Random And Not So Random Things I Want To Share

Resolution for 2012

2012-01-01T07:22:00.000+05:30

I'm waiting for the sun to come up while I write this. Watching the sunrise on 1st January has sort of become a tradition for me. I can't remember how or when it started but the idea was to see at least one sunrise a year. Many a times I have thought not to stay up so late and wait for the sun but rather rise with it and each time I fail.

Often while I'm waiting for the sun, I marvel about nature and how it awakens too each day. Sometimes I reflect on the year that was and other times I reflect on the year to be. Often I have thought even about the 'dhobis' because I always each year hear clothes being washed and I think how tragic is a life which has no holidays (breaks). I also try and think of resolutions for the new year knowing very well I'm not going to succeed in even a single. This year however I've decided to have just one simple single resolution. One that is easily attainable. I resolve to wake up to at least 12 sunrises in 2012. Simple enough. And if I decide to finish off these 12 sunrises in winter itself I don't have to wake up super early.

The reason to try this is so that I can at least make an effort to become a morning person.
Goodluck to me. Good thing about doing this again this year is that it is surprisingly cloudly today and that will ruin the sunrise and I get a second, third.....twelveth go at seeing the perfect sunrise.

Remember...

2011-06-27T00:25:00.002+05:30

We often forget the most simple and true things.

The Problem With Happiness

2011-05-15T17:10:00.002+05:30

Interesting Video -

Knowing is important

2011-05-15T17:09:00.000+05:30

How can they mend their ways if they don't know their ways needs mending?

Sigh

2011-05-11T23:39:00.000+05:30

Sometimes I think that life is nothing but one tragedy after another.

I'm glad my life on most days doesn't seem like this but when I look around, I often wonder how some people get by day after day. Sometimes I think these people have a lot of strength. Other time I think that they have no choice. Maybe it is just time - it makes everything fade away eventually....

Wisdom

2011-05-11T23:37:00.000+05:30

I once, many many years ago, heard this line on Candid Camera (I think) and it was so awesome that I still remember it - "I don't let anyone rent space in my head".

Sharing it so that you can remember it too :)

Some more funny stuff

2011-02-26T03:54:00.000+05:30

A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument....

If I sleep to much, my parents complain.
If I don't get enough sleep, my parents complain.
If I eat too much, my parents complain.
If I don't eat enough, my parents complain.
If I'm always in my room, my parents complain.
If I go out too much, my parents complain.
I CANT WIN :|

A man asked a fairy to make him irresistible & desirable to ALL women....
She turned him into a credit card!!! ;)

Hehe - Johny Johny

2011-02-26T03:27:00.000+05:30

Johny Johny..........Yes Papa
Pvt Company..........Yes Papa
Any Motivation.......No Papa
Many Tension.........Yes Papa
Do u Sleep well......No Papa
Boss Ki Galiyan......Yes Papa
.
.
.
.
Any Increment......
Ha ha ha :)

Hehe - Steve and Bill

2011-02-26T03:15:00.000+05:30

Totally loved this so am sharing it everywhere I can ;)

Be Smart by thinking others are Smart.

2011-01-27T01:19:00.000+05:30

The mistake a lot of people make often is that they assume other people don't have a basic level of intelligence.

Don't be a fool. Assume people around you HAVE basic intelligence.

[I've uploaded a lot of these as Facebook updates so just replicating them here. For the few people who would be on FB and following this blog - apologies for the repetition]

Trust

2011-01-27T01:14:00.002+05:30

Some things are very important in life and I find that one of those important things that people really lack, which they really really need is Trust.

Copying

2011-01-27T01:09:00.005+05:30

There's one sad truth in life I've found
While journeying east and west -
The only folks we really wound
Are those we love the best.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
......We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best.

Hehe

2011-01-27T01:03:00.002+05:30

One day, long, long ago. There lived a woman who didn't nag, whine, and b!tch. But it was a long time ago, and it was just that one day....

Not mismatching

2011-01-27T00:56:00.000+05:30

You are good at jobs that match your personality.

Criticism

2011-01-27T00:32:00.000+05:30

The less open you are to criticism, the less you will learn in life.

2011

2011-01-03T01:09:00.001+05:30

Happy New Year :)

Haha

2010-12-31T15:31:00.000+05:30

A small kid wrote to Santa Claus - 'Send me a brother'.

Santa wrote back - 'Send me your mother'.

Happy New Year ;) Have a fun-filled 2011.

Awesome quote

2010-11-28T00:32:00.001+05:30

“One cannot be deeply responsive to the world without being saddened very often.”
Erich Fromm

Earning money is hard work.

2010-11-20T13:48:00.003+05:30

I don't want to earn lots of money. I want to HAVE lots of money.

