On a new orbit

As i start on a new orbit today, i am heavily inspired by these lines

"The test of a successful person is not an ability to eliminate all problems before they arise,
But to meet and work out difficulties when they do arise .
We must be willing to make an intelligent compromise with perfection ,
Lest we wait forever before taking action... ! ! !"

Memory

This quote was written keeping me in mind :))

The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.
- Friedrich Nietzsche

Thanks Madhu for this.

A bundle of emotions

Am absolutely overwhelmed...i mean, i never knew so many people would b stopping by my blog after my "Classic Come back"...geee...Thanks pals...u guys made my day. I promise to be more regular...and its a real promise...unlike the political ones. ;)

Was at a religious talk last evening, where the speaker, Dr. Israr Ahmed said, personal conviction is what makes up for your belief in your faith. I believe this "Personal Conviction" holds good for every aspect of life? It was a evening well spent, and i hope to be there this evening as well.

Let me just remind you, my car celebrates it first birthday today (Happy birthday to my car)...and should i again reiterate that am in love with the little thing? And let me tell u, gifts are expected, in cash and not kind.....mean me...u bet i am ;)

Don't Look Back

It has been more than two months that i even saw my blog. Now should i be booked for "Negligence of my good old blog"...;)

i hope to get back to this wonderful land...till my creative juices begin to flow, herez something interesting...


Don't Look Back

As you travel through life there are always those times when decisions just have to be made, when the choices are hard and solutions seem scarce and the rain seems to soak your parade! There are some situations where all you can do is to simply let go and move on, gather courage together and choose a direction that carries you toward a new dawn. So pack up your troubles and take a step forward. The process of change can be tough. But think about all the excitement ahead, if you can be stalwart enough!

There could be adventures you never imagined just waiting around the next bend and wishes and dreams just about to come true in ways you can't yet comprehend!

Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new interests, as you challenge your status quo and learn there are so many options in life, and so many ways you can grow! Perhaps you'll go places you never expected and see things that you've never seen, or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds and wonderful spots in between! Perhaps you'll find warmth, affection and caring, a "somebody special" who's there to help you stay centered and listen with interest to stories and feelings you share. Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends are supportive of all that you do and believe that whatever decisions you make, they'll be the right choices for you!

So keep putting one foot in front of the other and taking your life day by day. There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road. Don't look back, you're not going that way!

Heartfelt thanks

Poem, Moment of silence, wishes and a cake ...wow what a way to celebrate turning 3. Thanks one and all for the wishes. Do i also request you to please include me too in the moment of silence...my soul needs rest very badly.

And yes blog turned three and not completed 3 years :)))...and i remember the good old days when i used to make a big long post everyday...these days...well lets talk about brighter things in life :))

Thanks everyone...my belief that i should keep blogging has got a boost again...:)


Khush >> Thanks for the cake, when is it reaching me? Are you going to pack some Australian Cookies too ;)...

Life goes on

Early this September, my blog completed three years of existance, the mean me, didnot even realise this. Last night, the thought suddenly struck me and i say "Hey, my blog is 3 year old"....time to celebrate...oh yes...do u need a reason to party?

So people, birthday gifts please!!!!

Before I start this post

Before I start this post....I just want to say...How unpredictable life is...How lucky we feel when we get some blessings in disguise...How ungrateful we are...Aren't we humans a big bag of confusion?

Am confused...Am in control...Not about blogging but the way my life is going...Through the crest and troughs....What's right?...What's wrong?...And they only way ...At times I can vent my ire out is on my blog....

I read this poem and realized life is too short to brood over the coming days...And my belief on "live for today" is reinforced...Read this poem "Before I start the poem"..And let me know what you feel for it.

Thoughts

In kitabo me titliyan rakh ja
kuch to aapni nishaniya rakh ja,

Log thak har ke na laut aaye,
raste me kahaniya rakh ja.

Muntazir Koyee to mille tujhko
Ghar ke bahar udasiyan rakh ja.

Aaj toofan bhi akela hai
tu bhi sahil pe kashtiya rakh ja.

Ho raha hai agar juda mujhse
meri ankho pe ungliya rakh ja.

One Step

One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal

One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.

-- Unknown (atleast to me)

Decision

"Decision should not be the choice of your heart or mind but a sensible balancing of both."

This quote was sent by my friend..just after i made my 'Is it the end?" post...it just got me thinking...is the decision i am taking right or wrong? from that day i am making this post.

Well, i am a bad time manager...and i have proved upteen times on this front...;)...i have made a decision to be more regular and this decision is a choice of both the heart and the mind...balanced. :))

Is it the end?

I have not been so bad with updating my blog as bad as I have been from the past couple of months...This is the worst possible treatment I could put my blog too...come to think of it, next month I celebrate the 3rd anniversary of my blog....Where is it leading me to...Saturation?

Quotable Quotes

Every morning, a friend of mine sends some real wonderful quotations...hats off to his sustainance that he keeps feeding us with these wonderful words, and let us know that life is beatuiful...sharing a few with u. I am tempted to ask him to start a blog. ;)

Quotable Quotes:

If we look at what we do not have in life, We don't have anything
If we look at what we have in life, We have everything... ! ! !

The advantage is not in possessing good things ,
But in knowing where, when and how to use them... ! ! !

What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or
Suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear ;
That means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it.
We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it.
Thats the best and easiest way to handle fear... ! ! !

In the game of life it's good to have a few early losses ,
Which relieves us of the pressure of trying to maintain an undefeated season... ! !

Motivation is what gets U started.
Habit is what keeps U going... ! ! !

Act as if U were not afraid ,And Uwill become courageous;
Act as if U could , And U'll find soon that U can... ! ! !

In life we do come across disappointments.
But these disappointments can be finite ,
Only if we have infinte Hope ... ! ! !

Do not fear mistakes .
Fear only the absence of Creative, Constructive and Corrective responses to those mistakes... ! ! !

Being sincere yet decisive;
Maintaining a positive attitude;
Keeping a sense of humor;
Being orderly in person and in work.
These are few secrets behind successful professionals .. ! ! !

Its all about Attitude

I started from home with a thought of making a particular post...while i opend my mail box, i saw these cute little stories, which in their own way speak volumes. I guess many of u would have already read this, a re-read is always better :)

Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different color hair than the other family members. One child suggested that he was adopted and a little girl said, "I know all about adoptions because I was adopted."

"What does it mean to be adopted?" asked another child.

"It means," said the girl, "that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy."

-------

Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.Jamie was trying out for a part in a school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. "Guess what Mom," he shouted, and then said those words that willremain a lesson to me: "I've been chosen to clap and cheer."

--------

An Eye Witness Account from New York City, on a cold day in December:
A little boy about 10 years old was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow,why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"
"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel. By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?"
As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words:
"Are you God's Wife?"

