Back to the basics, with a new slim motorola fone..coming back a full circle as my first ever phone was also a motorola talkabout..i was quite enchanted by it and it has many memories of good times associated with it..plans fixed for outings over sms..free sms..(a novelty some years ago)..long conversations over sms..and so on. :)
Looking forward to creating new memories with this one. :)
Friday, March 30, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Stop! Thief!
My phone got taken from my home, I discovered today. Home. A place I've so far felt comfortable and warm in, suddenly feels a little strange to me today. To think that someone could have just taken it as it was lying around, is something I'm finding a little hard to accept. Given this situation, there are a variety of ways to respond, ranging from the destiny argument, (cest la vie, they say) to more rational solutions, (complain to the cops, block the number, etc). Whatever the way, I feel that my privacy has been invaded and something precious or just useful to me has been taken. There are people who take such things in stride thru the day and dont think of much besides work. On the other hand are people like me who wonder among things, 'why would he steal?' 'he? why not she?' etc.
F.I.D.O (Forget It and Drive On) seems to be the only wise thing to do.....
F.I.D.O (Forget It and Drive On) seems to be the only wise thing to do.....
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Men in Blue
Men in Blue, now turning every hue
Praying for a sign, a cue
Waiting for a miracle to ensure
To raise hopes for the Cup anew
Praying for a sign, a cue
Waiting for a miracle to ensure
To raise hopes for the Cup anew
Crossroads
Is this road better or that one?
Will this path make me happier or the other one?
What is likely to happen if I choose that path and not this one? Or maybe this one over that?
At the crossroads, looking for a sign, for the right way to the destination.
Will this path make me happier or the other one?
What is likely to happen if I choose that path and not this one? Or maybe this one over that?
At the crossroads, looking for a sign, for the right way to the destination.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Ande ka funda!
Came across an ad for eggs, with the tagline, 'Ande khake tough ban jaao'..sponsored by the NECC, India. The ad shows a young boy, who's just eaten an egg, and goes to shake hands with Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, and Harbhajan Singh, all of them go, 'ouch!' as their hands 'crack' while shaking hands with the boy.
I wonder if the ad is such a good idea, especially with India's recent performance in the World Cup...if eggs were the magic mantra for a win, lets all send the team unlimited supply of eggs to keep them going!
I wonder if the ad is such a good idea, especially with India's recent performance in the World Cup...if eggs were the magic mantra for a win, lets all send the team unlimited supply of eggs to keep them going!
World Cup thoughts
The other day I saw Rahul Dravid commenting during his post match conference, where he wondered why everyone was picking on him for supporting Sehwag, it wasnt like he was supporting a Ramdin or some other person..I thought, well if some Ramdin or some boy from the street is able to play better cricket, I don't see why its wrong to support them instead of Sehwag! Anything to get India win, is fine by me. :D
And by 'anything' i mean anything legal, that does not involve shady deals with bookies or coaches or players risking their lives for the game. Its high time we all realized that cricket is a sport like any other, and should be enjoyed in the true spirit of the game. As a recent convert to the game of cricket, I am fascinated by India's journey through the game, and closely follow its fortunes in it. What saddens me is the way crime is finding place in cricket: with match fixing scandals, and Woolmer losing his life, cricket is beginning to be less like the 'gentleman's game' it started out to be and resembles a bad mafia movie these days.
I wish the who's who of international cricket took these recent developments a bit more seriously, even if it involves taking tough measures like questioning active players or influential individuals. Like any other profession, cricket too is bound to have its share of politics and power issues, however, in the interest of restoring the game to its true sporting spirit, these measures might be necessary, even critical.
And by 'anything' i mean anything legal, that does not involve shady deals with bookies or coaches or players risking their lives for the game. Its high time we all realized that cricket is a sport like any other, and should be enjoyed in the true spirit of the game. As a recent convert to the game of cricket, I am fascinated by India's journey through the game, and closely follow its fortunes in it. What saddens me is the way crime is finding place in cricket: with match fixing scandals, and Woolmer losing his life, cricket is beginning to be less like the 'gentleman's game' it started out to be and resembles a bad mafia movie these days.