The Cheapmunks

2010-09-19T04:19:00.001+05:30

The Cheapmunks - Say My Name & Humdum Suniyo Re

{This is the beauty about Music (and things like it) - it transcends nationality, community, religion, language and everything else}

Mehak Taherani and Suhana Baloch both have great vocals. Can't wait to hear more of their music.What's totally brilliant about this song is not only how nicely the 2 songs get fused but also the song has such an Eastern feel to it.

The popularity of The Cheapmunks is growing everyday thanks to YouTube. Even though they are from Pakistan, their music has true potential to be liked Globally.

A lot of Pakistani singers and musicians are very popular in India. I think The Cheapmunks will join that list.

Quote

2010-09-18T20:25:00.000+05:30

“I do not have superior intelligence or faultless looks. I do not captivate a room or run a mile under six minutes. I only succeeded because I was still working after everyone else went to sleep.”--Greg Evans

:)

2010-09-17T00:25:00.002+05:30

"Yahaan ration par bhaashan sab karte hain, par bhaashan par koi ration nahin"

Hehe

2010-09-17T00:22:00.004+05:30

Husband and wife had a tiff.
Wife called up her mum and said, “he fought with me again, I'm coming to live with you”.
Mom said, “Nahin beti nahin (no dear no), he must pay for his mistake....... I am coming to stay with you”.

That's how is goes...

2010-09-01T00:04:00.001+05:30

From

Bad Romance (I soooo don't get the video - Lady Gaga is just weird)

To

Na Bole Tum

Not speechless but nothing to say

2010-07-19T01:23:00.000+05:30

I want to write (miss blogging) but I can't think of what to say.

Currently on my Playlist

2010-06-23T00:35:00.004+05:30

Totallyyyy love the 1st minute of this song. Hot by Inna

[Sorry unable to decrease the width of the video]

Manila trip over :(

2010-05-27T00:22:00.001+05:30

Standing on an active volcano

2010-05-25T11:49:00.002+05:30

:D

We finally visited Taal Volcano. What a feeling to be on top of the worlds smallest active volcano and watch steam coming out of it.

Dil to Bacha hai ji full song remix..Ishqiya

2010-04-24T01:49:00.000+05:30

Short story writing

2010-04-07T00:57:00.002+05:30

If you write short fiction stories, this might interest you - Living Your Passion

You need to write a 350 - 400 words story. A line is given which can be the start or end line of the story.

If you like it, do take part, it would be great to read interesting stories. And if you don't write but would like reading the stories, voting starts 16 April so you can stick around on the fan page for the stories to get published.

Strange being around a group full of couples...

2010-03-29T00:38:00.000+05:30

To be continued...

Fact

2010-03-01T02:43:00.000+05:30

Everybody is distracted. Not always but more often than they should be.

Alisha

2010-02-28T18:46:00.002+05:30

Can't stop listening to this song :D

The music and singing is brilliant.

Strangeness

2010-02-14T14:12:00.002+05:30

I feel like like a stranger on my own blog. Which is very strange in itself. In all the years that I have had my blogs, never have they been so ignored as they are now.

It's not that I am bored or tired etc. It's just that when there are too many things to do, some things just take a back seat and that is what has happened.

Also often my blog topic ideas would be though of in my commute from and to work. Now my commute is less than 30 minutes (generally planning my day at work while getting there and cursing the amount of traffic while getting back) and happens only in a cab...so that also has had an effect.

Plus I find that learning and seeing so many new things at work, my observation of general stuff has reduced drastically - or at least retaining the thought to come and blog about it has reduced. Also while a blast happened yesterday in Pune which has pissed me off to no end AGAIN, I am mostly only thinking about the presentation I have to complete today and how I hate having deadlines on the weekend, rather than thinking about terrorist attacks. [Pune use to be like a second home when I was a kid. Grandparents use to shuffle between the 2 cities and we would go visit them in our holidays. I probably even walked down that road where the blast happened but it's so many years ago that I don't even remember what that road looked like].

Anyway here's hoping that I come back here and blog more often. Sorry if I haven't kept up with your blog(s) either. I dread to even log onto my Google Reader because I know how overwhelming it will be to see so much unread stuff.

Cya around.

Management (as a function)

2009-12-25T02:48:00.004+05:30

You are a great boss if all your juniors are highly employable.

Where have I been...?

2009-12-25T02:29:00.002+05:30

Busy at work.

Also when I am done working, I am either farming (Farmville) or wasting time elsewhere.

Also there hasn't been anything worthy of writing recently. Yup lots is happening but this blog isn't like a diary anymore so nothing to post.

The little writing I have been doing has been work related. Hehe mostly drafting and replying to emails :)

Anyway I think I need to start managing my time better and my blogs shouldn't end up on the back burner. It would be tragic to shun away my few readers by not having anything up here for long spells :)

Was reading this Time Management article recently and their point about 'asking for help' was something that really struck me. Too often we try to do everyone ourselves either because we don't want people to know we can't manage or because we think we are too great and / or want all the credit for a job done. Getting a lot of help at work but need to keep asking for some more I guess :)

Finally working again

2009-11-29T02:12:00.003+05:30

Have been waiting to get back to a full time job for the past few months.

