attitude is even worse. They know that the media, the fans and everyone know the lack of discipline of Indian bowlers and so they do not want to try anything new. They have got used to the blasting they receive after every defeat of the Indian cricket team. Instead of trying to rise to the levels of the International best bowlers, they keep getting satisfied with the fact that they are better than other Indian bowlers. That way, Kapil Dev, according to me was a great bowler. He always set his own standards and tried to better them every time. Indian bowling department has never recovered after the departure of the likes of Bedi, Prasanna, Kapil Dev and others. Javagal Srinath had always been a moderate bowler who would do nothing spectacular but would do enough to avoid any blame.

Are we playing cricket to avoid blame game? Do we not have a dream as a nation - to win the world cup, to be the best team in the world. Anyways, coming back to Dravid's case, his decision to field first with a team whose batsmen shivered to the likes of Anderson, Stuart Broad and who else (I can't even remember the names of some of those inexperienced bowlers). How could such batsmen have chased any total? And the worst part is his defense at the end of the match. He blames it all on the bowlers and the fielders. Well, if that department has been crippled for a decade now, as a captain you could have taken a decision that would help India win. Dravid still is a good Test captain inspite of his bad decision at Oval. He has the stature to lead the team through tough times and the determination to get the best performance out in trying conditions. In ODIs, India needs a more agile captain with a quick thinking brain under his hat.

A play in a play in a play!

2007-08-22T17:26:00.000+05:30

Hi,

So finally it has ended. My 2 month long stint with the theatre group MisF!T has finally ended yesterday. For 2 months I had had a lot of fun learning all the basics of theatre from developing a character to projecting the volume on stage to moving professionally on stage. At the end of the workshop, we had to give a presentation. There were 8 of us who had scripted this play titled 'The Last Scene' which belongs to the genre - 'A play in a play in a play'. We were to make the presentation at Tunbridge High School last night at 8 PM. But heavy rain had brought a huge frown on all our faces. That was when Ratan Thakore Grant (our instructor) stepped in and found us a place in a restaurant - AJ International. We made space for our play and for the audience and improvised on the spot to suit the space constraints provided by the restaurant. It was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed acting under such circumstances. Finally to the clapping of the audiences (there were around 30 invited audience) we introduced ourselves and received their feedback on the script and the individual performances. I was appreciated for one character I played - 'Director RK', but was thrashed for my performance as 'Inspector Joshi'. Oh yeah, we all played 2 characters because it is a 'Play in a play in a play'. I will provide the venue details when we stage another show, why don't you drop in?

Romeo And Juliet

2007-08-14T14:39:00.000+05:30

A love-struck Romeo sings the streets a serenade
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made.
Finds a convenient streetlight, steps out of the shade
Says something like "you and me babe, how about it?"

Juliet says "hey, it's Romeo, you nearly gave me a heart attack!"
He's underneath the window she's singing "hey la, my boyfriend's back.
You shouldn't come around here singing up at people like that...
Anyway what you gonna do about it?"

Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start
And I bet that you exploded into my heart
And I forget I forget the movie song.
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

Come up on different streets, they both were streets of shame.
Both dirty, both mean, yes and the dream was just the same
And I dreamed your dream for you and now your dream is real.
How can you look at me as if I was just another one of your deals?

When you can fall for chains of silver,
You can fall for chains of gold,
You can fall for pretty strangers,
And the promises they hold.
You promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin, yeah!
Now you just say "oh Romeo, yeah, you know I used to have a scene with him".

Juliet, when we made love you used to cry.
You said "I love you like the stars above, I'll love you 'til I die".
There's a place for us, you know the movie song.
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

I can't do the talks, like the talk on the TV
And I can't do a love song, like the way it's meant to be.
I can't do everything, but I'll do anything for you,
I can't do anything, except be in love with you!

And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be,
All I do is keep the beat and the bad company.
Now all I do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme,
Juliet, I'd do the stars with you any time!

Juliet, when we made love you used to cry.
You said "I love you like the stars above, I'll love you 'til I die".
There's a place for us, you know the movie song.
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

A lovestruck Romeo sings the streets a serenade
Laying everybody low with a lovesong that he made
Finds a convenient streetlight, steps out of the shade
He says something like "you and me babe, how about it?"

"You and me babe, how about it?"

Nostalgia - Jungle Road

2007-08-10T18:36:00.000+05:30

Jungle Road

I rode the cities, I rode the towns

I rode the streets, the ups and downs

As I reached the edge of the human abode

I drove my wheels to the Jungle road

Jungle road the magical road

my heart kept beatin’ as a whirlwind blowed

Jungle road the magical road

the ground kept thumpin’ as the elephants strode

The song of the birds, the whistle of a train

the dance of the trees to the tune of the rain

the kiss of the breeze, the mist in the sky

caressed my soul as I whizzed past by

the Jungle road the magical road

my soul kept dancin’ as the wheels just rolled

Jungle road the magical road

the mystical abode of stories untold

Nostalgia - My siver jubilee b'day

2007-08-07T12:42:00.000+05:30

30th of May, 2006 (It was my birthday btw) - at 12 late night, my friend Massi gives me a call to wish me Happy B'day and then says, "The weather is beautiful tonight. Why don't you open your door and come outside". The Sherlock Holmes in me started deducing something out of this and I realised that this guy might be waiting outside to wish me happy b'day. My guess turned out to be true and Massi and Nelson were waiting outside my door with a b'day cake and a gift wrapped up nicely. I was happy but was surprised bcos none of my friends ever treated me this way. I cut the cake and started opening the gift. I saw a nice grey bag and asked him how he knew I wanted to buy a bag. Then there was a nice shirt inside absolutely of my liking. Then, I saw a Temptations chocolate. I felt there was something fishy. I looked at him and he asked me to open and read the card. I read the card and was totally amazed when I found that it was signed...

