I chose to call this blog as 'blog 17.6' because it marks a new beginning, hopefully historic and reminds me of the long break from blogdom.
Feels good to be back
After an inertia break period of 3 months or so, resuming normalcy seems tough. Not just because of the resistance to change but also because of refreshing of the mind. It’s like pressing the ‘refresh’ button on the brain. Suddenly, all vocabulary and grammar has just vanished from the brain into thin air and the brain is searching for new topics, new things to discuss and start afresh.
So, for once, let’s not discuss about religion or politics or films or actors/actresses. Let’s not even discuss the ‘Shiney maid case’ and the frenzy media who has been covering the story like as if the case gives an illusion of impossibility. This time, let’s not even discuss about the common man of India who is the most fascinating creature and me being one makes me think hard about the upliftment of the common man all the time. But, let’s talk about something fundamental about blogging, about blogging itself.
Why does somebody blog? Or what is the meaning of blog?
Is it a personal diary that people want to share with others or
is it an opinion on something that someone strongly feels towards an issue or
is it a message that people want to spread or
is it a warning based on experience or
is it an advertising media for an idea or
is it an educating media
or finally, is it a combination of one or more of the above factors
Interestingly, when I look at my posts, the answer becomes more obvious, I feel I have touched all these aspects, all of them. This observation is in stark contrast with most of the blogs found on the net now. While some give daily descriptions of their lives, some educate and some others spread advertisements. But, not many blogs can be as diverse and one tends to settle on one of the above objectives in order to simplify life.
This is what a break does, it ‘refreshes’ the mind and leaves it pondering about how to start afresh. So, by the time I have posted this blog, I have already got an idea of what my next post is going to look like.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Hurry and worry
The month of February 2009 just passed like the swift falcon. Falcon because it reminds me of the shrude guy who stole my bread during the lunch break when I was 12 and adventurous to eat in open air. With no reaction time, one could not help but watch helplessly. Similarly, the month of Feb 09, one could not help but just watch the days go by, each day bringing new challenges and worries, some elements of joy etc. I must confess, it has truly been a roller coaster ride and I have more to go. Hope this time the roller coaster takes an up turn.
Having said this, there is no time to waste, every moment is precious and each task done is to be counted. The months are critical and one must really hurry to wrap things which started in previous semester of Aug 08. So, this post is really a love letter addressed to myself to start taking matters seriously and 'just do it'.
Another reason for this sudden 'hurry' mood is an article which appeared in today's newspaper stating that "in this Indian peninsula, even blog posts which carry hate messages or convey even slight message of hurting the sentiments of common people or against any organisation will not be tolerated". I must therefore, hurry up and delete any such blog posts failing which I can be branded as a traitor to the country which boasts of "freedom of speech" being a constitutional right.
One might argue that deleting is an act of submission, a disgrace to individual independence and ultimately a cowardly act. I too agree, no doubt. But, one must not try to become a superman and must always be aware of his limitations. It is my duty to hope, that some day people will gain true independence. Until that day, I can only be worried and helpless like the scores of others around.
I can be accused of not following my teacher's words, who used to say "hurry makes me worry". But I say, "hurry makes me worry but keeps me alive". For, the more I live, the more I can die another day!
Having said this, there is no time to waste, every moment is precious and each task done is to be counted. The months are critical and one must really hurry to wrap things which started in previous semester of Aug 08. So, this post is really a love letter addressed to myself to start taking matters seriously and 'just do it'.
Another reason for this sudden 'hurry' mood is an article which appeared in today's newspaper stating that "in this Indian peninsula, even blog posts which carry hate messages or convey even slight message of hurting the sentiments of common people or against any organisation will not be tolerated". I must therefore, hurry up and delete any such blog posts failing which I can be branded as a traitor to the country which boasts of "freedom of speech" being a constitutional right.
One might argue that deleting is an act of submission, a disgrace to individual independence and ultimately a cowardly act. I too agree, no doubt. But, one must not try to become a superman and must always be aware of his limitations. It is my duty to hope, that some day people will gain true independence. Until that day, I can only be worried and helpless like the scores of others around.
I can be accused of not following my teacher's words, who used to say "hurry makes me worry". But I say, "hurry makes me worry but keeps me alive". For, the more I live, the more I can die another day!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Mood swings
I had read of the biorythm cycle which gives a simple and easy explanation about human's behaviour towards physical, emotional and intellectual orientations on any particular random day based on the date of birth of the particular person. It just draws a sinusoidal curve showing the ups and downs in the three behaviours. So, googled on the website which draws a free biorythm cycle and on this day, as per the cycle, I am high on intellectual and emotional behaviour but low on physical. Wat a combination, Huh!