Kept wondering what it would be like to work after 13 months of joblessness. Well I don't find any difference. It is interesting though to enter a system which is already set and fairly large. I joined my previous company as their 16th employee so obviously most of the people I worked with over the 3 years I was there, came after me. It a different experience trying to catch up with 50-60 people who are already working around you.

Not else is very different I guess. At least not in the first 3 and a half days of being there :)

It suits me just fine...

2009-11-29T02:04:00.002+05:30

Yup, many of my friends are fair-weather friends but I don't mind mainly because the weather is mostly always fair :)

Cause and Effect...

2009-11-11T15:48:00.003+05:30

I always find it funny when people say 'look how perfect the Earth is to support life' when in fact most species have evolved and adapted to the way the Earth is...If we lived on Mercury, we'd think Mercury was the only special planet that could support life the way we knew it

I feel we are looking at things backwards or upside down. The Earth didn't evolve to suit our needs, we evolved in such ways as to utilize Earths resources.

And the most important bit about this is that this adaptation to the Earth's resources have happened over billions of years. We didn't get to where we are in a couple of lifetimes. And I think its important to remember this because we are changing things on Earth - we are changing its nature.. Whether it's the atmosphere or the land or the water, everything is naturally changing and also changing because of us (humans). Change in itself is not a problem but the changes need to be slow so that we can adapt. Drastic changes only mean that we will have to cope better and have to work harder and faster to adjust to the world around us.

Whatever change we create should take effect slowly so that we (and other species on Earth) can adapt to the same.

5 Minute Management Course

2009-11-04T01:38:00.002+05:30

Going through all my unread mail and finding some interesting forwards [I generally hate forwards and find that finding the really good ones is like looking for a needle in a hay stack] this is one of them. My personal favourite is Lesson 4 :)
Enjoy

Lesson 1:
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings.

The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs.

When she opens the door, there stands Bob,the next-door neighbour.

Before she says a word, Bob says, 'I'll give you $800to drop that towel.'

After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.

The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.

When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, 'Who was that?'

'It was Bob the next door neighbour,' she replies.

'Great,' the husband says, 'did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?'

Moral of the story:

If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

Lesson 2:
A priest offered a Nun a lift.
She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident.

After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.

The nun said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'

The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again.

The nun once again said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?'

The priest apologized 'Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.'

Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.

On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, 'Go forth and seek,further up, you will find glory.'

Moral of the story:
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

Lesson 3:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.

They rub it and a Genie comes out.

The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.'

'Me first! Me first!' says the admin clerk. 'I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.'

Puff! She's gone.

'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.'

Puff! He's gone.

'OK, you're up,' the Genie says to the manager.

The manager says, 'I want those two back in the office after lunch.'

Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.

Lesson 4
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.

A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, 'Can I also sit like you and do nothing?'
The eagle answered: 'Sure, why not.'

So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson 5
A turkey was chatting with a bull.

'I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree' sighed the turkey, 'but I haven't got the energy.'

'Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?' replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients.'

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.

The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.

Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree.

He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story:
Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there..

Lesson 6
A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.

While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.

As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was.

The dung was actually thawing him out!

He lays there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.

A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate.

Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and

promptly dug him out and ate him.

Morals of the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.

(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your
friend.

(3) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep
your mouth shut!

Interesting thought...

2009-11-04T00:31:00.001+05:30

"When an egg breaks by a power outside, a life ends.
When an egg breaks by a power inside, a life begins. "

Some brilliant quotes

2009-11-03T20:56:00.003+05:30

Sometimes in the winds of change we find our true direction.

The only thing that stand between a person and what they want in life are the will to try it, and the faith to believe it is possible.
-Rich Devos

Throw the heart over the fence and the rest will follow.
-Norman Vincent Peale

Laughter is an instant vacation.
-Milton Berle

Find your joy and share it with others.

If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.

Keep your face to the sunshine and you will not see the shadows.
-Helen Keller

Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it is a quiet voice at the end of the day, saying..."I will try again tomorrow."
-Mary Anne Radmacher

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
-Robert Brault

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
-Mother Teresa

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.
-Will Rogers

It's choice - not chance - that determines your destiny.
-Jean Nidetch

2009-11-03T18:43:00.001+05:30

"If you don't know how to fix it, stop breaking it."

'Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time'. - Mark Twain

2009-11-03T01:15:00.002+05:30

Always love quotes by Mark Twain. I surprisingly have read little of his work. Probably has to do with having to read 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' when I was too young for it and at a time where I didn't quite like reading yet.

Will give his writings another go though cause he seems like a very intelligent man.

In terms of, a 'habit being flung out the window', I have known a few people who have just given up a bad habit right away or started out and stuck with a good one. But for most people I think the coaxing is needed. Most of us fall off the bandwagon (sometimes are aren't even on it...we just think we are) at some point or another and then have to get back on.