Deepthi

She had asked her colleague visiting Bangalore to pass on the gift to Massi who would drop in at my home by 12 to surprise me... It was truly the happiest birthday I ever had...

Nostalgia - Yeh hai meri kahaani...

2007-08-06T14:01:00.000+05:30

Hi,

You must be aware of the movie - 'Zinda' in which the hero Sanju baba sings this song 'Yeh hai meri kahaani' during his stay in the tight-walled jail for 14 years for no obvious reason. Same is my state now. When I had come to Bangalore I had chosen to become the flat mate of Kallu mama, as I saw nothing wrong in that decision. Now I will describe my weekly routine as a flatmate of this die hard Sanju baba's fan:

yeh hai meri kahaani
khamosh zindgaani
sannaata keh raha hai
kyun zulm seh raha hai...

The monday starts with the same song yet again. I get the feeling that I have been destined to hear this song at least some crore times, before knocking on the doors of heaven or hell.

ek dastaan puraani
tanhai ki zubani
har zakhm khil raha hai
kuch mujhse keh raha hai...

It is Tuesday.. or is it? It looks like Monday yet again.. sorry sorry.. looks like nahin.. sounds like Monday..

chubtay kaantay yaadon ke
daaman se chunta hoon
girti deewaaron ke
aanchal main zinda hoon

Wednesday.. had a tough day at work.. Came home to relax.. and yeah sweet song.. let it be the same song.. I don't care.. I don't know if this is a punishment and if it is, I probably deserve it.. like Sanju baba thinks in the movie..

bus yeh meri kahaani
be nishan nishaani
aik dar beh raha hai
kuch mujh se keh raha hai

Thursday has been a good day at work.. The client seemed to be impressed by my work.. wow days have changed, now I find work interesting once in a while.. but has the time really changed.. nope nope..

chubtay kaantay yaadon ke
daaman se chunta hoon
girti deewaron ke
aanchal main zinda hoon

Friday.. the weekend is approaching.. am enthusiastic about finishing off my pending work at office so that I can remain free over the weekend.. mission accomplished, lemme go back home to see if things have changed...

Ab na koi paas hai
phir bhi ehsaas hai
sihaaiyon main uljhi pari
jeenay ki aik aas hai

Well.. the weekend has approached. Well, now that I know this particular aspect cannot be changed in my life, lemme as well start enjoying it... woww.. what a song...

yaadon ka jangul yeh dil
kaanton se jalthal yeh dil

Sunday.. where is the song.. Kallu mama.. wake up and turn the bloody song on.. Lemme hear it.. hear it again and again.. the way Sanju baba gets addicted to fried wantons.. but all said and done.. this is definitely a very good song.. hats off to Strings... am your fan..

chubtay kaantay yaadon ke
daaman se chunta hoon
girti deewaron ke
aanchal main zinda hoon

Yeh hai meri kahaani...........................

River on the Rise

2007-08-06T13:21:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I was standing on the banks of Godavari in between two of the longest river bridges in Asia. It was a beautiful sight. To my left was the oldest bridge connecting Rajahmundry and Kovvuru, which was built by the Britishers, standing rock solid in spite of the wear and tear it has accumulated over 70 odd years. To my right was the newest bridge constructed 10 years ago, made of concrete, with beautiful arches adding aesthetic appeal to it. Both the bridges were separated by not more than 15-20 metres. I was standing in the middle and I had a look at Godavari water which had calmed down after showing its fierceful side 3-4 days ago hitting lots of villages in Konaseema with floods. The water had the calmness and serenity marked by the cool breeze blowing over it, but it still looked ugly because of the lives it had ruined. I looked up and saw the converging parallel lines (quite paradoxical), the two bridges (more than 3 Kms in length, that is how wide Godavari is at my place) running parallel but giving you a view as though they are converging at the other end near Kovvuru. There, at the other end of the bridge a dim light showed as a train was getting onto the new bridge, at the same time a lightning flashed in the sky and I so badly wanted to capture that moment in a photograph. But they say a picture is worth 1000 words. Let me see if a 1000 words can give you the experience the picture had given me. Below is an attempt at poetry (bricks n bats welcome)

Stood I with my feet sunk in the godavari river
froze I as the breeze touched me as cool as ever

To my left stood an old bridge solid like a rock
to my right was the newer bridge that carried the track

As I looked towards the horizon where both of them kissed
the dim light of a train showed, as the river below hissed

Beauty filled my eyes as lightning filled the skies
and I sang a song in praise of the river on the rise

Yeh hai Sanjay Dutt ki kahani!

2007-08-03T14:08:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Sanju Baba got it all wrong. Yeah, I am talking about Sanjay Dutt the bad boy of bollywood who has been sent to jail at the age of 56 (or is he 48?) as he had once bought a toy called AK 56. Of all the people who got upset, I can tell you Kallu mama - my ex-roomie would be the saddest one. Today Kallu and I were discussing what Sanjay Dutt could have done to escape this penalty. He could have followed the example of Dr Haneef. He could have bought his toy in Australia and got caught to the Australian police. The Minister would have cancelled his tourist visa and the media would have criticised the Aussie Government for this. His sister or daughter or one of his lovers should have worn a yellow sari (with some help from their homely friends) and made an appeal to the Indian government.