What it means is I can feel disturbed and tranquilized and not do anything about it. In other words, my feelings wont translate at all into actions because of inert laziness for the next 15 days. What will happen then is even worse, I will have good physical balance but mentally lack the willingness.
How did I come to belive in this 'biorythm' stuff, its just that it matched perfectly with my mood today. But frankly, I wanna break dude! I know everything will come in line once I get home and come back, which I right now cannot do. All I can do at this point of time is believe and blame my biorythm cycle for the 'goings on'.
What it means is I can feel disturbed and tranquilized and not do anything about it. In other words, my feelings wont translate at all into actions because of inert laziness for the next 15 days. What will happen then is even worse, I will have good physical balance but mentally lack the willingness.
How did I come to belive in this 'biorythm' stuff, its just that it matched perfectly with my mood today. But frankly, I wanna break dude! I know everything will come in line once I get home and come back, which I right now cannot do. All I can do at this point of time is believe and blame my biorythm cycle for the 'goings on'.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Sorcerer within
A slow beginning after the Golden Jubilee extravaganza which promised a lot of take aways apart from free ounces of Red bull!. Nevertheless, a new and refined beginning to my favorite pastime after duly invoking the sorcerer within
Well, it all began with a dance-drama based on the mythological epic Ramayana, no one could have imagined a few hindi and tamil hit songs being danced upon by men (actually women) in mythological costumes. The perfection and the execution coupled with exquisite timing evoked a true spirit of Indian-ness at that moment. Just goes to show that innovation never dies, neither should we. Think out of the box and you might well be on the track to immortality.
Those who happened to attend the magic workshop just couldn't believe how they can be easily decieved. For there is nothing such as 'magic' and the first two lessons taught to an amateur are "you cannot vanish anything into thin air and you cannot bring alive something out of thin air", yet the illusion is so unthinkable and unbelievable that we feel its 'real magic'. In fact, the magician uses all his mind, body and soul into producing the trick. Each of his words are uttered with utmost tacity and deciet. The confidence of the magician in himself flows onto the observer like as if a calm river flows through parched land. He gains the confidence of the observer and 'presto' delivers the trick.
Would hope that everyone could do the same, imagine people invoking the sorcerer within to achieve great heights, even immortality!!
Well, it all began with a dance-drama based on the mythological epic Ramayana, no one could have imagined a few hindi and tamil hit songs being danced upon by men (actually women) in mythological costumes. The perfection and the execution coupled with exquisite timing evoked a true spirit of Indian-ness at that moment. Just goes to show that innovation never dies, neither should we. Think out of the box and you might well be on the track to immortality.
Those who happened to attend the magic workshop just couldn't believe how they can be easily decieved. For there is nothing such as 'magic' and the first two lessons taught to an amateur are "you cannot vanish anything into thin air and you cannot bring alive something out of thin air", yet the illusion is so unthinkable and unbelievable that we feel its 'real magic'. In fact, the magician uses all his mind, body and soul into producing the trick. Each of his words are uttered with utmost tacity and deciet. The confidence of the magician in himself flows onto the observer like as if a calm river flows through parched land. He gains the confidence of the observer and 'presto' delivers the trick.
Would hope that everyone could do the same, imagine people invoking the sorcerer within to achieve great heights, even immortality!!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Lukewarm Response
Looks like the whole bunch of thinkers, editors and speakers are right now concerned with one issue highlighted previously, that of the creature called VIP. While a large number of people are annoyed at the large police force protecting a meagre number of VIP's, one particular author pointed out that in the process the VIP is protecting the common man by regularly visiting parts of the country with his army. The mere sight of this army is enough to scare any wrongdoer and keep him at bay. The author therefore suggests that such VIP's should be encouraged to tour more and more.
"One VIP visit can change the old bylane to a highway", is what the author feels, while it is true to an extent, the author was actually sarcastic in his message and therefore gave inspiration for this post.
