yes its ME

JAO - VII

2008-04-14T23:43:00.002-04:00

"God likes stupid people a lot. Thats' why he has made so many of them"

random_sher() -2

2008-03-13T23:39:00.002-04:00

khaamosh tum bhi the aur khaamosh maiN bhi thaa,
phir woh kaun tha jo itni der boltaa rahaa

- Anonymous

urdu poetry resources

2007-08-12T23:58:00.001-04:00

Was trying to find some urdu sher today and came across these huge data warehouses of literature. ME is really very happy :)

www.urdupoetry.com/index.html
aligarians.com

do you hate work?

2007-08-12T23:03:00.000-04:00

Found this interesting link - here.
Most people hate [1] work; some soon and some pretty late. Guess, we are all lazy.

[1] - hate may be a strong word, but the orientation is certainly towards it.
PS: Most may not include ME

Varan Bhaat

2007-07-20T22:12:00.000-04:00

Its easily more than a year later that I had Varan-Bhaat - the quintessential Puneri dish; but for the first time was it made by ME. Lots of ghee and yellow daal, chanval as was known at my ghar. My bhai loved it and I used to deny liking it

Confession: ME loves yellow daal, chanval and ghee...

Chaand...

2007-07-20T20:50:00.002-04:00

As I sit here, looking out of the window -- I see the moon .... A beautiful waxing crescent and surprisingly I don't want to think of any chaand songs

Thoughts: Wish I had a camera

Is ME rude?

2007-07-18T19:31:00.000-04:00

Am pretty much used to an ipod by now. If I am not at home and not in office, the chances that I am listening to my ipod are like 95%. Rarely, if at all, would you find me not sporting the characteristic white earphones.
My friends here tell me it is considered to be very rude here - to talk with people with your earphones on. But I am so much used to manipulating the volume to suit the surroundings that I hardly notice that I am wearing them
As if I care what people think about ME ...

Do u have an idol?

2007-07-17T19:14:00.000-04:00

Read this. Seems so true ...

Today wasn't very bad after all ...

2007-07-13T23:41:00.000-04:00

Pat believes I had a bad day - no my friend.. The subway saga is a continual affair - and people are stupid there and elsewhere - everyday!
I spotted 5 pairs of authentic boots today - all of different styles ... and thats good by any standards -- I am not complaining :D

Is ME a misanthrope?

2007-07-13T19:32:00.001-04:00

People are stupid - yes almost all of them. Just when I try to convince myself that this is just an aberration, I see someone doing something stupid - awfully stupid ..

I am pretty sure everyone must have experienced these situations

> You are standing in the lobby waiting for the lift. Some moron comes and presses the lift button - Goddd ... Do you think I am stupid to stand there without pressing the button - awfull

> The lift again - Some ass is listening to an ipod and increases the volume so that not only all the people in this lift, but also of the adjoining ones would be able to hear the music - loud and clear -- why???

> Yet again the lift - people enter the lift and see you approaching, but don't bother to even try to keep it open for you - Can't you see me coming you fool

> The cellphone and ringtones - and I used to think that only India had that problem - crappy ringtones which are extremely loud and people let them play for more than a while before actually picking up the cell - Please --- I dont want to hear your music ...

And today in the subway train - a guy was too busy to notice that the newspaper he was reading kept poking my hand[1] - even though I kept moving my hand, his newspaper kept filling the void created. And there was this female who kept falling onto me - ok I don't mind if it happens 2-3 times, but u need to learn after like 10 times - stand still girl. Another guy was finding amusement in swaying as the train did, often much more than the train did - I don't mind - but hey - when you hit me when moving - I do ...... - stupid people - really stupid ..

Well - there are too many such incidents - will continue in a part 2 maybe

Summary - Realization ! Me hates people ...

[1] - the hard top end of the newspaper does poke :)

Centurian

2007-07-04T23:48:00.000-04:00

Just realized that ME has completed 100 posts on this blog.
!!Keep going buddy!!

random_sher( )

2007-07-04T17:59:00.000-04:00

"Mujhe aaina na dikhao
is mein paagal nazar aata hai,
Main nahi -
saara jahan nazar aata hai"

-from the movie Dilwale

Doordarshan

2007-07-04T12:44:00.001-04:00

Came across this link today - childhood memories :D

JAO - VI

2007-07-03T20:11:00.000-04:00

"while you are out there having lunch, sleep has already tiptoed to your desk and is waiting for you"

mE Maharashtrian

2007-06-29T22:46:00.000-04:00

Almost the whole of Maharashtra is gathering behind Pratibha tai as she gears to don the role of the First Citizen of India. I too feel proud that a Maharashtrian will, after 60 years, get to the top most position of the country [1]. With the Sena choosing regionalism over Hindutva, her victory is almost certain.
However, in our joy we have conveniently forgotten that Shivraj Patil and Sushilkumar Shinde were no less [2] Maharashtrians. So what if she lacks the charisma a President is expected to have [3]. Mrs. G, has played her cards very well again - there was no way the woman-factor could be ignored by the coalition partners. And lo .. we are set to have the first woman Rashtrapati (? patni :D)
A historic moment for Maharashtra .. Hadn't other Maharashtrian big leaders screwed up their chances, we would have in the past had a Maharashtrian Prime Minister too (we know who we are talking of)
Jai Maharashtra!

[1] - The numbers indicate that it is a foregone conclusion that she will win.
[2] - Pratibha Patil is actually Pratibha Patil-Shekhawat, her husband not being a Maharashtrian
[3] - Looking back at the Indian Presidents I can remember, is that even a factor to consider?

3-7-9

2007-06-29T20:08:00.000-04:00

Gator trio made NBA history by becoming the first 3 from the same school to be picked up in the top 10. So Hawks, Timberwolves and Bulls it is!

JBJ

2007-06-24T23:07:00.000-04:00

Saw Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (half today and half yesterday) and actually liked it. Yes, strange coz it has AB Jr. Everyone I know has hated it. Trying to figure out why and this is what I get ...
-Doesn't drag along
-Not the same old plot (though fairly predictable)
-Not too mushy and not too comic
-And the important 'across-the-border romance' angle

Certainly a 'one-time must-watch' - maybe even a 'can-watch more than once'

Update: I forgot to mention that AB Jr tries to act & in the process overdoes it

INR

2007-06-22T23:57:00.000-04:00

The Rupee is becoming stronger by the day - a big concern for the IT industry in India This article puts things into perspective well

we are = we appear ?

2007-06-21T23:20:00.000-04:00

Saw Riya Sen [\:D/] today .. I was having lunch at a street vendor's near Times Square and the crew of the film was getting ready for the shoot, & she was standing right NEXT to me. She didnt have a schedule then, it seems, which explains her in a simple attire sans makeup, which brings us to the topic.
I thought it was her, but wasn't sure [1] and hence didn't go out and talk with her (how do I talk with someone I don't recognize). Later a friend told me that she was shooting in NY since 3-4 days and I was like shittt ... But the fact is that she looked nothing like she is 'made to look' in movies, photoshoots and the ramp. Makeup and costumes are all it takes to generate the oomphs - I swear, even today - before lunch time, I must have seen atleast a 100 females[2] who looked way better than her[3]. I know most people don't have any special/not-so-special liking towards Riya, but I do (DID to be precise).

the world is make-belief ,
things are not what they appear;
your mask is very thin,
dropping it is a constant fear...

[1] - I recognized Rajpal Yadav - who looked lost walking along towards the shoot as his secretary was way ahead of him and he stopped arnd looking for her and I told myself doesnt he look like him- Then his phone rang and he said 'pahunch raha hoon bhai - mere bina kahaan shuru hogi shooting' . I saw golden-haired Jimmy Shergill too - no comments there

[2]- walk on the Times Square and you'll know

[3] - there have been better days also :D

back to good old habits

2007-06-21T01:00:00.000-04:00

Its 1 am and I am changing my blog theme .. so much like the old[i] days - "ME's back "

i - can events that took place a year and half back be called old? whatever...