---

Amazing aren't they?

hamaaraa kyaa hai

A beautiful gazal...

hamaaraa kyaa hai

hamaaraa kyaa hai ke ham to chiraaG-e-shab kii tarah
agar jale bhii to bas itanii raushanii hogii
ke jaise tund andhero.n kii raah me.n juganuu
zaraa sii der ko chamake chamak ke kho jaaye 

phir is ke baad kisii ko na kuchh sujhaa_ii de
na shab kaTe na suraaG-e-sahar dikhaa_ii de

hamaaraa kyaa hai ke ham to pas-e-Gubaar-e-safar
agar chale bhii to bas itanii raah tay hogii
ke tez havaaon kii zad main, maa_il naqsh-e-qadam
zaraa sii der ko ubhare ubhar ke mit jaaye
phir us ke baad na raastaa na rah_guzar mile
hadd-e-nigaah talak dasht-e-bekinar mile

hamaarii simt na dekho ke ko_ii der mein ham
qabiilaa-e-dil-o-jaan judaa hone vaale hain
base basaaye huye shahar apanii aankhon ke
misal-e-khaanaa-e-viiraan ujadane vaale hain
havaa kaa shor yehi hai to dekhataiy rehanaa
hamaarii umar ke Khaimein ukhadane vaale hain

Mohsin Naqvi

A back....with vengence????

Its been quite sometime me staying away from my blog...guess this is the longest hiatus i have taken from my blog...for all those who think am done and gone...nayy...am back...

Shifting of office premises...and then a sudden shift in residence has kept me on my toes and away from my blog. Thanks to all of u who missed me...

I hope i don't take a break for long now...i have loads of homework though...reading through ur blogs for the past one month. ;)

A Movie, A Book and A Restaurant

Movie: Dev

My views: Dev is a beautifully made film. None but the evergreen king of Bollywood could carry it off so well. Ably supported by Om Puri. The film rests totally on the able and sturdy shoulders of these two wonderful actors, both of whom surprise u with each performance.

Set against the backdrop of communal violence, political gains and the diverse personalities in the police force, Dev gets off to a slow start, giving u brief inputs to each character of the main plot. AB is Dev Pratap Singh, Joint Police Commissioner who has firm faith in the constitution of the country, and nothing can come between his duty and protecting the nation. Fardeen Khan as a to-be lawyer, turns towards the jihadi's after his Dad succumbs to an unsuspecting Police Bullet. He thinks AB's at fault, after he suspects the 'minority' community to be involved in Jihadi activities. Fardeen makes an attempt on AB and wife, Dr Bharati (Rati Agnihotri). There is Kareena, whose Fardeen's childhood-sweetheart (obviously), watching the whole world of violence and anger around her, and has to face the wrath one day, when her family is wiped off in a riot.

The movie revolves completely around AB and Om Puri, where they both discuss the political scene and the changes that need to be done. That's the most interesting part.

Dialogues by Nihlani and kafi Azmi are good. Aadesh Shrivastava's tunes and Zubin Balaporia's background score are in perfect tune with the movie. Sharmistha Roy's excellent production design and execution. Kareena has done a ok job as far as reciting the song goes. She better stick to acting.

Overall, a good movie. a must watch. AB fans are going to fall for him all over again. Credits go to the entire cast for giving a commendable performance.


A Book: The third twin

This suspense thriller from Ken Follet, is a good read. Its got all that tension that goes with a Ken Follet novel.

Dr. Jeannie Ferrami, is a young professor at Jones Falls University (JFU) who is investigating the balance of nature versus nurture in criminality. She's such a genius that she has come up with a search engine, which can fit into a floppy and is multi-os compliant...wow wow woww to her. Anyways, searching through the databases, which her ultra smart search engine, find 3 people with the same DNA. Alaw student at JFU has an identical twin (raised separately) who is a convicted rapist. She is not overjoyed, however, when that man is arrested for raping her best friend. Surely Mr. Perfect couldn't be guilty--enter the evil masterminds, three Nixon-era comrades who have been toiling for decades to make America safe for racial purity. It's bad enough that one of the conspirators is Dr. Ferrami's boss, but another is eyeing the Oval Office. The Prof. catching their secrets, sends shivers down the spine. A good read, a true Ken Follet thriller.

A Restaurant: Bombay Post

The posh new eating joint of Bangalore, Bombay Post, is a good place. Surely Bangalore is coming of age as far as good eating joints are concerned.

A typical North Indian cuisine, a little high price, but enough quantity to fill ur tummy. Taaza ganne ka raas along with Palak starter, have u rolling for the rest of the serving. A good place, neat ambience and splendid old hindi music to accompany u.

So now, u know why my blogging is so irregular off late ;)

Fast forward or Flash backwards

Bangalore touted as the most happening place, if i may say, is in bad shape. The rain last Monday, gave us the perfect picture of the wonderful drainage system that the city has. Death of a youth who stepped into the drain, was heart breaking.

I always read about the bad roads in town. The roads i drive on, aren't the perfect kinds, not many potholes and that kept me happy. After driving through Bannergatta Road over the weekend, i felt i was transported to a place which is worse than a village road. And to think of it, This road leads to the premier management Institute, has some hazar MNC companies along the road. Where are the authorities who are to lay the road?

I was told that one of the Software Giants whose office is housed on this road, offered to lay the road. Wonderful Gesture. But they were asked to pay a bribe (hold ur breath) of Rs. 10 crore...isn't this being real real greedy?

After that humpy bumpy ride, i thanked my stars for having safely lived through the trauma of that dirty patch of road. Back at work, first thing in the morning i read is this big piece on Bangalore and Big jobs.

So much for generating hype!!!

Compliment

Today i got the most "Wackaw" of the compliments.

Someone compared me to a cutlet...yeah a cutlet...saying u are always sizzling with enthusiasm, hence the comparison to cutlet...and he hoped that his daughter turns to be like me..

My my...did it make my day?

Have a wackaw weekend ;)

Hows life?

A regular question, which gets regular answers

Just as it was y'day
Going on
Absolutely no Change
Good
Tugging along
Wahi haadi wahi khaal (direct translation "Same bones same skin")
Bass guzar rahi hai (kyoun train ya car nahi kai kya?)


Answers are dependent on the creative genius of the person at that point of time.

When you don't know what to ask the person, either in person or on chat or through a mail, this question pops up. Answers come with smile, whine, twitch of the nose, the shoulders dropping, sighing, grinning. Innumerable emotions and answers to a small question which was asked sometimes with true concern and most of the time to just pull the conversation along.

Isn't human being a strange creature?

India and Development

SciDev net is a good website, talking about issues like Open Access and other technological developments. I found this piece interesting. "India's new challenge on technology policy"

Creativity

"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing,taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, learning from them and above all having fun... ! ! ! "

Isn't it an amazing way to define creativity???

Rocking weekend

This weekend was once again Team Building session from office. Being in the enabling division of any company is good and bad. On one hand you get high visibility and on the other you will have to sacrifice for being famous (:-P). So there went my weekend with this team building, just that I had to be a team player and a co-ordinate too...Some dual role.

Saturday was the regular corporate games, cricket with a difference(first ball to be bowled with the opposite hand and such controlling rules), difference was quite much, we played in the rain...must say it was amazing fun. After an hours refreshing break, we started off on a treasure hunt, in places not thought off...with a candle, torches and mobiles in hand, we went around hunting for treasure. Hindrances were snakes, darkness, electric poles which were waiting to give someone a tight hug. An hour of this dark adventure, and what best way to relax...the dance floor. While most of them enjoyed the dance floor, lesser known mortals like me hit the bed just when the clock heralded the new day.

