At the Crossroads

2010-12-18T23:53:00.002+05:30

The last one

Alright people. This space does not interest me anymore and I am quitting, which I perhaps did long time back (quitting) and only notifying now.

Take Care all and have a nice time blogging.

2010-06-07T23:09:00.004+05:30

Make way for Noddy

We all get older and probably wiser by the day. Wisdom is an acquired virtue and gets better with age. Growing old, however depressing it is, makes one wiser and more judicious. I have undergone a transformation of sorts over the years.

Back in school, I was terrorized by the thought of getting on stage. I never gave the vaguest idea that I had stage fright and going by my confident disposition, my teachers would invariably nominate me to various competitions. I once feigned stomach disorder and took flight from the venue. The overcoming of stage fear is still underway and owe a lot of it to the older me.

I was born healthy and by this I mean, heavy. I retained my heavy self for a major part of my life. Every new year resolutions were made only to be forgotten. A year ago, the older Me realized the importance of fitness and here I am. Let good wisdom prevail.

A career shift is also a wise choice. Though I have only shifted gears, I am glad I did it. Good work and nice environment is on everybody's wishlist and I am not dissatisfied.

Certain things that have not changed about me. I still want to visit half the world in the next 4, be able to speak over 10 languages (Indian and foreign), get a master's degree from an Ivy, bring a radical change in India's political system, learn and share..

And yeah, I love Noddy.. Make way for it..

2010-03-17T16:04:00.002+05:30

I am , I exist...

I think, therefore I am. For all those who think i dont... I do.

A year ago, I was so looking forward to a beautiful summer. A year later, I fret at the thought of summer. Chennai is blazing hot and its only March. Summer officially starts mid April and unofficially it never ends. I am home and that is something to cheer about. The fragrance of incense sticks, aroma of spices, sound of pressure cooker whistle, clatter of dishes, excitement of watching live wrestling, dhobiwaala, maid, driver, sambhar, idli, my bedroom, big screen Television, my car... Missed it all..

A new beginning :)

2010-03-16T23:48:00.002+05:30

Obama listening???
Never spend more than you make

The present Healthcare program in America is plagued with serious shortcomings. If 47 million Americans are not insured and many more thinly insured, despite the fact that 16% of the GDP is spent on healthcare, there has to be some very significant and notably visible areas that can be addressed to and corrected.

A very simple explanation for the astronomically expensive American healthcare is that a lot is paid for each unit of care. The objective is to provide effective healthcare both in cost and quality to all. The objective is far from met. US is marred by health issues ranging from infant mortality to cancer to obesity and many more. The best of technologies does not seem to help. Bottomline is, spending a lot is not the solution; spend moderately but effectively.

Public or Private:

Government should have a mechanism to track the uninsured and find a suitable coverage for them. Expand Medicare, Medicaid to cover a wider audience. Educate people the pros and cons of Public and Private health insurance and come up with a transparent method to allow common man to chose his/her coverage. Provide Tax benefits for employer sponsored insurance. Mandating insurance for all will enable the uninsured to get treatment in time which otherwise would delay and make matters worse.

Consumers get wise:

In my opinion, the most significant reason for America's healthcare fiasco is the attitude of the American Consumer. A lot of money is spent on the far too much unnecessary care the American consumer seeks. A whopping amount is spent on the many tests, treatments and hospitalizations that barely does anything to improve the health condition of the patient. Consumers insists on getting more intensive diagnostic testing done and doctors in fear of lawsuit order the same.The increased consumer demand leads to increased utilization and is one of the biggest drivers of rising health care costs.Consumers must be wise enough to understand what difference a test or procedure makes.Awareness programs must be conducted to educate people on the risks and benefits of conducting unnecessary tests. The right physician, right tests and right decisions can save the country billions of dollars.

Adopt an alternate healthcare option. Shift to natural heath care is both cheaper and beneficial. In India, Ayurveda, naturopathy and homeopathy has helped cure many serious ailments.

Americans go binge on eating ,drinking and smoking. Obesity due to insufficient exercise, unhealthy food, alcohol and drugs can cause myriad diseases that requires hospitalization and treatment.The only cure is self-awareness. No health reform can educate an individual to eat healthy and stay fit.

Reform Immature and Expensive Healthcare Supply Chain:

The American health care supply chain is an immature and expensive system. Specifically, stakeholders - manufacturers, distributors, group purchasing organizations and providers such as hospitals, surgical centers and long-term care facilities - lack good and accurate information because they have not implemented universal standards for data. The health care supply chain is starved for accurate and accessible data, which are the primary barriers to efficiency, collaboration and standardization.

Perhaps needless to say, this is an extremely expensive problem. The health care logistics is an area in which costs can be significantly reduced and efficiencies gained to provide better and safer health care delivery at a reasonable cost. Fix the unstructured and loosely defined supply-chain management practices.Lack of data standardization is the main obstacle to a mature or extended supply chain. Data standards increase compatibility, reduce redundancy and improve exchange and efficiency.Lack of data standards is a barrier for organizations to reach an acceptable level of collaboration among health care supply-chain organizations.

Go IT:

The need to create a nationwide network of electronic health records is imperative. Another high spending area, the administration as a lot of paperwork is done by insurance companies. The advancements of Information technology can be tapped to eliminate all the paperwork thereby reducing administrative costs.Use of Electronic billing will reduce manual resubmission of claims and help insurance executives obtain information on claims easily.Access to millions and millions of patient records online will be the biggest step for health-care information technology. ERP tools can be incorporated to streamline the order, shipping, billing and procurement.

Government Listen Up!!

Just as all vehicle owners require auto insurance, a system that mandates health insurance should be created. Affordability must be taken into account and premiums should be adjusted accordingly. Penalize health offenders and provide tax incentives to individuals who are willing to give up on bad habits. Reward doctors and hospitals that provide low-cost high-quality healthcare. Push for the need of a common computerized medical record system.

2009-06-23T11:03:00.002+05:30

Things i would kill for

1. Dark Chocolates. Preferences - 70% Cocoa - Ghirardelli's Intense dark Espresso Escape. I guarantee you will feel divine when a tiny piece of this stuff melts in your mouth. As you chew the roasted espresso beans , you will feel time has come to a stand still.

2. Chicken Briyani. HomeMade and the cook being my Mom. The amazing cook that she is, i would travel 7 oceans and fight a zillion wars to taste her food. I will never be able to guess the special ingredient that goes as part of her cooking that makes the food so incredibly delicious. At 1 in the morning i can only think of it and drool 7 oceans away.

3. A visit to the mighty Egyptian Pyramids. The small booklet that i received with the subscription of the Indian magazine 'India today' triggered my interest in Egypt and its culture. I would love to make a trip to this country before i die.

4. A surprise gift.

5. Early morning caffeine fix. To get the day started , to rush through the many emails and to be able to meet deadlines, i see the danger liquid as my only companion.

6. 120lbs. I will have to kill myself to achieve this target. Sounds like a formidable task ahead. And all those wondering how obsessed i sound about my weight, am only trying to be healthy.

7. To be able to spend a significant part of my life serving the needy. How and when, i do not know.

8. Movies. I love watching movies.

9. To be able to earn a degree that defines me. To learn and do stuff that speaks of me. By the way, I am a Software Engineer by profession.

10. A vacation far away in the woods. Far away from the buzzing of the cell phone, clatter of the keyboard and the deafeaning cachophony of screams of people gone completely insane, and all that i can hear is the pitter-patter of the heart, the gentle whisper and the soothing hushed sound of the summer breeze.

2009-05-29T10:28:00.002+05:30

Go Green !!!

The winter life that i have been living for the past 2 years has finally come to an end, much to my delight. Its bright and sunny until late in the night. Yay its Summer time!! Time to shed some pounds ;)

2009-05-17T06:17:00.005+05:30

The Big Fat Indian Elections

Some win, some lose. What an overwhelming victory for the UPA. However dirty the entire election process in India be, it is no less fun to watch the jokers of the circus enact their performances so impeccably. While the UPA is still basking in the afterglow of success, the battered and badly bruised NDA has come to terms with the fact that they were never good enough to beat the formidable UPA. The mandate clearly in favour of the UPA indicates the changed attitude of the Indian junta. Contemporary India is looking for stability and development. While in power, the UPA government spearheaded by Manmohan singh performed fairly well. Good governance has paid off well for the UPA. The UPA has always espoused an ideology and stood by it. All the credit goes to Manmohan Singh, though His royal highness Mr.Rahul Gandhi and his Mother has grabbed all the attention. Why can he not steer clear of the limelight and prove his humility. Aah!!

Now that we have a clear mandate, i hope the government lives up to the expectations of the people and makes good progress in the future.

2009-03-30T11:13:00.003+05:30

Confessions of a shopaholic!!

I have to report to work in about 7 hours from now and this by all means leaves me with just about 5 hours of sleep. Though i never see myself affected by 'Monday morning blues' syndrome, the idea of getting to work after a great weekend does make me cringe a little. So here begins yet another week. I always vow to make it to work by 8. Its like one of those year end resolutions or promises that we make to break. The many resolution we make at the beginning of the year, only to realize that however much we stretch ourselves, only sheer grit and determination will help us keep it alive. Some bury it and some let it rot mid-way. But i am determined to make it early to work tomorrow and keep mine alive.

Needless to say, it was a great weekend good enough to keep my spirits high and take the oncoming week head-on. Perhaps the only disappointing thing is my bank balance that shrunk tremendously. I was on a shopping spree and splurged cash like never before. If someone is shopping as heavily during bad times as this, it has to be ME. I am transforming in to a shopaholic and this warrants the need for someone to keep a check on me. Volunteers any?

I am tempted to grab this book beside me and flip through couple of pages before i crash. The news of Lahore attacks , the Great Indian pre-poll drama and tentative revival of global economy are good enough to give me nightmares. Hope reading helps. Adios. Buenos Noches!!!

2009-03-20T09:51:00.004+05:30

First Day of Spring!!

Google has a lovely, colorful and intriguing design on it's homepage signifying the beginning of spring. The first day of spring for 2009 is March 20th, a Friday. I love Fridays and who does not and what a wonderful day to mark the beginning of something so amazing. To me it is beginning of a festive season, of tangerine tress and marmalade skies. I want to revel in the fragrance of the greenery and orange blossoms ,enjoy the glorious spring evenings while strolling the Esplanade, watch the twilight glow of the sky by the lake with someone special. I want to indulge in unrestrained merrymaking. :)
The global economic meltdown has left all of us down in the dumps. Nevertheless, i am positive that good times are not too far away. The fire that is feeding the simmering cauldron has to be extinguished. We all have to sweat it out to deal with the situation and get out of it. Sooner or later the demon has to perish and it sure will. In hope of better times, I dedicated this post to my little sister on her birthday and all those adorable people who care to read my articles. It is past midnight and i need to hit the sack so that i make the most of my Friday night :)

2009-03-07T10:29:00.002+05:30

Benefits of Being a Woman

I lifted this piece from the internet. Hilarious!!