:D

2007-06-21T00:28:00.001-04:00

time...

2007-01-13T16:07:00.000-05:00

Its so easy to find time out for things. Just need some sophisticated time management.
This sem is going to be real busy: 3 courses, RA work and finding a decent internship... However, I am still not getting tensed. As the person who knows ME best, I am really worried as to how it hasn't crept into my system 'yet' - weird.

Guess the subconscious is ready with a plan to manage time!

alive and breathing (just about)

2007-01-09T20:24:00.000-05:00

its been longg .. very long & saying things have changed would be much more than an understatement.

Being in US, getting used to it & completing 6 months here - doesnt time fly!

can't list even the important happenings of this time - everything thats occured will be an experience i will remember

just a few thoughts -
do i miss home? - ofcourse
did i have fun here? you bet
.
.
did i want to write blog entries? - i hv always liked it
when will i post next? ??

are you blocked too?

2006-07-18T08:08:00.000-04:00

Now, I understand the raaz behind the outages.
- First it was geocities, I cursed it for a week and ported my webpage onto freewebs.
- Now, its blogger.com, naa - I am not reporting my blog - no way!!

And all this to suppress anti-social activities courtesy Mumbai blasts... Hmmm
But, geocities was down around 3 weeks back, and what was the reason for that? - Does this classify as pre-emption?

* Neha Vishwanath tracks this issue here
* Another reason for those who arent using RSS feeds to start using them

Update : Thanks to the hullabaloo generated by a few influential bloggers, Blogger.com is directly accessible again. Don't any influential people use Geocities(sic)?

unemployed......

2006-07-14T09:06:00.000-04:00

It was my last day at work today.. Mixed feelings of joy and sadness (more of sadness though)
some pics of the last days in GS Lab here

And now I am .................

the finale' ...

2006-07-11T06:57:00.000-04:00

Looking back at the WC Final -there are atleast 3 contenders for the event of the Final.

- Zidane's knocking down of Materazzi
- Materazzi's foul which led to the penalty
- The closing performance by Shakira

And I think the "Hips" easily beat Materazzi's leg and Zidanes' head.

geocities......

2006-07-08T00:55:00.000-04:00

After verifying that the problem persists on 4 different browsers, & 3 different machines, I can safely conclude that "yahoo geocities" is down... none of the sites hosted by geocities are visible ... though it still allows web pages to be edited!
"Page not found" --- and couldnt find any news about this shutdown.
Simply means my webpage ceases to exist (sic)

Update -- I say goodbye and thankyou to Geoshities.. Ported my page onto freewebs
Find it here

looking for your roots?

2006-07-03T05:10:00.000-04:00

A new research - this -- V. Interesting!!
And it leads one to believe that ....
- All of the human beings today have a common ancestor who lived around 2000 years ago...
- Around 5000 years ago, every human being alive today had exactly the same set of ancestors
--- Haven't we always known it - courtesy our Religion and the Father of all human beings

Wonder how Darwin would have reacted to this?

an urdu word update .....

2006-06-30T14:31:00.000-04:00

Had a team lunch today, and noticed a dish 'Veg Mumtaz' in the menu-card. The restaurant serves both veg and non-veg food, and i prefer the latter; hence, couldn't order[1] that dish. However, we had a good laugh about the name of this dish. "It will be sweet" said a colleague perhaps taking a cue from the actress Mumtaz :D
So, here I am, have looked up the word Mumtaz and it means Eminent, Outstanding, Chosen

[1] - the desire to order that dish had more inquisitional reasons compared to culinary ones ...

PS: Since people comment on my using of *'s, I am going to use other marks as indices

JAO-V

2006-06-30T02:11:00.000-04:00

bus:stop::train:station

bus station = bus stop
train station != train stop

PS: For those who don't know what a 'Train stop' is - look here

why this arbitrary criterion for meaning allocation?

think before you write??

2006-06-28T07:36:00.000-04:00

Met a friend yesterday who mentioned another friend who blogs. The friend-2 he said, is about to finish a post he's been writing since the past X days.. And I wondered (yes, I can do that too) -- how many of us think* before we write?
People**, I have linked, write very often, and I have every reason to believe that they don't stretch their writing activity to multiple days.. hell, i dont even remember having written any post*** for close to an hour...
how do people write and think? I was just wondering....

* - think, refers to stretching the thought-process activity to absurd levels
** - most of the people atleast...
*** - we do not talk abt quality of posts

blogs, posting and frequency.....

2006-06-21T06:49:00.000-04:00

This explains the 'new' fundas of blogging..

Obviously, Amit Varma hasn't read it yet, Gaurav Sabnis is trying to follow it & Arnab may actually have inspired it!

world cup diary II ...

2006-06-21T02:06:00.000-04:00

9 - yes, thats the count of the number of hours of sleep, i have managed in the last 48 hours...
spain-tunisia and england-sweden

the earlier one was a cracker. tunisia played well for most of the early part of the game.. but El Nino (Fernando Tores) had other plans - the club which manages to sign him, is not going to rue for certain!

england as usual disappointed - as rightly pointed out "the coles were on fire" yesterday, and as not pointed out they looked good in their earlier match too.. joe cole was simply superb. crouch is active and tries his best but sadly can't finish. Lampard continued where he left against T&T, the only difference was that yesterday there were 5 unsuccesful shots instead of 9 before. Gerrard,strangely, was again used as a substitute - he deserves better than Lampard. Why does Sol Campbell get to play? When will we see Walcott play? England can't defend and on present form will be happy with the draw which pits them against Ecuador who in most probability they will manage to defeat and reach the Semis

I need some sleep... but Argentina vs Holland will make sure that only 4.5 hrs get added.
PS: Finished up all the chikki yesterday in a bid to stay awake - will have to buy something today :)

urdu - english 2

2006-06-19T01:30:00.000-04:00

shiddat -- intensity
shareeq (hona) -- to join, become associated
furqat -- separation
manzar -- sight
farmaan -- order

update:
encountered 1 more in ahista ahista title track
anjuman -- union, group

world cup diary...

2006-06-14T06:04:00.000-04:00

Fought hard against my soporific instincts to stay awake and watch the Brazil-Croatia no Croatia-Brazil match last night. Was a dud!! really! expected 'some' fireworks and saw none (the goal by Kaka although comes close to being classified in that category)
The detractors (very few of them actually) rightly pointed out that Brazil looked dull and slow. Personally, their passing was ridiculous.. hardly any passes beyond ten feet range.. They moved forward in a group, which is good provided you ultimately reach the net.. But they were stopped well-before courtesy the brilliant marking by the Croatian defenders...
Had the ball found its way into the Brazilian net by the header which missed by a fraction a 1-1 scoreline, with Ronaldo being passe' and Ronaldinho out-of-touch, the match would have been brilliant to watch...
Some other time maybe

PS: The restaring of ESPN-Star services by ICC on the eve of the inauguration came as a sweet shocker. I, like many other Puneites was deciding on shifting to DishTV... Alls well that begins well :)

reading ...

2006-06-01T04:57:00.000-04:00

Last week read Anita Desai's Diamond Dust.
I tried to gather some more information about the author and found that she happens to be one of the bigger names in the Indian fiction realm. This multiple-time 'Booker Prize' winner, is typically famous for the strong portrayal of her characters.
However, I found her stories in Diamond Dust extremelyyyy depressing. Guess, I still haven't learnt to appreciate genuine works of fiction (sic! I feel sad)

Have begun reading "Candy is Dandy" by Odgen Nash*. This gentleman I understand revolutionised the rules of spellings and grammar in poetry.
'Candy is Dandy' is funny
It is worth the munny

* some poems of Nash here

himesh - The Fans ??