Sunday, wake up at 6 a.m is like a far off dream, but that turned into a reality y'day. The entire group of 35 ready and raring to go. We went rappelling. A small hillock, 80 ft high. The minute I saw the ropes dangling I wanted to run away from there. But as we sat there nibbling at our sand wiches and watching the instructor do it, it didn't look like a tuff task altogether (just look and thought here). After about 45 minutes, I decided to try this daring stunt. The harness tied around, all set, I go to the end of the cliff.....a there I go freezzeee...I just could not move, I heard my people cheering and asking me to move on, but my limbs just don't take the signal. At one point I feel, I am going to fall with a thud, just then I pulled myself up and came back...Breathed the fresh air told myself buck up and then got onto the rope and before I realized I was there down with my friends....the 5-6 mins of pulling myself down was something which I will never forget.

With another adventure story tucked under my cap, got back to the resort and then after a good breakfast and a equally excellent lunch, came back home to break my sleeping record, I slept for 14 hours at a stretch...Could not believe myself, but I did it.

Here again to face a crazy week :)

Keh Do Samander Say Ki Hum os Kay Moti Hain
Dariya Ki Tarah Tumsay Milnay Nahin Aayengay

Confusions confusion...That's seem to be the trend these days.

The entire nation is not sure if they did the right thing by voting for a party, which has a legacy of some big names (for right and wrong reasons), and right now being headed by a foreigner. Everyone is skeptic about having a foreigner as a Prime Minister.

This is the talk of town, or do we say universe? Every office, nook and corner of the country is abuzz with election postmortem. How could this happen. A few interesting pieces which I came across.

Washington post, talks about The Upset in India. The editorial praises the Vajpayee government for their bold steps towards testing nuclear bombs, improving relationship with Pakistan and other nations. Describing the Gandhian hold over the country, they editor goes on to say the US-India relationship will suffer becoz of the new government.

The Gaurdian carries a interesting write by Ms. Arundhati Roy(remember her???), she says, Let us hope the darkness has passed . Ms Roy is surely not a supporter of the Left parties, she lashes the left parties for their overtly (but ineffectively) critical reforms, which has lead to their debacle. But as we celebrate, she also points out that the Cong and BJP don't have major differences over every major issue the country is facing. To quote her "We know the legacy of the Congress led us to the horror of the BJP. Still, we celebrate because surely a darkness has passed."

Our very own The Hindu, analyzes The meaning of the Verdict of 2004. The editor says "Without losing their head in any way, refusing to be fooled by grandiose slogans, keeping their eye on issues that matter ? above all, livelihood and national unity ? more than 350 million of them who turned out to vote have produced a big upset." They say that this is the first election after 1977 when the entire prediction have gone for a toss. Shows that the electorate is getting matured over the day (or do we say irresponsible?).

At one end of the globe people have given their verdict, not very far from us, condemnable activity has taken place in Iraq. Do we point this out to the drudgery of modern technology? Impact of this is very nicely discused in this blog

Is the future going to be good or bad, only time will tell.

Amidst all this I am also facing quite some confusions. 3 close friends are getting married all through the weekend, One in bangalore, one in chennai and one in Mysore. Each of them as special as special can be. How dI i attend all of them? Bangalore is no problem since its on Friday, but what about my dear city and Amma's city? A no will be the worst thinI i can do to them on their special day. Oh God, rasta dikha please!!!!

Eitherways, have a good weekend fella's, feels nice to make a long post after long :)

A excellent piece....

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry,
Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday,
With all its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.
Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed;
We cannot erase a single word we said.
Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow,
With all its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and its poor performance;
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today.
Any person can fight the battle of just one day.
It is when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad,
it is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday
and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, Live but one day at a time

Whoa!! blogger has a new look...neat...its a good try by blogger to get me to blogging everyday. Lets see how successful they would be ;)

BTW> if u guys have any liking towards ebooks, please write to me

Muchas Gracias

This morning, Radio City played the evergreen, ever-wonderful, ever-romantic, song from Silsila..."Yeh kahan aagaye hum, yunhi saath saath chalte...". The weather cloudy, the light breeze and the song just blended so well giving it the perfect start to the cloudy morning....from then on, am completely hooked on to songs from that movie.

I am going to be cribbing if I say, its criminal to be working on such a lovely day. Why don't corporate's have summer vacation? As a kid I hated vacations, becoz I had no where to go, and now I long for vacations...what contradiction in life...anyways Life is beautiful :))

The below quote was sent as a Quote of the day from someone in wipro, reached me after going all over the world ;)

Usually when people are sad and angry over something, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life.

Malcolm X (1925 - 1965), Malcolm X Speaks, 1965

If people never did silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done.
- Ludwig Wittgenstein

There is something absolutely marvellous in this ghazal.
Read on

justjoo-e-sehr mai'n rehta hoo'n
fikr e ilm o hunar mai'n rehta hoo'n

tum samajhtey ho ghar mai'n rehta hoo'n
mai'n ki diwaar o dar mai'n rehta hoo'n

ba'd marney k sub hi rehtey hai'n
mai'n tao zinda qabar mai'n rehta hoo'n

naam letey huey bhi darta hoo'n
mai'n ik aisey shehr mai'n rehta hoo'n

apney bacchey ko bhaij kar school
mai'n hama waqt fikar mai'n rehta hoo'n

teri aa'nkho'n mai'n kuch tao hey warna
kiun mai'n inkey asar mai'n rehta hoo'n

hoo'n mai'n taara kisi ki aa'nkho'n ka
aur kisi ki nazar mai'n rehta hoo'n

mod deta hoo'n rukh hawaao'n key
khud hamesha bha'nwar mai'n rehta hoo'n

ho mulaqaat kis tarah tum se
mai'n tao aksar safar mai'n rehta hoo'n

jitna bacchta hoo'n khud numaai se
wutna ziyada khabar mai'n rehta hoo'n

mujh se asrar poochtey kya ho
kya bataoo'n kidhar mai'n rehta hoo'n

Some snoring quotes! (Dont snore away reading them :P)

Snoring--anyone know a cure?
Malcolm S. Forbes

There ain't no way to find out why a snorer can't hear himself snore.
MARK TWAIN

Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.
ANTHONY BURGESS

Sleep is when all the unsorted stuff comes flying out as from a dustbin upset in a high wind.
WILLIAM GOLDING

On his side of the bed Mr. Judson began to conduct a full-scale orchestra, and every instrument had sat out in the rain.
MRS. PATRICK CAMPBELL

He slept more than any other President, whether by day or night. Nero fiddled, but Coolidge snored.
H. L. MENCKEN

There's only one cure for snoring: insomnia.
ANONYMOUS

Father's snoring grows to soundincreasingly like a vacuum cleanerin heat.
MARGARET HALSEY

My husband's snoring is not always so bad. Sometimes it drowns out the noise of passing trains.
ANONYMOUS

There is no such thing as silence.
JOHN CAGE

All men whilst they are awake are in one common world, but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own.
PLUTARCH

I never sleep comfortably except when I am at a sermon or when I pray to God.
RABELAIS

Come, cuddle your head on my shoulder,
Dear, Your head like the golden-rod,
And we will go sailing away from here
To the beautiful land of Nod.
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

Even where sleep is concerned, too much is a bad thing.
HOMER

His sleep was a sensuous gluttony of oblivion.
P.D. JAMES

Weariness
Can snore against the flint when resty sloth
Finds the down pillow hard.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Soft closer of our eyes!
Low murmur of our lullabies.
JOHN KEATS

To all, to each, a fair goodnight,And pleasing dreams, and slumbers light.
SIR WALTER SCOTT

A Text...
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet.
-Ecclesiastes 5:12

After 007, who services were availed by Her Majesty, now its the turn of Mr. Peter Parker to do some magic..