We got off the Titanic first.
We can scare male bosses with mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.
We never ejaculate prematurely.
When we buy a vibrator it is glamorous. When men buy a blow up doll it's pathetic.
Our boyfriend's clothes make us look elfin and gorgeous - guys look like complete idiots in ours.
We can be groupies. Male groupies are stalkers.
We've never lusted after a cartoon character or the central figure in a computer game.
Taxis stop for us.
Men die earlier, so we get to cash in on the life insurance.
We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.
Free moving (you get the point).
We can hug our friends without wondering if she thinks we're gay.
We can hug our friends without wondering if WE'RE gay.
We know The Truth about whether size matters.
If we have sex with someone and don't call them the next day, we're not the devil.
Condoms make no significant difference in our enjoyment of sex.
If we're not making enough money we can blame the glass ceiling.
Nothing crucial can be cut off with one clean sweep.
It's possible to live our whole lives without ever taking a group shower.
No fashion faux pas we make could rival The Speedo.
We don't have to fart to amuse ourselves.
If we cheat on our spouse, people assume it's because we're being emotionally neglected.
We never have to wonder if his orgasm was real.
If we forget to shave, no one has to know.
We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her ass.
If we have a zit, we know how to conceal it.
We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are still there.
We don't have to memorize Caddyshack or Fletch to fit in.
We have the ability to dress ourselves.
We can talk to people of the opposite sex without having to picture them naked.
Our friends won't think we're weird if we ask whether there's spinach in our teeth.
We know that there are times when chocolate really can solve all your problems.
Gay waiters don't make us uncomfortable.
We'll never regret piercing our ears.
We can fully assess a person just by looking at their shoes.

2009-02-24T08:17:00.002+05:30

Dumb Slog Millionaire

It is time to celebrate. Slumdog wins oscars. Let us celebrate the mockery of the hapless Indian showcased on the silverscreen with such grandeur. I do not deny the fact that every single aspect of the movie reflects reality, depcits the true face of of a corrupt and poverty stricken country, but making a parody of it is simply deplorable. True but sad, only in a country like India a child is a witness to his/her parent's death in a communal riot, filmstars are equivalent to God and the worth of human life is less than a dime, where education is a luxury only the affluent can afford and woman are treated worse than a rug, where every politician has wealth enough to serve several generations to come and a little child dies of malnutrition in some remote part.

It still is my home. The place i was born and lived all my life. I am proud of all the good things it has taught me that will be a part of me till the end of my life.The scene in the movie where the kid is beaten by a bunch of policemen and the foreigeners come to his rescue, is the worst of all. I see that the Oscar jury loved the movie. It was simply unstoppable, kept winning awards one after the other. Must have won more had it shown crazier stuff. Dumbslog Millionaire is an exaggeration of sorts.

2009-02-11T10:33:00.003+05:30

Relieved I am!!

As I sat racking my brain over an issue at work, little did i know that i would loose track of time and skip lunch. Gone are the days when lunch hour would strictly mean relishing delicacies and exploring cuisines . Now work keeps me busy and post work i prefer staying in my cosy room reading or sleeping. The weather outside seem to have improved since i got here. And that is something to cheer about. I have seen so much winter in the past year, that a glimpse of Sun God gives me immense pleasure. And that reminds me, Suryanamaskar is a form of yoga that can help one be in shape. I did lose some extra flab and it is highly recommended for those who are health concious.

Last weekend i visited one of the best temples in America. It was indeed a very humbling experience. Away from the hustle bustle of the city, in the confines of the temple I felt relieved. I sat there for a good one hour enjoying the silence. A picture of perfect bliss, the whole atmosphere was characterized by a deep-running feeling of calmness and serenity. You realise that there is always something to fall back on in times of distress, someone to trust in every step of life, someone who resides deep inside and guides in the right direction. Yeah, I so am relieved

2009-02-05T09:16:00.002+05:30

Of swollen gums and torn economy

I do not promise to write more, nor do I regret for not having written for so long. I stopped writing for no apparent reason. Now things have fallen back in place and here again i find time to scribble random stuff. Also thanks to the dedicated readers of my blog and to those of you who encouraged me to write more.

I am suffering from a swollen gum. Gaining wisdom i suppose, after having lived a quarter of my life. Wisdom in the form of a swollen gum is a challenge. Trust me, it is the most painful , most annoying feeling ever. Some respite finally, thanks to the clove oil which my dear mom forced into my bag. Isnt she the best, though she was not when the tiny colve oil found its way inside the zipper of my huge bag.

Another very painful aspect of life, getting laid off when you least expect it. oh come on, it is not something you expect at all. I am happy and working but not many are. Sad and crazy times. Ever thought about the myriad mood swings of a psycho patient, the current economy is not behaving any better. The sad demise of happy times. The rise of deamon. If happiness is dead, let us exhume the dead. That is is being very optimistic. Darn! what else can we do during times as this? A bunch of pricks made the wrong decision for which we have to pay with our sweat and blood. I need a round of applause for the amazing line i just delivered. Yeah, like i have said before - hope floats , life moves on..

The best part of my day is to see the early morning sun rise. In hope of better days and a better life for all, here ends my first post after a long hiatus.

2008-09-06T07:30:00.002+05:30

On a cold Friday evening...

The weather is unusually cold today, quite annoying. After having spent 7 cold and snowy months in Minneapolis, i was hoping for some respite here in Uruguay. By God's grace i dint get to see any snow ,but the weather is cold enough to irritate me. May be the last gasps of winter. The best part of the day - when my eye spotted the article on Ibnlive.com. Mr.Obama feels that Pakistan is hatching a plot to wage a war against India. Buddies turning foes? So Pakistan is ammassing weapons to destroy India- Courtesy Obama. Alright, so why dint his predecessors realise this? Is Mr.Obama serious about his comments or it is just another political gimmick? Whatever it be, if anything can avoid the death of innocent woman and children in the Kashmire valley, is welcome. It is painful to watch news stories of death and killing ,hijack and political drama, ever single day. I live in a place where the news of a bomb explosion brings a strange expression on the faces of people. No hatred, no murders, no fight over a piece of land. I can only hope for better times for India

2008-08-26T04:57:00.002+05:30

At the break of dusk

There is a strange pleasure in seeing or doing certain repetitive tasks. Hear the alarm clock ring irrespective of what day it is, dad's early morning wake up call, mom's ceaseless urges to take food in time, hit the send/receive tab to check any missed emails.....

of late, at the break of dusk, i get out of my office to watch the sun go down. The setting of the Sun brings in fond memories of home. Also reminds me to get home and relax. However meaningless or trivial these activities may sound, without them the very essence of life is lost. I wish i get to spend an entire day sitting in a cafe facing the river, watch the sun rise and set, read my favourite book.

2008-08-21T05:04:00.004+05:30

The Bare Necessities of Happy Living

I remember my dad once say, "The authors of books like - 'How to make a marriage work..etc' , are the ones to have faced maximum divorces or a bitter marital life. So this post is not meant to provide tips on happy living. Having spent my entire lifetime tied to my mother's apron string, a year of separation was a definitely a big deal . I run errands, do the daily chores, manage work , keep myself entertained, miss home a great deal and sob, pay my bills, do all the cleaning and washing.. The multitude tasks of looking after home and career, and i seem to manage it pretty well. The best thing about the planet we live in is, it is full of lovely people.
A morning jog on the rivershore, a rich and energetic breakfast , appreciation emails at work, a healthy conversation with a friend, delicious lunch, a comfortable ride backhome, a conversation narrating the day's activities with a dear one, a fulfilling dinner and a good night's sleep. These are the bare necessities of happy living. Start day with a smile on your face. Shed tears for those who value it. Rest assured...

2008-08-18T01:28:00.004+05:30

Of burnt dosas and salty Chutney..

What do i call this, lack of inspiration or just plain laziness? It has taken me 4 long months to come up with a new post. On a sleepy day as this i get this sudden urge to open my blogpage, after god knows how many months and post a total rambly, random stuff. I basically want to let people know of my struggle with dosas and chutney. Why do things go bad when you least expect it ? I would rate myself a decent cook, may be a little above average. So on this fine sunday i wake up at the rumbling of my poor stomach. If i had the slightest concern for my stomach, instead of getting hooked to the computer, i would have done things to silence the cries of it. After several hours of listening to crappy songs and chatting with silly friends, i finally get out of my bed only to find my refrigerator empty. My stomach cries even more. So here i decide to test my culinary skills. I open a pack of instant dosa mix and start stirring it. Here i loose my mind and to some random thought. I get totally oblivious to my surroundings and actions. I bounce back to reality after several minutes of stirring. Then i place a pan and the mix on the pan, hoping to eat some delicious dosas. Ahh!!, I miss you mom!!!

Dosas are supposed to be round in shape. My dosa was nothing less than the shape of South America and hell black. By God's grace, the third dosa was eatable or edible or whatever. So i place a single malformed, colourless, odorless pancake on my plate and decide to make some chutney. I pick 2 rotten tomatoes and clear the rotten part. Everything goes fine until i get lost in my world of thoughts and add several spoons of salt to the dish. Finally i settle for some cornflakes and coffee. Pretty decent for a not so decent cook

Uruguay, a tiny country in South America. I got here on May 1st. I shall post more about Latin America experience in the next couple of days. I wish to see half the continent before i bid adios to this lovely country. I learnt a zillion things, enountered several challenges and confronted them. A trip to Buenos Aires is next on my list.

2008-04-07T02:31:00.004+05:30

Race against time

Time is my biggest enemy and i am finding it real hard to deal with it. Since America is capable of doing anything, i request it to increase the duration of a day from 24 hours to 25 hours.I can use the extra one hour to go out for a walk that will help me shed the extra weight i have gained from excessive cheese consumption. Spending over 12 hours at work and the rest studying, i find no time for anyother activity as i am finding it difficult to squeeze in my tight schedule.Last evening i forced myself out of the house.Behind my apartment there is a small lane that leads to a water body (may be a pond). During summer a variety of birds migrate to Minnesota. It was fun chasing them. I hope i find more time to explore the beauty of my locality.

2008-03-19T06:21:00.003+05:30

Maverick!!!

It is my little sister's birthday today (March 19). I call her at the stroke of midnight to wish her birthday. My family is out partying at a beach resort by the waterside. The birthday girl asks me what i sent her for birthday and is excited at the prospect of receiving a designer watch as a birthday gift. I sit here in my little cubicle at work wondering what it would feel like to be with them at this very moment. I have set out on an exploration spree and in this fit of madness i hope not to miss out on the happiness that brings a smile on my face. I hope not to compromise on the more significant things in life that may not seem important now. After all, heart is where home is and there can be no substitue for mother's love, dad's concern and lovely little sisters. I wish i get to talk to them at leisure sometime. Isnt life really mean at times??

2008-03-17T09:29:00.002+05:30

Paradise lost!!