This would have given him all the sympathy in the world and he would have been sent to India. Instead what Sanjay Dutt did was - he acted in this movie called Zinda where he sought experience in jail (his sixth sense would have forewarned him and encouraged him to get some jail experience) and then he did this movie called 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai' where he drew parallels between himself and Gandhiji. Kallu mama, the Sanjay Dutt fan argues that Sanjay Dutt is as great as Gandhiji since both of them got sentenced for 6 years and that too in Yerawada jail. Yo Kallu mama, you are a true fan!

Jokes apart, I feel if his offence is something punishable, the judge hasn't done anything wrong in punishing him. Of course, he still has the legal option of appealing to a higher court. I like the way his family and he himself are conducting themselves. When he comes back he will have lotsa people waiting with bouquets. Long live Sanju baba!

Brew Ha Ha...

2007-08-02T16:03:00.000+05:30

Hi,

There is this coffee place called Brew Ha Ha in Koramangala with a nice novel concept. You can go there and ask for a game for 30 minutes and an instructor would come and explain to you and your partner (s) the rules of the game you have chosen and play a sample game with you and then let you play. You also get some complementary coffee I guess (I forgot how much it costed and all, but only remember that the rates were very affordable).

Neways, there are some negatives to this idea. Since I had gone with my wife and we both like the ambience to be quiet wherever we go, this place did not serve our purpose. There will be lotsa people, some couples, some friends (they have differnet games for 2s, 3s and 4s) shouting, laughing and making some noise which did not go that well with the 2 of us. Another thing about the instructor did not impress us too much. While instructing the rules to us, the 3 of us were playing - me, my wife and the instructor and the instructor was playing his best game. This did not go well with me as I wanted either my wife or me to win. So what I did was, I sactrificed mine and made sure my wife had a lead over him and finally my wife won it. Well, probably the instructor was the nice guy here and I played the bad guy, but my wife and I enjoyed it. Neways, the game itself was interesting and even the coffee was good. Definitely we want to go there again. Why don't you go with your friends some time to Brew Ha Ha and tell me your experience...

Don't lean towards the left... it's not right

2007-07-31T14:14:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I have decided to use more of my right brain at work from now on. When I come to think of it, all the learnings I have had in my life have been in the left side of the brain - Be systematic, be logical, follow rules, be on time, deliver on time, deliver what is expected, etc etc. But never had I said to myself - appeal to the imagination of the end user, Be creative with the work product, imagine yourself in the end user's shoes and look at what might be expected, go beyond what the customer says. Well, I did use some of these at times at work but never very consciously. I believe not using right brain and using the left brain continuosly can be a reason for stress at work. In the sense, being systematic, following known procedures and processes is like routine which bores you easily. This also adds a lot to your guilt conscience because when you do not do something in an organised fashion, you tend to criticise yourselves. So, you are always thinking of the daily routine you are 'supposed' to follow as a resonsibility on your shoulders.

'Responsibility' sounds like a very positive quality but if you look at it what it means is - ability to come with a response. It is similar to 'answerability' and 'accountability'. I am not saying these are not required, but getting them too much into your head makes you think of only how to satisfy the other person, how to satisfy your boss, peers etc, but not yourself. So, next time a task gets allocated to you, instead of getting into a duty conscious mind (the responsible person), look at it as a piece of work at which you can excel. That would make you work for yourself and the quality will also improve because you are using more of your right brain.

Nice weekend...

2007-07-30T13:20:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I had a very nice weekend. Well, not because Deepthi had left for her hometown, poor thing had some fever. I had a good time because I did not spend it lonely. Normally, before marriage, I would spend the weekends and holidays rather gloomily keeping to myself. But this time I somehow did not want to be lonely. On Saturday I wanted to cook food (well if you call whatever I cook food), but then cooking and eating alone would be rather boring. So I called Rana home and we had the meal together. I made Bhendi fry and Toor Dal and Rana seemed to have enjoyed it. We watched the movie 'Big Daddy' together and in the afternoon we had discussion about general things in life, what should life be like, importance of spirituality, etc etc. And then I took Rana to the theatre class and he thoroughly enjoyed it. We had dinner with Ratan (the intructor) & Co after the class and left for home at around 1 O' clock. If only the traffic police had not caught us and asked for documents etc, I would have gone to sleep much more happily.

Sunday I called up Vivek and invited him for lunch. This time, my Aloo fry seemed to be getting spoilt, but Vivek came just in time to save it from any further damage. He added Biriyani Masala to Aloo and it was rather tasty. I am now inspired, thanks to Vivek, to try my hand at experimentation at cooking. Then, Vivek added tadka to the toor dal I was making which made it tastier. We both watched the cricket match after that and in the evening decided to head to Indijoe during happy hours. I came back home by 10 in the night and had a really nice nap. Early morning at 8 AM I heard the doorbell ring but wasn't excited as I knew Deepthi's flight would reach by 8 30 AM only. So thinking it would be the baai outside, I opened the door and to my surprise Deepthi was here - she had lied to me so that she could surprise me. Neways, meeting her after 4 days did cheer me up and here I am all charged up for the week.