Calling Peter Parker
The California State Highway Patrol wants researchers to develop a "spider gun" that would quickly extrude a web, which could serve as an ad hoc safety net for stopping suicidal jumpers on the Golden Gate bridge.

Happy Weekend!!!

Going through a lull period these days, as far as "creative thinking" goes. Work as always is hectic, and the most to suffer is my reading and blogging, something which is of equal interest to me. And to add to it like a icing on the cake is my laziness...makes me think, Do I need a break? Away from the machine world? In the mountains, under the trees beside a stream....?????

Today is World book day...here's a toast to all the book lovers...:)

Yahooooooo.....i got my first name as my email id on Gmail :)

It was a whrilwind weekend, but one thing remains....my laziness :)

Laziness has taken over me.....big time...though there are quite a few things i want to write...but ...some time later maybe.

Have a good weekend and be good!!!!!

Whats life without surprises, and most of the times, the surprises are such...U jump with a "eeeeegggggggggaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrdddddddddddd"..Similar thing happened y'day with me. At about 8 a.m, I got a sms from my service provider which said "Dear Customer...Many Many Happy Returns of the day". I had to pinch myself, check and recheck and re-re-check the calendar to see what date was it and how did I forget my b'day....a most unlike phenomenon. Laughed it off saying...galti se mistake hogai hai...Episode forgotten.

At 10 a.m, the mobile rings, number not displayed...Withheld it says...me worried whether its from the underworld...aab meine kya kiya...picked the call and the recorded voice which said "Happy Birthday dear customer"..Press 1 to hear the message again, 2 for blah blah...aab enough was enough.

Called customer service, told them, appreciated service, but why don't you do that on the right day? Surprise again, Ma'am, says the lady at the other end, ur b'day is listed today, Happy Birthday....(a silent eeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrr...went out again). Told her thank u but no thanks, my b'day is in Dec. Please change...and the case came to rest.

Phew!...so much for surprises and value add services.

Haas Ke Gham Sehe Le Magar Gam Ko Mukadaar Na Bana
Dil Ko Har Haal Mein Dil Rahene De Pathaar Na Bana

Khawaab Toh Khawaab Tutega Toh Dil Tutega
Jhoote Khawaabon Se Koi Zakhm Toh Dil Par Na Bana

Ek Mein Hoon Joh Wafa Karke Bhi Badnaam Hua
Ek Woh Hain Ke Sitam Karke Sitam_gar Na Bana

Aaj Muh MoRh Liya Usne Toh Ehasaas Hua
Dil Yeh Kaheta Raha Har Ek Ko Dilbar Na Bana

"I cried for shoes, till I saw a man feet-less".

This is by no doubt a quote which tears ur heart. A mention of this brings in a smile, which is very enigmatic and takes u to those moments of life when things were bad and u just smiled and waded through it. The subtle notions of life which are to be lived with.

If you are wondering what making me speak so much of funda's. Here is the background to this sojourn of mine.
Our company has a Voluntary Club, which is a recreation club, which works for doing some good work for the society. As part of its activity, a collection drive was organized at office, where employees contributed, things of daily use, which are useless to them now. Collection done, the big question of what do we do with 6 huge cartoons filled with useful stuff. After a lot of deliberation, a Blind School was suggested. A few of us visited this place y'day and gave away he stuff. What we saw was something which did dealt us with a blow. Not as in eye-opener to the sufferings of the world. The surprises were more of the girth and determination of people who take u the task of giving people life, giving their life to the battered souls. Sri Rakum School for the Blind, is run by Mr. Rakum, who shelters 175 (present count) underprivileged boys and girls, both sighted and visually impaired. Free food, clothing, shelter is provided to them, all this possible only though donations. No major publicity campaigns to donate. Everyday Mr. Rakum puts a white board, which spells the needs of the inmates.

Students here are trained at karate, Yoga, music, arts, crafts, computers, languages. I felt there are more privileged than us, for they have company of loved ones who will go any length to prove their needs, all with a smile. They may not be self-sufficient as far as materials are concerned, but they sure use all the resources they have to fulfill their needs.

Someone once said "Eyes don't see what the mind does not know" this was proved y'day. The place where this school is located is the road on which I go everyday, and not one day I bothered to stop and enquire. In the future, I hope to spend sometime with these special kids, whom God may have deprived of sight, but has sure blessed them with special strengths which possibly u and me can never think of.

A good start to this Good Friday weekend, I just cannot stop propagating this Blind School, and I have resolved to be a helpful part to this good initiative started 5 and half years back by Mr. Reagan.

Happy weekend fellas.

Change is in the air....

Music and Life

Music has been an integral part of our life. Music of every kind, popular, instrumental, classical always hits a chord in our daily life. sometimes when u hear a particular song, we immediately identify our selves with the character whose mimicing it on scene.

Among the many songs, Hemant Kumar's music in Khamoshi was amazing, which has haunting numbers, "Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi...", is an unmatched composition. All Raj kappor movies had great numbers, the rain song, "Pyar hua ikrar hua" can put to shame all the rain songs of the modern days, where the emphasis is more on the wardrobe. the ever green Kishore, Rafi, Mukesh, Lata, Asha numbers take us into a world of its own. Dont we smile when songs of the yesteryear are played? An era where we didn't exist.

Moving to movies of our times, "Phela Nasha.." from Joi jeeta wahi sikandar", was an amazing song. The Sharukh Khan starrer "Chand tare tood laoo...sari duniya par mein chaoon...Bass itna sa khab hao" from Yes Boss. In short it summed up that whatever high our dreams our, that's all we yearn for. There are many such songs etched in memory, but this one kinda stands out for its simple meaning.

Off late, the quality of lyrics has graduated from the khatia, choli days to some good numbers. "Dil Deewana..." from Pardes, "Kaisi hai yeh rut..." from Dil Chata hai, bring out the pain, agony, excitement very well...and we smile to ourselves, saying How true. Amongst the latest is this number from Woh..."Upar wale yeh toh bata..." I find this song very simple but very strong in its meaning. Dont we all think that the creator has a small grudge against us?

I can go on and on with my Ode to the Bollywood music industry...I think I should do that once...a list of my fav songs...