I wish the who's who of international cricket took these recent developments a bit more seriously, even if it involves taking tough measures like questioning active players or influential individuals. Like any other profession, cricket too is bound to have its share of politics and power issues, however, in the interest of restoring the game to its true sporting spirit, these measures might be necessary, even critical.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Hitech Hyderabad
Got to visit Hitech city and now I know what they mean when they say 'India poised'. I hadn't been to hitech city before and so it was a pleasant surprise, a shock even, to see huge, jazzy complexes of the biggies of the corporate world setting up their home in Hyderabad. We didn't get a cup of coffee at any of their campuses, is a different story altogether! ;)
That and biryani from Paradise made for a memorable trip. :) Looking forward to good fortunes in the city sometime. :)
That and biryani from Paradise made for a memorable trip. :) Looking forward to good fortunes in the city sometime. :)
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
How I read the Opal Mehta Book
Recently read Kaavya Viswanathan's much hyped book, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and got a life'. While this book and its author have been in the news for all the wrong reasons, one must admit that the plot of the book is an engaging one. It does remind me strongly of the plot from the Lindsay Lohan starrer, Mean Girls. However, the book is an entertainer, one of those novels one might pick up out of boredom on a lazy weekend.
Having said that, I do think that as authors one must be careful about citations of others' work, whether it is fiction or non-fiction writing, of the academic kind. I know some of us get into trouble, inspite of citations. The world is sometimes a heartless place, where work tends to get scrutinized to the point where the critics lose the essence of the idea that the author is proposing. The authors on their part get engrossed in putting across their ideas in writing, to the extent that any possible 'inspiration' or 'reference' goes unintentionally unacknowledged.
For one thing, no individual would want to be called dishonest, much less be accused of doing so intentionally. As long as the plot or idea are original, it is upto us readers (and critics) to make informed decisions and opinions regarding the work, in as objective a manner as possible. Lets not forget that each of us has ownership for our ideas and wouldnt like to see them reproduced without due acknowledgement. Lets also give each other benefit of the doubt. Creativity is something that one cannot examine objectively. In this age of information and knowledge, each of us is influenced by a wide range of sources, which can be unconsciously absorbed into our minds while reading or watching something. Being a discerning reader/viewer is therefore important, and so is being a writer, who is aware of possible sources of influence.
Hoping that we as writers can make an impact on our audiences, big or small, based on the power of our ideas and the depth of our writing. Let us think freely and in as creative a way as possible, exploring newer avenues for self expression in thought and speech.
Having said that, I do think that as authors one must be careful about citations of others' work, whether it is fiction or non-fiction writing, of the academic kind. I know some of us get into trouble, inspite of citations. The world is sometimes a heartless place, where work tends to get scrutinized to the point where the critics lose the essence of the idea that the author is proposing. The authors on their part get engrossed in putting across their ideas in writing, to the extent that any possible 'inspiration' or 'reference' goes unintentionally unacknowledged.
For one thing, no individual would want to be called dishonest, much less be accused of doing so intentionally. As long as the plot or idea are original, it is upto us readers (and critics) to make informed decisions and opinions regarding the work, in as objective a manner as possible. Lets not forget that each of us has ownership for our ideas and wouldnt like to see them reproduced without due acknowledgement. Lets also give each other benefit of the doubt. Creativity is something that one cannot examine objectively. In this age of information and knowledge, each of us is influenced by a wide range of sources, which can be unconsciously absorbed into our minds while reading or watching something. Being a discerning reader/viewer is therefore important, and so is being a writer, who is aware of possible sources of influence.
Hoping that we as writers can make an impact on our audiences, big or small, based on the power of our ideas and the depth of our writing. Let us think freely and in as creative a way as possible, exploring newer avenues for self expression in thought and speech.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Things to remember
Embrace your destiny, go with the flow, let things take their course
This is for the best..
Also remember what your dreams are, and that you have every right to pursue them.
Look ahead, not behind..one cannot move forward while one looks back. let the past be a memory, a lesson at best, if you like, and that's about it. There is more to it than one has seen in life, and one should reach out and jump into it, prepared or otherwise.