The harsh winter kept me home all the time in the past months. I felt like a prisoner , confined to home. Its quite sad that i never got an opportunity to explore this beautiful city. While driving down to Saint Paul today, which is not too far away from the place i live, i realised that i am living in one of the most beautiful and elegant city. The place has a certain charm that will not go unnoticed. I chose to make a visit to the different museums and art places over skiing and it indeed was one of my best decisions. After fixing up the gps system , we started off sometime after noon. A 15 mile drive and we reached our destination. The Saint Paul Cathedral church is easily a century old or perhaps more as i noticed wall carvings of the early 1900s. It is a magnificient bulding built on an expansive landscape overlooking the Capitol building. The Cathedral has several doors and we entered stealthly from one of those only to find us infront of a huge gathering of people listening to a sermon. We settled in one corner and waited for the people to disperse. We walked around the Cathedral and took pictures of the amazing interiors. For all those who know of it, the confession box reminded me of the movie Euro Trip.
The City has its own university that offers a variety of courses. It has a sprawling campus spread across thousands of acres that houses several Museums. Apparently, the bell museum is more of a children's museum but it was fun watching the displays and posing with them. Minnesota shelters a range of species, both animals and birds. The museum has one entire section dedicated to the 'harmful effects of Co2'. Evidently, America emits more Co2 than anyother country does and if it continues to do so, it will be responsible for the extinction of several endangered species and global warming. A host of issues can be eliminated if Co2 emission is controlled. Care to listen?

A walk by the Mississipi river reminded me of the beautiful beaches in India. I am yet to visit Guthrie theater, millcity museum and the farmer's market. Hoping to see more of this city in the months to come.

2008-03-12T11:01:00.004+05:30

Summer Beckons!!

As Minneapolis summer beckons, my happiness knows no bounds. I see people get on road and go for a leisure walk, a jog and involve in a variety of other activities that one cannot not imagine doing in winter. The guy at the immigration desk warned me of the crazy temperatures and unbelievable amount of snow i may get to see. His concern seemed genuine. Believe it or not, it has been one crazy winter of a weather with mercury dipping to as low as negative 30 celcius. After having spent most of my life in one of the hottest places on this planet, Minneapolis weather was more of a shocker.

Its time to leave behind the bad winter times and hit the road with a bang. I am craving to walk out on the streets without those bulry winter jackets and hood. From what i have heard, Summer is more fun than one can imagine. It is already beginning to feel warm and nice. This weekend is all about bidding farewell to the ugliest winter of my life with a bit of skiing. Its the fag end of winter , though the weather is doing its usual end of season last gasp. I am a survior, indeed... I am going to miss my winter friends and hope they get here before another winter strikes and i disappear.

2008-02-14T11:13:00.002+05:30

A neat companion

It has been quite a journey for my blogspace. From a not- so-exciting start to a very lousy intermediate phase till today where it has over 10,000 hits, it seemed to have survived the myriad mood swings of its beloved writer. To me my blogpage has been more than just a mere space in the websphere. It seemed to have a life and soul of its own and most of all the patience and perseverance to adapt to the whims of its crazy author. There have been times when i had decided to put an end to it and let its soul rest in peace, but the selfish breed that i belong to made me go against the decision and helped me retain this lovely companion of mine.

In times of distress and sorrow, happiness and joy , in a state of intoxication, or in a sobre mood , this space of mine has been a neat companion all along. From venting my frustration , to narrating a crazy incident i have done it all here. I owe a great deal to the creators of the blogspace and to my frens. At 3 in the morning i look outside the window to see snow paint the city white. The white city in all its splendor makes for one helluva sight. The coffee is cold and i have no energy to re-heat it the nth time. The ticking of the clock reminds me that its time for me to catch some sleep .

A virtual hug to my space and my frens who i miss beyond belief. Happy V day to all.

2008-02-07T06:52:00.000+05:30

Anonymous Feelings

Life throws a barrage of questions seeking answer. These are the questions that cannot have an answer or may be i dont seem to have an answer for them. Its like closing ones eyes to things one does not want to see, but can one close ones heart to things one does not want to feel? Another unanswered question...

2008-01-21T10:54:00.000+05:30

The Three Cs

Coffee, Cola and Computer.. My life over the past few months has been revolving around them. An early morning Coffee has become a necessity to survive the stress, pressure and biting cold. A small visit to a coffee shop during the early hours of the day is such a bliss. I get to see impeccably dressed ladies chirping in their local accent, people rushing to meeting rooms, some trying to beat the hangover acquired from previous night's binge drinking...

Most days i dont carry food. Either am too lazy or too tired to cook and pack stuff up. So i end up in one of those crazy restaurants that pride themselves on serving the most fattening food ever. No wonder obesity is a national concern here. Here is when i sip cold cola while savouring the fattening food.

Call it occupational hazard or habitual hazard, but Computers have become an integral part of my life. For one, my professions demands it and second, it has so much to offer that i simply cannot ignore it. I will have to explore ways and options to fill my life with more of As, Bs, Ds......Zs.

Yeah, on a highway named life, i feel like roadkill..

2008-01-05T07:47:00.000+05:30

The Story So Far

Another year has come and gone by. Reminds me that what is born has to die someday. It is amazing how fast time flies by and human species, however strong, has no control over it. It was a very significant year for me in all aspects. For reasons both good and bad i will cherish the year 2007. It was a year of happiness and sorrow, of tears shed over a silly candy war, of big ambitions, of hopes, of homesickness, of love and hatred... Ah!! the vicissitudes of life.. This year taught me that life has a plethora of remarkable things in store for every individual, none served on a silver platter though. It takes every ounce of energy to seize it from the cluthes of life. It is total bliss if you win and if you loose just 'try again'.. Life moves on.. hope still floats.. Every new morning is an opportunity to do something remarkably different, to stand out in the crowd, to make a dozen faces smile, to love , to miss home and sob in the restroom.. I want to reach out to life and grab every single thing that belongs to me.. 2008 is not gonna be so bad after all... i am gonna get all i want..

Another year will pass by at the flicker of the eye. Hope it brings loads of joy and happiness to all.

2007-12-16T02:48:00.000+05:30

A revelation of sorts

In a moment of revelation, i realised that life can be both simple and complex at the same time. Minutes ago i was comfortably seated in my couch chewing chocolates and now am here blogging and simulatneously scribbling on the pink and yellow post its the tasks for today and tomorrow. I was admirably looking at the snow piled outside my house and stuffing my mouth with some delectable mouth-savoring chocolates and was lost in a world of my own. My world is a much better place to be in. Free of diseases, hatred, poverty and crimes. Everybody looks happy and self-sufficient. No crazy boss, no deprivation, no discrimination. I am the king , I am the administration . Lost in my thoughts,when realisation struck me and i sprang out of my couch to do the everyday chores. Though am done with the dishes, i still have a bit of cooking to do followed by some cleaning and studying.
My last post was recieved well. Lot of Boss-haters eh. A small piece of advise to all the stupid bosses - Do some good ,after all. You are paid for it.

2007-12-05T07:34:00.000+05:30

Insatiable IT

I was reading an article and something that seemed funny to the author and not so funny to me struck me. It read " Always be sincere, whether or not you mean it".

'By the way I am not crazy, i am going sane in a crazy world'. Pretty much that.

Unfortunately Indian IT companies lack what is so strongly advocated here(US of A)- the importance of interpersonal dynamics. Also, i have not come across anybody who has the potential to spearhead a disparate team from the front and be successful. A dissatisfied employee can never add value to an organisation, however good he/she is. I see several dissatisfied employees crib about work, grumpy selfish bosses.... I have also met and talked to people who pretty much do the same work as we and seem happy. They adore their bosses and worship their work. The difference in the attitude of the employees can be attributed to a million different reasons, the most important being demanding supervisors.I have heard of the significance of effective leadership in the corporate world, haven't seen any though.Not more on how to be an effective manager(for i know very little myself), but from an employee perspective i can put forward my views on leadership and stuff. I have worked in 2 different teams, seen people move in and out of the team.Some were good at organisational issues while others at technical stuff.Its like a jigsaw puzzle, where the success lies in putting pieces of different size and shape together.Its about accomodating different people in a team, understand their needs and requirements, create a personal bond and get all the work done.I know its easier said than done. But nothing is unachievable.

I have heard about initiatives undertaken by organisations which addresses issues related to employee dissatisfaction. Most of it is just on paper and nothing materializes. Here in America employee satisfaction is of prime importance. The head of the organisation is more than happy and willing to meet his subordinates and share his experiences. Indian Corporate world is a murky place and it has a long way to go before it can claim to be successful.A revamping of the system is essential.Deal with the situation, fire bad leaders, plan for initiatives.. Employee dissaticfaction and Organisational success do not go hand in hand..

This post is dedicated to a friend of mine who became a martyr for the IT cause. Gave up his very precious life for nothing. I am saddened by the fact that his supervisor cannot be held responsible for his death.

No am not crazy, I am just living in a crazy world,..

2007-11-30T06:03:00.001+05:30

Care to listen??

This post is a grievance report. Does America have something like, Grievance Redressal Mechanism. They certainly do, but not for the kind of problems i have. This place has the best of restaurants (visually appealing) that serve over-priced and insipid food. The food is not just bland and tasteless but also fattening and time-consuming (munch munch..aah, am tired munching!!). Besides, i dont seem to understand how one variety of sandwich differs from the other - Mozzarella and BBQ, all taste the same - sad and bland . Also they serve all kinda meat and chicken is not meat . And chicken burger contains bacon, bacon sauce and eveyrthing thats bacon and very little Chicken. Drives me crazy!! All i want is a chicken sandwhich that has chicken, cheese and bread. Mom is gonna freak out if she ever reads this. I crave for idlees and dosas and sambhar and chettinad chicken and gulab jamun and filter coffee and.. I absolutely envy the married men here. They all have their wives to cook them home food. I am plannin to have lunch at an Indian restauarant tomorrow. I dont wanna have big hopes, its in America after all :(

I feel so unconnected. No newspapers, no magazines, no tv. High time i subscribe to the local newspaper. Despite all this, i love the fact that i am on my own. I am living life the way i want to.

2007-11-21T12:47:00.000+05:30

Am i evil?

Facebook says :
You're pretty much evil. You do whatever you can to take revenge on the world, and do whatever ISN'T right. But on the bright side, every now and then you feel guilty and donate some money to the Red Cross.

Indian IT industry is crumbling as Rupee is appreciating. It got me a little worried today. The IT phenomena gave the Indian economy what it needed the most. With IT not doing so well, and about a million IT engineers graduating every year with dreams of making a foray in the most sought after industry to develop softwares and make big bucks, my concern is ,who will accomodate them all. Do we have to start looking for a job in the manufacturing or anyother sector already? Making big is definitely an achievement, but sustenance is the key to success. Crazy thoughts hit me when i least expect them.

Last weekend was fun. I have always loved travelling and exploring new places. Did not have the opportunity though. Now that i have both , opportunity and money. i plan to make most of it. RiverWalk is one of most beautiful places to visit. A spectacular sight. I was speechless.The beauty of the place was elevated by lighting, some awesome mellifluos music played by the local band and the ferry ride. I got to see the entire city as we were lost on our way back home ;)

And yeah, the view of the sky is exactly the same as it was back in India. Quite an observation huh!! So why all the discrimination, hatred, war..?? I dont have an answer...

I am not so evil after all ;)

2007-11-03T23:51:00.000+05:30

Of Days and Hours

My legs felt numb,fragile. It was a short walk though. It struck me,winter is round the corner. I am sure its going to be a crazy winter of weather. My stay has been decent so far. Recieved my first paycheck, am i excited?? mighty excited :)
Well, if am not cleaning ,cooking or washing, I am hooked to the phone catching up with frens and family. Also I am doing lotta reading. I have made some awesome friends who , unlike what i thought of them, are simply brilliant. I have had the best of conversations about a whole lot of things with them. Though I love solitude, how long can one keep shut in the company of smart people huh? I visited Chicago last weekend.Was good fun. I am gonna carry home loads of fond memories. My recent addiction is Coffee, i cannot do without three cups of hot caffein fix a day.