Arz kiya hai....kisne pata nahi...magar mulaheza farmaiye...

samajh sake na log siyane
ishq ka rutba ishq hi janay

duniya bhulaadi ishq nay
apni mana li ishq nay
dil wale jal geye shauq se
jab aag lagayi ishq nay
jis ko diya dil jaan bhi usi ko do
jal kai kahen parwane
ishq ka rutba ishq hi janay

qissa poorana ishq ka
dushman zamana ishq ka
jis ko laga majnoo bana
ulta nishana ishq ka
jitay bhi jhele dukh shikwa kabhi na kare
chup hi rahen deewany
ishq ka rutba ishq hi janay

Why is that we immediately retaliate when someone one pokes fun at us?

I have been running an errand for a friend whose happily tucked away in Europe. He has problems with his credit card company, and I am his PRO here dealing with those people, who for a change are kewl people, who give a ear to the problem. Unlike many of the rest, who just refuse to talk to u with courtesy.

Our mode of operation is like this: He sends me details via mail, I call the bank, and write back to this guy with the details. One such mail, I took the pain of writing the entire transcript, clearly stating what is required from him. My dear friend writes back saying...I didn't understand anything. I was zapped, I wrote it again with clear instructions and small details. to which the reply I got is..." Its not u ... its the basic matter of the sexes.... which man has understood what a women has said !!!"...if at all this guy had made the statement in front of me, he would have got such a kick, which he would remember all life...

After all the natak I do with the bank, this is what I get to hear....Well i guess we bear everything with friends. All in the game ;)

What can make u as bright as a Lilly on a silly day?
A short conversation filled with news that can last a lifetime from a real old pal....the voice which reminds u of the carefree days of college...the life which had absolutely no tension (except for the exam tension) worth mention...bringing back memory of the sublime pleasures of life which consisted of bunking classes, creating ruckus in the class room, bugging the teachers, worrying friends, hooting,booing, cheering....

I experienced all this for a perfect timing of 7 minutes 10 seconds....but the memory of this talk will last a life time :)

Many of us (sorry no percentages used here) would have started blogging just becoz one of our close buddies started blogging, or we just liked the concept, or we wanted to be different from the rest of the world, or just becoz everyone was doing it, a few of us did it, right...well I could be wrong as well. I will not be surprised if you tell me that these thoughts didn't cross my mind at all when I started my blog. I for sure, started my blog becoz Maltesh (an ex-blogger) did it, and he ensured that I was a member of blogland within a week of his having ventured here. Ofcourse I also triggered this reaction among the bunch of people I know, and got two people to successfully blog :)

A Blog Survey on Expectations of Privacy and Accountability has been published on MIT Technology Review. The survey was conducted between January 14th and January 21st, 2004. During that time, 486 respondents answered questions about their blogging practices and their expectations of privacy and accountability for the entries they publish online. Results are quite interesting.
Question like identity of the blogger, kind of blogging people indulge in. Is it personal rambling, political talk, business talk etc etc. Do people take permission from people they blog about form the body of the survey.

Reading through this, made me realise that, there are so many facets to blogging. Typically when something catches my fancy, I make a mental note to blog, and 80 out of 100 times I do it, unless laziness takes over me and I just defer the job to a later date. At the end of the day, something which is of interest goes in or just some rambling go on the blog. Not bothering at all that someone may ask me questions like, what do u blog...boy this is something quite serious to think, do u feel so?

The fee cut at IIM has drawn too much of response from the general public. There are many who whole heartedly welcome the drastic cut, while many disagree to the fee cut. Disparity will continue either which way.

Interestingly, this whole debate has brought us (atleast me), the kind of people who aren't so accustomed to the managerial reading to read a lot about the role and interests of the B-School Don. The Editorial of Star of Mysore, a local newspaper of Mysore, spoke of the ways our B-School Dons.

Mr. N.R.Narayana Murthy was quizzed on the elitism of the faculty of IIM's. He was told that the IIM readers and professors produced little or nothing of note. Most of their research papers were esoteric and had little or no use to the public. Worse, although we pay their salaries, neither the public nor the Press had access to it. Mr. Murthy, of course, denies the charge.

Going further, the editor, introduces the readers to a particular Don of B-Schools of the US of A. Ofcourse, all bench marks are done only with Uncle Sam's kids. After all they are the people with the attitude of "been there done that" right? Let me introduce you to this interesting personality, a professor of management, who has indulged in, surveys which are to a great extent uplifting, not just enlightning ur knowledge but also your mood. As you read through the kind of work this simple man has done, it will surely lighten ur spirit, make u smile and nod your head in agreement. Becoz, am sure, at some point of time even you would have been just like his subjects of study. [Don't worry he does not do any study on Gorilla's...;-)]

Prof. Trinkaus, 87, is a professor emeritus at the Zicklin School of Business in New York City. He takes enormous pride in producing work that is simple and interesting, and which the common man can relate to. his studies explain the mysteries of Human-Behaviour? What percentage of car drivers come almost - but not completely - to a stop at a traffic sign? What percentage of commuters carry brief cases equipped with locks? What is the average waiting time in a doctor's clinic?

So far so good, read this:

What is the usual response of people in a lift when asked 'is this car going up' or 'is this car going down'? What is the percentage of people who wear their caps inverted, with the beak at the back? What is the percentage of people who use 'absolutely' or 'exactly' instead of using the far simpler 'yes' when asked a question? Studied violations of hadicapped parking space at a shopping mall to determine the ratio of expensive to inexpensive vehicles in improper parking spaces. (The result suggested that parking violations are more a function of prevailing cultural norms than of automobile purchase prices.) A Study was also conducted to see the trends of people "Wearing Baseball-Type Caps", 'Drop-In Chapel Attendance", Color Preference in Sport Shoes, Changing Multiple-Choice Test Answers

Prof. Trinkaus has produced 87 such papers so far, each a page or two long. If you think this is a crazy don, then ur wrong. When quizzed on why he undertakes such study, he said.

"First, to make people smile, especially folks in the ivory tower, who tend to be serious about everything all the time. Second, to send a signal to fresh PhDs that all academic research doesn't have to appear to be formidable and overpowering. Third, to provide information about people's behaviour that probably translates into what they do in the workplace."

It did make interesting reading(to me atleast) and also provoked me to read more about Prof TrinKaus. the ever relaible google led me to a few pages, which made me build this post for today. Read more about him at http://www.improb.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i3/trinkaus0.html

All I would say is, each one his desire. Guess each and every individual have their core area of study, but what underlines the point is that, when so much of money is taken from the tax payer, there must be someway he will also have to benefit from it. A strategy can be made from these haigly acclaimed professors, who would for sure know all kinds of management...

There is some magic which creates in seconds the moment u start listening to Jagjit Singh. Each one of his track is a gem by itself. I am sure not many would disagree on this. The soft music, the easy lyrics....Its a state of mind which has to be felt rather than told.

As part of my job, i get to read loads of newspapers and news items every morning, and when something interesting strikes me i make a mental note to have that up on blog. But that never happens 9 out of 10 times, since it skips my mind or my attention gets diverted. This morning i read this edit from Financial Express, An open letter to the PM. Am sure u will enjoy reading it.

On a lighter note, I took this test and see the results

My inner child is ten years old!