2006-06-01T00:45:00.000-04:00

Saw a news report on TV last night which claimed that people in Anand in Gujarat believe that Himesh's song 'Jhalak Dikhlaja' invites ghosts.
This mans' fans just keep increasing :D
the report

no title

2006-05-31T01:53:00.000-04:00

The rains bring to the forefront (more lucidly) the blatantly careless attitude of people in general. Ever experienced people speeding their vehicles through puddles while you (alongwith some other morons slowly steer your vehicles)? Welcome to the real-world!! However, there always have been such dim-wits present, the difference is that their numbers have increased manifold (logically as the population has increased manifold, their numbers too have multiplied- makes sense)

Another aspect of the 'carelessness' is following traffic rules (rubbish - in poona, no traffic rules exist). Just happen to be a part of a traffic jam, and you will get more than a glimpse of it. People do not know and they refuse to understand the simple fact that when there is a jam, and the traffic ahead has come to a standstill, it makes absolutely no sense to move further and create more of an entanglement.
Last night, thanks to the super-heavy rains, signals were not functioning and you can only imagine the result. The traffic on the Pune-Solapur highway was actually still for a stretch of more than a km (i saw this length, while having to reroute because of the jam, may have been much much more. I am not sure how many hours it needed to disperse - divine intervention was needed for sure)

And its not just about others that people do not care, it is about themselves.
It has rained heavily. It is night. It is pitch-dark. You want to walk. Where would you do that? Right!! Absolutely in the middle of the road. No vehicle can hit you... The drivers have eyes and they can see in the dark. And it is not even remotely possible that they will be speeding, (yes, potholes filled with water). So, safely walk in the middle of the road. - I almost* dashed into humans (urghh) on three different occasions. And these are main, busy roads we are talking about....

As I have begun and almost compiled a list of complaints, let me add one more**. When you are indulging in a decent workout it 'ought to' have dips and pushups, and obviously these need to be carried out on the floor (and over a mat) . Now, people workout with shoes***. And like idiots walk over the mat with their shoes on. Yes, they themselves carry out the floor exercises on the same mat. Its like stamping on your bed with shoes on your feet, and then ignoring all the muck while sleeping on it.. Eeeek! Ok! you like dirt, others may not share your taste!! Atleast have the decency to remove them on the mat.. With the rains having started I can only hope that some sense prevails!

* must have been around 10 feet away, and was 55+kmph
** yes its me! and i am in a good mood
*** I havent seen people exercising their ankles and feet, which would require shoes. guess people are simply very HS .. the gym is pretty clean and small too

PS: I haven't cared to name the post ...
Update: Blogger uses the first line of the post as the topic... Arghh! Can't protest... wicked blogger.com

urdu - english

2006-05-29T08:36:00.000-04:00

Of late, there seems to be resurgence in the use of Urdu words in film songs... Guess the song-writers can't do without employing the beauty and sweetness of Urdu
Some meanings of words that have found their way into 'hit-songs'...

shab-e-firaaq -- night of separation
rab -- creator, god
qurbat -- closeness, intimacy
rehguzar -- path
deedaar -- glimpse
kahkashaan -- galaxy
ibtadaa -- commencement
intehaa -- limit

I will try to keep posting meanings as soon as I find a decent amount of appealing words

pcs for poor people.......

2006-05-24T05:54:00.000-04:00

Microsoft as always comes up with a good ploy to increase its customer base...
its a win-win situation, both for the potential customers and Microsoft!

reserve ......

2006-05-23T02:27:00.000-04:00

The reservation issue seems to drag forever, and a solution seems nowhere in near-sight. Though, I have made my position about this quite clear

However, I personally do not endorse the manner of protests and their concomitants...
Doctors on hunger strike...107 hours of protests, 99 students collapsed, media prohibited from broadcasting on the issue, urgent need for help...Spread it like fire before it's too late...Youth For Equality

The hours' and students' figures might change & 'the collapsed may be replaced by die' but this message is making the rounds in mails, sms and instant messages. The forwarders in their new-found patriotism excitedly keep forwarding it. This 'apparently false' propaganda may be nothing but a publicity stunt, taken up to evoke frenzy.. A media channel tried to investigate its verity and the supposed-senders 'Youth For Equality' denied having sent it. The truth so remains concealed
[ more on this]

Also, being ignored are the hapless patients all over the country who are being dragged into this row. The protestors would argue that due to no fault of theirs (read caste) students would suffer too... But, this argument is as good as 'an-eye-for-an-eye' judgement. Already a few deaths have been reported due to the unavailability of doctors (there may be several others that have gone by unreported)

The worst part is (and the most comic one) is hearing people's views about the solutions...
Ban Central Government
Bring in a dictator
Let us all students leave India
etc etc .. the list keeps getting funnier

i wanted this post to be a short one, alas, I too have flown with the feelings [:D]

JAO - IV

2006-05-19T02:16:00.000-04:00

"In real-life Ctrl-Z doesn't work"

with chimps???

2006-05-18T02:10:00.000-04:00

suppress your feelings if any towards chimps ; our ancestors allegedly didn't ...

meaningless existence

2006-05-11T02:44:00.000-04:00

Theres' been a lot of things I think about & this is just one of the topic I have made public. I will attempt to cover this topic in an organised manner

-- Existence -
What really is existence? From what I understand, this has been a topic of discussion since ages in the philosophical domain. And IMO existing is a simple phenomenon which is as mundane as being.... as continuing. Though the word doesnt have any negative connotation attached to it, it doesnt seem positive too

-- Living -
As I see it, living has much more attached to it compared to existing. The difference is visible even when you say these two simple statements
" I exist"
" I live"

-- Meaning -
As I said, existing is somewhat stagnant. Somewhere, attached to it is the absence of a purpose, kindof vegetative.
Living on the other hand, involves attempting do things differently, to try for betterment of you and others, to set and achieve goals. It is not a mere acceptance of facts and situations, but a struggle towards achievement. So, when your attitude becomes one of existing, there is an implicit meaningless associated with it.

-- Being -
Simple facts such as failures and successes are easier to digest when we accept a Greater Being (read God). I don't completely believe in the 'I am because of what I do' mentality. Somewhere down the line, the acceptance of God, gives a sense of security because theres' someone who is there with you, someone who will help you. True, that still 'A man's got to do what a man's got to do', yet the feeling is nonetheless beneficial.

bottomline: Move from Meaningless Existence towards a Meaningful Life

PS: I don't know how much of it makes sense to people, but this is just a small part of My thoughts ....

reading continues...

2006-04-24T05:13:00.000-04:00

Read (past tense)
> English August by Upamanyu Chatterjee - funny yet seemed very real, very indian.. Liked the book

> The Inscrutable Americans by Anurag Mathur * - I must say, it began really well; but after a while it became too predictable, repetetious and all that. Dear Brothers, it is an alrite-types book

Have moved to a sortof motivational book - I'm OK, you're OK. Using the theory of Transactional Analysis, it claims it has altered peoples' life. Must admit, I am nowhere near that - am finding it pretty difficult to digest it ...

* - A tip from Rao made me read it...

57249

2006-04-24T01:58:00.000-04:00

this number attained great significance this weekend, for I
- saw 'RHTDM' for the 57249th * 57249th time
- saw 'Maine Pyaar Kiya' for the 57249th time
- resolved for the 57249th time, that this week onwards will resume gymming (1)
- resolved to reduce 5.2749 cms of my girth
- For the 57249th time, wondered about the reason for the being of mankind... (2)

(1) - On all the previous occasions I have broken my resolution
(2) - Was it the outcome of a depression? may not be so - coz i dont remember feeling low

few FAQs - Good Friday

2006-04-14T03:40:00.000-04:00

What is Good Friday?
It is a holy day celebrated on the friday before Easter. It marks the crucifixion of Christ.

What is done on this day?
Catholic and Orthodox Christians treat Good Friday (Great Friday, in the Orthodox Church) as a fast day. Special services marked with readings, sermons and hymns are carried out.