What on internet do I dare blog...

2007-07-27T17:51:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I was thinking - why not re-visit the idioms of good old English and make them more contemporary. I have some examples below:

Situation: Say you do not understand the motive of the lazy moron who has been bugging you day in and day out to sell some credit card to you, you would say,
Old English: 'What on earth are you bugging me for when I made it clear that I would never in my life buy your credit card!'.
New English: 'What on internet are you bugging me for when I made it clear that I would never in my life buy your credit card!'.

Situation: You tell your partner that you see cracks in your relationship.
Old English: 'I dare say our relationship is ending'
New English: 'I dare blog our relationship is ending'.

Situation: You told your prof that he is mistaken about sonething.
Old English: 'He got very hot under the collar when I suggested that he might be mistaken.'
New English: 'He got very hot under the earphones when I suggested that he might be mistaken.'

Do suggest some more...

Five Point Some Potter...

2007-07-25T18:14:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I had watched the play 'Five Point Someone' staged by the group EVAM in Chowdiah Memorial Hall last Saturday. It was a nice adaptation and there were some nice creative techniques used in the play to make the stage look like a classroom the Insti roof and also the hostel room of the 3 main characters. They have a website where you can book tickets for any of their forthcoming plays http://www.evam.in/

Neways, I have been reading 'The Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'. Yeah don't blame me but I had always thought that Harry Potter was meant for kids and never got the interest to read it. Now, I have given in to the hype created by the release of the 7th book in the series and am aiming to get to the 7th book in a month or 2. I have almost finished the first one. Though I have watched the movie, I find the book a very book read. JK Rowling is an amazing writer. The simple language she uses makes it a very light read and to her imagination, all I can say is 'hats off'. Will compare the different books in the Harry Potter series in the coming posts. So keep visiting.

New initiative at work - iPAD

2007-07-24T12:36:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I have taken this new initiative at work iPAD to make Project Activity Documentation easy. Basically, I have been handling the audits of our team and had got several comments from the quality team over the documentation of team's activities. The team is supposed to maintain an activity log, peer review records, Minutes of meetings, delivery mails, appreciation mails, Issue Register, Weekly status reports and what not. Each of the above has a prescribed format and whenever an activity happens at work you need to save a file in the prescribed format at a particular location. I myself had faced a lot of problems trying to save these files. So I had decided to create one excel sheet with each activity log as a tab so that you can fill in all the data at one place (you can give it a geek tag - data integration but this is more from the enduser perspective - the enduser's headache gets reduced a lot as he/she just has to keep one sheet open all the time and fill in data whenever an activity happens in his/her project).

Since this sheet is a log of various activities that happen in the project, I decided to call it PAD (Project Activity Documentation). It also sounds like a notepad, so gives an intuitive feel as to what it is meant for. And then suddenly I got the idea of naming it iPAD or myPAD (inspired from google's iGoogle, Apple's iPod and MSN's myMSN, Yahoo's myYahoo etc) and then we agreed upon the name iPAD since i would stand for Integrations which is our team name. So finally I have created an excel sheet template with 7 tabs and named it iPAD (Integrations Project Activity Documentation). I see some initial success in using it. Earlier, it would require some n reminders before getting the teammates to fill in various sheets. Now, everyone keeps their own iPAD sheet open and fills in the required data. Hope this carries on well and yeah I am really going to boast about it in any interviews I face later in my career. I personally am very satisfied with the initiative.

Acting Classes

2007-07-23T19:05:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Yes, I have joined acting classes. There is this group called MiSF!T owned by this theatre actor cum director Ratan Thakore Grant which holds acting workshops for beginners. MisF!T stands for 'My Interest Stys Firmly In Theatre'. Quite an innovative acronym. Ratan is a very nice individual with absolutely great brains and also a very energetic personality. The kind of energy he puts into the classes will make you want to perform your best whenever he asks you to enact something out. Also, the theory he teaches is so very logical and makes great sense. Kallu, Chauhan and all have already started making fun of me, but theek hai, I am doing what I enjoy.

There were 2 exercises Ratan had made us do which have really made me less nervous than I was before (not just on stage but also in the real life). In one of the initial classes he would ask everyone in the class to give every other person in the class a Page 3 kiss (you basically do not touch the cheek of the other person but just act as though you have given a kiss). Initially you blush to do this, but after doing it, most of your inhibitions are gone. Last week he has made us blindfold a partner and make the partner walk on the road. When I was blindfolded and taken out by my partner, all my senses got heightened and I really started observing things better. One of my old friends had recognised me and asked me if something happened to my eyes. I laughed and told him nothing happened. Neways, after you go through a lot of raodside guys and vehicle riders staring at you in sympathy and curiosity, you lose your inhibitions and nervousness. Also since your eyes are closed, you start observing with the remaining senses and realise how much confusion eyes really add to your mind...

Back to Blogspot

2007-07-23T13:07:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Its been years since I was able to access this blogspot. I thought my account would have expired by now but thankfully it is very much alive. I had a lot of problems over the past 2 years in maintaining a single blog site. Once I decide upon a particular blogsite, my company would block that address and force me to find a new one accessible. But from now on, I think I will stick to just this one. If I am not able to access it, I will just post my blogs through mail to the same address. The shifting of address has resulted in my identity crisis and also I have lost some fans over the last 2 years. I am not going to let this happen from now on.