Its indeed a great nation that controls not just countries but also nature. They go against nature and change time according to their convenience :) One of my friend nicely put it, 'they want to change everything but themselves'
Need of the hour is we work toward 'making the world a better place to live', which i think is a long forgotton concept. So lets just live and let live..;)

Have a wonderful weekend

2007-10-23T11:05:00.000+05:30

Unsettling effects

Settled? A million people have asked me this question since i got here. For all those intertested to know what state i am in, here is what i got to say. My days are cold and busy and nights are nightmarish and busy again. My roomie would better fit the job of a support project lead. She comes up with am impeccably framed schedule at the beginning of every week. Task assigned to me for the week - cooking, cleaning, emptying trash, vaccuming, washing. Unassigned tasks- making my bed, washing my clothes, and everything else :(

Alright,so i am finally settled..

I recently attended a GSB meet and it was an overwhelming experience. I absolutely love the work atmosphere here for i get to learn stuff that i had always wanted to learn.

Looking forward to a great weekend..

P.S - The walls echo when i cough, cos the rooms are bare, completely bare :(

2007-10-16T07:17:00.000+05:30

Week #2

About a week back i was contemplating giving up blogging for reasons very personal, but decided against it and here i am with another post.

Its been so good so far. Tolerating the intolerable, bearing the unbearable and putting up with stuff i wont put up with even in the most terrible situations, i have lived 2 weeks of my life in another country. It is undeniably the most beautiful place i have seen so far (shows how less i have travelled). The 30 hour travel was the worst i have ever had. Sitting in crammed spaces sipping diet coke and watching some meaningless cinema, life cant get worse? :( Out here you need pennies to make a call and by god's disgrace i had none. Was hoping for someone to show up and pick me. Being stranded on the road was the last thing i would have asked for. Fortunately i had someone waiting to pick me up, thank god. Thanks to my lovely fren who visited me and helped me cope with my homesickness..

This place houses 16,000 lakes.. i got to see one last week. Hired a cab and went around the place.. Then to Mall of America.. I was overwhelmed to see such a mix of people. Work is fun too. It is beginning to get cold and i am all ready to confront it :)

Missing home big time :(

ciao

2007-09-29T09:18:00.000+05:30

Westward Bound

I am confused beyond reasoning..Another of my crazy decisions. Lets see if i get what i want, away from home and parents and best of friends...

:-

2007-09-23T16:06:00.000+05:30

Cricket Sensation

It was a humdinger of a match. India beat the mighty Australians.

I was pretty much hooked to the television set all through the week, though i missed out on some of the matches due to busy work schedule and useless phone calls. Yeah, the 20-20 series is so much fun to watch. For one, India is doing extremely well and limited overs augments the thrill and excitement. The last match against the formidable Aussies was the best in the series. The Indian team - Fresh & honest ;-), was playing to win. The whomping sixes, brilliant bowling, supercharged atmosphere and awesome body language of the Indian team made watching cricket more fun than ever. India is all ready to set the stage ablaze. Pakistan beware, even your God will not come to your rescue.
Mr.Sharad Pawar must resign on political and moral grounds for not having acquired rights for the live telecast of the matches on Doordarshan :p

Have fun all

2007-09-15T21:30:00.000+05:30

Rendezvous with an American

Roughly a year back i met this american. Together we went to places both unfamiliar and new. He was on an official tour to India and i was fascinated by the idea of meeting someone from another country. This was when President Bush's poularity had nose-dived and 60 percent of americans' had voted against the Iraq war. Comfortably seated in a cosy air-conditioned car we set out to visit the temples at Kancheepuram. It was not long before he started donating his views on India. I was in the least bit interested to make him understand how India had bettered over the years. But i was forced to break my silence :p. I talked continuously for the next fifteen minutes. Just when i finished, i heard a knock at the window. A woman is rags , carrying a two-year-old, also in rags, stood before me with outstretched hand. Iwas flushed with embarrassment.My intention was not to make him bite the dust, but to stop him from making any further comments. He was advised by his american friends not to step out of his hotel room or eat anything outside.

We reached Kancheepuram. Before we stepped out of the car i informed him that temples are considered sacred in India. He smiled and said " You asking me to behave myself". Later we had food at a local restraunt and he dint seem worried about catching a disease :). We talked about work, life, family, marriage, discussed about our culture and the Iraq war. He called himself a pacifist and was not in favour of the Iraq war. Back then, I was of the opinion that it was only right to wage a war against the jehadist who wanted to conquer the world. India is a major victim of this Jihad war and it seemed right to me. we had a nice arguement. I was impressed by his knowledge of India and its culture. He changed my opinion of Americans. He was filled with humility and was a proud american, though he despised certain aspects of American culture. Unlike those arrogant americans who would blow their kissers off in public and make big claims which would make an individual from another country die in shame, he was a humble soul.

We spent the rest of the day shopping. He picked a marble carving of Indian Gods and promised me that he would maintain its sanctity. I was damn impressed. We met again the next day for lunch and he offered me rosogulla. I recalled having told him about the kolkatta delicacy the previous day. When I asked him about his next visit to India, he replied 'Never'. He left India that night.We exchanged couple of mails after that. I am looking forward to meeting him again. He has promised that he would return the hospitality i had shown when he was in my country..

And yeah, my fever has disappeared and my throat is clear. I am eagerly waiting to meet friends whom i have not seen in years. Time to unleash pent-up emotions.

2007-09-10T13:17:00.000+05:30

UNWELL

I am running temperature :( The mercury level hit as high as 101.. I blacked out on one occasion :((
Feels like a thousand daggers thrust in my throat.. :( Someone asked me to do away with whatever is aling me..How i wish i could.

tata

2007-08-30T22:57:00.000+05:30

The Dhamaal Trip

We dubbed the Ooty trip as the dhamaal trip for more reasons than one. I was obssessed by the word 'Dhamaal'. It had become a part of my language so much that i used it in every other sentence . 'I woke up at dhamaal 6', ' i finished the meal in dhamaal 10 mins' - he he :) And it proved to be contagious :) . And we had a real blast. Started on saturday evening, reached ooty next day afternoon. Hired a cab to go around the place. I was enamored by the beauty of the place. The fairy- tale landscape, captivating locales and brilliant weather captured my heart. We photographed everything that looked nice to our eyes. The journey uphill was most exciting. The aroma of eucalyptus oil, cardamom tea and smoke filled the air. Fortunately it did not rain the day we set out to explore the place. Though we visited the usual hangouts - Dodabetta peak - scary sight( suicide point) , botanical garden , boating and stuff, the best was the visit to the local coffee shop. Ooty does not offer any special cuisine, but yes, the local flavour of tea is incomparable. We stopped at a tea shop only to taste some brilliantly made masala tea. Ooty is also famous for its flora (fauna ??) . One can see a plethora of brightly colored flowers all over.

We retired in our rooms after a long day of travel, fun and frolic :) But the day did not end there. We gathered in one room and talked away to glory till wee hours of morning. The card game was too much fun. We crashed finally only to wake up in 2 hours time. We set out to pay a visit to the local waterfall- the pykaara falls. It was a splendid sight; Emerging out of a valley and spreading its magnificence far and wide. The 'shooting spot' is another place worth mentioning.

We bought some local tea and homemade chocolates. Reached coimbatore and attended a colleague's wedding ( the main purpose of the visit ;)) I recieved some flak from the oldies for being so informally clothed for a wedding ;) We left the place that night and carried home loads of memories.

for more, check out the pictures.. Ignore the people anf enjoy the beauty of the place ;)

Out here

2007-08-24T12:29:00.000+05:30

Trip to DisneyLand

Rupee is at an all time (?) high. So am i. High class education at a cheaper price..If one plan to do their higher studies, what better place than US. Now with the rupee strengthning, foreign education may not be a far-fethched idea. May not be a great news for those expecting to make a fortune in US and for the IT companies in India. Last heard rupee hit 40.83.

So a trip to disneyland will not be a dream anymore.
Have fun :)

2007-08-22T21:22:00.000+05:30

Tea Indulgence

I must admit, am a Tea/Coffee fiend. I enjoy Tea more than Coffee for the variety it offers. I am everybody's favourite at home, one reason being that i can make some awesome tea. Gone are the days when the entire family would gather for a cup of tea. I have had the most awesome conversations with parents and sisters over a cup of evening tea. And yes, caffeine makes me high ;) As i stood in the balcony sipping warm herbal tea, random thoughts hit me and for a while i felt lost. So lost was i, that the cold breeze and the light drizzle could hardly do a thing to bring me back to the present. Such is the effect of a brilliantly made Tea.

One of the reasons why am excited about the Ooty trip is i can place my hand on loads of tea, infact i plan to buy up the whole place. Also collect seeds for the nursery i plan to set up. Now am off for another cup of green tea :)

2007-08-18T23:05:00.000+05:30

Of Times and Days

I am in love with this song "lag jaa gale' from 'Woh Kaun Thi' . The most bewitching and sensuous music, it evokes certain emotions and moods and takes me to another world. Aah!!;-)

Conversations and coffee, a great combination indeed. Well, in the middle of one such conversation, a fren asked me why i blog. Is it because i want to display my writing prowess (a sly smile on his face) or because i consider it a medium to opinion my views which otherwise is not valued :-(.. He was taking his usual digs at me and i decided not to fall prey to his questions. He has riled me up on several occasions and this was just another of his stupid attempts to annoy me. I looked at him and said, i blog to get famous and that i plan to quit job and take up writing as a career. Well, fact is i blog for the joy of it. I type stuff here for people to read not to display my writing or creativity skills. And i love it when people leave constructive comments , unlike those that ask me if am single or not..

Sixty years of Indian Independence. Such occasions give media enough news and all channels vie to capture the spotlight. The Hindu had an entire supplement dedicated to it. I liked all the articles , for once they were unbiased and touched reality. The editorial in 'The Hindu' is so biased and opinionated that i have stopped reading it once for all. So where do i get all the news from, ... no derth of news channels and websites offering updated news :)

India has a long way to go before it can call itself a developed nation. First, bridge the gap between poor and rich. The economy would undoubtedly do well , but for a nation to be developed, its imperative that people belonging to all section of society do well. I got this brilliant picture from India today, it speaks volumes about the existing situation

And news is that Left has decided to withdraw support from the congress govt. And without the Left suport the govt will be reduced to minority , a no confidence motion will bring down the govt, eventually.. And the worst hit will be the stock market.. :( Media will be thrilled by this news, loads to cover ;)

2007-08-12T21:26:00.000+05:30

A Thanksgiving of Sorts

Mom, for being the best mom ever. For imparting the right values in me. The wrong ones - I acquired them :)

Dad for bringing me to terms with the fact that reality bites, for all the luxury and comfort, for making me the person that i am.

Sisters, for adding vibrance to my life. Without them life would be meaningless and insipid.

Best friend, who has stood by me in times of good and bad.

Someone who is more than a friend, for making me realise that I am precious.

Friends, who have guided me all along. Made me feel that certain bond goes beyond blood relationship.

My archenemy, for keeping me on toes. I benchmark myself against her.

