Category: Personal

  • Youtube Band for today

    This is what I was just thinking about yesterday. What if Youtube shuts down for a while or forever what will happen to all me dependent blogposts. They are also shutdown.

    And this is what happened today…
    It’s high time I stop depending on external content for my posts. It’s much better to just scribble anything of my own.

    Technorati tags:

  • I wanted to be here…

    Last to last week I had a reunion at my place with all my college ke friends (40 of them) having a great time. But somehow I miss my school ki junta too much. Last week three of them niddu(Swapnil), rippu(Ripunjai) and Abhishek(Sona, quite ironically me listening to oh mere sona re…) had a reunion at IIM indore(IIM-I hate that word now…huh) followed by Abhishek’s home. It must have been great. All throughout my college lives I have missed these guys too much. Anyway me planning to go to Hyderabad with Pratik and there I hope to catch a few but I really hope next time I am a part of these pictures,

    Rippu, Abhishek and Niddu

    At niddu’s room I presume

    At Rock show



    Next time I will be there pakka.

  • It’s Children’s Day …!!!


    It’s 14th November. It’s Chacha Nehru’s Birthday.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY


    14 years back in history me as a standard 2 student would have been receiving chocolates packed along with Poppins, a Lollipop and Kismi all wrapped with a Parle-G at school. And there would have been a function celebrating the same.
    Nowadays don’t know what is happening with kids. I mean media covers everyday as some big thing but me completely out of sync with what happens in school on Children’s Day now. Radio stations cribbing on it all day along with all the news channels.

    Being a kid is not so easy anymore maybe. Right from peer-pressure (don’t know when that thing originated in India), padhai likhai ka pressure, affairs in school(things like stupid MMS DPS RKP scandal put us down) and the much talked about super-kid syndrome.

    But this is the story of kids who can afford to be super, for so many kids across the country it’s still a struggle for livelihood, making a living, saving themselves from crime, selling chai, working at homes or in factories. The recent bill on banning the use of Child Labour at Domestic and commercial establishments is a step in the right direction but it is more or less a Vicious Circle which I discussed here,
    Vicious Circle of Social Reforms

    Whatever be it there is nothing better in life than being in your childhood. I had a stupid discussion couple of days back with my friend on this and almost all seem to agree. Anyway its Children’s Day so all the baccha log enjoy.

    I am putting one of my favourite song’s up here for the occasion, from the 50’s Nehuvian style Raj Kapoor classic. Even Nehru loved the movie very much.

    HAPPY CHILDREN’s DAY!!!

    Technorati tags: , , Bollywood, Society

  • Michael Jackson khub royega …:-)

    When I first saw the Thriller video as a kid I swear I was scared. I still remember seeing it first time at my Dad’s friend house eating Salted Pistacho’s when I was a kid. Strangely it’s the only thing I remember about his home. But it is one of the bestest video ever. But wait till you see this. Oh God Chiranjeevi on the Rocks. Enjoy this,

    I hope Michael Jackson doesn’t see this. I don’t know whether he will be able to take the shock. But this one is definitely their in my favourites list now…:-)

  • Shiv Visvanathan goes on and on and on…

    My four years in college were nothing without the presence of my favourite profs, one of the most influential members of that list being Prof. Shiv Visvanthan. Seeing him on Headlines Today 2-3 days back, when Shiv had his Way on Sex and Single Men brought back memories of the amazingly stupendous discussions and lectures we went through in college along with the countless afternoons we spent with him in his room sipping coffee and glaring at his amazing collection of Chocolate and Cookie boxes.

    I suppose we were the only Engineering College let alone a college in India discussing Playboy Posters and pornography in classroom. Add to that the amazing series of lecture we went through in the Cinema and Modernity course ripping apart Picasso and Duchamp and then going through lengthy discussions on Apocalypse Now, Citizen Kane, German movies of Leni Riefenstahl, the Indian Anti-Hero from Amitabh to Shahrukh and lots of it. No one would ever forget the lecture given by him on Urban Planning in one of the sessions on Environment Science.