The adult world is pretty irrelevant to me. Whether I'm off on my bicycle (or pony) exploring, lost in a good book, or giggling with my best friend, I live in a world apart, one full of adventure and wonder and other stuff adults don't understand.

How Old is Your Inner Child?
brought to you by Quizilla

Have a good weekend!

For whatever reasons I thought I was in total control of my bad temper. I was telling myself great, long gone are the day when a silly simple thing would flare my temper, I congratulated myself for having become a good, matured(???) adult. But the party didn't last long, all the fancy trips that I took myself were a waste or to say short-lived. I thought I was a very adjusting person, but nah....from Monday I have been letting out my ire in each and everyone who is trying to make things difficult for me. I am a person who has not imbibed "impossible" or "cannot be done" word or attitude in my fabric of life.

I am reminded of the line from Alchemist, which says, when u set to achieve something the whole world conspires against U. Thankfully the temper flaring has remained to the confines to my work place, the rest of the world does not seem to face it. To make things easy, I am lying low these days, silence prevails when I reach home (for once), and ofcourse my best friends, my books, give me great company. Thanks to all the various book fairs I keep visiting on and off.

Oh yes, in all this confusion, I remembered that I have another blog, my foodie corner, have updated after half a year...give me ur inputs :)

While surfing over the net, i came across India Together and read this poem. Its got a strong message, but its a well written one. This one is called Kathamanabi - "Her" Voice Written by, Mallika Sengupta, who has written numerous poems in Bengali. This series is called 'Kathamanabi' which translates to "Her Voice". In this series she has chosen to narrate the stories from the lives of eight women beginning with Ganga, Draupadi and Kshana and ending with Shah Bano and Medha.

Kathamanabi
Poetess Mallika Sengupta in "her voice".
Translated by Vaijayanti Gupta
I am "her" voice, recounting her tales,
from the vedic age to the 21st century.
The fire that has remained stifled in the ashes of history, smothered by time and age,
I am that woman - I speak of her.
I read tears, I write fire,
I live in infamy and consume its ashes.
I endure violence, and still breathe fire.
I live as long as this fire burns within me.

It is rather hard to endure the scorching heat of the flame that my words kindle. You do not like to hear a woman speak strong words….
You meet me very often;
After the initial exchanges, when you have known me better,
You are taken aback. 'How strange', you say, 'the traditional bindi adorns your face, your hair is braided casually, you look like any other woman. I expected you to be different…'
Tell me, to voice "her" protests, do I need
To dress in a different attire, shut my natural cravings to be affectionate or to be in love?
I want to rebel, despite being in love.
Along with my loveliness and charm, I want you to see the fire that burns within me.

O man, my equal partner in life,
If you are to ask how I would like to be treated- 'As an equal'.
The same answer that Porus gave king Alexander, 'treat me as befits a king'.

You have loved me, worshipped me, but never treated me like a human, as an equal.
Of course I will protest, should I not?
O earth, water, wind, fire and life (people)
Of India, I offer my humble prayers to you.
Let me speak of us, your women,
Trampled all through history, cornered and defeated.
Listen to my tales.

I was in Kshana's screams
When her tongue was cut and she was silenced,
Because her intellect outshone yours.
I was born as Kunti then, Kalpana Chawla now, the same story repeated.
I was Roop Kanwar in this century, and Sita in the vedic ages.
The cries of Anarkali are buried deep within me.
My clothes were torn off my body when I lived as Draupadi in Hastinapura.
My rape and humiliation still continues in the alleys of the metros in India.
I have walked along the banks of the ancient Saraswati and was born as Medha's spirit, in this age, to love and battle for a river.

I live in them, those that have borne this nation in their wombs, but are not the true guardians of those whom they bear.
I am the helplessness of the women Panchayat leaders, puppets of your political
schemes.
I exist in the women who kill their baby girls in their wombs, the blood of
infanticide staining their hands and souls.
In all mute, deaf, and disabled women,
Burdens of this society, I am alive in them.

Born of this earth, your daughter,
Full of emotions and sentiments and love
I salute you mother India,
I begin my story, the story of your women.

Ramana asked me "Does ur heart beat faster sometimes?" and I replied "My heart beat has never been slow"...this wasn't a personification of myself. I have realised off late that there has to be excitement else I am as good as a dead person.

Moving onto some good things in life...Main Hoon na Audio is surely rocking...After the lovely "Kal ho na ho" magic, the magic trio King Khan-Javed Akhtar-Sonu nigam have come up with a beauty in the title track of Main Hoon na. Anu Mallik has done a wonderful job as always. The song is mesmerising, and not to mention I have been hooked onto it from the past week or so. Its soothing, and easy on the ears. No high pitch, no heavy beats. Infact the entire album has a oldist touch to it. A very recommended listen.

Agar koi problem ho toh...Main hoon na...!!!!

Many Many Happy Returns of the day to the F1 freak

Happy Holi to the rest of the junta!

Something which came on the mail...makes interesting reading...wonder why i dont make such mistakes?

anyways read on

"Genius? Nothing! Sticking to it is the genius! ... I've failed my way to success."

--Thomas Edison

Sit down. Pour yourself a Coke, have a chocolate chip cookie--whatever you like. Then, grab a yellow sticky note and write this down:

MISTAKES ARE GOOD

You may have heard this before, but I bet you still hate the idea of screwing up and embarrassing yourself in front of everybody. This is understandable. We aren't very nice to people who make mistakes. Unless you somehow manage not to do anything ever again, you will mess up,somehow, somewhere. I promise. If you have the right frame of mind, though, that mistake could turn out to be one of the most valuable, most important, most memorable, or most delicious accidents in history. It's happened before--too many times for me to describe without giving you severe eyestrain. There's a great little book on the topic called Mistakes that Worked , by Charlotte Foltz Jones. It's written for kids, but it's the sort of thing that's a fun read even for adults. I've picked my favorite mistakes from history, science, and folklore. Some are familiar. We already know, for instance, that Christopher Columbus meant to sail to Asia, not America. We may never have pondered other mistakes, however. Where would Jack be ifhis mother hadn't tossed his magic beans out the window? Not up the beanstalk getting golden eggs from the giant's goose, that's for
sure.And where would Cinderella be had she not dropped her glass slipper? Cleaning the fireplace, that's where. (By the way, did you know that the original Cinderella story had her wearing a fur shoe? A French writer made a mistake when he wrote the story down in 1697, confusing two homonyms--vair, an Old French word for fur, and verre, which is French for glass. But it was a good mistake, making for much more romantic story, and much better fashion.)
And now for the rest...Coca-Cola, chocolate chip cookies, and yellow sticky notes Did you wonder why I invited you to have a snack at the beginning of this story? It was because both Coca-Cola and chocolate chip cookies were mistakes--or at least unexpected delights. And yellow sticky notes were the result of a failure. Here's what happened.

Innkeeper Ruth Wakefield was baking Butter Drop Do cookies one day in the 1930s using a recipe that dated back to colonial times. She cut up a Nestlé chocolate bar and put the chunks in the batter, expecting them to melt.
Wakefield thought she'd be pulling chocolate-flavored cookies out of the oven. Instead, what she got were butter cookies studded with gooey chocolate chips. Her mistake became one of the most favorite cookies of all time.