Neways, it has been 6 months since I got married and life has been really different since then. My lifestyle has changed a lot. During the months of Feb and March, I was engaged in Aerobics at my company, but after that I had discontinued mainly because of the glue on my ass which doesn't let me move from my seat. I had been learning carnatic music but I had discontinued even that last month. My music sir was a little disappointed, but somehow, I thought of moving forward. My attitude doesn't allow me to practice Carnatic music daily (and believe me that is really essential if you are to learn singing). Since last month I have been attending a theatre acting workshop help by a theatre group called MiSF!T. This has really been a great experience for me so far. Now I know what to think of if I am on stage and how to get that expression right, those dialogues right and the act right. The head of this group, Ratan is a very nice personality who makes you think a lot and at the same time puts you on stage making you apply what is taught. I will update you more on what has been happening in these acting classes in the next post. Till then.... bbye....

Shanker Dada MBBS

2005-01-05T13:42:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I was watching 'Shanker Dada MBBS' - telugu version of "Munna Bhaai MBBS'. Well when people ask me,
"Is it the same as Munna Bhai?" I reply,
"It is Munna Bhai MBBS with Chiranjeevi's charm added and Sonali Bendre's charisma added with catchy tunes by my favourite music director Devi Sri Prasad."
Yeah, Sonali Bendre does act in Telugu movies, and you must see her sari to believe how beautiful she looks. And Chiru, well I went to see this movie on the 51st day and on that day they had added one extra song as a gift to Chiru's fans. I did not know this when I went to watch, but was surprised to see many college students on the 51st day because I thought they would have already watched it some 4,5 times. They had all come for the new song... which was towards the end of the movie... and once the song ended.. all college students left and only families were left in the theatre. Chiru is GOD for all college going people, who grew up with his movies.

And regarding the music director Devi Sri Prasad.. watch out for him.. he is going to be in the news soon... quite promising young guy.. and has given some beautiful melodies comparable to the one and only Illayaraja. And his fast numbers are quite catchy.. jus listen to the title song of 'Shanker Dada MBBS'.. you will understand.

In all... as you must have guessed by now, I enjoyed the movie a lot.. and Sonali... man.. Sonali... is simply amazing....

The cryptic way

2004-08-07T18:06:00.000+05:30

Hi,

There is a friend of mine, Nikhil who says.. 'Srini you are smart, you know.' But before I blush.. bang comes his remark, 'But you shud realise you are crazy.' Well, many friends of mine often wondered how would I be if I get philosophical.

According to me life is all cryptic. Ask anyone solving crosswords, U will get the same answer. Sometimes you have to frame clues and sometimes you have to solve them. Some girls are like Hindu Crossword which you would like to solve daily whenever you want to exercise your 'brains'. Then there are some gals like Young World puzzle for kids. Their brains cannot think beyond certain level. And all the clues you give them go waste, because they cannot solve cryptic puzzles. They keep framing direct clues for you which you can solve in a minute. Then there are Hindi crossword puzzles who cannot solve English clues. Then there are crosswords like that of 'Times' - the American kind of crosswords. These are the dudish gals (euphemism to pr@$). Like the grid of these crosswords, they lay bare with very few darkened squares here and there. Me being a fan of Hindu crosswords, would like gals who can frame and solve cryptic clues. Well, my apologies to anyone who has not followed this blog. No, don't accept that you can't understand cryptic messages. Instead, blame me for going mad, Young World puzzle solvers do think I am mad ;-)...

Its the time to disco...

2004-06-27T16:40:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Let me continue with my blasting of Delhi. I talked about Delhi babes but not of Desi dudes. I call them hydrogen peroxide dudes. At my school our principal liked a guy who had his hair greyed by hydrogen peroxide. The principal happened to be a chemistry lecturer and he liked the idea that some student of his is making good use of some chemical he had worked on during his PhD. Coming back to Delhi dudes, these desi guys with a singing accent of Delhi never even bother to fake a good English accent and the so-called babe just falls for their biceps. The chidiya and thotha will startof there and go to the malls, go up and down the elevator spreading their deo smell everywhere. Then he takes her to Ansal Plaza where he answers one of her touches and slowly they cross the barriers and smooooooooooooochhhhhhhhhhh...... From there they will go to Nirula's, sit in the corner seat, the gal puts her lap on his and acts as if she has done something entirely socially acceptable. Lemme divert again. Talking of socially acceptable behaviour, one of our profs at IIT who also was our sysad used to appeal to us - 'Please don't open the web sites which you won't in front of your mom'. Arre...so much senti to stop porn viewing. Ok where were we..Nirula's... So this culture goes on. It reflects in the latest hit songs - 'Its the time to disco', 'Fanaa' - well, that is all ok. But the dudes should become modern in more ways than growing biceps and using deos. English with a bit more pseud accent would make him look more dudish... And for heaven's sake walk straight...

Rewind

2004-06-03T11:41:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Now that my summer project is coming to a conclusion, I would like to get back to my original state. I would like to come back to the belief that business is all ethical and global. Companies actually are customer-oriented. They like to offer service to the customer because he is so important and they have got nothing else to do. I also want to believe that something called organisational culture exists and it distinguishes an organization from others. I want to believe that the source of motivation for the employees is not money alone. They don't work towards their personal goals but work in teams for the betterment of their organization. I also want to believe that HR cares for the company and their job is not just arranging cabs and giving pay checks. Bosses care for their subordinates and don't keep pressurizing them for their targets. Performance appraisal is done not on the basis of sales done alone. Other factors such as personal skills, commitment, blah blah.. play a major role in the appraisals done. Organizations work for offering good life to their employees and also their customers. Woww.........world looks great again....