    Recently with his articles on Gandhi as a Management Guru neither has he once again echoed his thoughts on me but connected me back to my college that I miss so much. He is one person of whom I will tell my Grandchildren about, don’t know whether they will be able to connect to a person of such a different epoch, but then Shiv is much much ahead of our times.

    Check this by enginerd If you have missed it,

    Sex and Single Men

  • Last few Days…Tough Ones

    Coming Back from Home, SpiceJet, Good Air Hostess, No Food, Good biscuits, Landing, Bangalore Traffic, Coming to Office, Back to Work, JHATKA in the EVENING sitting with Prashant, Talk to Pabari, Talk to Dad, Go to IIMB, Get all disappointed and comeback, Back to Office, Back to Work, Go again to IIMB, Meet the Officer with Pabari, Get all disappointed and comeback, Call Daily to IIMB, Drink Beer with Sandy and Vaibhav and Nihar, Call at IIMB, All Disappointed, Go to Siva’s Party, Drink Beer and White Rum AGAIN!!!, Go to IIMB, Get all disappointed and comeback, Final talk at IIMB…Its Over, Lots of Work, Lots of it again, But It’s over, It is Over, Another Party Yesterday, Lots of Phone Calls during these two weeks, Lots of Explanation again and again making me feel done with, Its Over, I can’t help it can’t get over it, Lots of discussion on adhesive technology and how by making the back side of a photograph rough it sticks better, How the Probability figure of 10 in 2 lakh 25 thousand was reached, How the Bands effected this and made this happen, 2nd Oct-5th Oct was almost holiday they say, but its over, no use going over it again and again and again and again and maybe again, I am tired of listening to people, maybe I am tired of Bangalore, but then I can’t do anything, its over, everything gone, just another year to look forward to, maybe I am unlucky, what maybe I am unlucky, but can’t help it can’t take it, it’s over, leave it behind they say, but I took nothing so what to leave behind, this whole thing is so different, 1000’s of thoughts lingering on your mind, 3-4 parties in a week, alcohol tasting good as never before, its changing, its confusing as ever but its another year, is it worth that much I think or is it just the weak Y-Chromosome, let me try to leave everything, let me, allow me, its not about faith they say, its about lack of it, its about mistakes its about forgetting and looking forward, its over.

    In short me not giving CAT anymore.

  • Real Madrid vs Barcelona

    Just today I saw a vintage Arsenal performance after so so many days. It was the same one touch football that Wegner had promoted all these years which was back in action. Fabre, Persie, Hleb, Rosicky, Gallas and obviously HENRY producing some great entertainment. Though whenever I see Arsenal matches I fell nostalgic about college and stuff. It was great fun watching between all Arsenal fans there. Also there was Liverpool ManUtd match which Liverpool lost. My favourite player Gerrad just keeps on playing for that stupid club and I know he would never leave it.

    Anyway after this in half an hour its Real vs Barca. Hope it goes well and without much trouble. But if there is bashing and trouble I will sure enjoy that.

    Though Barcelona may have been the better team over a time in Spanish football the Power shifts between the two sides once in 3-4 years. I don’t know whether it will happen this year but Madrid sure have an upper hand to win today at the Santiago Bernebau arena named after there prolific President in 50’s and 60’s who set the first era of Galacticos including Alberto de Stefano from Argentina and Puskas from Hungary.

    There rivalry has been nothing short of Army interventions, World War II, Spanish Civil War (incidentally Cataln Barca’s home ground was base for one army and Bernebau for another during Civil War). I saw a nice enough documentary on their rivalry courtesy History Channel. Wish I could see it again. Though nothing has brought it up to notice of World anything like Football.

    I support Real today much more because I don’t quite like Barca. Especially Ronaldinhio and their stupid kit. But I like Rjjkard, quite simply because when I was watching my first ever football tournament. (I became crazy around 99 ManUtd season but Euro 2000 was it) he was coaching the then good Dutch side. So I quite liked the fellow and his team that time. They lost in semis though.

    Anyway today it’s going to be fun. Home for Diwali and relaxing and seeing the matches. Why one should work. Work is Crap.

    Lets hope Real wins tonight.

  • Don Mast Hai…!!!