Coca-Cola was the result of another delicious accident. In 1886 a pharmacist named John Pemberton cooked up a medicinal syrup in a large brass kettle slung over an open fire, stirring it with an oar. When he was done, he
figured he had created a fine tonic for people who were tired, nervous, or plagued with sore teeth. Coke didn't make it as medicine, and wasn't even an instant success as a beverage. In the first year, Pemberton spent $73.96 promoting his new product but managed to sell only $50 worth. Today people guzzle 1 billion drinks a day from the Coca-Cola company (they make more than Coke), which is quite encouraging for us everyday screw-ups.

Yellow sticky notes, officially known as Post-it Notes, got their start in 1968 when a 3M researcher tried to improve adhesive tape. What he got was a semi sticky adhesive--not exactly what you want out of tape. Even so, he knew he had something cool--he just didn't know what to do with it. Four years later, another 3M scientist was getting frustrated. This scientist was a member of his church choir, and he kept dropping the bookmarks stuck in his hymnal. What he needed was something that would stick without being too sticky--something just like that weak glue his colleague had accidentally created. In 1980 the Post-it Note became an official product and a huge hit.

This brings to mind a powerful quote by scientist Louis Pasteur, "Where observation is concerned, chance favors only the prepared mind," and another, by writer James Joyce, "Mistakes are the portals for discovery." What they mean is that you should look carefully--and study your errors. You may find things you were never looking for, things that could change the world, or at the very least, taste really good.

The ways of people just does not stop suprising me, or do i say jumping off my seat. I called a certain well known university liason office at 2:30 p.m (IST) and asked for a certain person, the converstaion went like this:

Me: Can i talk to Mr. S?
Other Voice: Sorry Ma'am he is not longer employed with us.
Me: Can i talk to someone else.
Other Voice: Ma'am all are off for lunch
Me: When would they be back?
Other Voice: Call after 5 or 5:30, they should be back by then?
[I had to hold the speaker with both my hands, I wasn't prepared for this reply....imagine a lunch break which goes on till 5:30 p.m?]
Me: What? So long?
Other Voice: Yes [bangs the phone]

Well....what do u have to say to this?

Hello People, howdy? If all of u have been wondering if i have joined the bandwagon of bloggers who stopped, nope, not yet. I still have a long way to go before i say Bye to Blogging. Here i am...:)

Have been away at the Capital for a Conference, which was fantastic, more details as i get time....

Meanwhile a Big hello to all of u and Happy 29th Feb 2004, wonder if i would be blogging till 29th Feb 2008...Some food for though eh?

Check this out!

Uncanny physics of comic book superheroes

Its review time on Images of Life....

For all those die-hard foodies at Bangalore, check out this restaurant on Outer Ring Road near Martathalli, its called Malgudi, and the minute you enter into the compound of this restaurant, ur taken into the magical creative land of RK Narayan. Yes like the traditional South Indian house, the portico has a wonderful swing, to which ur attracted like iron to a magnet. The magnificent door leads u to the inner hall which is again a replica of Swami's house. The walls are adorned with caricatures of Swami and his family (Courtesy RK Lakshman), and ofcourse showcasing the tanjavore paintings and the like.

Coming to the most important aspect of the place...the food...its yumm....a good combination of veg and non-veg. you can try a variety of starters. Try the kokom sherbet, made of a special variety of fruit from South Canara, its refreshing, or the Tender coconut concoction with a difference....they are amazing. The main course, has a wide variety of all south Indian palate. The curryleaf rice along with kotu is a good choice, or the neer dosa with spicy prawn curry is a heavenly delight. For a person like me who eats bland food, its quite spicy, but it does tickle the taste buds. The veg thali is quite filling with the various interesting accompaniments.

For those who hate south Indian food they can try "Dhaba" which right atop this south Indian restaurant. The review of this some other time :)

P.S: Spelling mistakes maybe over looked please.

After a long long time, the weekend was a quite a happening one and it started from the weekend eve itself. Watched "The Lord of the Rings - Return of the King" special screening on Friday night...what better way than this to start the weekend. The theatre was booked by one of a vendors, thus a few of us got passes for this special show. Though there was nothing special about it. The MC there was pathetic, who goofed at every step. He called the movie Lord of the King - Return of the Rings, not just this, he didnot even get the name of the vendor right. Me wonders if they paid him any money for his pathetic service. Here's my views of the movie.

The final film of Peter Jackson’s exemplary fantasy saga is an enthralling, near overwhelming experience. For patient followers of the three films, there is almost too much to absorb here in one sitting. For what has been a complete impossible task, Jackson has brought to life these made-belief character and they sure do drive a chill down ur spine. Nothing seems make belief here, you actually tend to belive that these mammoths and all those creatures may exist somewhere in this world. You are caught breathless with the wonderful scenic beauty of New Zealand. The artistic effects of the movie are just out of the world. I did feel sad that here comes an end to the trilogy, no more waiting for what would happen next, ofcourse u would know it most if u have had read the book.
But watching it makes it all the more different.

Coming to the story line:
The Return of the King starts out with the wizard Gandalf as he rides to Minas Tirith, capital of Gondor (with Pippin in hand), to seek it's leader. Meanwhile, Aragorn and King Theoden march triumphantly into battle against the forces of Mordor along with Legolas, Gimli and Merry. The reunited six members of the Fellowship, joined by Eoywn, Eomer and Faramir, face off in a final war against the Dark Lord Sauron's forces.

In the dark depths of the tower of Cirith Ungol, Frodo has been captured by Orcs after the climactic battle against the spider Shelob, leaving Sam with the Ring. Gollum has slinked away, and Sam must brave through Mordor to fulfil his master's duties. But when Frodo escapes, both of the hobbits enter Mordor to finally finish the dreadful deed of having the evil One Ring destroyed.

Gandalf (Ian McKellen) is confident that eventually the good men and women will triumph but he also knows he must buy time for Frodo to toss the Ring into the lava at Mount Doom and destroy its effectiveness, and save humanity The White Wizard really gets into the thick of battle in this one, and does not fail to capture the heart of his fans.


Aragorn finally gets to show off some of his heritage, and Viggo Mortensen acts it marvelously. Also coming into their own are Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan. Merry and Pippin, the hobbits truly get their chance to shine in this film, and show true courage and spirit. And then there's Elijah Wood's Frodo, Sean Astin's Samwise, and Andy Serkis' Smeagol. The enslavement and downfall of Smeagol is wonderfully enacted by Andy in the first few minutes of the film, and just like before, his Gollum is cruel in all the right ways. Elijah wood has done a great job, you sure go through his trails and errors of being able to destroy the ring. The exhaustion is very much natural on his face.

But the hobbit who takes the whole show by storm is Samwise. He goes through the hardship, pain and heart wrenching trails with Frodo. Living through each turbulent moment as Smeagol tries to get him out of his way. He is just awesome.

The magic comes to an end and it is just sheer magic, which you would want to live through again and again.