Eventually we all learn to swim.
This is for the best..
Also remember what your dreams are, and that you have every right to pursue them.
Look ahead, not behind..one cannot move forward while one looks back. let the past be a memory, a lesson at best, if you like, and that's about it. There is more to it than one has seen in life, and one should reach out and jump into it, prepared or otherwise.
Eventually we all learn to swim.
Bangalore bytes...
The first thing that strikes a visitor to Bangalore has long been its pleasant weather and greenery, which of late, has been replaced by traffic snarls and crowded shopping malls. Its difficult not to get taken in by all the goods on display to satiate every possible human need. For a while, it seems fascinating, and yet, in a short while it seems like more of the same thing. What also surprises me is that although Bangalore seems like a huge city, it didnt feel like that. Over the weekend we went to a few malls (window shopping, our favorite pastime!), and at one of them, caught our very own Yuvraj Singh, in town to unveil the latest XBox version, apparently a game coming up soon in Yuvraj's own theme too. Hmm, watch out gaming freaks, something interesting coming up soon. :)
On the culture scene too, Bangalore has plenty happening on any given day, be it Carnatic music concerts or stand up comedy by Russell Peters, running to packed houses in the following days. Other cities could take a leaf out of Bangalore's books, when it comes to entertainment and relaxation. Bangalore on the other hand, could learn from other cities about traffic management (ahem, I can't remember one city with decent traffic management-Chennai? nope..Ahmedabad used to be a traffic free city, but now they also have to rely on flyovers and stuff to ease traffic congestion in major areas of the city)..well the A(hmedabad) B(angalore) C(hennai) of the cities I've lived in are facing traffic issues, will we do something about it?
Driving in the city these days, any city, is a source of constant worry for me. I see nutcases driving at top speed on busy highways, even in the peak traffic hours. Chennai is notorious for its auto wallahs, with whom we have picked up many a fight..too many to even recall out here. Its time the government got strict with citizens like me and you, who dont think twice before crossing the road on foot, or on a vehicle, driving past speed limits, cutting thru traffic, travelling on crowded buses...the list is endless. At one point or another we have risked our life and limb, or of those travelling with us, when we drive on the road.
Lets all of us, make our cities a source of joy for each one of us. Let us do something everyday to make our city a better place to live in. :)
On the culture scene too, Bangalore has plenty happening on any given day, be it Carnatic music concerts or stand up comedy by Russell Peters, running to packed houses in the following days. Other cities could take a leaf out of Bangalore's books, when it comes to entertainment and relaxation. Bangalore on the other hand, could learn from other cities about traffic management (ahem, I can't remember one city with decent traffic management-Chennai? nope..Ahmedabad used to be a traffic free city, but now they also have to rely on flyovers and stuff to ease traffic congestion in major areas of the city)..well the A(hmedabad) B(angalore) C(hennai) of the cities I've lived in are facing traffic issues, will we do something about it?
Driving in the city these days, any city, is a source of constant worry for me. I see nutcases driving at top speed on busy highways, even in the peak traffic hours. Chennai is notorious for its auto wallahs, with whom we have picked up many a fight..too many to even recall out here. Its time the government got strict with citizens like me and you, who dont think twice before crossing the road on foot, or on a vehicle, driving past speed limits, cutting thru traffic, travelling on crowded buses...the list is endless. At one point or another we have risked our life and limb, or of those travelling with us, when we drive on the road.
Lets all of us, make our cities a source of joy for each one of us. Let us do something everyday to make our city a better place to live in. :)
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Back to the basics..musings of a mind running wild....
What do we really want from life? What do we yearn for? Who are we? Why are we here and where do we go from here?
These I guess are pretty universal questions that ask themselves to us from time to time. Do we have answers or do we spend our whole lifetime looking for these answers? Do we find the answers at all, or is life just a journey spent in search of the true meaning of life and its worth? Is it about love and friendship or about something else? A calling, perhaps? A search for who we really ought to be?
How does one know? Do we get a sign, or a message or is it something we might just feel?