    Not the Nayi one but the Purani one…

    Just saw it, was coming on some Hindi Movie channel. Was just wondering can Priyanka be as good as Zeenat. I hope she can be. Helen’s role quite small but Kareena getting loads of attention as Kamini.

    Pran was great as JJ, Arjun Rampal quite a thanda choice for the role. I mean the Voice just too much for him to do over. Though I fully agree with role of Anita. Isha Koppikar is as Thandi as the girl who came in the first Don.

    Boman will be cool as DSP though, Iftikar though earned his bread-butter doing that role adding even Jam to it after toasting it. Malik is Om Puri. First it was Om Shiv Puri.

    “ab to bhagwaan ne bhi apna naam khich liya”

    Hehe…Arre is sab main whereas Shahrukh. No point in talking about Amitabh vs him. He can’t do the “Khaike Pan” number even 1% like him. It’s impossible. They can’t find the bhangwaala’s as they were in the original. Priyanaka cant be as sexy as Zeenat. Songs don’t have that Orchestra stuff classic 70’s format me pointing too.

    OMG Why have they made the movie?

    Good that I can’t see it this week.

    Next week after back to Bangalore in my fav 35 Rs waala hall maybe.

    Anyone reading this plz tell me the name of the actress who played Anita though, real pathetic actress she.

    P.S.-Post edited after Naresh reminding me of something. Thnq Naresh.

  • Bangalore and my Belly

    I was instructed by my favourite professor at college before leaving. Abhishek better look at your weight. Well I have been following him and looking after it.

    First few days into Bangalore and I felt that Cauvery Water Supply for Bangalore has got parallel connections for Sambhar and Chutney. Anyway I have always loved South Indian food or for that matter any kind of food but excess of anything is not so good. But I still tend to manage it.

    Chapter-1 Prasiddhi and Annakuteera

    Former was better but I have been more loyal to the second one. Prasiddhi taught me that Banglorians are as addicted to Gobhi Manchurian as they are to Idli/Vadas. Both have fed me with Idli, Vada, n number of Baths (as it is written on menu), Ice Creams and Juices.

    Chapter-2 Chandni Chowk and The Village

    So after my initial tryst with Sambhar, Chutney’s, Vadas, idlis and dosas Chandni Chowk was something good. I mean had Tandoori food there and better I didnt pay for it my friend did. So did he when we visited Village at Indiranagar. Nice food, anyway I have realised that from time I have started making moneyI have started noticing things like ambhience service quality and all that crap. They kind of looked Phoney in the good world of food but I dont know how they have crept in.

    Chapter-3 Chinese…

    Chung, Beijing bites, Rice Bowl, Gobhi Manchurian and Chinese movies have been really nice to me in Bangalore. Leave Chung where me and Vaibhav were fooled by a unusual sounding dish which turned out to be an omelet or Rice Bowl where food sucked somehow and Beijing bites which has been ok I feel more Chinese now. Suppose I could start working in a Chinese Restaurant now.

    Chapter-4 Corner House

    This has been my favourite part of Bangalore till now roaming on MG, Brigade and then going to Corner House. DBC and Hot Choco Fudge are awesome and I am glad Happa took me there that day. I have been there three times and feel like going there every weekend.

    Chapter-5 Liquor oops…

    I would better not say anything about it but from all my experiences I will never drink beer or whiskey sort off drinks. Vodka suits me so that’s ok. No more on that.

    Anyway all these chapters close reminding me of DTC. Anyway I should better try to be a non-member now. Me living life now the Bangalorian way but I don’t think they must be eating such diverse food as me. Anyway now another career eludes me; a person writing Food Reviews. I mean I can earn money and eat too. Food has kept me involved in Bangalore, sometimes though my brain thinks that do I think from my belly???

  • quite a random story

    Wrote this thing about 2 months back. held this back due to IP issues. I mean it was his assignment which was outsourced to me. Gosh I have been into this shit before joining the software industry. Ok Now the product releases…

    This is nice stuff. One of my friends got this assignment. Thought that I would give it a try too. This was something about making up a story using six keywords,

    The keywords were,

    Merger, Court, Specimen, Jungle, Corrupt, Train, Code.

    Thought first about a fantasy plot but then shifted to a Oil economy based masala sorts story. Have a look.