Google....find this

2004-05-29T12:47:00.000+05:30

Hi,

The other day I was browsing through net and gave a search string 'IITM blog' and was surprised that my blog was not there among the results. So I have decided that in my today's blog I will include all the terms that any friend of mine would have to enter to come upon my page like IITM, IIT madras, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, IIMK, IIM Kozhikode, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, Aalayance, Kans mama, KNS Srinivas, K.N.S.Srinivas, Danger, Phyter, fighter, GE Consumer finance, GE Countrywide, lunatic, mad, crazy, blog, web page, home page, webpage, homepage, blah blah blah

Kyonki main Kashtamer hun

2004-05-27T13:18:00.000+05:30

Hi,

After having tried my hand in selling loans, I have found the right spelling of customer - 'Kasht'amer. Kasht yaani difficulty. Though I am wearing better clothes than him and am well groomed and educated, there is only one mistake I did. I approached him to sell something. That makes him my boss. Kitna time loge? Kya kya documents dikhaana padega, kitna charge karoge, agar mera income itna hai tho kitna loan milega. Main bhi kuchh kam nahin hun - Mujhse marketing ka gyan poochho, is product ke positioning ke baare mein poochho, kuchh bhi global poochho jawaab de doonga. But don't ask me practical questions. I will never give you direct answers.

The other day I approached a pakoda shop waala to ask him for some permission for using his shop for our marketing. I asked him, "Kya aap meri madat karoge?" He shoots his answer in perfect English, "What will I get in return?" Arre waah..yeh tho angreji bolne lagaa. His pseud accent and polished English reminded me of a bike ad. Don't remember clearly, but some gaonwaali ladkiyan suddenly speak in English when the bike passes by. Other than this pakodawaala, all other customers of mine would speak like, "wohi pichhwaade gali mein laal bathhi ke paas hai na aap ka daftar?" At the beginning I had some trouble understanding them. But now I am kind of accustomed to laal bathhis, phaataks, rail patri and gol chakkars.

TOMA among languages

2004-05-08T14:02:00.000+05:30

I have found that telugu is not among the TOMA (for non-MBAs, TOMA=Top of the Mind Awareness) set of languages. The first time I meet someone, I can see them think with real focus...where is this guy from?...looks a lil like a northie...but hindi accent is different.. Can't be a tamilian or Mallu.. where else can he be from. And most of them would eventually ask me...Which place do you belong to? And only when I say Andhra..the land of Chandra Babu Naidu strikes their mind. Earlier it used to be called the land of Balaji (Tirupathi fame). Now it is identified with the big boss who rules the land. Most of them would then talk about Andhra pickles.. and Andhra food. At least there we are present in the TOMA set. Unfortunately most people don't know that Telugu is supposed to be the Italian of the East being a mellifluous language.

After Hindi, Telugu is spoken by most people in India. This reminds me of my tamilian friend who would argue that Hindi cannot be the national language just because it is spoken by the most..that way crow has to be the national bird. Very nice argument but that doesn't qualify Tamil to be the national language...it is far from peacock.... ;-)

A hell called Delhi

2004-05-06T15:48:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Haven't updated my blog of late as I have been to Delhi for my Summer Project. Mumbai ke baare mein I heard a lot...be very careful there..people are bad...but I thought Delhi is a better place. I had a perception that Mumbai alone has mechanical life...but guys, Delhi is not behind. After having enjoyed the luxuries of Bangalore for one year, I am finding it very tough to adjust in Delhi. People are very harsh... I was thinking there will be good babes..but Punjabi kudi seems to be missing...or maybe she has put on lotsa weight. I had been travelling in city buses so far..but have decided to switch to autoes...after losing my mobile..too late :-((... Only good hangout I have been to so far was Ansal Plaza in South Ex. Really really waiting to get back to the heaven called Kozhikode...

My bowling skills

2004-03-09T20:17:00.000+05:30

Mommy, mommy today I bowled a maiden over and took 2 wickets. Mom would always smile and accept that is true. But the truth was I was always considered the slowest bowler on earth. They say I can beat best of the batsmen by my pace. As quoted by Dixi (the-guy-who- was-my-senior-topped-at-IIT-in-aerospace-and-joined-IISc) “if Kans continues his run up after delivering the ball, he will reach the bat before the ball.” His other comments include “Kans has started his run up? Ok I will have my dinner and come back and hit the ball.” I dunno why these guys are so bothered about pace. In my view the best kind of ball is a slow ball yorker. The fact that I keep trying slow ball yorkers every ball is a different issue altogether. If you want to know more about cricket, please refer to my friend Avinash Iyer. To tell you more about my bowling, I also used to have the longest run up. My gallee cricket mate Subbu says I get tired after such a long run up that I lose energy before delivering the ball. That seems to be the reason behind my magical pace. I have only one answer to all these people. As Mahesh Bhatt said once opinions are like ar$#ho&*s, everyone has one.