As i drove back home, i could picture the entire movie again and again. And for quite a large part of the night i was tempted to start reading the book all over again just to relive the moments again. Call me a crazy LOTR fan, well i am :)

We are having Sports Competitions happening at our company, and i a absolutely good for nothing sports(wo)man was pulled in to play Ladies doubles & Mixed doubles Badminton. These were slated for the weekend. God Bless my partners, who were as supportive as they can be. I can hit shots and manage to play, but the basic problem with me is my serivce...and that itself is the life of the game. Thanks to my partners we reached the second round and then lost at the quarters. Not a bad show after all. The after effect of the entire day are swollen arms and muscle ache. This is what happens when u play once in a way. The best team won and it was a treat to watch them playing. It was more like game of Tennis rather than Badminton.

Sunday was when Bryan Adam was to entertain Bangalore. After the whole thought of Do we or Do we not go? We ended up at the place at 6:30 p.m. To be welcomed by a sea of humanity. After initial performances by Assma and Dragonfly (a Boston based rock group), both the groups were booed whole heatedly by the mad crowd gathered to watch Bryan, who ultimately made an entry at 9:20 p.m. with the song "Here I am"...i need not tell u how the crowd reacted, u have to see it to belive it. My first visit to rock show and it shall remain a memorable one.

The weekend just zipped and gave way to another hectic week.

Blog posting have been refrained for Friday, am amazed how I am letting my blog suffer, though there is so much to write...as anyone else in this world, am short of time, or is it the simplest excuse I can come up with?

While I brood over this, a comical fact....Happy weekend fellas.

Gentlemen, I have been riding trains daily for the last two years, and the service on your line seems to be getting worse every day. I am tired of standing in the aisle all the time on a 14-mile trip. I think the transportation system is worse than that enjoyed by people 2,000 years ago.
Yours truly, A Commuter

Dear Sir, We received your letter with reference to the shortcomings of our service and believe you are somewhat confused in your history. The only mode of transportation 2,000 years ago was by foot.
Sincerely, The Railroad

Gentlemen, I am in receipt of your letter, and I think you are the ones who are confused in your history. If you will refer to the Bible, Book of David, 9th Chapter, you will find that Balaam rode to town on his ass. That, gentlemen, is something I have not been able to do on your train in the last two years.
Yours truly, The Commuter

What do u do when u get such mails? Actually try and do it? check ur impulse

UNBELIEVABLE ! BUT TRUE !!!

I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE STUPID BUT WE REALLY CAN'T DO THIS.
Proof that the same side of our brain cannot do 2 different things at
once...

While sitting at your desk make clockwise circles with your right foot. While doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction.

Well I tried doing it, and I don't know if that was how it would be, but I thought the results were as predicted above...strange but true!

Someone asked me today to guide them through the good blogs around. Humm...not an easy question to answer....How do u judge which blog is "good" or bad"..

This I guess is a perennial question, answer to which are many.

Early morning tele-con

Me (as lost as always) : Hello
X : Hi Ayesha, Me X here How are u?
Me : Am doing well, how are u?
(Background process: Trying to figure why this x is sounding so cheerful, maybe becoz i am ready to blast)x: Tell me who is the contact person for Knowledge Management, you know i want to meet them and check how things are working out at your company?
Me (with a strong tinge of sarcasm in my voice) : Why do u want to know about KM? what would it help you with
X: Well, u may not know, i joined Y Company in the KM and Content Management Team
Me (voice takes a 360 degree turn): Ohh...i did not know,
X (sounding apologetic) : Oh is it? (gives me the details)

Well, this is me and my trail and errors with matching names to voices off late, Wasn't this bad, shows that age is catching up with me :(. The voice X who called this morning is very similar to one Z, who coincidently share the same name, and much to my surprise their voices also match....Uparwale, yeh kya chakar hai?

Anyways, this is just an example of me and my lost self...If anyone finds me somewhere, please let me know :(
Meanwhile read this article by JOHN BUCHANAN , till i find myself

I sometimes wonder what mood the Creator was in when he decided to make the various moods of people. the way we manipulate our moods to suit our whims and fancies is something which has been an astonishing fact for me. Forget other people, i sometimes amaze myself with my sudden turns of moods. At one minute i am sulking and the next i am as cheerful as u could think of, the vice-versa is more so prominent. The changing factors could be many, maybe a person, or someone's thoughts or some funny episode or something which was not to happen. I mean, its so very unpredictable.

Unpredictability of the human mind and action is a strange mystery, stranger than the smile of Mona Lisa. Not fretting or cribbing, this un-predictive nature, adds to the spice of life. Imagine a world where we knew whats gonna happen next, whats the fun. And human being, the most spoilt of the entire living beings, are never happy.

P.S: I am amazed at myself for coming up with this good for nothing post....tolerate please ;-)

In case u don't know...check out the quotes on Madhu's blog....gets u in the thinking and smiling (not the same order) mode.

Happiness

Happiness is a state of mind, which does not occur by itself. It is your choice to be happy or unhappy in life, or to be content with the life you have got. It is up to you how you relate yourself with the life's events and determine your joy as well as misery.

How do you feel when someone does good to you or when someone does something that hurts you? Do you start feeling the same for him or do you give it a second thought as to why you were treated so? This attitude toward life is the key to happiness. If your attitude is negative then even a good thing around you, will not bring happiness to you. You need not go anywhere in search of happiness. It is everywhere and right inside you. You can make up your mind to be happy and you will find your life more rewarding. Do not get disturbed with little obstacles and worries that come your way.


This has been submitted by my niece to her school magazine. The last sentence has me reeling from the minute I have read it. This simple line has a very strong effect on me.

RAINDROP

This leaf, so complete in itself,
Is only part of the tree.
And this tree, so complete in itself,
Is only part of the forest.
And the forest runs down from the hill to the sea,
And the sea, so complete in itself,
Rests like a raindrop
In the hand of God.

-- Ruskin Bond

The Final Test

What a match it was...from start to finish. The Aussies would never want to remember this game except as the farewell game of Steve Waugh. Waugh bhai waugh...kya khela aapne.

The final moments were really touching. The entire stadium standing up to give a amazing farewell to this man, who has made such a big mark in the cricketing world.

As for the Indians well done guys. U seem to be getting better with the days. I just hope we have a equally amazing One day competition.

Jeeto India Jeeto!!!!

We are all ships returning home
laden with life's experience,
memories of work, good times and sorrows,
each with his special cargo;
And it is our common lot
to show the marks of the voyage,
here a shattered prow, there a patched rigging,
and every hulk turned black
by the unceasing batter of the restless wave.

May we be thankful for fair weather and smooth seas,
and in times of storm have the courage
and patience that mark every good mariner;
And, overall, may we have the cheering hope of joyful meetings,
as our ship at last drops anchor
in the still water of the eternal harbor.

Max Ehrmann
American Poet

Happy New Year people......herez a interesting message, guess it would have bombarded ur mail box as well...phir bhi...yet another look

H ours of happy times with friends and family
A bundant time for relaxation
P rosperity
P lenty of love when you need it the most
Y outhful excitement at lifes simple pleasures

N ights of restful slumber (you know - dont' worry be happy)
E verything you need
W ishing you love and light

Y ears and years of good health
E njoyment and mirth
A angels to watch over you
R embrances of a happy years!