Why the "Good" in the name?
Some sources say that it was originally known as 'God's Friday' which with time got switched with 'Good'.
---------Ken Collins webiste mentions ---
I’ve read that the word good used to have a secondary meaning of holy, but I can’t trace that back in my etymological dictionary. There are a number of cases in set phrases where the words God and good got switched around because of their similarity. One case was the phrase God be with you, which today is just good-bye. So perhaps Good Friday was originally God’s Friday. But I think we call it Good Friday because, in pious retrospect, all that tragedy brought about the greatest good there could be.
----------

What are the customs associated with this day?
Fasting and abstinence, from meat and alcohol, are followed by most sects.
Hot-cross buns are eaten. (there is a nursery rhyme abt good friday and hot-cross buns too)

References:
Good Friday -Wikipedia
Ken Collins website

PS: The only intent is to dispel the ignorance abt this day. I am still very much loyal to my Faith, and intend to continue being so... (my faith sees this event in a much different light)

me supports reservations

2006-04-10T02:33:00.000-04:00

Yes.. why not?

The SCs/STs have reservations, why deprive the OBCs of this privelege/right?
They have faced similar (maybe a bit less) woes, so they should get similar benefits.. makes sense - I bet it does!
So what if the total reservation level has now crossed 50% - you are not born a special person - it is your fault, and you ought to live with it!
Do I sound sarcastic -- hmmm, Having faced this reservation experience 5 years back, I ought to..
Cut to Aug'01 - Engineering seats alloaction in the erstwhile COEP.. Me with 292/300 (was very displeased with 94/100) am pretty much convinced that will get into COEP (Comp/EnTC) - with 60+60 seats in each discipline and Me having a 30 something rank, things seemed rosy - didnt know about reservations =))
I enter the hall, see a screen - drop down (almost) - 8 seats open for general category in each discipline ... God, is this reservation or what - reservation for females, SCs, STs, OBCs, physically handicapped - phew, I think I missed a few other "priveleged categories".... Shoot me@

Seriously speaking.. the only strata of the society that needs any (read all) reservations are the EBCs - and this is right from the primary level of education.. realizing that you need to do something once the person graduates is simply a late realization. And this is irrespective of the caste & religion... Can't an upper caste person be poor? Don't we find innumerable rich SCs/STs blatantly "utlizing" the privleges they undeservingly get? The bottomline is poverty prevents people from progress & not only these special strata of people are poor!!

PS: Looking back, not getting into COEP wasnt a big deal! The situation in PICT wasnt drastically worse/better

SBI strikes -

2006-04-07T04:53:00.000-04:00

Its the 5th day into the strike and there are no signs that the impasse will end soon... The country is almost cripled because of the inactivity of India's largest bank.
The employees of SBI are justified in demanding an upward revision in their pensions which has been stable since '92. They claim that they do not want assurances but firm steps taken.. (valid)
But have they forgotten that most of the state and central government departments have their accounts in SBI? That ordinary customers-mostly salaried government employees have their only accounts in SBI? That pensions and govt-salaries are disbursed through SBI? And That public sector SBI accounts for 18 per cent of the total deposits and advances in the Indian banking sector? (- all invalid)
---------
"I have not been able to withdraw my pension for this month. The strike has badly affected my household expenditure. I don't know what I will do if the strike continues for long." says a retired public sector employee Dilip Patil and lakhs of others who are sharing the same fate.
--------
I personally am very much affected by this strike too, dont ask why.... I can only hope that the matter gets resolved very soon.. or Else???

Update - The strike is off since Monday, the staff is working extra-time and extra-hard to reduce the pending matters. I forgive them :) but don't think there are many takers for the forgiving thing....

(on the mat)hematics

2006-04-06T02:20:00.000-04:00

Politicians are brilliant and often they come out with such masterpieces -

----------------------
All maths and no play makes Jack a poor sportsman. Solution: Junk the numbers and hit the playground. This is what a top bureaucrat in the sports ministry wants enshrined in the national school curriculum.
----------------------

Agreed that Maths is the most-feared subject of all, and eats up a major chunk of a students time.

----------------------
With Commonwealth Games round the corner, the ministry of sports and youth affairs has written to education policy-makers, seeking ways of promoting the sporting ethic and one suggestion is that time given to mathematics be swapped with playing games.
----------------------

Couldn't they have come up with a lesser extreme step than making it optional.. lower the difficulty, reduce the scope, change the teaching pattern , blah blah; but no, appeasement and that too by such insane 'deeds' is the trademark of politicians...

Complete story - here

when one looses, someone will gain....

2006-03-24T07:47:00.000-05:00

Vista delay, Mac gain?

dare to stare

2006-03-22T10:34:00.000-05:00

Met a friend yesterday and had an 'interesting' conversation with him. I saw him blatantly staring at 'females' passing by and casually asked him how he could do this. His reply was amazing

friend: "Whats the big deal? I am just looking.. It's kind of letting her know that she does look good"
Me: "hmmmm"
friend: [laughing]"And what about the innumerable times girls stare at me.. I bet you have also been the object of 'attention'"
Me: "You bet"

And so I agree with his POV (this does not mean that I have started staring).
However, my query begins before this - How does one understand that he/she is being stared at???

Consider these scenarios involving 2 people P1 and P2
Case 1: P1 and P2 both look at one-another continuously for a minute
Case 2: P1 looks at P2. P2 looks at P1. P1 is looking at P2 for the whole minute and P2 looks back at P2 only at the end of the minute.
Case 3: P1 looks at P2. P2 looks at P1. P2 is looking at P1 for the whole minute and P2 looks back at P1 only at the end of the minute.
Case 4: P1 looks at P2. P2 looks at P1. P1 and P2 both look back at each other only after the end of the minute.

Now, Case 1 is out-of-the-discussion. Both people are as good/bad.
Cases 2 and 3 involve 'staring'. But in Case 4, P1 and P2 may both assume the other party is 'doing-the-staring' and hurl abuses at the poor non-starer.
So, can anyone be sure whether he/she are actually being stared at. Me thinks not, unless there is a 3rd/4th person involved, who could corroborate.

However, I sincerely despise the "Oh-he-is-staring-at-me" types who think that they are the only good-looking things and that others have no interests other than staring at them.

My case - don't laugh
> P1 looks at Me. Me looks away, maybe Me hasn't even noticed P1. P1 may/may not continue to look at Me. Me cares not. At the end of the minute, God only knows what happens to P1, Me is least interested. Ok, what does one get by looking? Alright, what does one get apart from the 'aankhon-ko-sukoon' thing.

PS: The recent spate of posts in support of Blank Noise Project did make me feel like voicing my support against 'real eve-teasing', but somehow didn't feel like sharing my scuffle with a goon who tried to tease my friend. There's no way he will be reading this. And even if someone with the type of mentality that gunda possessed does read this, will he actually share the grief of the ones who suffered? Scope hai kya?? Why waste time in trying to do the unattainable???

realization....

2006-03-17T10:02:00.000-05:00

Can someone be consistently inconsistent?
I can.... yes, thats me!

Readd

2006-03-15T00:17:00.000-05:00

Have resumed somewhat active reading this month - finished reading 2 books and in the process of finishing 2 others

> The Interpreter of Maladies - Was a good catalyst - easy prose, nice and distinct stories, but somehow Jhumpa Lahiri, manages to fill the reader with sadness. Every story has a disappointing end. Guess thats the way the Pulitzer Prize winner sees life!!

> A Collection of Short Stories of Saki - This was brilliant! Absolutely enticing...I have become a fan of Reginald

> Travels of A Genetically Modified Zone - Written by Professor Mark Winston -Its good to know about Genetic Modifications you see :))

> A House for Mr.Biswas - by V.S.Naipaul - I dont know why I like this,but I do! The prose at times seems too simple.. and the problems Mr.Biswas faces have been repeated innumerable times.. And I invariably doze off after reading about 10 pages, but I have resolved to complete this big 622 page book!!