Global Fundaes

2004-03-08T19:03:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Now that CAT results are out, I remember the good old days when I used to think management is crap (now I am sure about it). At my office they used to hold managers' meet regularly and one of my colleagues badly wanted to become a manager because managers get a free pizza in the meeting. He believes nothing else happens in these meetings. I remember listening about one of the decisions made in one such meeting in a software company where the techies decided to use only small letters font because of some technical advantage compared to capital letters and the managers unanimously ruled out the option as GOD cannot be written in small letters. Now the managers' decision sounds like common sense to me as I am more exposed to global fundaes like culture and values.

When I was getting ragged at IIT, funda was the big word which I found did not have any particular meaning and can be used at your own convenience to make meaningful talk out of your crappy fundaes. Similarly in management global and gyan can be used conveniently to show off your global gyan. Well if you read the last line of the previous paragraph carefully, you see a mixture of both cultures imbibed in me (when I involuntarily used the term global fundaes). GOD save IITIIMs.

Continuing...

2004-03-05T18:54:00.000+05:30

Hi,

In management, they say, the strategy of a firm should emerge. The management should only provide an umbrella. Similarly, I feel the theme for my blogs should emerge on its own. So without restricting myself to the theme I was following, lemme try new things. After two blogs on cats, I started thinking about cats and came across a very interesting trivia that a cat spends 30% of its life grooming itself. Well, I have some friends who do better than that. That was mainly because of the water problem at Chennai. Some of them spent their summers at Chennai and had to end up with some 20 baths in 55 days. One of my friends even kept a count. He says he had got enough time for self-introspection at that time, but doesn't understand how. I explained to him that his friends left him to self-introspect because they thought they have better things to smell. We used to have many monkeys running around our hostels that time. One of my senoirs would say a monkey would never ransack my room. His logic is a monkey comes to my room, looks at things, thinks it is already ransacked and leaves. One day I told him a monkey has ransacked my room. He apprieciated my observation because I could distinguish between the current mess and the earlier mess. Talking about monkeys, if a cat spends 30% time of its life grooming itself, I guess a monkey spends that much time grooming other monkeys. Grooming is a substitute for taking bath. I feel the soap-sellers should realise this before some smart guy like me comes up with a clean all product that would scratch you and can be used as a substitute for soaps.

About cows

2004-03-05T18:15:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Let me slowly change my theme. In management, they say, the strategy of a firm should emerge, the management should only provide an umbrella. Similarly, I feel the theme for my blogs should emerge on their own. Since we have been discussing about cats, I thought I should divert into another species of animals. Once I participated in an extempore competition and I was prepared to talk about girls whadever topic they give me. The topic given to me had the word 'cow' in it. Well that is enough for me...

The other day I was alone in a restaurant and was looking around. There, opposite to me I saw a cow, a beautiful cow

Cat revisited

2004-03-04T18:57:00.000+05:30

Hi,

First of all, my sincere apologies for not updating my blog for 2 days. Will make sure this doesn't happen often. One of my friends (Srikanth) came up with some dangerous logic to solve the 'perpetually moving cat' problem. I haven't understood it but I thought some of you can explain it to me in English. I am pasting it as it is. So here goes the disclaimer - "All crappy ideas given below are from a seriously lunatic friend of this lunatic. The blogger (me) is not responsible for any brain damage or insanity ensuing from reading these ideas or experimenting with them". So here goes the crap:

Well,

Regarding the cat with a bread stuck onto its back, there seems to be a lack of understanding of anything thats beyond 'seemingly-obvious' reasons. Here I crap!

Assumptions:
1) The cat cannot think (so do the guys who crack cat)
2) The bread is not one of those Indian breads
3) No number of assumptions can make life any easier.

Action:
1) butter is applied onto bread
2) its stuck to the cat's back thru some complicated procedure!
3) The cat is kicked onto its ass form nth floor (where n>2, n is an integer)

Theory:
The theory can be split into two conflicting sub-theories.
(1)

In the first one, it is assumed that the cat has no choice with regard to the landing style, and so does the bread-butter side.
Also, it is assumed that the earth (gravity) decides as to which will fall in which style. So, as far as the inputs to the earth's 'brain' go, it only sees the cat. It doesnt realize that there is a stinking piece of bread behind it. Thus, the cat lands on its feet.

(2)

Here, it is assumed that the cosmic powers or the imaginary repulsive magnetic fields of moon push the piece of bread and the cat downwards. We can use some fuzzy logic to solve this problem.
Now, 2 cases arise:

(a) The bread piece's dimensions are larger than the cat onto which they are stuck. In this case, the only thing seen from the top is the bread piece, and the forces unite to make the buttered side get battered onto the ground.
(b) The bread piece is so tiny that only the cat is seen form the top. In this case, the cat lands on its feet.

So, in between them, the cat has to fall in a tilted fashion.

Perpetual Motion

2004-03-01T19:24:00.000+05:30

Hi,

There has been tremeandous response from you guys. Thanks a lot. I promise I will show the same energy and enthu in maintaining the blog for the days to come. I have enabled comments for my blogs. Please thrash me. I actually got a very good piece from a friend of mine, Avinash Iyer (The higher you go the Iyer you become - as he claims). The piece he sent is very much in line with the current theme I am running. So I thought I would make it the topic for today. Here is the quote my friend has sent to me:

"We know that the cat lands with its feet downside when thrown into the air. We also know that the bread always falls butter side down when thrown into the air. So if we stick a peice of bread to the cat's back and then put butter on the bread, then we would have achieved a perpetual motion machine that will keep rotating above the floor at a constant speed, not knowing which side to fall down first?"