Have a bunch of bad habits I want to get rid off and a bunch of 'good' habits I want to adopt. Came across this interesting article recently- The Habit Change Cheatsheet and at least many of the '29 ways' are worth trying. What was most interesting though and something I have never thought off in the past is 'identifying the trigger(s)' and 'replacing them with a replacement habit'. Would definitely recommend the article to those trying to change a habit.

Creativity

2009-10-23T14:25:00.002+05:30

There are just soooo many creative people out there. Sometimes I'm totally jealous. Other time just awestruck :)

URL - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH6xCT2aTSo

Origami

2009-10-23T02:46:00.003+05:30

I've been brushing up on and learning new Origami. I always thought it would be fun to fold paper up and make it into objects but never thought I'd enjoy this so much.

I think part of the beauty of Origami is that something so plain and simple can be transformed into something that's so intricate and complicated. It's awe-inspiring.

And no I don't know use complicated mathematical equations and use geometry and physics etc to make the objects. I just download videos that show you how and copy the moves :D

I don't think I would ever create any original stuff but it's good enough to re-create what others have already created.

I'd definitely suggest Origami as a hobby. It requires nothing but technique, which in todays day and age is so simple to figure out.

Oli Lemieux - Trampoline Wall I don't know what...

2009-10-23T02:40:00.007+05:30

I keep wondering where gravity has gone...Just too cool.

Must require so much strength to pull this stuff off.

There is 1 more video of his which is worth watching. It shows up in the related links after the video is over

[Sorry about the size, but anything smaller actually just takes away from the video]

URL - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4s2H9cH7Sw

Happy Diwali :)

2009-10-18T14:48:00.001+05:30

Empowering

2009-10-13T15:57:00.003+05:30

Casting my vote (for the elections and not some SMS on a stupid reality game show) makes me feel empowered.

Maybe it's because this is my first year voting and that's why there is this excitement and this feeling that I am making a difference (or trying to cause obviously it's not like the party or person I vote for will always win). Maybe over the years, this will just become something I don't care about but I doubt that will happen. Plus the other thing is that once you are on the voters list, there is nothing cumbersome about casting a vote. My center is like 2 minutes walking distance away :) the process takes less than 2 minutes...usually there isn't a super long line and you get from morning until evening to cast your vote.

Lets hope the party I voted for wins :)

Brilliant Video

2009-10-12T15:13:00.001+05:30

Not only is it a striking video but the message is very clear.

7 x 13 =

2009-10-10T15:19:00.003+05:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLprXHbn19I

:D

Magic....not quite...

2009-10-06T15:41:00.002+05:30

In case anyone is wondering where it is that I have disappeared to....well unfortunately again have trouble with my internet. Time to change our ISP I guess.

Funny thing though is I don't miss being online as much as I thought I would. Though I do feel very cut off from the world :)

Anyway hopefully issue will get sorted within a week.

See you all then.

Quote (from I don't know where)

2009-08-23T19:46:00.000+05:30

"Everything (animate and inanimate) has an Inception, Maintenance (Growth) and a Dissolution. It's just a matter of time."

Haha

2009-08-18T12:57:00.000+05:30

Kyle's Dad brought home a robot one day.
The robot had the ability to detect lies and would slap the person who lied.
Kyle returned late from school. Dad asked, Son why are you late from school'?
Dad, we had extra classes today,
Robot slapped Kyle on his face.
Dad shouted, "Come on tell me the truth, why are you late?"
Dad, I went to see the movie Ten Commandments,
Robot slapped Kyle on his face.

Sorry dad, I went to see the movie "Red Hot Queen".
"Shame on you son, when I was your age..
I never watched obscene movies or misbehaved"
Immediately, Dad gets a slap on the face from the robot.

Kyle's mom comes walking out of the kitchen and says to her husband,
"After all, he's your son!"

The robot slaps the mom.

Social Media Revolution

2009-08-13T13:19:00.002+05:30

Posted this on my other blog but it's generic enough and interesting enough for anyone to watch.

[Not sure the stats are a 100% accurate but even if they are off by a bit, the message is clear enough and that won't change significantly if the numbers do]

Funny sometimes...

2009-08-10T01:19:00.002+05:30

I said 'I think th' and everyone started laughing (if you don't get it, it's a joke cause people laugh at the idea of me thinking)

I don't have a very good sense of humour - meaning I don't understand most things unless they are direct - I remember never understanding Seinfeld when dad use to watch. But once in a while I can be funny too and those moments are so fantastic. They seem so glorious.

Humour is very important because laughing is very important. I somehow don't like comedy shows on TV. Most people can't get over the fact that I don't really like Friends (I don't dislike the show - I enjoy it if it's on but it's not something I would die to watch or fight over the remote for etc). I also can't bear David Dhawan type comedies. Some how physical humour seems to work best with me (like when people are falling down or hurting themselves by being clumsy etc).