JAO - III

2006-03-01T12:02:00.000-05:00

Saw this on the rear end of a truck tonite, its number CG 04 J 4549 indicated that it belonged to chandigarh:

"Buri nazar waale, tu vilayat jaa"

ye hai india, yahan sab kuch ho sakta hai!!

people do things....

2006-02-28T08:04:00.000-05:00

Recently came across 2 posts - ME is compeled to believe they are from 'famous' bloggers (whatever that means)

One of them vented his ire against the act of distribution of baby photos in a rather disgusting way -- no it was worse than that; I mean whats' wrong with babies, their photos and their distribution. I wudnt mind my friends sending me pictures of their babies - not that any of them have had any yet. Children are 'supposed' to be cute. Its' the only time of life everyone is surely cute!
Probably, people hate babies once they've had them or decided they won't/can't have them... It happens with age, someone told me!!
Besides, the parents are just telling you to have a look at it. You are not being asked to hold them, carry them around, shee shee (pun intended) .. whats the harm in doing that.. ME knows not!!

The other post - once again from a famous blogger from a faraway-land (ok ME admits - shiva - you've inspired me to use this term) expresses his love for his to-be-wife or was it for his already existing (as in present) wife .. (whichever be the case) the point is he says 'I live and would die for her' (eeeks - get over it fellow) - And what about the time you didn't know her - you were alive then, weren't you? so, you might as well survive if she ceases to exist.. Besides, do you (even in your wildest dreams) believe that you would die - suicide, if she dies?? no, an automatic death - as if her death triggers your death - and things be in the right perspective for the remaining junta...

---
everyone has a right to feel,
amazement,unhappiness or weal,
you may or may not be a keal,
(i am sure no one knows that keal means a flaky moron)
it doesnt need any authority's seal!
----

my page

2006-02-24T11:37:00.000-05:00

finally put in 3 pages worth -- (is it worthy too, dont ask) info on my web-page(s)
ME's web-page

(atleast) 2 more pages need to be started .. (sic)

of small towns and entertainment....

2006-02-24T04:42:00.000-05:00

Amit Verma finds new and amusing ways to entertain himself....
Ponty Manesar (oops..) Monty Panesar is the target; PJ-like yet amusing .. as long as it is in the lighter vein!!
Read the article here ...

Why don't surds mind it?? .. don't know

JAO - II

2006-02-19T05:05:00.000-05:00

"life is short (even literally)"

ponder please....

2006-02-17T00:14:00.000-05:00

Found this post today.....
Different,ain't it?

Link Reference: Unwilling Self-Negation

comics....

2006-02-16T13:12:00.000-05:00

Came across some comics today... Me means the ones which are to be read and laughed at (pretty bad joke,right?)
- Garfield
- Yet Another Comic
- Archie - the archive has Comics from Dec 2000 to Jan 2006 .. Phew thats a lot by any standard!!

why tip the hat?

2006-02-14T06:53:00.000-05:00

I often come across the term 'Hat Tip' which now seems a pretty common one in the world of blogging.. and wondered why it was being used...
--------
Ask Andy About Clothes writes -
Hats are tipped, (or doffed) slightly lifting the hat off your forehead, when meeting a lady (remove your hat if you stop to talk), or to "say" to anyone, male or female – thank you, excuse me, hello, goodbye, you’re welcome or how do you do.

Tipping of the hat is a conventional gesture of politeness. This hat tipping custom has the same origin as military saluting, which came from the raising of medieval Knights face visors to show friendliness.
-------
It is nice to be polite, everyone should try to be polite (whatever); but is that what is intended by 'Hat Tip'.. From the minuscule knowledge that I have gained in the past four months, I don't think that is the purpose. Isn't it used when some part/idea is reproduced/expanded??

non-existent laws....

2006-02-13T05:27:00.000-05:00

Some acts which are characterized as offences..And I was astounded to read about their existence, I was under the impression that they have become defunct ages ago...

> Disobeying traffic signs or signals. - (Fine Rs.100)
> Driving two wheeler without a Helmet. - (Fine Rs.100)
> Rash Driving. - (Fine Rs.300)
> Illegal/Fancy Number Plate. - (Fine Rs.100)
> Not having side or rear view mirror. - (Fine Rs.100)
> Using mobile phone while driving. - (Fine Rs.100)
> Lane Cutting while driving. - (Fine Rs.100)

A complete list of acts can be found here

Reference - Pune Police

A Verse

2006-02-09T07:37:00.000-05:00

I spit on the road
   coz' it is my papa's property,
Who policeman, who government
   I am the sole authority,
On the road you
   take care while travelling,
For I as usual
   May just be spitting!

...dedicated to all the firm believers in cleanliness, who use the road for the noble act of spitting....

life's pressures...

2006-02-09T02:40:00.000-05:00

Turned on the TV today morning to be surprised by this piece of flashing news "Kuljeet Randhawa commits suicide" ....

saying 'I was shocked to hear this' would be a certain understatement!!

Nafisa Joseph her good friend and co-star had committed suicide a few months back.

A model and a TV actress by profession ,Kuljeet - CATS, Special Squad and the recently concluded Kohinoor, I 'religously' followed all her serials.... Her first movie By Chance is due to release shortly...

The suicide note she left mentions that this act was committed as she was unable to handle life's pressures...

What could have led her to take such a drastic step? How long has she been buried deep inside problems??

God Bless Her Soul!!!

a real indian hero....

2006-02-08T05:05:00.000-05:00

Girija Devi, a Dalit woman from Bihar has been chosen to address the UN's 15th session of the 'Commission on the Status of Women'
Her initiative which led to an anti-liquor drive is slowly turning into a mass movement in the district.

Hats off to her.....
An individual can certainly make a difference!!

The CNN IBN story can be found here

10 down....

2006-02-08T04:38:00.000-05:00

I was just wondering ...
The score is 10 now!! 10 since .....

whatever ... who cares

The Unrest over 'Cartoons' spreads to India

2006-02-07T06:39:00.000-05:00

Around 4 months after it started in Denmark, the protests over the depiction of Prophet in cartoons has now spread to India .

A summary of the turnout of events can be found here

Mood: woebegone

JAO -- just another observation....

2006-02-07T04:43:00.000-05:00

"Pushups make one appear large"
------------------------
If you don't believe ME, see the movie Neil'n'Nikki .......

PS: ME intends to have a series of JAO's, probably one a week.

Monday nights' getting better....

2006-02-02T09:17:00.000-05:00

Starting Feb 6, The 'multiple times' Emmy Award winning Comedy is going to be back on Star World with a fresh new season.

Yippee!!!

The last I knew it had won - 5 consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series and a total of 37 Emmys (It surely seems a record, methinks...)

Frasier is "Intelligent Comedy at its very best"

Dr.Frasier Crane, portraying a psychiatrist whose interactions with his father Martin, brother Niles and home-caretaker Daphne are ________,______ & _____ .
Not to mention his symapathizing colleage-at-work Roz and his terrier Eddie!!
(please fill in the above blanks; hunger has killed my ability to think of suitable words)

Thank You Star World!!

Programme Guide - Monday nite - Star World
-------------------
Seinfeld - 7.30 (the eternal .,. I watch the late night repeat telecast 'coz I dont have a TV in the workplace)
My Wife & Kids - 8 (A new one, have only managed to see 1 episode.. but it seemed preety good)
Everybody Loves Raymond - 8.30 (Needs no introduction... btw, It also happens to be ME's favourite)
Frasier - 9
Becker - 9.30 (starring the protagonist from Cheers from which Frasier was spun-off, who plays a physician)

netdisaster

2006-01-30T05:36:00.000-05:00

Came across Netdisaster today. The site has won the Yahoo Search Award for 'The Best Innovative Website' of 2005. It seemed pretty interesting. I especially liked slow burn and mars attack disaster ( I actually havent tried out all the attacks)!!
In Mall Road, Shivam Vij has streched his creative mind.
Find it here

gone in 75 seconds......