    /*

    * Story Starts

    */

    Vincent is just waking up. He doesn’t know when he did go to sleep though. The surroundings feel more than surreal to him. As if he was in a Jungle it seems. Infact he was in one.

    He didn’t remember what he was doing last time round. Though the trauma and the pain is too much to think about anything else. He gets up and sits on a heavy corner stone. He has nothing nearby no person, no animal (that’s what he fears now maybe). Suddenly he gazes on the bag nearby.

    The contents with due respect are to be looked at. But all broken he doesn’t have the courage to see the stuff. He just hopes it carries a bottle of water.

    The bottle is there half empty as his mind right now. No place to go it has hid it self in a deeper jungle it seems and it would be a difficult code to cracked. He sits there gulping the water and pondering over what had happened.

    Lolita was quite a cool headed chick in her high school days. Though a law degree meant that the head was forever to be burnished in a court fighting merger battles with her clients. As her firm mostly managed merger and share market deals. Though today was no different from other days the streets of Frankfurt were visibly different to her. She could sense something but as always she had that peculiar feeling.

    Salim was a migrant working with the British Rail. He came to this country some 30 years ago with a dream to do something. After working with oil giants Mexaco he had changed his job to British Rail after there London office shifted bases. His job Profile quite simply to clean train toilets. He hoped he had a better job a family but still couldn’t help it. He still to realize the fortunes beckoning upon him are too near. <!– D(["mb","

    Downnin the South American forests still Vincent wanders. He has to get outnbut before that he wants to know what happened. Vincent is troubled bynthe fact the Venezuelan authorities would make his life a hell when hengets out. Marred by corruptnpoliticians and bureaucracy the country’s oil fields recently had anstrike. And that’s what brought Vincent all the way from Paris to here.nAs an energy analyst working in Geneva he was always driven by the oilnindustry and turbulence involved in it. His mission in Venezuela was tonsend back to details of the strike and analyze the plans of Mexaconcorp. residing in Frankfurt that had plans of expanding in Venezuelanoil fields.

    Actually Mexaco corp. had that nagging feeling thatnthey wouldn’t make through. So they tried to enter the Venezuelan Oilnfirms through mergers and takeovers of small firms. And that’s whatnLolita’s firm was looking at. Lolita was handed this high profile case.nAnd during investigation she met Analyst hired by Mexaco Vincent.

    Anbusiness meeting ended up on Bed the next day. Through therenrelationships earlier both had been relatively unsuccessful. So thisnone too rather scripted on a cold base. Though for Lolita this was annice change from the regular German boys much more open.

    Somewherenaround this time in London Salim ends up another day cleaning toiletsnof the train. Needless to say there has been nothing new in his lifenfor the past so many years. Though at Mexaco he had a great timenbecause the food was given to him for free. That saved him a lot ofnmoney. Here cleaning specimen of human waste he had rather being borednand with no one to talk to life ends up eating you. Salim though had anunique habit of collecting a piece of garbage daily. I mean whichevernone he liked from the lot. He had a range of them. And he had annarchival of these strange items fascinating to strike fortune out ofnfilth someday. Though down beneath he knew it was rubbish as the stuffnhe was collecting. On that night he plans to rearrange the stuff.nCleaning items going through old files.”,1] ); //–>

    Down in the South American forests still Vincent wanders. He has to get out but before that he wants to know what happened. Vincent is troubled by the fact the Venezuelan authorities would make his life a hell when he gets out. Marred by corrupt politicians and bureaucracy the country’s oil fields recently had a strike. And that’s what brought Vincent all the way from Paris to here. As an energy analyst working in Geneva he was always driven by the oil industry and turbulence involved in it. His mission in Venezuela was to send back to details of the strike and analyze the plans of Mexaco corp. residing in Frankfurt that had plans of expanding in Venezuela oil fields.

    Actually Mexaco corp. had that nagging feeling that they wouldn’t make through. So they tried to enter the Venezuelan Oil firms through mergers and takeovers of small firms. And that’s what Lolita’s firm was looking at. Lolita was handed this high profile case. And during investigation she met Analyst hired by Mexaco Vincent.