Another inspiration is Justice N. Venkatachala, former head of Lokayukta (anti corruption squad), Karnataka, whose speech although directed at educating us of corruption, adressed the political ill will of the governments to tackle corruption and change the way things presently are. The number of VIP's is extremely high and in his opinion the law is different for all public servants above the rank of Deputy Secretary. If we are to bring about any change, we need to make law more stringent and same for all irrespective of whether one is a prime minister or a peon. After all, public servants should behave like servants to the public. Once this is taken care of, then automatically the problem of increasing number of VIP's can be curbed. This will work simply because, a former minister who doesn't enjoy the public office, still enjoys VIP security. So, once law is stringent, the former minister is reduced to a common man, not a VIP!
"One VIP visit can change the old bylane to a highway", is what the author feels, while it is true to an extent, the author was actually sarcastic in his message and therefore gave inspiration for this post.
Another inspiration is Justice N. Venkatachala, former head of Lokayukta (anti corruption squad), Karnataka, whose speech although directed at educating us of corruption, adressed the political ill will of the governments to tackle corruption and change the way things presently are. The number of VIP's is extremely high and in his opinion the law is different for all public servants above the rank of Deputy Secretary. If we are to bring about any change, we need to make law more stringent and same for all irrespective of whether one is a prime minister or a peon. After all, public servants should behave like servants to the public. Once this is taken care of, then automatically the problem of increasing number of VIP's can be curbed. This will work simply because, a former minister who doesn't enjoy the public office, still enjoys VIP security. So, once law is stringent, the former minister is reduced to a common man, not a VIP!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Working with the Indian Government Bureaucracy
We have seen lot many films which portray 'babudom' or bureaucracy, starting from the serious Gangajal to the Munnabhai movie which has a scene wherein a troubled penisoner deals with a babu in the best bureaucratic style. Yet, nothing has been done so far to improve anything. I wonder sometimes that things can never improve unless each one of us improve. It is a test of the values and principles and the social thinking of individuals.
But, seldom do people realize they have in the process dropped the axe on their own feet. I got enlightened on this issue when I experienced the wrath of a central Govt institute's bureaucracy.
The story begins with a happy scene, it begins with me fighting all the odds and managing to get a project which can be backed with so many facilities from central workshop, non destructive lab etc etc, you name the lab and the institute has it. All was well on paper, so much so that I never realized one basic prophecy : naked truth can be bitter.
After all, the 'babus' working in the institute are to be dealt with, not the paper. So, began a tearful journey of working for a project which is going to shape my career. I can't believe what just happened in the past two months, they just passed by saying good bye and each good bye took away its share of happiness from me, what was left over was a body of flesh without any soul.
How are we as common people responsible, well answer the following consciously and you will know
1. Would you pay any kind of donation to get your child admitted to the best school/college in your locality?
2. Would you vote for any independent candidate in a local election?
3. Would you hire an agent to get your driving license/passport?
4. Would you ever raise a complaint against a corrupt official?
5. Would you suppress a case against you by paying bribes?
6. Would you ever apply for a government job?
7. Would you like to be in the army?
8. Would you follow rules judiciously?
When all the 100 crore odd junta of this country have the same answers to the above questions, we can expect a change or a revolution!!
Till then, all one can do is suffer!
But, seldom do people realize they have in the process dropped the axe on their own feet. I got enlightened on this issue when I experienced the wrath of a central Govt institute's bureaucracy.
The story begins with a happy scene, it begins with me fighting all the odds and managing to get a project which can be backed with so many facilities from central workshop, non destructive lab etc etc, you name the lab and the institute has it. All was well on paper, so much so that I never realized one basic prophecy : naked truth can be bitter.
After all, the 'babus' working in the institute are to be dealt with, not the paper. So, began a tearful journey of working for a project which is going to shape my career. I can't believe what just happened in the past two months, they just passed by saying good bye and each good bye took away its share of happiness from me, what was left over was a body of flesh without any soul.
How are we as common people responsible, well answer the following consciously and you will know
1. Would you pay any kind of donation to get your child admitted to the best school/college in your locality?
2. Would you vote for any independent candidate in a local election?
3. Would you hire an agent to get your driving license/passport?
4. Would you ever raise a complaint against a corrupt official?
5. Would you suppress a case against you by paying bribes?
6. Would you ever apply for a government job?
7. Would you like to be in the army?
8. Would you follow rules judiciously?
When all the 100 crore odd junta of this country have the same answers to the above questions, we can expect a change or a revolution!!
Till then, all one can do is suffer!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Old Mc Donald had a spam!