2006-01-30T01:17:00.000-05:00

Amir Khan is in news again.. No no - not the perfectly-acting, Modi-bashing, media-avoiding, re-marrying one. This one is the boxing teen sensation from Britain, the highly acclaimed 'born-fighter'.
He last year turned pro - inspite of declaring after his olympic silver medal in Athens at the age of 17 that he planned to continue amateur boxing till beijing '08 -..
And day before yesterday, in the first match of his pro career against a foreign opponent,a 21 year old Belarussian, the 19 year old Khan knocked him down in 75 seconds ..Whoa!!
Looks like he is very much in line in his march towards the world title..

a few brave ones...

2006-01-25T13:06:00.000-05:00

January 24th happened to be the day on which the National Bravery Awards were presented. For those lowly creatures who have no inkling as to what these awards are -

> No, it is not awarded to 'brave' filmstars (who shoot people with fake guns and indulge in make-belief battles)

> No, it is not awarded to 'brave' sportstars (read team cricket india and sania mirza - 'coz these are the only sports personalities in India that the junta knows)

> No, it is not even awarded to the 'brave' politicians (no explanation of their bravery is warranted)

> No, there will be no live coverage of these awards on any televsion channel (with long and blah-blah, boring speeches learnt by rote)

> Yes, there will be a small mention that the awards were distributed in a tiny corner of the newspaper

> Yes, one or two wise old channels may actually name the awardees and show their footage for a couple of minutes

Enough sarcasm by ME (but what to do, the truth really bites)

The awards were constituted by late Pt.Nehru in 1959 to honour brave children. From bravery acts across the nation carried out by children, these 'BRAVE' children are selected and feliciated at the hands of the PM. The winners get a cash prize and financial assistance until they complete their schooling.

---- The winners of the 2005 National Bravery Award------

Ratul Chandra Rabha and Rituparna Boro of Assam received the Bharat Award for the courage displayed while chasing a group of militants who killed their schoolteacher and for getting one of the militant arrested.

Seidalyne Mawtyllup of Meghalaya got the Geeta Chopra Award and Sanmesh Mahesh Kalyanpur of Mumbai got the Sanjay Chopra Award. Both risked their lives in saving their siblings.

Dugi from Orissa and C.Susheela of Andhra Pradesh have been awarded the Bapu Gayadhani awards for their extraordinary courage in revolting against child marriage.

Mahesh Kumar of Uttaranchal for saving a girl from a tiger.

Pusparani, the youngest awardee all of 9 years of age, saved a child from drowning.

Shibu T from Kerala who was honoured posthumously for sacrificing his life to save the life of his brother who had fallen into the river.

Sarath Babu, Divya T V, both from Kerala, Laxman of Chhattisgarh, Mukesh Kumar Tanwar of Madhya Pradesh, Puutijungshi of Nagaland, Nelson Karam from Manipur, Nagarani Venkateswara Rao of Andhra Pradesh and Santosh Ramesh Dahe of Maharashtra are the other recipients.
---------

A salute to the real brave heroes !!!

A Republic Day Present !!

2006-01-25T13:01:00.000-05:00

A couple of days before the 56th Republic Day, ME witnessed the unimaginable-the repulsive-the gruesome. A Mr.Gopalkrishan Kashyap immolated himself in broad daylight in public view, protesting against the shutting down of his shop in Punjab. It seems he had repeatedly sent complaints to the administration and warned of his act... But his demands were not met...

What was worse is that people had actually gathered to witness the act(!!!!!). There were television crews which interviewed him before he did the unthinkable. Policemen were present there too.

He poured fuel and lit himself up. And people stood and watched him do that (how disgusting and despicable). The policemen present didnt do anything (no complaints- what more can one expect from them?). A few sane(??) people did eventually use blankets to curb the fire. But alas! it was too late!! The person already had 80-90% burns and today succumbed to the injuries!

Yesterday, this disturbing footage was continuously being aired on television.. & today, our responsible media shoots the question 'shouldn't the cameraman shooting the scene have rushed to prevent the self-immolation'. Give me a break you sick people.....

Section 309 states that attempted suicide is a criminal offense.. what the f*** was the uniformed creature viewing this crime doing??? And it is just another tight slap on the face of humanity, on the face of the very concept of society & of course the nation!!

Enjoy, the Republic Day, which happens to be just another holiday.......

Patience

2006-01-20T10:08:00.000-05:00

Life isnt easy... it never was and never will be..
ME oft wonders -
  What next?
     How to face the negatives, disappointments, failures??
         What to look for inspiration???

It is precisely at this very moment that ME turns spiritual... babbling whatever comes to mind..whatever gives hope - however minuscule it be....

Okay, I admit ME is beginning to sound like a grandfather

Hmmm... It may sound like a big devation from grave topic. Still , Me says --
Some months back, Channel V had come up with a Super Singer Contest. The person who won was "Ravindra Upadhay" - A good human being with a good voice.. His debut album 'Super Singer' had some alright songs. But for ME, one song stood out of the common rung --
It was "Sabr Kar" - literally meaning "Have Patience"

Inspite of using simple words, analogies that we've bred on for ages and weird twists in vocab (duhh -- thats poetry you dumb creature)... The song has truly touched ME's heart every time ME wanted it to
---strange--- but TRUE.
!!I now know what to do to give ME patience!!

Lines like ---

der hain andher nahi
(there is delay, but not darkness)
maula ke ghar
(in God's House)

na baith ummeede chod ke
(dont give up hope)
woh tujhko dega todke
(He will pluck and give you)
tere karmo ka phal
(the fruits of your deeds)
laga hain jis jis shakh par
(from whichever branch it hangs)

teri mehnat sachhi hain toh
(If your hard work is sincere)
tu bhi safal ho jaayega
(you will also succeed)
sach hoga tera sapna
(your dream will realize)
har aansu kho jaayega
(& every tear will disppear)

and ME's favoriteshhttt line--

kya hua abhi joh dhoop hain
(So what if its sunlight now)
yeh bhi jeevan ka roop hain
(this is also a part of life)
barasna hain kab tujhpar
(when to pour on you)
badal ko hain khabar
(the cloud does know)

Inspirational -- Very!!

ad ho(c)?

2006-01-19T15:27:00.000-05:00

It all began with Whirlpool! The ad was a good for nothing,literally.. Arguably, one of the finest actors of todays' film industry, Ajay Devgan, accompanied wifey, who ME should mention has been one of me's favourite actresses. A Mistake - Ignored..
State: tolerable

Then it was 'tan-tana-tan' aka Tata Indicom... Arguably,one of the worst ads Me has seen in me's whole lifey..
It was extremely difficult to imagine that the person who has been the life of endeavors like Company,Gangajal and Apaharan (tere' are' many more , but cant really think at this moment) could fall to such depths... phew!!!
State: confused and sad

And now Kajol continues the 'tarakki ka safar' ..Did you ask which safar? remember the 'tan-tana-tan' ad ---
"insaan phone kyon leta hai?
... tarakki karne ke liye" ..
after all she must have followed hubby dears' principle "of endorsing products, only with which he is hapy and fully involved with"... Of all the things in the big wide world,why Tata Indicom and that too succhhh a badddd onnne?? .. Anyways back to Kajol, who is now back with Marie and ME is back to gloom....

If 'tan-tana-tan' was bad..then this advertisement is worse (the fact that Me hasnt used worst yet, points to the simple fact that falls to deeper lows are still expected) .. If 'tan-tana-tan' makes me feel like switching to a different channel, this one makes me shut off my TV....
State: Undescribable

Please Kajol, do not torture ME and other creatures....

Make-(ME)-over

2006-01-19T08:35:00.000-05:00

ME's blog has undergone a slight makeover... more beautification (huh) will ensue!

A Somewhat 'Peachish bkgrnd - reminds me of the uniform ME donned for 12 long years...

The uniform

Update: The color is now almost like the uniform's color & the above link only describes the uniform - for a view of the uniform, visit the school!!