Teachers and Profs who helped me clear my exams.. Those dreadful days

And all those who have made a difference to my living.

My country and the most wonderful place on earth, Chennai state

God, for giving me an overdose of everything.

and the ticking of the clock, for reminding me that its late and i need to hit the sack.

Have i won an oscar?? ;-) perhaps more than that

ciao

2007-08-09T23:08:00.000+05:30

Money spinning machine

This article is dedicated to the evergreen star RajiniKanth. I saw Shivaji last MONDAY, yes on a weekday. I walked into a packed theatre. The movie is in its 5th week and still running houseful. I had to wait 5 long weeks before i could watch the spectacle unfold and that too on a Monday evening :( This is not a movie review, so i will abstain from commenting. But for those who havnt seen the movie yet, its a decent flick. Watch it once for all the hype and hoopla!! Does anybody know how much money this movie is likely to make?? I am sure truckloads. Rajinikanth is like a demi god to his fans and has a searing screen presence that nobody ever can match.

For those who wanna make quick money, i suggest he/she approach this man and coax him into acting his/her movie. Does anybody know why is he revered so much?? He is packed with virtues - Humility, humbleness, simplicity and yeah, he is mighty talented and agile. I absolutely adore him. I am in awe..

2007-08-06T00:33:00.000+05:30

ART ATTACK - SUNDAY SPECIAL

I was at my creative best today :) The outcome was an awesome, visually stunning materpiece :p.. I must thank my sister and cousin for their help. Our concerted efforts paid up as we successfully crafted a masterpiece. Check out for urself ;) he he

2007-08-04T00:18:00.000+05:30

Significantly Insignificant

Another very insignificant week has come to an end and i am glad it has ended. Nothing noteworthy or remarkable has happened for me to mention here. I am a tad uninspired, yes i am. I hate to come in on a low note but, there isnt much i can do about it. I dono what to attribute this feeling of lowness to. There is this certain pressure to do well, be it anything - something as trivial as typing this little piece of article , or anything as significant as life and career. I must take things light and go with the flow.

My phone has become an integral part of my life. It never fails to remind me of my day to day activities and also helps me keep in touch wid all my frens. Right from waking me up to managing my schedule, it does it all. Great fren indeed :) This reminds me of how careless i had been with my phones in the past. This again reminds me of how i have lost several contacts and never quite bothered to collect the lost numbers. Someone, i spent hours talking to means nothing to me today. Life and its endless lessons :)

I am hoping for a more interesting week ahead. And i got something worth mentioning- a Ooty trip is in the offing :) I am looking forward to it..

Have a nice weekend !!!!

2007-07-28T23:10:00.000+05:30

The Big Bang Start

I finally mustered courage to take my car out. It was a smooth ride all along. After an hour long drive in the wilderness of my locality i decided to head home.. And yes, i reached home safe and sound.. It was while maneuvering the car in the narrow space of my parking area, that i crashed into one of the pillars :(( This is what i call - a Big bang start..To add to this, i had neighbours get home and complain to dad about how reckless i had been.. Thanks all :(

Such is my state that am taking solace in music. And a long conversation with this friend of mine helped too much.I must say, talking helps and especially when its someone who understands you. I need it, yes i do- Peace of mind ;)

2007-07-25T17:04:00.001+05:30

A morbid tale

It seemed to me like another world. I never wanted to visit the place. For one, i was scared. But it turned out to be a seriously transforming experience, left a lasting impression on me. A little gal sitting on one of the beds caught my attention. She had a certain presence that i could not ignore. I walked straight to her. She was pretending to read a comic book while from the corner of her pretty eyes peeked at the dark red roses and chocolates i was carrying. I sat next to her and offered her a rose which she refused to accept. I tried to strike up a conversation with her. She refused to answer and kept looking at the chocolates. I gave up on the idea of having a conversation with her. I left a bar of chocolate next to her pillow and started to leave.Just then she spoke up, i heard her say "Thank you". I turned back and smiled at her and talked to her for sometime. She was indeed a bright child and some of her answers were so brilliant that i wondered if was talkin to a 12 yr old.I had to leave,i had distribute roses to the other children too. Quickly i asked her what she wanted from life. "Life" she answered.The little child was suffering from Cancer.I cursed myself for having asked her such a silly question.Ileft the place immediately.I did not have the courage to look at her charming face and twinkling eyes again. I left never to retun.

Death is an inevitable aspect of life and cannot be avoided or altered.For a diseased person its life that gets more ardous and painful.As someone right put it- Life is short, live it to the fullest extent.In this fast paced world nobody has time for the other .Everybody is busy sorting out their own problems.In the end all that matters is how we have lived and what we have done.So - Live and let live :)

2007-07-23T22:18:00.000+05:30

Tagged..

On demand ;) Bk jus for u..

1. Pick out a scar you have, and explain how you got it?
one on my left arm, the other on my right knee.. Right knee scar - a cycle crashed into me when i was a little kid.

2. What does your phone look like?
Nokia N80. Dad's gift to his wonderful daughter.. After having lost 4 fones in 4 years, i dont deserve it at all..WHo says i dont.. dad thinks i do. its huge and loaded ;)

3. What is on the walls of your bedroom?
A beautiful painting, a mirror, airconditioner.

4. What is your current desktop picture?
Of the lost me ;)

5. Do you believe in gay marriage?

i dont care much..

6. What do you want more than anything right now?
I wanna become the greatest living legend. A phenomenon

7. What time were you born?
3:35(AM, PM- not sure) , Thursday

8. Are your parents still together?
Yes

9. Last person who made you cry?
This little boy, whose name i dont remmeber, who made me feel that am fortunate enuf to have a wonderful life and family. He is deprived of both :(

10. What is your favorite perfume/cologne?
Estee Lauder, Tommy girl.. too many to list..

11. What kind of hair/eye color do you like in the opposite sex?
I dont think it matters at all..

12. What are you listening to?
My heart beat.

13. Do you get scared of the dark?
No.. Am sure BK will have lots to say on this.. The foggggg

14. Do you like pain killers?
Pain hurts more than the pain killers.. so i guess i like them :)

15. Are you too shy to ask someone out?
My ego will not permit me to ask anybody out.. But i think a sensible intelligent person can be fun to be with :)

16. If you could eat anything right now, what would it be?
Nothing

17. Who was the last person you made mad?
Mom..

18. Is anyone in love with you?
Yes..

Viday takeover ;)

2007-07-16T00:40:00.000+05:30

The Great Indian COnundrum
The war for land is as old as history. Winston Churchill had rightly put it- "War is mainly a catalogue of blunders", it certainly is. India, according to my not-so-Indian frens, is a hostile nation where bomb blasts and communal voilence is the order of the day and human life is little valued. A very distressing thing to hear indeed. In my
opinion, 50 percent of India's problem is caused by its very own neighbours, with Pakistan topping the list and the rest is due to its own internal conflicts and problems. Apparently, two of Inidia's insatiable neighbours, - Pakistan and China, want a share of the land that by all means belongs to India.Let me put across a few incidents that has happened in the past
couple of days.

The Glasgow blasts (London) was planned and executed by an Indian, Kafeel Ahmad. A raid conducted by the investigative agencies at Kafeel's Banglore home, have brought to light some startling news. He had saved loads of data related to bomb-making and Jihadist material on his computer hard-disk.The media is flashing reports of how disgraceful it is for an Indian ot be involved in such an act. Why on earth do we have to take the blame?? Unlike soldiers who die for their country, Kafeel was fighting for a cause, for Islam. He espoused an ideology that never was and will be in favour of Indian people. How can someone as educated and smart as Kafeel Ahmad be influenced by Islamic radicals? There are sevral such innocent men and women who are dragged into doing terrible acts in the name of Jihad. Is India spreading the message of
Jihad?? Most definitely No.

Pakistan, as is apparent from the recent events, is the breeding ground of hardcore terrorists.
The Lal Masjid incident indicates that there are several groups inside Pakistan involved in grooming terrorists who can readily blow themselves up. Next comes China. The threats from China is tremendous. They are very organised people and their economy is doing amazingly well and their military might cannot be challenged as well. With practically everything in favour
of this nation, there isnt much India can do if put in a confrontational situation. Can we ever forgive Nehru for his blunders?? Srilanka and Bangladesh are busy sorting out their internal problems.Pakistan and Pervez,both are doomed. India must find ways to deal with China. I am doing a lot of reading lately, all about great men and their blunders. Idi Amin, Fidel castro, Nehru.. Though Nehru does not belong to the league of Fidel castro and his ilk, i would still mention his name, cos i did read stuff about him.

India needs a reformist, who can enforce stringent laws; Laws for population control, law and order, education, healthcare. Indians dont have a choice, they just need to wait until am eligible to rule ;)

2007-07-14T01:46:00.000+05:30

Get gorgeous gets dirty

'Get gorgeous' , everybody wants to.. So let me not beat round the bush and get to the point. "Get gorgeous' - It is a TV show, much like our Indian Idol ,VIVA..., telecasted on V-channel. So what about it?? Its basically a hunt for Super Model.

About a dozen ladies have gotten there to realise their dream of becoming a model.The gals are good and some are drop-dead gorgeous. Though, when asked to introduce themselves, most spouted meaningless stuff.;) Initially to me, it seemed like an interesting thing to spend 30 mins on. It turned out to be a not-so-interesting stuff to watch. The gals are asked to dress in the skimpiest of clothes and the entire process is excruciating. I am sure most of us are aware of Abu-Gharib prison. The gals are more or less treated like prisoners and the Judges dont let go off any opportunity to humiliate and discourage the poor souls. There was this round where the girls were clad in bikinis and 2 muscled men were asked to get dirty with them. I am sure the frustation level of the girl's must have reached an all time high. Infact some said it on camera that they would be glad if they are eliminated. And the eliminated candidates seemed more than happy to pack their bags and leave.

I am sure the weak-hearted contestants, after having been a part of this show, would have given up the idea of becoming a model. Television channels try several antics to garner TRPs. Hardly do they realise the after-effects of such shows.

At 3 in the morning, here iam spreading awareness :)

2007-07-10T21:33:00.000+05:30

Random Rambling

Its been so good, so far. Taj Mahal, the ravishing monument, a token of love or whatever, managed to retain its place among the 7 wonders. It has a certain appeal and uniqueness, i fell for at first sight. Its an awesome piece of work. Its maginificence and grandeur speaks at length the amount of work thats gone in building this ultimate piece of art. Its a culmination of passion, patience and years of hardwork. I am more than happy that it has found its place where it is suppose to be.

And our very own Chennai is becoming global with over a dozen restaurants at Nungambakkam and many other places offering continental cuisines. Continental Cuisine for the Chennai Palate :)I enjoy continental food as much i savour the Chettinad and Indian food. Chennai has it all..

July is turning out to be good for several reasons. Evrything is at fine at home and work, unlike the tumultuous months. I am doing things that i have always wanted to. The next on list is a pending vacation to some place with serene skies and a bright blue sea.

And this post is a dedication to the one who has always been a constant support and source of inspiration to me.

2007-06-30T22:50:00.000+05:30

Defending the Indefensible

The Congress party of India is busy doing just this- defending the indefensible.