Wow this is becoming a boring post. I think I was just trying to see that this blog doesn't become a one liner blog too but no point in posting useless stuff just for the heck of it. Ya ya I'm stopping the typing. So uselessly random...it's terrible. Okay done no more after this. I swear :P

Jogi Mahi

2009-08-10T01:08:00.002+05:30

Song has been looping on my player all day :) didn't like it this much when the movie came out but totally loving it.

Enjoy.

Not just 2...but 4.

2009-08-10T00:46:00.000+05:30

Indians are obsessed with 4 things - Cricket, Bollywood, Food and Marriage.

DDMMYY - 07/08/09 :D

2009-08-07T13:01:00.000+05:30

It's a 'special' day today :D

Why is everyone wanting to be a Search Engine?...

2009-08-02T00:54:00.002+05:30

Well first the Rediff re-design of the home page (idiotic move I think cause they are a PORTAL) and then Twitter redesign.

I mean the Rediff redesign is also illogical from the revenue point of view I would think. They will never surpass Google in India (unless Google messes up big time) and I refuse to believe they will make more money via search than they do with display advertising. Maybe they wanted to de-clutter because decluttering is the 'in thing'. But I still think it wasn't wise.

In case of Twitter moving more towards search makes a lot of sense cause for most recent updates about an event (especially limited to a smaller location geographically) Twitter gives the best results because real people who are in or around the event are telling you what is happening but I don't see how it might help them increase more users being more active (in terms of posting more).

Indian Innovators

2009-08-01T14:29:00.002+05:30

Totally floored by this video. Goes to show how someone if they are determined enough can get over come their problems/difficulties.

Hehe totally love the old guy - especially if that was his own style of telling his story.

Caaanndddyyyy Mountainnnn Charrrlliiieeee

2009-08-01T14:26:00.002+05:30

I found this funny (though you might not) but what's interesting is that something as 'silly and simple' as this has got so many views :D

Some people are just more nocturnal than others...

2009-07-27T23:44:00.002+05:30

And I am part of the some rather than the others.

It's not such a bad thing except whenever people start yelling at you at 2 AM to go to sleep or when you have to hit the sack early (because of reasons you cannot help) and end up tossing and turning cause you won't fall asleep. The worse thing about being a late sleepers (who needs 7-8 hours of sleep) though is not being able to wake up early :(

Anyway I htink in about 3 months I will have to go back to an earlier to bed and an earlier to rise routine (I think an early to bed and early to rise routine is totally out of the question).

Don't blame me for having FIXED ideas....it's genetic.

2009-07-27T23:41:00.000+05:30

On FB this sounded fun but here it sounds serious. Anyway it's on a lighter note but true non the less hehe ;)

I live one day at a time...only cause I have no foresight!

2009-07-27T23:40:00.000+05:30

Tagged : 7 Weird Thing About Me

2009-07-24T14:13:00.003+05:30

Got tagged by The Survivor.

While I don't do too many tags any more, this is not too personal and quirky so taking it up.

1. My hands go into my sneakers before my feet.

Well I once wore my sneakers (which are slightly big because my just fitting ex-sneakers use to hurt my toes) and after about 5 minutes felt something around my toes. Too the shoe off (in the cab) thinking it must be a piece of paper or something. Put my hand it - felt like paper but when I shook the shoe nothing came out. Well if you already guessed it, you are smart than me then. Looked in and inside was this big cockroach. YUCKKK to say the least. Very disgusting. But of course the thing I will remember the most from the incident is my cousin screaming - 'throw the shoe out of the window' and I yelling back 'Are you crazy? This is my new Reebok and who the hell throws their shoe out like that?'. So now my hand goes in first to check whether the shoe is empty or not.

2. I wanted to be a storm chaser.

I doubt I would ever really have been one but I remember watching Twister and thinking 'WOW now that's EXACTLY what I want to grow up and do'. Weather was always fascinating. If there was a college around and good career prospects, I would have studied meteorology. Thankfully I didn't else I would have been working with the biggest idiots around.

3. I use (at least once in a while now but everyday while I was working) my mouse as if I were a lefty [meaning the primary and secondary button is switched - meaning on the left side my index finger is for left click]

Few months into my joining my job, I started getting TERRIBLE shoulder ache. My only solution was to switch the side of the mouse cause it was becoming impossible to work. Took me about 4 days to get use to. But was totally worth it cause gave me better alignment, and pain in my right shoulder stopped. I still remember my boss coming up to me and showing me something and I couldn't copy paste what he was asking because I had just switched sides. Very frustrating back then. But it was always fun later on to see people come to my desk to show me something on my machine and they going crazy with the mouse all ulta and alphabets ink missing from my keyboard. It would drive most people nuts. I'd eventually say 'okay you know what, just tell me what you want to do and I'll type and navigate'.