'one' more news channel

2006-01-16T07:34:00.000-05:00

Times Group has finally taken the plunge... Coming soon to your TV sets (it has already started albeit its only advertisements for now) is Times Now -- Feel the News -- ohh ! so what else do we do with news??

The 24 hour news channel is the 2nd television channel of Times Group after Zoom. They claim that it is
---------------------------
"the channel of big stories, the channel that’s urban from surface to core. The channel with news and shows woven in a crisp contemporary package, the channel with some of the best known faces in the Indian television journalism, the channel with distinctive but seamless news formats, the channel that adds a new dimension to urban reportage, the channel that is relevant and engaging for a viewer like you"
---------------------------
Hmm.. interesting! Have I heard this before???

And guess who is leading this 'English news channel from the biggest media conglomerate in India' --
Its' Arnab Goswami - One of NDTV's senior editor and an award-winning journalist. He is the VP and Editor in Chief of 'Times Now'. So, after Rajdeep Sardesai, its one more senior folks at NDTV who has joined the big league.

And with it, the number of news channels has increased by "ONE"!! Just 'feel' the current list
> 3 by NDTV - NDTV 24x7,NDTV Profit and NDTV India
> 2 of India Today Group -Aaj Tak and Headlines Today
> 2 by CNBC group - CNBC, Awaaz
> CNN-IBN (led by Rajdep Sardesai)
> India Tv (led by Rajat Kapoor)
> Channel 7
> Star News
> Zee News and Zee Business
> Sahara Samay
> DD News
> Besides there are the eternal CNN and BBC World

guess what?? my television currently supports only 110 channels & at the rate at which channels are being launched.. it sure seems a number which will be overhauled soon , pretty soon....

The Good,

2006-01-10T07:47:00.000-05:00

Eid Mubarak!!!

By the grace of the Almighty, Haj has been safe this year.
Eid celebrations have begun in Mecca

the Bad...

2006-01-10T07:46:00.000-05:00

Only TEN Sports viewers will be able to witness the forthcoming Indo-Pak series... Blackout
Can I hear the approx. 259 million DD viewers and 400 million AIR listeners already cursing???

Hahaa -- I have TEN Sports!!

& the Ugly....

2006-01-10T07:45:00.000-05:00

Do we need to torture poor school-children just to put up a grand Republic Day show???

ME thinks not!!

With temperatures in Delhi dipping to record lows, ME can't help but sympathize with children from all over the nation who are camping in the Capital to rehearse and perform on 26th Jan..

My phone was tapped too.....

2006-01-09T07:44:00.000-05:00

For long, Mulayam has been screaming at the top of his voice that his phone is being tapped. A plot is being planned to destabilize his Government in UP, he claims... After all UP is doing great!

"Mera Uttar Pradesh,
Bane Uttam Pradesh"

Sure, baneega hi.. Apne Amar Singhji ke acche acche dost jo hai, AB, AA, SS, to name a few; Nahi not name - initialize a few would be more appropriate.

Ok, enough digressions. The point is Mulayam Singh knew his phone was being tapped. And so was his son's and adarniya Amar Singhji's. However, we need proofs to prove what we say, and without it no one will ever believe what you say!
So,CMji has now finally got proof to substantiate his claims. Amar Singhji has made the proof of his phone "tapping" public. So what response does he get from the authorities?? Simple: The proof is forged (hahaaa) but aur leaderji is not in a mood to ignore this.
--
"I will drag all concerned to the court and prove my point,", he says.
--

As if 'Claiming that your phones are being tapped was in vogue', Amma joins the claiming bandwagon and so does Naidu. Welcome aboard!! There's room for more, anyone else interested in joining??
Along comes BJP and finds that the boat is steering ahead & there is lots of place in it. So, it alleges that phones of "several" senior BJP leaders are being tapped. Sadly, BJP was unable to guage the actual capacity of the boat & hence decided to do 'late binding'..

!!ME say's my phone is being tapped too!!

Mulayam Singh had distributed copies of Hindi translation of the British PM Benjamin Disraeli's views on lives of public figures.. & I am looking for views of some 'famous' left wing politician who feels that the 'junta' has as many rights as do the leaders - hmm, doesnt every leftist have that view?

Agreed that I may not be as important "cough - cough"(My Ma would certainly disagree on this part) as the CM of UP but I too have a right to privacy. Amar Singhji,You are able to produce proofs endorsing your claims but how would I be able to get a proof of my phone being tapped... I want to join your boat too. Can I get aboard before other "Public Figures" think of following the trend and fill up the boat??

Am I careless?

2006-01-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is my Bachelor's Convocation ceremony. A month ago, I paid fees for the degree certificate & with the intent of preserving the receipt kept it in my wallet. One fine day, God knows what got into my head & I like a maniac started tearing "useless" things in my wallet and throwing it out... It really did have a lot of 'kachra'. Probably I was tired of a fat wallet (defying the tricks of modeling that I learnt ages ago)
I even saw a receipt from the Univ, & without reading it I tore it to uncountable bits !!sob!! The next day, I get a letter from the Univ specifying the date of convocation as 8th Jan... I proceed to read the letter only to find that I am needed to produce this letter and the receipt of payment .. So what next?? SWEARING.. i am pretty used to abusing & for the next 3 days I hurled abuses at myself!

Now, I think about the ceremony that is to be held tomorrow & about me not being able to attend it and having to accept a 'probably' crumpled certificate which will be sent home 2 weeks later.Why?? Only because I am too responsible...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Articles in the pipeline -
The 'secret' behind keeping a wallet fat!
Why people swear?

finally... A continuation

2006-01-06T02:32:00.000-05:00

It's been 13 months since I last worked out in the gym... Barring the one-odd ocassion a couple of months back,when I fatuously trained with heavy weights on the first day of my comeback & obviously was sore for 2 weeks thereafter & not-so-obviously didnt find time after that for gym.
sic! I cant' believe how I couldnt' manage to find time for something I have loved so much... But not henceforth .. Today was the first day of my gym.
So.. its finally a successful comeback and I will follow a sane and strategized routine which I have already created!!

I wish me -- !!Happy Gyming!! --

Ich und Films

2006-01-04T07:59:00.000-05:00

With Rao started a new blog - exclusively about films.. And even managed to post in it - All-Time-Most-Watched List .. pretty kool haan!!

Yesterday after a hard days work, found energy to see 'Rules' agaiiin the 11pm - 1am home show .With this viewing I am sure I have seen the movie more than 25 times.

A rather unusual movie - whats great about it? Why would a person see it so many times?? I myself dont know..
However, I remember an incident that happened when I was is in college. A routine discussion in the hostel brought up the topic of this film being good. I laughed it off - abusing those who liked it.. After all 6 or more plots, an apparently uninteresting female lead, a male lead who hasn't yet established himself in the industry and a Love Plot .. Where else can one go wrong?

However, it seems that I was absolutely wrong.. I have liked the movie every time I have watched it.. As a matter of fact, it seems just as good everytime ....

More on films in the new blog.....

---- Black ----

2006-01-02T09:39:00.000-05:00

Tried this test What's Your True Color?
& got this result -

"Your color is black. The color of night. Serene and mysterious, black conjures up images of elegant evening gowns, dashing tuxedos, and gleaming limousines. Traditionally a symbol of success, black also represents power and an uncompromising demand for perfection. Not surprisingly, you tend to set challenging goals for yourself and do whatever it takes to achieve them — your strength of character is second to none. This unfaltering determination, along with your natural elegance, impresses people. But keep in mind that your personality might be intimidating to some. Try to temper your demanding side with a little softness — trust us, it won't kill you. Overall, though, black is the color of professionalism and achievement, which means it's clearly the color for you."

How true is it?? I wonder -

The Year 2005

2005-12-30T02:06:00.000-05:00

The year has almost ended.. some things which 'I' think stood out.......