The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India and the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces ,Wow!!. Given the opportunity to become the President of India, who would wanna let go of it. Though the past Presidents have hardly done anything noticeable, atleast they got their names registered in history books.

The recent Presidential elections has brought to light the sad aspect of Indian politics. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's administrtation is replete with the largest gathering of narcissists and sycophants. Its quite obvious that it is solely Mrs.Gandhi's decision to project Mrs.Prathiba Patil as the UPA candiadte. To an onlooker Mrs.Gandhi and Mrs.Patil would appear as best buddies ever (they were seen walking hand-in-hand) . Well, Mrs.Gandhi's intentions are clear to me as much it is to the nation. After having successfully appointed a puppet Prime Minister, wouldnt she want a President of her choice. Wonderful way to display her authority and power.

An insight into the prospective Prez's life

The data furnished here are taken from the Internet and newspapers.

Apparently, Mrs.Prathiba Patil is very much a part of the corrupt bandwagon of Indian politicians. Her brother is a murder accused and her husband is said to have pushed an employee to suicide. What a family!!! And Mrs.Patil , as heard last, is accused of having amassed several crores by duping hapless investors. And yes, her statements are already making news . She hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community by commenting on the Purdah System(secular!!) . The next was astoundingly hilarious- apparently, a long dead baba reappeared to tip her off on her impending political career. The insensible Left has also agreed to support Mrs.Patil's candidature.

I appreciate Mrs.Gandhi's efforts in identifying such an able contender, and thankful to her for not projecting an Italian mafia guy for the Prez's post. She completely lacks the sense of belonging to this nation. The least she can do is dump Mrs.Patil and look for a more suitable candidate. For it wont take long before the indefensible Mrs.Patil can be ousted by means of impeachment.

2007-06-20T16:15:00.000+05:30

Chennai Rains!!!

Summer rain, such a relief. The sound of the raindrops, the rustle of the leaves , the chill breeze whistling an incomprehensible melody in my ears, the scent of thirsty earth drinking the monsoon season's first rain, hot caffein fix and an interesting book - i feel rewarded, for the wait seem to have paid :) The monsoon showers have put an end to the scorching summer. Though rain is fun, too much of it can cause havoc to the city. Stagnant water - a breeding place for mosquitoes, slippery roads, traffic jam.. Whatever it be, Rains in Chennai is a rarity, so it's kind of a thrill to get even the hint of one. I am loving it :)

2007-06-17T13:25:00.001+05:30

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Splendid as it is, the latest by Khaled Hosseni is a treat to book lovers.

I loved it as much i loved his first book. Its set against the backdrop of the political situation in Afghanistan - Soviet invasion, resurgence of Jihad, Taliban rule. Its a heart-wrenching tale of the hardships two young Afghan woman,Mariam and Laila, had to endure and how they battle it out. I felt a sense of sadness grip me on certain occasions. Its brings to you the stark reality of the plight of Afghan woman. An encounter with reality can be a dreadful. Its a great book ,nevertheless.

Its on the stands, go grab it :)

2007-06-12T23:49:00.000+05:30

What Men Think!!!

It's Wedding Season. Lot of my friends are enterting into wedlock. I have attened several receptions over the past couple of months that i am exhausted and avoiding it now. Its a funny sight indeed, the bride(my frens) draped in colorful sarees and loaded with bright jewellery, surrounded by a bunch of married ladies, all spewing loads a advice. Couple of months back i attended my best frens wedding.As i stood in corner staring at her, i was transported 6 years back. Sliding on the slideway and playing antakshri , we were caught by the principal for having bunked classes. She let go of us cos we were considered good students who would bring glory to the institution;) i still remember how we would rush to occupy the last bench during class tests so that we could conveniently copy and avoid the emotional threats of our beloved teachers who had pinned great hopes on us. We would take turns and buy eachother our favourite candy. The occasional fights and bickerin over petty things , the compromises and patching up, lengthy discussions on how to convey our feelings to our crushes, spouting filthy stuff about our archenemies and losing miserably in intra school competitions, we did it all together. I was brought back to the present by another fren whose wedding is not too far away.

I am invariably questioned about my marriage in all ceremonies that i have attended to date. Whats the hurry!! , is my answer ;) . Last week, i heard one of my frens say that she is on the lookout for a guy who is smart, caring, sharing, loving, easy-going, not too interfering ,as in someone who gives his girl enough space., and earns a decent salary. Whoa!! where will she ever find someone like this?? Poor lil girl is unaware of the acute shortage of such men. Every man belives he is smart, and yes, he is caring, he cares to wake his wife in the morning to fix him a breakfast, and as far as Sharing is concerned, he is ever ready to share his bed wid her, easy-going until she is at home and does the chores and run errands and keeps him happy, she is his property- he is not transgressing, he expects her to be happy with whatever little he earns.

Jokes apart, Its a decision of a life-time. I have seen several relationship flounder and there is absolutely no space for compromise.Most of my frens are married and most settled abroad. The gals have lost it all, identity, name, family, country. And am quite surprised at the ease with which they accept it and gradually settle down. I wish them goodluck and a very happy life.For all men - Woman is not just a cook, a child-bearing machine, a sex object.

2007-06-09T22:56:00.000+05:30

Cheeni Kum Vs Chennai:28

Cheeni Kum and Chennai:28? well, they are movie names. The former, an overrated Hindi movie which claims to offer a lot (lot of what?) and the latter a simple, hilarious and fun Tamil movie starring a bunch of unknown yet talented actors.And for once i liked a Tamil movie over Hindi. Though i liked Amithab in Nishabdh, i could not stand him one bit in this extremely drab, annoyingly slow and meaningless flick. It is a yawner and the slick humour is disgusting - the one on umbrella,yuck. Tabu with her charm and sophistication is good as always and perhaps the only thing worth watching. Certain things remain unanswered and keeps the audience wondering. Why shud a 34 yr old fall for a 64 year old still remains a mystery to me.Well, there r a million reasons the director could have used to explain the attraction.All in all, a bad movie. Chennai28 is a neat flick. If u lookin for some fun and laughter go for it, provided u understand tamil. I bet this one wont disappoint you.

Recent Reads

Inscrutable Americans- Time pass and ridicules the Indian system at times. Does not enter my Fav list

Namesake- Jhumpa Lahiri- Decent read.

Indian Economy - An attempt to know Indian economy of the past and its revival over years.

Unbearable Lightness of being- Milan Kundera - Only a couple of pages through and am already in love with it.

2007-06-07T00:05:00.000+05:30

Scary Nights

Life and death are two faces of the same coin, yet they are so different. I never quite thought of death until yesterday, when my cab missed being hit by a giant bus.That moment i wanted to live more than ever. I wanted to live for my loving parents, beloved sisters, frens - who though far away from me never fail to give a call to check on my health and life, my dreams, and everything that i consider precious. To be frank, i kinda enjoyed it and felt a quick adrenalin rush. It made me realise whats important and whats not.Why do i run behind something thats not meant for me? After all, its about making the most of what you have got. yeah,right!! Now this is what i call life and its mystries.

2007-06-02T21:54:00.000+05:30

Road most taken

I languidly walked down the stairs. After having spent a long sleepless night at work, i was in a terrible state of mind, a state resembling unconsciousness. I thanked God for showing me daylights and i rushed to the Cab and crashed. My workplace is located on the Old Mahabalipuram road(OMR) and it takes not more than 25 mins for me to reach home. My association with this road is quite old. My college is located a little further down the road and this sums up for the long association. I am sorry for digressing, but it was intentional. Half way through, i was awakened by a loud noise. It was a crazy sight. A lorry had collided into a car and one half of the vehicle was damaged to an unimaginable extent. I am fairly sure that the inhabitants of the car would have been crushed to death. I was grief-stricken for several days after having witnessed the accident.To the dwellers of the locality, it was a passable accident only to be forgottten.

The previous week, a couple was run over by a lorry on the same road. On average, atleast 10 people are killed every month and most killed are in the age group 25 to 45. I wish i had a camera to capture the scene and show the world the severity of the issue. The statistics indicate a sharp increase in the number of accidents on the OMR . Reckless hurried driving , loaded rickshaws and maxi vans, drunk lorry drivers are causes for accidents.

Though revamping of the road is underway, its proceeding at an annoyingly slow pace. It started way before i joined college ( i suppose 2004) and possibility of its completion in the near future is highly unlikely.In my opinion, rerouting of heavy vehicles(lorries and vans) , quickening of road construction and intervention by media to bring the issue to light will do the much needed. Its high time the govt intervenes and does something about it. Let the soul of the dead rest in peace :(. its distressing

2007-05-24T04:05:00.000+05:30

The Best and Worst

The other day one of my fren wanted to know the best and worst thing happened to me in the past week. It really had me thinking. How do i seperate the good moments from the bad ones ,they so inextricably interwined that one gets meaningless without the other. We yearn for better times nevertheless. This is the time of the year when B-schools releases the final list of candidates to be admitted for the forthcoming year. Loads a my frens are moving out as they have gotten into one bschool or the other. I failed to make it to the iims and the rest i did not bother much. This bit can be added to my baddies list. I dont wanna put off my mba plans for long as am growing old by day and i wouldn't wanna be the oldest in class. Depressing prospect hmm...

Series of bomb blasts that rocked the nation has led to much fear and panick. Revenge and retaliation has made life of common man miserable. Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992, as a retaliatory measure the Islamic terrorist blew Mumbai in 1993 leaving a thousand innocent dead. Ever since there has been no stopping. Communal riots have become the order of the day and the ones affected are common man. The killers go scotfree or are awarded some years in jail with a minimal penalty. The govt spends millions on feeding them and eventually releases them after the completion of the term. Ultimately its the govt that has to be held responsible.
* The govt must take measures to beef-up security in religious places, airports, railways, as they have been major targets in the past.
* Induct more people in the police force and inculcate patriotism and other moral values in them.
* The moment a suspect is held and is proven guilty, he must be hanged or shot as it is followed in the Gulf
* Use technology to minimize effects of terrorism.
Lots have been done and said but nothing seem to have worked in favour of the common man.Lets hope for better times ;)
(Bad news makes for a bad day)

goodies list-I am back to normal shift work timings and its such a relief. My best fren is back in town and together we gonna have the time of our life, blore city am coming. I got my car delivered and now i need to learn driving;) and take mom for a long drive. Dad is recovering and should be fine in a weeks time. Mom and sisters are gonna be home tomo after a long Ooty trip. Gosh! i missed them too damn much. A long vacation is due as well.. Hoping for better times ;)

Ciao

2007-05-16T01:42:00.000+05:30

Me Thinks

Its sad that 3 lives perished at Dinakaran office at Madurai for no reason whatsoever. The ones involved in the murderous protest was none other than the Mayor and her husband. If the politicians cannot alleviate or reduce the sufferings of the people why add onto their existing problems. Its hard to believe , but fact is that most politicians are charged for crimes ranging from common robberies to rape,kidnapping, human-trafficking, murder, scam, and what not. Emboldened by lack of punishment, investigation and justice they continue to committing crimes without having to face, much less suffer, any punishment. As thus what is done without any punishment, can be repeated without fear. Indian politics lacks ideology , does not espouse values. It is inhabited by an ignorant, illiterate and mindless breed and it will require nothing less than a decade to clean the mess it has created.