4. I have taken a break from work (assuming I go back to work in October - it will be a 1 year break) for no particular rhyme or reason.

5. I'd like to learn beatboxing.

Watched a few videos about it and realized it's way too tough and requires a lot of practice. So mostly giving up on wanting to learn. But it's cool making music with sounds from your mouth.

6. I never sing in front of people (don't even play antakshari at times for this reason) but find myself singing (or at least saying since I can't sing) the lyrics to the songs when I am alone.

Well sometimes I am in the hall and Mom or Dad or Sis will be around when I am "singing" but thats about it. Once Mom even commented saying 'You love singing don't you?' and I said 'No. Just cause I am singing doesn't mean I like singing. I like the lyrics and all' Lol. I don't know I myself find the habit weird. Though I must say Mom is always pleasantly surprised when I seem to know nearly all the lyrics of nearly 80% of the songs that are playing on TV. Tried to explain to her that most people would know them and she doesn't listen to the song enough number of times to pick the lines up.

7. I can't do mental math.

I totally draw a blank in my head when I have to do anything with numbers. Except simple addition or substraction. Even for these I need at least 3 times the time an normal person would use. It's quite funny that my job requires me to work around numbers. Most people I know professionally can't believe it when I tell them I am bad with numbers. But well such is the case. I wish I could change it but I can't seem to get even slightly better with the efforts I had put in so have given up now.

The Dalai Lama Says -

2009-07-24T03:17:00.002+05:30

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

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Once a year go someplace you've never been before.

Judge your success by what you have to give up in order to get it.

A very smart man if you ask me :)

Shocked...

2009-07-23T15:02:00.002+05:30

>> A 7.8-magnitude earthquake has brought New Zealand 11.8 inches (30 cm) closer to Australia, according to news reports.

Full story at - http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/22/new-zealand-closer-australia-quake

I didn't know that landmasses could move that much because of an earthquake.

Well actually my bad cause landmasses can move a lot more. The Andaman and Nicobar islands shifted south-west by around 4.1 feet (according to a wikipedia article) in the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake.

More about the 2004 Quake at - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

TOTALLYYY forgot about the eclipse so I am glad it was clouded and I don't have to keep cursing myself on missing something big :)

2009-07-23T13:40:00.004+05:30

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Well seriously if I had missed it I would have kept thinking how pathetic that was. I don't even know how I forgot to set my alarm and stuff - Guess I was working and reading the night before and by the time I hit the sack, I was too tired to remember what day it was.

It's not like I am majorly into astronomy or anything but such events are wonderful. Not only are they rare and that's why more precious, they actually signify how everything is interconnected in the universe :)

Plus it's always fun to see in real life what you studied in books. Stuff that was boring (cause you couldn't imagine any of it) suddenly is so fascinating :)

Native American Proverb.

2009-07-22T12:57:00.003+05:30

"Only when the last tree has withered, the last fish has been caught, and the last river has been poisoned, will you realize you cannot eat money."

I totally love proverbs. They go to know how you can have lots of wisdom with just very little being said :)

I of course don't like all proverbs. There are many I don't understand.

Reading Shantaram and

2009-07-18T02:33:00.002+05:30

I am having the worries that I will be having the talkings likes the Prabakers...

The speakings like him is not okay baba. Many too good Indians are really not having the talkings like him I am thinking but many not too good Indians are maybe having the talkings like him. I am hopings I am never becomings the not too good Indians.

One mans humour is another mans horror...

2009-07-17T15:05:00.002+05:30

Chor Bazaari...

2009-07-16T11:22:00.002+05:30

Totally crazy about the song. It's from Love Aaj Kal.

It just grew on me. I didn't like it at first when the trailer came out but after listening to it a few times, I quite like it (same with 'Can We Twist' too).

Can't embed the actual video of the song (not the full song) but you can check it out at - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mia1DDGv1FY

Was fantastic meeting everyone yesterday :) ...

2009-07-11T22:24:00.002+05:30

Went to my ex-office yesterday :)
Haven't been there in months. Well haven't been anywhere in months actually thanks to my foot. But anyway was so nice to be back and meet all my old colleagues :)

Wolverine Finallyyyy...so worth waking up and going for it...

2009-07-10T21:24:00.002+05:30

Well only the second movie I caught a morning show of.

But it was so worth waking up early to go see it. Had to make it to the show yesterday because I wasn't sure if it would be running today. Hehe there were a total of 13 people in the theatre including me.

Totally loved it - I mean X-men and Hugh Jackman....what's not to love??? :D

Hmmm I know more 'Karishma's than 'Neha's and 'Pooja's put together...

2009-07-08T11:20:00.002+05:30

I don't know, I just find this strange because I thought 'Neha' was the most common female name in India and lots of people also mentioned 'Pooja' as being very common. Anyways it's all good :)

Primus fixed - Physio started again :)

2009-07-08T10:54:00.002+05:30

Well finally back to Physio - though my feet are feeling way better than 2 months ago. Nearly walk around normally (in motion that is...the durations are not as long as before but will get there eventually) .