Still searching..shall let you know when I find my answers..if at all! :)
Happy travelling, meanwhile. :D
These I guess are pretty universal questions that ask themselves to us from time to time. Do we have answers or do we spend our whole lifetime looking for these answers? Do we find the answers at all, or is life just a journey spent in search of the true meaning of life and its worth? Is it about love and friendship or about something else? A calling, perhaps? A search for who we really ought to be?
How does one know? Do we get a sign, or a message or is it something we might just feel?
Still searching..shall let you know when I find my answers..if at all! :)
Happy travelling, meanwhile. :D
Customer Service? What's that?!
Business in this day and age thrives on providing "customer service" and aims to "delight" the customer of the service, whether it is in a bank or an airline or just about anything else that involves an individual offering a service and a customer willing to pay for it. Sounds simple enough, and it really is that simple. And yet...
Today we went for dinner to this Punjabi Dhaba place at the end of a busy, and hectic day for us. We were both hungry and wanted a good place to eat. Going past the place in question, I suggested we try it, since we hadn't tried it before. Settled in and ordered what we liked, and were informed that the dal isnt ready yet, so we substituted that with another dish, plus some rotis and rice to go with it. We were halfway thru the meal when we were told that the rice will take about "panch-dus minut" to arrive, we waited, and waited, and waited some more.
Half an hour later, there was no sign of the rice, and meanwhile the waiter had offered (rather generously, he must have thought) to warm up our side dishes and get us fresh plates. Anyways, half an hour later, we got up and left, and while we offered to pay the tab, there was no apology from either the staff or the owner who was at the place at the time. Our money was quietly accepted, without any note of apology.
On the walls of the restaurant hung pictures of the owner of the restaurant (in Lucky Singh style, from Lage Raho Munnabhai!!), with celebs including Amitabh Bachchan and others..I wish the guy had spent some of his valuable time off from socializing with the who's who of this world, to provide us hungry souls with a decent meal.
For those of us who hope to open a restaurant some day, and those of us who do already..please make sure we serve what we promise, and some more. Providing a meal is an honorable thing to do, lets not degrade it by making it appear like a burden, a chore. If we can't make our customers happy, we have no right to be in the business to start with.
Restaurant owners, please take note.
Customers like us need to voice our opinion more strongly, specially when we are unhappy with a service and want it to improve.. (I for one have seen someone do this regularly..and while his frankness used to be a matter of concern to me, I think it emboldens me to speak up as well, instead of taking everything at face value..keep the inspiration coming, dudee!) :)
Today we went for dinner to this Punjabi Dhaba place at the end of a busy, and hectic day for us. We were both hungry and wanted a good place to eat. Going past the place in question, I suggested we try it, since we hadn't tried it before. Settled in and ordered what we liked, and were informed that the dal isnt ready yet, so we substituted that with another dish, plus some rotis and rice to go with it. We were halfway thru the meal when we were told that the rice will take about "panch-dus minut" to arrive, we waited, and waited, and waited some more.
Half an hour later, there was no sign of the rice, and meanwhile the waiter had offered (rather generously, he must have thought) to warm up our side dishes and get us fresh plates. Anyways, half an hour later, we got up and left, and while we offered to pay the tab, there was no apology from either the staff or the owner who was at the place at the time. Our money was quietly accepted, without any note of apology.
On the walls of the restaurant hung pictures of the owner of the restaurant (in Lucky Singh style, from Lage Raho Munnabhai!!), with celebs including Amitabh Bachchan and others..I wish the guy had spent some of his valuable time off from socializing with the who's who of this world, to provide us hungry souls with a decent meal.
For those of us who hope to open a restaurant some day, and those of us who do already..please make sure we serve what we promise, and some more. Providing a meal is an honorable thing to do, lets not degrade it by making it appear like a burden, a chore. If we can't make our customers happy, we have no right to be in the business to start with.
Restaurant owners, please take note.
Customers like us need to voice our opinion more strongly, specially when we are unhappy with a service and want it to improve.. (I for one have seen someone do this regularly..and while his frankness used to be a matter of concern to me, I think it emboldens me to speak up as well, instead of taking everything at face value..keep the inspiration coming, dudee!) :)
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