Arz kiya hai
Old Mc Donald had a spam ,eeya eeya oh
And in that spam he won a fortune, eeya eeya oh
From Discount printer ink to Free sex pills
From Madhumati Singh to Deborah Whitney
What else could he ask for, eeya eeya oh
Taaliyaan, Taaliyan
Well, this post is dedicated to all those mails which lie in the dark corner of your mailbox, also known as the 'spam'
Different spam filters work differently, i.e, in google and yahoo, the mails go in the spam folder and remain there for 30 days or unless one deletes them. Indiatimes had the worst mailbox (sometimes I wonder it had a mailbox with a hole!) which showers mails into the inbox, leaving the user to decide 'spam or not spam' which gave me a good reason to stick with only yahoo and google.
The point is that sometimes these mails feel so real that one might be taken for a ride if any button linked to it is clicked even once. Sometimes, people who trust these distress mails get duped of their online savings in their banks. Recently, a group from London operated in this way promising lucarative jobs in exchange for a service fee.
Other kind of spam mails recieved only during the festival season are also irritating, you know that the author doesn't care for you and doesn't really mean anything by the greeting, its just an eyewash, a business strategy, nothing else!
But, even after knowing this, we treasure mails in the hope that may be there is a 0.01% chance if the author really meant it. Here's one of them
Dear MR. JEETENDRA
As 2008 dawns to a close and 2009 beckons, I want to personally thank you for your continued patronage of Kingfisher Airlines.
It was an exciting year for Kingfisher Airlines. We launched our international operations and introduced Kingfisher Red, a new class of service that will redefine low fare flying. As we enter 2009, we will continue to raise the bar on India’s only Five Star flying experience with innovative service offerings, and will be adding new international routes starting with direct flights from Mumbai to London, Singapore, Hong Kong.
I am glad to inform you that Kingfisher Airlines now connects 70 destinations with 440 daily flights. I regularly receive feedback from valuable guests like you and want to thank you for your kind wishes, great ideas and suggestions on how we can offer you an even better journey with Kingfisher Airlines.
Here’s raising a toast to this festive season and wishing you a very Happy New Year.
Warm Regards,
Dr. Vijay Mallya
Chairman & CEO
Kingfisher Airlines Limited
Old Mc Donald had a spam ,eeya eeya oh
And in that spam he won a fortune, eeya eeya oh
From Discount printer ink to Free sex pills
From Madhumati Singh to Deborah Whitney
What else could he ask for, eeya eeya oh
Taaliyaan, Taaliyan
Well, this post is dedicated to all those mails which lie in the dark corner of your mailbox, also known as the 'spam'
Different spam filters work differently, i.e, in google and yahoo, the mails go in the spam folder and remain there for 30 days or unless one deletes them. Indiatimes had the worst mailbox (sometimes I wonder it had a mailbox with a hole!) which showers mails into the inbox, leaving the user to decide 'spam or not spam' which gave me a good reason to stick with only yahoo and google.
The point is that sometimes these mails feel so real that one might be taken for a ride if any button linked to it is clicked even once. Sometimes, people who trust these distress mails get duped of their online savings in their banks. Recently, a group from London operated in this way promising lucarative jobs in exchange for a service fee.
Other kind of spam mails recieved only during the festival season are also irritating, you know that the author doesn't care for you and doesn't really mean anything by the greeting, its just an eyewash, a business strategy, nothing else!
But, even after knowing this, we treasure mails in the hope that may be there is a 0.01% chance if the author really meant it. Here's one of them
Dear MR. JEETENDRA
As 2008 dawns to a close and 2009 beckons, I want to personally thank you for your continued patronage of Kingfisher Airlines.
It was an exciting year for Kingfisher Airlines. We launched our international operations and introduced Kingfisher Red, a new class of service that will redefine low fare flying. As we enter 2009, we will continue to raise the bar on India’s only Five Star flying experience with innovative service offerings, and will be adding new international routes starting with direct flights from Mumbai to London, Singapore, Hong Kong.
I am glad to inform you that Kingfisher Airlines now connects 70 destinations with 440 daily flights. I regularly receive feedback from valuable guests like you and want to thank you for your kind wishes, great ideas and suggestions on how we can offer you an even better journey with Kingfisher Airlines.
Here’s raising a toast to this festive season and wishing you a very Happy New Year.
Warm Regards,
Dr. Vijay Mallya
Chairman & CEO
Kingfisher Airlines Limited
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