Roggeeerrrrr Roger Rogggeeeerrrrr Roger

2009-07-06T14:18:00.002+05:30

Finally Roger Federer gets officially called the 'greatest'.

Of course records are made to be broken and if not the in next few years, then in the next few decades someone else will be crowned with the title of the Greatest.

Would have been interesting to see how Nadal would have changed things if he was playing...but not meant to be.

Missed the match but heard it was totally brilliant and that Andy Roddick really played superbly. Will try and watch either a recap or highlights of the match if I can.

Totally hate such grey days - I think I suffer from SAD (at least mildly)...

2009-07-06T00:03:00.002+05:30

Seriously I hate gloomy weather. It brings me down. I not only feel lethargic (which might be a commonly felt amongst people in such weather) but I also feel slightly depressed. Maybe I am exaggerating but maybe I am not.

I hate grey days. I totally do.

About SAD from Wikipedia -

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or, less frequently, in the summer,^[1] repeatedly, year after year.

More at - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder

It Comes And It Goes....

2009-07-04T22:57:00.001+05:30

Song by Dido.

Totally love it. Like her new album quite a bit.

Enjoyyy

Died half to death...

2009-07-02T21:58:00.001+05:30

Story of why to follow....

Can't believe how many status messages I have seen today mentioning the Bandra-Worli Sea Link...

2009-07-02T21:20:00.002+05:30

It's like all of Mumbai is obsessed with the BWSL...now I am not saying it's a bad thing but just I don't see what the big deal is.

Sure I am super glad that it's finally done and I can't believe that people are using it to travel back and forth (FINALLY) but I don't feel it's such a big deal.

Maybe the lack of excitement on my part is because it won't affect me directly (it could in the future but I doubt it. I think I will always take the train if I have to go beyond Bandra) or because I believe it won't make a huge difference in the 'development' of the city

Missing AdWords...hating that it won't be the same for long...

2009-07-01T01:06:00.001+05:30

WALL.E

2009-06-30T16:16:00.002+05:30

What a totally brilliantly made movie.

Apart from all the 'cuteness' and stuff what really struck me was how they showed so many emotions through the 2 characters - especially since the 2 characters hardly had facial features that would make emoting so simple. And yes I do understand that this is the magic of animation and they do this with animals and stuff but still it's so much easier cause those have eyes, a nose, a mouth, eyebrows etc. (I have not seen Cars so I might be a little bias)

Brilliant work through sound and gestures. Also hardly any dialogues.

Brilliantly made movie.

What an auto...what a man...

2009-06-30T01:16:00.001+05:30

Copying the story from - http://rajeekhushi.blogspot.com/2009/06/ye-mumbai-hai-meri-jaan.html

[If images don't render properly, please visit the link above

Suvendu Roy of Titan Industries shares his inspirational encounter with a rickshaw driver in Mumbai Last Sunday, my wife, kid and I had to travel to Andheri from Bandra. When I waved at a passing auto rickshaw, little did I expect that this ride would be any different.

As we set off, my eyes fell on a few magazines (kept in an aircraft style pouch) behind the driver's back rest. I looked in front and there was a small TV. The driver had put on the Doordarshan channel.

My wife and I looked at each other with disbelief and amusement. In front of me was a small first-aid box with cotton, dettol and some medicines. This was enough for me to realize that I was in a special vehicle. Then I looked around again, and discovered more - there was a radio, fire extinguisher, wall clock, calendar, and pictures and symbols of all faiths - from Islam and Christianity to Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism.

There were also pictures of the heroes of 26/11- Kamte, Salaskar, Karkare and Unnikrishnan. I realized that not only my vehicle, but also my driver was special. I started chatting with him and the initial sense of ridicule and disbelief gradually diminished. I gathered that he had been driving an auto rickshaw for the past 8-9 years; he had lost his job when his employer's plastic company was shut down. He had two school-going children, and he drove from 8 in the morning till 10 at night. No break unless he was unwell. "Sahab, ghar mein baith ke TV dekh kar kya faida? Do paisa income karega toh future mein kaam aayega." (Sir, what's the use of simply sitting at home and watching TV? If I earn some income, then it will be useful in the future.) We realized that we had come across a man who represents Mumbai – the spirit of work, the spirit of travel and the spirit of excelling in life. I asked him whether he does anything else as I figured that he did not have too much spare time. He said that he goes to an old age home for women in Andheri once a week or whenever he has some extra income, where he donates tooth brushes, toothpastes, soap, hair oil, and other items of daily use. He pointed out to a painted message below the meter that read: "25 per cent discount on metered fare for the handicapped. Free rides for blind passengers up to Rs50". He also said that his auto was mentioned on Radio Mirchi twice by the station RJs. The Marathi press in Mumbai know about him and have written a few pieces on him and his vehicle.