    A business meeting ended up on Bed the next day. Through there relationships earlier both had been relatively unsuccessful. So this one too rather scripted on a cold base. Though for Lolita this was a nice change from the regular German boys much more open.

    Somewhere around this time in London Salim ends up another day cleaning toilets of the train. Needless to say there has been nothing new in his life for the past so many years. Though at Mexaco he had a great time because the food was given to him for free. That saved him a lot of money. Here cleaning specimen of human waste he had rather being bored and with no one to talk to life ends up eating you. Salim though had a unique habit of collecting a piece of garbage daily. I mean whichever one he liked from the lot. He had a range of them. And he had an archival of these strange items fascinating to strike fortune out of filth someday. Though down beneath he knew it was rubbish as the stuff he was collecting. On that night he plans to rearrange the stuff. Cleaning items going through old files. <!– D(["mb","

    Suddenlyncatches glimpses of a golden file. He didn’t kind of remembered when hencaught hold of it but still cherished it a lot. While opening the filenthe word "Venezuela " caught his eye and something struck him. Henstarted reading the documents.

    Lolita’sntrouble was far from over after her involvement with Vincent she gotnaway from the deals Mexaco was pulling off. She was quite not into it.nSo may be she didn’t get a wind of the changes to come. Suddenly onenday Vincent got a call directing him to go to Venezuela. There had beennsome trouble with one of the mergers and the government had intervened.n

    For Vincent it was a chance to sortnthem out and get good place in his position other than having a chancento see the beautiful Venezuelan girls.

    Sonhe left and Lolita gets back to the case which all places for her. ThenVenezuelan stir had affected the stock prices for Mexaco and thingsnwere showing trouble. One point in her investigation though came up.nYears ago one of Venezuelans state head came to Mexaco office when itnwas in London. And met with the officials there.

    Obviouslynwith oil quite a recent phenomenon there it was no good for thencompany’s authorities that time. People say he gifted some land andnstuff.

    Down in his home in somenLondon suburb Salim was quite happy. He had a habit of followingneverything happening with his former company. So he read everything onnit in the newspapers. Also he had read about the troubles brewing innVenezuela.

    Actually a tribe wasnoccupying the land in question. Obviously the Leftist inclination ofnthe country though with a merger was allowing but still supporting thenbrewing trouble. Salim was happy now that he can crack everything up.nAnd he saw hope for the first time in his life.

    Lolitanwas in a meeting with the Mexaco’s top guns at Frankfurt. Suddenly thenmeeting was interrupted by an important announcement. A man apparentlyna sweeper wanted to meet them with reference to this issue. Everyonenwas stunned. Lolita first thought of it as a waste of time. Then thenman walked in. he was Salim.”,1] ); //–>

    Suddenly catches glimpses of a golden file. He didn’t kind of remembered when he caught hold of it but still cherished it a lot. While opening the file the word “Venezuela ” caught his eye and something struck him. He started reading the documents.

    Lolita’s trouble was far from over after her involvement with Vincent she got away from the deals Mexaco was pulling off. She was quite not into it. So may be she didn’t get a wind of the changes to come. Suddenly one day Vincent got a call directing him to go to Venezuela. There had been some trouble with one of the mergers and the government had intervened.

    For Vincent it was a chance to sort them out and get good place in his position other than having a chance to see the beautiful Venezuelan girls.

    So he left and Lolita gets back to the case which all places for her. The Venezuelan stir had affected the stock prices for Mexaco and things were showing trouble. One point in her investigation though came up. Years ago one of Venezuelans state head came to Mexaco office when it was in London. And met with the officials there.

    Obviously with oil quite a recent phenomenon there it was no good for the company’s authorities that time. People say he gifted some land and stuff.

    Down in his home in some London suburb Salim was quite happy. He had a habit of following everything happening with his former company. So he read everything on it in the newspapers. Also he had read about the troubles brewing in Venezuela.

    Actually a tribe was occupying the land in question. Obviously the Leftist inclination of the country though with a merger was allowing but still supporting the brewing trouble. Salim was happy now that he can crack everything up. And he saw hope for the first time in his life.