Lemme guide you to the link pmm. The above joke reminds me of one of our quant profs who keeps rotating around the desk while teaching, like the cat above. Guess he has a butter bread attached somewhere :-)). The above joke put two questions in my crappy head - if at all such a perpetually moving cat is possible according to physical laws, what will happen when the cat dies? Also, will the cat keep rotating at 'constant speed' as mentioned in the joke? Actually, the joke is well worded in that it does not attribute perpetual motion to any physical laws, it just says the cat keeps rotating not knowing which side should fall first. So maybe only confusion can lead to perpetual motion. Yes, I know what came into your mind just now - Is this guy perpetually confused? Yeah, you are right ;-)

I stink therefore I am

2004-02-29T17:34:00.000+05:30

Hi,

There was a Rexona deodorant ad I saw some months ago. It is in a cowboy kind of setting. Two guys are escaping from those bad guys carrying guns over their shoulders. When they approach their hut, the two guys will lie down and act as if they are dead. The bad guys smell them and take away the guy who doesn't use Rexona deodorant because they infer from his sweat smell that he is not yet dead. I thought an apt caption for the ad can be "I stink therefore I am (alive)".

Now coming to business, lots of guys actually don't know what "I think therefore I am" means. Many think it means - it is thought that keeps us alive. One of our professors (one of those spiritual kind) gave us the same interpretation. But the actual statement - cogito ergo sum - made by Des Cartes means something else. It actually means "I doubt therefore I know". Des Cartes came up with two basic questions - "Can I feign that the world does not exist?", "Can I feign that I do not exist?" The answer to the first question is - yes you can - because, the world around you maybe your imagination or something is making you believe that this world exists as you know. Now in both the possibilities, you are accepting there is a thing called "I" that thinks. In the first, you assumed "I am imagining", in the second, you assumed "I am thinking". And both the questions arose from "doubt" which is also thought. So, I am accepting only one fact - that 'I think'. Now this would mean I am accepting that something called "I" exists. Hence the statement "I think therefore I am". So, this is the only statement you can say with 100% confidence, according to Des Cartes.

Too philosophical...aah....

Marketing Research applied

2004-02-28T18:18:00.000+05:30

Hi,

Today afternoon I was in the bathroom and I suddenly got an idea. When I was in Hyderabad, I found that I can suddenly find a place to pee anywhere in the city. They call them Sulabh complexes. I found that I can actually apply marketing research fundas to make Sulabh complex a better place to pee. We can do a customer segmentation to find out who finds it convenient and who finds it demeaning to be asked to use them. And another management problem "How many rooms for ladies and how many for gents" can also be tackled by this customer segmentation. Actually I have prepared a questionnaire...

Answer in Yes or No ( dichotomous questions ;-) )
1. I find it demeaning myself to use Sulabh complex.
2. I find it very uncomfortable to look at a guy peeing next to me and grinning at me.
3. I don't mind leaving without flushing.
4. Momma says, "Don't leave the taps open"
5. I want a closed room to do this unmentionable thing.
6. I wait outside ladies room searching for the love of my life.
7. I like listening to music wherever I am.

OK, do take time to fill up my questionnaire..I have some work now. See you tomorrow, same place.

2004-02-27T18:32:00.000+05:30

Hi,

As promised here is the first of my musings:

Newton's Third Law of Motion:
The other day one of my friends told me a joke which goes as follows. A lady is travelling in a city bus in Delhi. The driver applies brakes suddenly and the guy behind her falls on her. The lady looks at him scornfully and the guy says, "Don't mind Ma'am! It is just Newton's First Law of Motion". The lady slaps him and says, "Don't mind! It is just Newton's Third Law of Motion".

Now here I was totally shocked at the way Newton's Third Law of Motion has been interpreted. The guy was absolutely right when he said the reason for his falling on her was Newton's First Law of Motion. But the lady seems to be a commerce graduate who knows a lil bit of this and a lil bit of that and starts confusing herself by mixing all those lil bits. I have a friend called Siddharth who has incidentally become a CA contrary to all our expectations. Many a time he applies similar logic when anything to do with mathematics troubles him.

Newton's Third Law of Motion says every action has an equal and opposite reaction. And here action refers to a force applied by a body on some other body and dear Ma'am even reaction refers to the same. And both action and reaction occur simultaneously. One of my friends, when he listened to the above joke, extended the logic and came up with amazing discoveries about universe and existence. He said, the universe was formed by a big bang, now that was action, there will be an equal and opposite reaction which will ultimately pull all the matter together. Right now, as we have learned in our physics, the entropy of the universe is increasing, so the current age of the universe is less than half of its total life time. Now, this guy surely does have imagination. It is no fault of him because he made 2 assumptions, one big bang theory is correct and two, the lady's interpretation of Newton's Third Law of Motion is correct. So, dear ma'am be careful when you make such statements. There are crazy guys over here who will extend it to the end of the universe and conclude that they are dead.

2004-02-26T21:58:00.000+05:30

Hi,

I have just created my blog. You can expect lots of fun and creativity from this showman. People call me a lunatic and I very much agree with them. If you want to get confused with yourself and the entire world around you, you can listen to my crap. I have decided on a theme to start with and will mostly start from tomorrow. The theme is - applying management principles, theories, frameworks, physics laws, etc., to general life and get confused with the most obvious reality that lies in front of you.