My wife and I were struck with awe. The man was a HERO! A hero who deserves all our respect. I know that my son, once he grows up, will realize that we have met a genuine hero. He has put questions to me such as why should we help other people? will try to keep this incident alive in his memory. Our journey came to an end; 45 minutes of a lesson in humility, selflessness and of a hero-worshipping Mumbai - my temporary home. We disembarked, and all I could do was to pay him a tip that would hardly cover a free ride for a blind man.

I hope, one day, you too have a chance to meet Mr. Sandeep Bachhe in his auto rickshaw - MH-02-Z-8508.

I think I'm going to start my 'I hate the rains' chanting soon...

2009-06-28T23:26:00.000+05:30

I do hate the rains...

The powers to be are conspiring against me...

2009-06-25T13:13:00.002+05:30

Well now our lift is not working...which means either sitting home all day or climbing up and down 5+ stories....now climbing up wouldn't be a huge issue but climbing down with my foot the way it is might be a problem.

Which means if I'm home, my physio gets delayed, my recovery gets delayed, my classes get delayed, my other plans get delayed...

Well lets hope the 15 days they said it will take for the lift to start working is a number buffered by about 3 times :) (which it might just be)

Dido fan in the house...

2009-06-23T22:43:00.000+05:30

:)

Listened so some of her newer tracks and like them quite a bit.

Hate the new adwords interface....

2009-06-23T22:41:00.002+05:30

Well I'm sure everyone will get use to it eventually but I don't like the way it looks and feels. It's not something I will fall in love with any time soon (maybe even never) that's for sure.

Create your own snowflake

2009-06-18T23:13:00.001+05:30

Good fun - http://www.zefrank.com/snowflake

No Internet at home :(

2009-06-15T20:45:00.001+05:30

7 days without internet already....

Please don't ask me how I am still alive...I don't know myself

Hehe but on a more serious note, if I didn't have a novel and some TV (which include some movies/videos on my computer), I would have gone crazy already.

Hopefully the issue will get resolved soon.

Home

2009-06-07T21:42:00.002+05:30

If you have the time and good bandwidth please watch this documentary -
Home - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU

Even if you don't like what they are talking about, the images are TOTALLY BREATHTAKING.

I really don't care who sponsored the film. At the end of the day it's always some company or the other, or some lobby or the other doing it for their own benefit.

The 2 constants of my days, these days - Poker and Physiotherapy :)

2009-06-07T21:40:00.000+05:30

I don't mind the Physio much cause it's helping me get better :)

I evolved into a born skeptic...

2009-05-30T19:36:00.000+05:30

I wouldn't survive....

2009-05-26T22:37:00.002+05:30

I watched this episode of Oprah today (don't like anymore - I just think she's too self-centered but some of her shows are totally brilliant). It was a show about consumption and wastage.

Firstly I was shocked at how much the families shown ('who took up the challenge') wasted.

But more importantly the 'rules' stated no computer except for homework and only 1 hour of television for the whole family. I wouldn't have survived the challenge for sure.

I mean okay it's just a week and I would read or do other stuff but I would go insane. Seriously I would.

Judgment Day...

2009-05-23T13:11:00.002+05:30

Going to a specialist for my feet. Let's hope some pills and physiotherapy is all I need (or less).

I am grateful that I can afford expensive doctors and treatments.

Down by 60k in less than an hour....damn it...

2009-05-23T13:09:00.002+05:30

Talking about poker again.

So here I was dreaming about touching 600k but from 590k down to 530k in less than an hour :(

Thankfully these are free chips otherwise I would have died of a heart attack.
But actually if there weren't any free chips I wouldn't be playing so there is actually no question of losing money.

But still losing is losing and I think I don't like it 1 bit.

Feel free to recommend a novel to me...

2009-05-21T20:22:00.001+05:30

Something that's on the lines of a suspense or a thriller.

On a reading spree but finding so little that I would like to read.

Straight Flush finally - I'm not talking about plumbing...

2009-05-21T20:19:00.002+05:30

After months of playing poker I finally got a straight flush :D

Hehe better still was S asking if I was having plumbing problems (which is why the status got changed from 'Straight Flush finally' to 'Straight Flush finally - I'm not talking about plumbing')

Makes you realize that while you think it's simple enough for people to understand what you are saying, it might not be.

Yes yes I voted this time around :D ...

2009-05-01T12:42:00.003+05:30

Yup finally cast my vote this time around.

Realized the importance of knowing people who know things. Last time around I was determined to go but didn't have a voters ID and the slip that came home had my wrong age, with my name and address wrongly spelled out and I thought I would first have to get those corrected before I can vote.

This year had my ID and even though the paper that came home had errors, someone had already told me that it doesn't matter so I shouldn't worry about wrong details :D

Finally I feel like a responsible citizen (or at least a little more responsible since I turned 18) of this country :)