    Lolita was in a meeting with the Mexaco’s top guns at Frankfurt. Suddenly the meeting was interrupted by an important announcement. A man apparently a sweeper wanted to meet them with reference to this issue. Everyone was stunned. Lolita first thought of it as a waste of time. Then the man walked in. he was Salim. <!– D(["mb","

    Lolitanwas stunned, as were the others. Salim with that smile of his wantedn10% stake in the oilfields and a stake at Mexaco. Add to that cashnpayment of over 500 million $. The board was stunned. He was asked tonwait. Lolita was the negotiator from Mexaco’s side.

    Salimnhad come up with documents to that land written on the name of Mexaco’snsubsidiary that time. With no relevance may be someone had thrown itnaway and it was with Salim, putting him at the helm of the biggest oilndeals of modern times. Salim was not going to give it away cheap.

    As they entered a room Lolita was cold. She knew it would be difficult but at the end some point Mexaco had to give up. n

    Somewherennear the controversial land in Northern Venezuela Vincent was travelingnin a Jeep and suddenly some men drew close. Then it was off for a while.

    Lolitanand Salim had settled the deal. Salim was to hand over the papers for anbeefy stake in the new project. Everyone was happy and some under roomnpolitics had already been played. Right after doing so someone crackedna rumor of the guy roaming around in Venezuela being responsible forneverything. Though the deal was now to be cracked still this rumor wasnenough to add to anger of the tribals there.

    Vincentnwakes up in a forest now realizing he knew nothing. All tattered andnleft to be consumed by animals he had heard that these tribals nevernkilled anyone that’s the way of them punishing traitors. Poor fellow.nSomeone has to trample if someone succeeds.

    Lolita was happy and has started dating a new guy now. Life moves on for some irrespective of what happens.

    nSalim brought a yatch yesterday after his mansion the previous week. Cleaning shitholes is history now.

    —Thats the end I suppose.

    Inthink I didn’t get it right. May be the next one I can. Hope so. May benlesser charecters and a focussed plot required. Anyway this plot notnworth the short story genre. Though heard few Science Fiction shortnstories to be just 3-4 lines. Amazing. Next one using same keywords anfantasy children story…hmm possible.”,1] ); //–>

    Lolita was stunned, as were the others. Salim with that smile of his wanted 10% stake in the oilfields and a stake at Mexaco. Add to that cash payment of over 500 million $. The board was stunned. He was asked to wait. Lolita was the negotiator from Mexaco’s side.

    Salim had come up with documents to that land written on the name of Mexaco’s subsidiary that time. With no relevance may be someone had thrown it away and it was with Salim, putting him at the helm of the biggest oil deals of modern times. Salim was not going to give it away cheap.

    As they entered a room Lolita was cold. She knew it would be difficult but at the end some point Mexaco had to give up.

    Somewhere near the controversial land in Northern Venezuela Vincent was traveling in a Jeep and suddenly some men drew close. Then it was off for a while.

    Lolita and Salim had settled the deal. Salim was to hand over the papers for a beefy stake in the new project. Everyone was happy and some under room politics had already been played. Right after doing so someone cracked a rumor of the guy roaming around in Venezuela being responsible for everything. Though the deal was now to be cracked still this rumor was enough to add to anger of the tribals there.

    Vincent wakes up in a forest now realizing he knew nothing. All tattered and left to be consumed by animals he had heard that these tribals never killed anyone that’s the way of them punishing traitors. Poor fellow. Someone has to trample if someone succeeds.

    Lolita was happy and has started dating a new guy now. Life moves on for some irrespective of what happens.

    Salim brought a yatch yesterday after his mansion the previous week. Cleaning shitholes is history now.

    —Thats the end I suppose.

    I think I didn’t get it right. May be the next one I can. Hope so. May be lesser charecters and a focussed plot required. Anyway this plot not worth the short story genre. Though heard few Science Fiction short stories to be just 3-4 lines. Amazing. Next one using same keywords a fantasy children story…hmm possible. <!– D(["mb"," Anyway me blogging afternquite some time. Exams and shifting and all came. But after few daysnjoining job. Then no time for such stuff. I know should have startednearlier.nn

    “,0] ); D([“ce”]); //–>

    Anyway me blogging after quite some time. So I can be excused.