There are a million issues plaguing the nation - unemployment, roads and railway, woman's rights, poverty, education, globalisation, privatisation, fiscal deficit.. the list is endless. The 500 odd men and women chosen to the legislature are busy amassing wealth, this accusation is limited to those who are involved in such activities, others please dont take offence.(though am sure that this article will never reach them). The indian political brigade is more talk less action and this will continue until Mayavati and Mulayam or JJ and Karunanidhi take terms and come to power. Its obvious that the incumbent is ousted and is given a red carpet welcome in the next elections. I am tired of writing stuff on politics and issues concerning the nation. To me all political parties sound remarkbly alike. They have similar issues - opposition. Nobody talks or does anything about the real issues. Enough i have abused the system.Let destiny take its course :p

I am for Women's rights , Abortion rights ,Globalization with concern for human safeguards ,Euthanasia, ... My dislikes: exploitation of underpreviliged, male chauvinism, politicians.. Thats all i can think of..

I look at the wide sky replete with starts and there is this wierd urge in me to go out and invade for it belongs to me , it always belonged to me. I am tired of living this life, helpless by all means. I am tired of finding fault with the system and do nothing about it. I am tired of waiting until i get an opportunity to do what i want. Its liked am gaged and dying in exhaustion. I am deprived of air and i wanna break free. I am wrestling with a set of choices, unable to make a decision. The search for the ultimate is not gonna end today. But I am hopeful because am a human. I am sure to find a way out.

On another note, i want to lead a simple life, atleast a single day forgetting all worries. Unwind someplace which is no less than a paradise with my favourite person , far away with Calvin and Hobbes in hand , sipping Chocolate Milkshake, relax in green lush gardens ..and try a zillion other things... whatever suits my fancy!

And yes, i made some yum gulab jamuns. I hit the kitchen with an insufferable optimism and the outcome was quite a sensation. Left them in the refrigeration and rushed to work only to find a tiny pallet floating in a pool of sugar syrup the next day :( Now thats life, dont miss out on opportunities.. :p

Now this is what we call- " A Remix" !!!

2007-05-11T21:32:00.000+05:30

Life's Myriad Mysteries

The week is drawing to a close, much to my delight. I am both glad and surprised that i survived it. Bad health, dads' accident and very little sleep has left me down in the mouth. I had the most terrible of dreams of an alien trying to extract my soul ;).he he.. I most certainly need a break.

Last week began on a rather good note. Had a wonderful time with a new found fren. The rest of the week i was at work, slogging :( Dad met with a freaking accident and it put me off majorly.The strong man is gonna be alright soon. And huh,someonez gonna enter my life soon and i spent the past week making arrangements for it. ;)

News that i was closely following. Results of the U.P elections.Mulayam's defeat was no surprise, not that he was deprived of the oxygen of popularity, he just fell victim to the disease of incumbency.Cheer up man, u will be in again , wait for coupla years. The brewing family feud affecting the image of DMK. Lets wait for the drama to unfold.

2007-05-08T22:55:00.000+05:30

One night at work

Iam working in the nights and today is my 7th night(13 more to go). My current state is pretty bad.I am all sleepy and exhausted. Though i sleep close to 7 hours a day, its still insufficient for someone like me. Besides, the work pressure and sleepless nights taking a toll on my health :( . I am told that working in nights can help me gain more knowledge, hmm.. I dont wanna gain anything at the expense of my health. I wonder how people at call centre survive.They work at nights for months together and there is hardly anything they can do, as in try and bring a change. Their entire schedule, body metabolism,etc is more or less screwed. But working at nights can be fun at times.

I am not sure if i can call myself a nightbird. There have been times when i have stayed up all night,but i have compensated for the lost sleep by sleeping the next entire day and most of the night. But nights are the best times to sit back and relax. I prefer reading my fav book or reminiscing about wonderful times during night. I feel enthused to do something different. High energy levels backed by a strong mind makes for a wonderful night ;) I feel a tremendous emotional surge and i find an altogether different me. The solitude and calmness help me deal with the everyday pressure and explore my potential;). I love nights, but until about 4 ,beyond which i cannot stay awake.

Here i am, working until 8 in the morning. I have a junior working with me.She is fun and together we hit the cafeteria and savour mug noodles. The timely coffee served tastes like.. ask my junior..But again, its fun at times and am paid more..

2007-04-27T21:45:00.000+05:30

Belated Birthday!!!

Its been a year since i started blogging. It did not bring in any significant changes in my life but it ceratinly kept me busy when i was utterly jobless and needed to do something to keep me occupied and also served as a medium to voice my opinion on several issues, and considering the fact that i am a lousy blogger, my sincere apologies to my beloved blog. It might sound like am bragging , but i have figured that there are people who would kill to know wats happening in my life and my blog has certainly provided significant insights of the happenings of my life.

Over a year now and this space of mine has been a neat companion all along and i pledge to be faithful to it :p.. The idea of blogging did not seem alluring initially, but once i got into it i loved it, absolutely.Lifez treating me pretty good now and am hoping for better times ahead and every bit of it will be posted here.With temperatures soaring all across the world and glaciers melting ,hyped plastic-icons wedding, and my eventful life - there is no derth of news and stuff to blog.

Thanks to all!!!

2007-04-20T23:31:00.000+05:30

My Own Space

Last week IndiaToday had this brilliant article on modern Indian woman.It said that todays' woman is independent, ambitious,unafraid, richer and better educated than ever before. It also featured a couple of very successful woman and how they manage to strike a balance between their personal and perofessinal life.Model, beautician, journalist, actress, lawyer, s/w professional,economist.. woman seem ubiquitous,present everywhere.I am proud to be a part of the ever growing gang-of-girls :) Some had brilliantly answered the questions thrown at them.

About me :p

A typical day: Day begins at 9 or 10 in the morning. A glimse of lord Hanuman,followed by the morning tasks and then newspapaer reading. Bully sisters for a while and have a constructive discussion with dad, ranging from investment to the erratic stockmarket to politics.Routine catching up with frens followed by some serious studying :p.Pack bags and rush to office and work like a responsible software engineer. I believe in survival of the fittest.Back home at close to midnight followed by watching news(son butchered father types..gross) and an hour of e-mails.Spend some quality time with my bed-time companion-recently being one by p.g.wodehouse.

Significant others - Loving Mother,Supportive dad,Cute sisters and obviously God:)

If i were a man: How about world war -3?? and blame it on a woman(I did watch Troy).

Darkest Moment as a woman: Nothing much as yet.I did not like it when i gotta know that mom was sobbing inconsolably when i was born.I love her lots, so no issues.Also this one incident way back in school,when i chose to travel by public transport to accompany my frens.A jerk taking advantage of the packed bus put his arms around me.My heart skipped a beat.Pretty bad huh!!

Worst Cliche: Half the things are automatically done for a pretty woman.(got this one from the magazine).I have heard this a million times from different people. All u people please grow up!!!

I hope i feature in one of the magazines someday.Well,this is my space and here it is, all about me.I have a long way to go, loads a things to do and achieve. This blog is for all my lovely frens who have been a constant source of support to me.I love u all!! And yes, being a woman is the best thing to have happened to me, only next to my mother...

2007-03-31T21:55:00.002+05:30

Disgrace

I am not even half as disappointed as cricket fans all across india after the Indian Cricket teams' shameful exit from world cup. It was amusing to see them get home from secret exits at the airport.Was it to escape the ire of the public or were they so ashamed that they could hardly face media and the public?Whatever it be, they have disappointed cricket fans a great deal. The loud-mouthed Ponting who does not let go off any opportunity to humiliate the indian team has already made several abasing statements, one of it being that the undeserving lot(Indians) was not worthy of entering super 8s. I hope its a big lesson for the sponsors, BCCI , players and not the least- public . Especially the players who went overboard after all the hype created by media and public.

Who is to be blamed for the debacle?? Every single individual involved must take responsibility for the loss. Team India was never a strong contender , nevertheless people pinned too much hope. The players failed to realise that its the game that has made them what they are today. Negligence and involvement in other activities distracted them from the game which requires great deal of determination and focus. Endorsements and pop albums is def an easy way to make money, but why forget that its the game that has brought them all the popularity and fame.

Whats required at the moment is a planned strategy for the forthcoming seasons. The players will have to cut down on the time they spend endorsing products and focus on the game. Politicians must be kept at bay. Sharad pawar must take care of his ministry and quit BCCI. Coach and captain must chalk out a plan to improvise on a lot of areas. If the players fail to toe the line, they must be whipped to shape or sacked. And for the coach - to be effective with others u need to be effective with urself.

Thats all for now..

2007-03-18T21:03:00.000+05:30

Not worth a damn!!!!

I have lived long enough to understand what it takes to make life worthy of it. Understanding parents,incredibly cute sisters, reliable friends, loads a money, luxury, fame and respect. Respect is given to those who are deemed worthy of recieving the honour. Its self-evident that all women(men) are created equal and each of us are endowed with certain rights,that among these are Life, Liberty ,pursuit of happiness, forgiveness, compassion, understanding etc..Nevertheless we whine , cry , hate , involve in slanderous gossip , commit horrible crimes..The value of simple and good things shrink and eventually get so meaningless that there is no space for them.

While in college I have heard of poeple who would never miss a single opprotunity to besmirch others' reputation.They will claim to have witnessed the happening and would come up with such beautifully knit stories. Little do people care for such jerks, but its high time they realise the worth of life and stop acting inane. It can be a little difficult for those who are impervious to correction but they can still try ;P

2007-02-27T01:39:00.001+05:30

An illusory feat

They represent the dreams and aspirations of a billion plus population and are responsible for the welfare of the nation.They sit in the hallowed enclosure of the parliament and make big promises most of which are broken mercilessly. They instill faith in the public and crush them when their purpose is served.Hardly anything is done in the name of development and growth, yet the common man is forced to pay tax and comply with the rules and regulations.

Railway minister,Lalu prasad yadav must be ecstatic after winning accolades from almost all the quarters for his "pro-poor" railway budget.He shut the critics by showing an unprecendented profit and bringing the railways back on track.Lalu- the name was a by-word of scorn and opprobrium throughout the country after the infamous fodder scam.He lost Bihar to Nitish, but he did not flinch.The unperturbed Lalu moved on to become the railway minister and such is the irony that a Bsc grad is invited at the country's best B-School to give them management gyan.After all he managed to show surplus in railways that was operating in the red over many years. Great show!!

In my opinion,the budget is a big farce. What has been done over the past 2 years or for that matter since independence??Railways is the most badly hit sector with very little development.I wince at the thought of travelling by train to Bihar from Chennai.Way back in 2000, we decided to visit Bihar to attend my cousin's wedding.The endless wait on the platform, no water and the heat of May, bad bathrooms and shabbily dresses onlookers- nothing less than hell.The budget talks all about cutting down fares, concessions and reduction is freight charges, its also about adding extra bogies and opening up vending machines for e-ticketing. Sounds very funny :))

The common man will be happy if the basic needs are met.The government must try to impart a new impetus to growth and investment by removing the existing obstacles.Security is the biggest concern and must be addressed immediately.Local trains always go packed and there is hardly any improvement in this area.There are a million ways to improve the condition of the railways and also show profit.Smart ways and good policy making can change the face of the railways,provided Lalu is ousted as am pretty sure he will be majorly involved in misappropriating funds.