Sportman:
Ronaldinho (European Footballer of the year,FIFA World Player of the year,FIFPro World Player of the year)

Cricket Moment:
Sachins' 35th ton

Letter:
Greg Chappell( highlighting Ganguly's flaws)

Seizure:
Pawar wresting power from Dalmiya

Sports jodi:
Ganguly & Chappell (:D - they even beat the 'famous' Fame Jodi)

Hindi movie:
Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi

Hindi movie song:
Aashiq banaya aapne

Hindi album song:
Bikhra Hoon Main(Jal) -- if u haven't heard it yet... you know what to do

Movie Star:
Akshay Kumar (undoubtedly - 4 hits this year)

Dud Movie:
Mangal Pandey / Paheli

Media Hype:
Amitabh's "small" intestine's "big" problem

Catch:
Abu Salem

Split:
Ambani brothers

Speech:
L K Advani on Jinnah

Political Upthroning:
Nitish Kumar's Government in Bihar

Shame:
Cash-for-Query (MPs caught on tape taking bribe)

Resignation:
Natwar Singh

Kick/Walk Out:
Uma Bharti

...the above two categories are essentially the same

Happening Thing:
The Sensex

and finally the most important one....

Indian of the year:
Manmohan Singh

cheap deals.....

2005-12-29T08:58:00.000-05:00

Cant help it -- I had to write about this!!

Day-before I visited Big Bazaar & it really does live upto the expectations I had about it.. Located at the extremely busy FatimaNagar-Hadapsar Road junction, it seems to be pretty popular with the junta here.. And why not? Things are veryyy cheap here.. I bought a pair of jeans for a fraction of the money I am used to shelling out . True it isnt a big brand , but hell -- who cares about brands (to some extent that is) ...
They sell everything -- well almost everything one needs.

But a complaint - its tooo crowded... there wasnt place to walk and that to on a Tuesday.. Boy.. I cant imagine the condition there on weekends......
Another thing -Unlike other malls around, I din't see any pretty faces here -- do they not know about it or was I too busy looking at the prices??? Hmmm......

Moral of (this is no story) : Big Bazaar deserves at least one visit...

Back-up of memory

2005-12-29T06:40:00.000-05:00

Do this and you loose your privacy; however u will never forget anything!!
Its a virtual recall- literally Read This

Isnt it a tad too much??

Vacations....

2005-12-27T08:31:00.000-05:00

Back after a 4-day vacation... time sure does fly & flies pretty fast!!
My sis got married ... & it was good to experience the joy, anticipation, enthusiasm, sadness and all other emotions..
Back to the routine days.... and am already waiting for my next vacation!!!

whats with bulls?

2005-12-22T07:33:00.000-05:00

Vehicles,bags,caps,etc,etc.. u find this everywhere

I wonder why people like it... after all its a bull & there are plenty of other animals??

The winter skull caps most of which sport this photo made me ponder over this....

moving on...........

2005-12-22T02:30:00.000-05:00

Our team has shifted to a new location, pretty close to the old place.. The new place looks better.. atleast for now..

But Il miss the people in the old facility ..esp Shreyas .. my best buddy ..

Hmmm... life moves on!!

why traffic signals?

2005-12-21T04:17:00.000-05:00

the traffic signal shows red light,
break the signal rules
coz theres' no policeman in sight!!

I have thought about the reasons why people in poona dont follow the red = stop, green = go rule.........
My conclusions -

> Theres a meeting in the workplace which has already begun and if the person doesnt reach before it gets over, he'l get fired!

> The person's house is on fire, & he needs to rush to rescue his loved ones or save his prized possessions

> The person's wife is about to run away or has already begun to run away.. & the person needs to catch her red-handed

> The vehicle has some problem due to which it cant stand still at a place

> The person cant control any longer, & needs to reach a suitable place urgently or atleast find some trees

Or simply and in most cases - you dont give a bloody damn about rules and break them just for the sake of it!!!

PS: I rarely break traffic signal rules; but sometimes when at a traffic signal, people behind you are honking like mad, uve got no other option!!!

one more pair of ripped jeans

2005-12-16T07:23:00.000-05:00

Sob.... Another pair of my jeans has been ripped & this has happened because of its excessive usage -- around 5 and a half years if I am not mistaken. Plcchh - Jeans dont last long these days :(

My sadness is not because I dont like ripped jeans; as a matter of fact I love them. I now own 4 pairs of ripped jeans (2 due to wearing & 2 due to cutting with a knife) However, I didnt' want this jean to get ripped. And you cant wear such things to some places (read workplace)...where I am for the most time of the week.

However, looking at the bright side I have a valid reason to go shopping & this time Il look for a rip-proof one...

An interesting article :- How To Rip Your Jeans

SFs

2005-12-15T05:57:00.000-05:00

If you dont know them beforehand(which is logically bound to happen sometime ..coz no one -including me- knows everything) it sure takes some effort to interpret shortforms... some interesting ones here ...

BBL     Be Back Later
BEG     Big Evil Grin
BFN     Bye For Now
BWL    Bursting With Laughter
FC        Fingers Crossed
GAL     Get A Life
GTSY   Glad To See You
HHIS   Hanging Head in Shame
IMHO In My Humble Opinion
IOW     In Other Words
KIT      Keep In Touch
LTNS   Long Time No See

Theres MTF..... albeit later

tis' almost the end of dadagiri........

2005-12-15T03:55:00.000-05:00

The news is out!!

As expected Maharaja finds no place in the Indian side... It seems Yuvraj is a better player than him(no comments on that) and Jaffer takes his place (how??? - dont know)

I did mention in my earlier post that Ganguly is commiting a huge blunder by resorting to gimmicks to make a comeback when he is wanted by none. Alas!! The (in all probability) last opportunity didnt bear any fruits. Not that it was considered at all in the first place!!!!

A sad exit for the erstwhile Prince of Kolkatta :(

Is it a lesson to learn for the Little Master? -- only time will tell.........

Moral of the story: (for Sachin and all the other senior folks) You choose your exit time from the team; dont wait for others to do it for you!!

the height of plagiarism.........

2005-12-14T06:55:00.000-05:00

"Deewane Hue Pagal"
If anyone has lots of money and nothing to do I would still advise him not to watch this film ...it is pathetic to say the least!!

"There's Something About Mary" is set in an Indian backdrop. However,minimal efforts are taken to change even the dialogues (barring the translation obviously!!); leave aside the scenes... PHEW!! Mr.Bhat, that must've been difficult! (& congratulations for continuing your creation of original movies)

And the thin yet childish plot of the Professor interspersed in it didnt do much to set any pre-conceived notions right....

Coming back to inspiration (a term having an immensely deep meaning and intellectual roots), Anu Malik is the Music Director of the film... Bravo!! (the left-over interest in originality goes down the drain)...hahaa... He too has attained great heights in originality by translating Kevin Little's Turn Me On in Hindi & keeping the music unchanged.. need i say it sounds extremelyyyy pleasant??

Kudos to the entire cast and crew to be a part of such a superlative endeavor!
& to me for watching it the day after seeing "Theres Something About Mary"!!!

a cricketing prediction

2005-12-13T16:40:00.000-05:00

Irfan Pathan has shown his true colors again. In his stint as the opener of the Indian test-team, he played brilliantly and didnt even spare Murali. Unluckily he missed the elusive 3 figure score. Was the opening a temporary move or will he get more opportunities to flaunt his skills? i believe the latter given the immense faith Chappel has shown in him.

I predict he will captain the indian side post-world cup 2007!!!
Level-headed, Talented, hardworking yet modest and a staunch believer in God.. he rocks

inequality

2005-12-09T04:46:00.000-05:00

life is full of inequalities.....

Yesterday, at the signal I was compleled to ponder about this. Some people have everything one aims for - riches,money,pleasure, blah blah... & others - (sic)????

What could be the reason for it? "every cloud has a silver lining" - however i regret to say that i dont really think its true - atleast not in this world .. does the other world need to come into the picture to make life equal (how can life after life be called life??) ... i knw not!!!