2007-02-21T00:31:00.000+05:30

Goody- The Baddie???

Do i apreciate Ms.Shettys'(who shetty?? - Shilpa Shetty)resilience and congratulate her for emerging victorious at the Big Brother show that earned her not just truckloads of money, but also international acclaim and offers to work on international projects.When she left India to participate in the game show,hardly did anyone know that her mere presence is going to spark-off a controversy and will catapult the TRPs of the game show to great heights.Unlike beauty queens at pageants,Miss Shetty was not representing a nation.But Ms. shetty never failed to take advantage of her nationality.She was being addressed as "The Indian" by a bunch of foul mouthed and undignified participants.Inspite of all this,Ms.Shetty seemed unperturbed and went onto win the show.But i was taken aback when i heard her utter gibberish in one of the interviwes ,post big brother, that her fellow participants were not racist but a little insecured and harsh.

Why did the public vote go against those who made racist comments?And what was Ms.Shetty trying to prove?? Whatever be the case, this one incident proves that we Indians have a long way to go to build an image,strong enough to not let anybody pass such an ugly remark ever again.Its not long before we gonna give the western world a run for their money.We are qualified,dignified people and we dont live in shacks.We are exposed to cutting-edge technology and we possess the best-infrastructure.We are pacifist,but that does not mean we are fearful,we can fight back if required.We are civilized people backed by strong culture and tradition.Lets not give another goody an opportunity to speak anything remotely demeaning about our country. Lets unleash the power :p

2007-02-11T00:39:00.000+05:30

Cutest song ever!!!

I could only get the lyrics..if anybody gets the mp3,do sent it across
Its sung by a child with intolerably cute voice.Leaves u cheerful for hours..beautiful!!!

You're my honeybunch sugarplum pumpy-umpy-umpkin you're my sweety pie
You're my cuppy cake gum drop snoogums-boogums you're the apple of my eye
And I love you so and I want you to know that I'll always be right here
And I love to sing sweet songs to you because you are so dear...

At the Crossroads

2007-01-28T23:29:00.000+05:30

Winner all the way!!!

If i were to describe Mani Ratnam's latest flick in one word,it would be "AMAZING".I thoroughly enjoyed it.I have always loved watching ManiRatnam movies.They are not jus sensible and entertaining but also tugs at your heart strings,leaves behind a long-lasting impression. For someone like Abhishek Bachan,it must have been the biggest break of his life.I have never quite considered Abhishek a good actor , he simply cannot act for nuts.Besides acting,an actor should also be good at various other
things,expression,dance...He certainly lacks the versatility of his father and his contemporaries.Nevertheless,he has done a decent job and desereves to be appreciated.

The rest of the cast has done a great job,Ash,Mithun and Madhavan.Vidya Balan is wasted and her presence is highly unneeded,all shez gotta do is move around on a wheel-chair and deliver some extremely meaningless dialogues and lock lips with maddy.

Its based on the life of Late DhiruBhai Ambani,and it provides an insight of the life of a man whose passion to make it big in life was beyond anything.The supposedly 5 mins speech that Guru delivers towards the end is a little drag and highly unwarranted and also makes very little sense,why does he have to bring in Bapu and what was he trying? justifying his position or stating that some amount of corruption is acceptable,and also the one abt begging to the world bank for money to lay roads.Something went badly amiss toward the end and it ended on a low note.

All in all a good movie and definitely worth a watch.Highly inspiring as well..Considering the fact that my hit counter is increasing at a good pace,i have decided to blog regularly and i plan to put some real interesting stuff :p

Till then
Ciao

At the Crossroads

2007-01-23T00:44:00.000+05:30

Things that keep me occupied

Of late work keeps me extremely busy. Understandably,it isnt great fun to spend 13 hours a day doing something you absolutely dont like.But it has its own advantages,good pay and lotta respect from neighbours.I recieved a free edition of one of Kushwant Singh's work.Its about the men and women in his life,or perhaps the people who matter the most to him.Apparently,lotta women figure in this book ;). Well,i am trying to put across the point that this book forced me to think over the fact that i must also have certain number of people i absolutely adore,admire,appreciate,look upto,envy,hate,detest,love,have hots for.. Yes,i do.Over the weekend i thought over it and i was able to come up wid a coupla names.
It wouldn't be appropriate for me to mention all names here,i would certainly give in some info or the other.My mom is beyond doubts the person whoze existence is highly imperative for my own existence.She is the one i confide to in times of difficulty, and without her i shall not be what i am.My parents and sisters are my support system and i love them all.The only other person who can take me for what i am,is this very lovely fren of mine.Though miles away from me,she is the one i can reply upon and she would never let me down.I got a bunch of very reliable friends, and i cant ask god for more.Thats all i got for now :p..
Isnt it a great way to spend the weekend :p ..The weekend just flew past and the entire week is ahead of me.over the weekend i Spent lotta time on fone,managed 5 movies in 2 days and a whole lotta crazy serials.KBC is on air and SRK isnt doing a bad job at all.Looks like hez worked really hard but at times his actions seem fake and made up.He better work on it.Shilpa Shetty on Big brother-set to earn a fortune:p
Started perparing for another set of exams and slept like never before :)
The following week is going to be tough,so all u frens of mine,wish me luck.

Lets all pray for the soul of children miserably butchered by 2 paedophilias to rest in peace.

At the Crossroads

2007-01-14T05:35:00.000+05:30

Discrimination

Am back...over 2 months and no updates,either i am extremely busy or jus bored and uninspired.well both..work keeps me busy and at the moment all i need is a break. Past 2 months have been very eventful,we set foot in the new year,saddam executed,nithari killings(heights of brutality),Indian cricket team's dismal performance at SA, and a lot more..And for those who interested in the happenings of my otherwise dull life,there isnt much to say.
Too much work , too many exams and loads a pressure has left me exhausted.I need some time off,relax and live for myself.I was suppose to leave india on an assignment this weekend.Fortunately,my visa was not approved on account of some discrepancy in the documents submitted.But what i gotta see at the consulate was heart-wrenching.How does it feel to be superior over others?? And how is ur superiority gauged?? Any individual is superior by his/her values,actions and ideals.And for all those who live by this badly reasoned belief that money and a power makes u the best,then its just not true.And its the same for any country.Humility,simplicity and morals make a man.

At the Crossroads

2006-11-23T23:04:00.000+05:30

Relieved

I am back to my normal self and am happy.At the moment i dont seem to care much and i feel relieved.Today, i did all that i have always loved to do.Purchased a set of coloured lenses,shopped at the book store and spent over 3k,slept like never before,finished one of the books i bought in less than 3 hours and i simply loved it,had a long conversation with dad at the coffee shop,...Its been a nice day and a real nice one after a long long time.
Last night i was on phone with this friend of mine from school and after all the catching up we had a real nice conversation.We tried to identify the others flaws and faulty areas.It feels good to know what others think of you,especially when its your fren from school.The conversation went on for an hour,all about our lives,career,marriage...I couldnt help but laugh when he asked me about marriage.i dont see myself tying the knot until am settled.He seem to be on the look out for a girl of his type :p ..I hope he finds one soon.
Friendship is a valued prize and one has to be really lucky to get a bunch of reliable friends.In this aspect am really lucky :) This is the most difficult phase of my life.The decisions i make today will determine my future.Life is not easy and what comes easy is not valued.ALl that i have that i can boast about is my family and frens.I still have a career to make,i have to realise all my dreams.I am gonna pack the goodness of today and carry it with me to the future. I will need it in times when am down and shrinking, when i get completely exhauseted in my attempt to explore the nuances of my dream and realise every bit of it,until then i am gonna live with it,struggle till the last moment ,reinvent myself every single day, and embrace the world.Failures frighten me,as i havent had many,but now i seem to understand the significance of failures,step to success.And its not far away

At the Crossroads

2006-11-17T08:19:00.000+05:30

I feel traumatised

Come sunday and we face one of the most difficult exams in the whole of Asia.Atleast 20% of the junta must have put in their heart and soul to crack it and a few like me,just hope for some majic to get us thru.I am terrified at the thought of not doing well..am i?? he he..One piece of adicve for all CAT takers..I feel there are better options and better ways to get successful.Ultimately,its what u deserve you get.
Can i take up the job of a philosopher?..Alright,so all my frens gear up and gimme a call before the exam,i need all ur wishes.I am gonna have a great year ahead( my astrologer says so)..A very dynamic and successful year..Am here wid my arms wide open to welcome such a wonderful year..So lets all hope that we take the exam wid full enthu without losing our cool..This post is not written in desperation...I am a lil anxious tho' :(

At the Crossroads

2006-11-07T09:48:00.000+05:30

Sad-damned

Saddman Hussein,the former iraqi dictator,is awarded death sentence.My second post which talks of death sentence and in both cases am glad that justice prevailed.Well,my take on this

I am glad he is gonna be terminated,but sad that its gonna put an end to all the problems amd miseries he is subjected to at the moment.He is accused of killing 148 muslims.Barbaric,Atrocious!!

He is responsible for the death of more than a lakh people(source-My dad).The savage and excessive killing of thousands of Kurds using WM,had shown him this day.But looks like many chennaiites,including our CM and leader of opposition are not happy wid the verdict.

Reactions from across the globe :P

Jayalalitha-"Gross travesty of justice"

Blair-"I am against Death Penalty"

Bush-"Today we witnessed a landmark event in the history of iraq -blah blah..

I am sure saddam is doomed and is already shown the path to hell.In that case which is the most appropritae place for our lovely President(Bush).

At the Crossroads

2006-11-01T04:24:00.001+05:30

Defining Moment

What is it with some men?? What gets into them when they commit terrible,heinous crimes.The media is abuzz with stories of Priyadarshini Matoo,Jessica lal,Katara... Priyadarshini matoo,23 yearlaw student,raped and murdered.How does that sound?? Any other casethat would add onto the backlogs.Perhaps yes.Well,Her killer is nocriminal but a law student and son of a senior police officer.This isa tale of unrequited love and the anger it brought hardened intobitterness, revenge and retaliation.The victim was stalked and whenpolice intervened,he promised to stay away and not harass heragain.But his intentions were far from that.He devised a plan andexecuted it rather successfully.He found her alone at herresidence,raped and brutally murdered her.He battered her face beyond recignition.The authorities had to conceal this act of brutality and eventually he was acquitted.Now he is afamous lawyer,father of a 2 year old and a respected person in thesociety.All this only until yesterday,when he was found guilty of rapeand murder and is finally sentenced to death.A defining moment for theMatoo family.Not quite..once lost is lost for ever.

Jessica lal case is yet another heart wrenching story.Angst of anadolscent deprives a happy family of its lovely daughter.Followingwhich the mother dies of heart attack and father slips intodepression.Sole fighter is a sister who is bent on getting justice forher family.Unfortunately,this is a high profile case where the killeris the son of a MP.But she still awaits justice and has immense faith in judiciary.As one of the news channels pointed out,the problem is not with the judiciary,but with the prosecution system,lets hopesomething concrete results this time around for the lal family.

The above mentioned are just two of the innumerable cases of woman harrasment and killing.Woman is the weaker sex and i cannot refute that.Phyical and verbal abuse is so common that the numbers would exceed the population of India.I have been through so many of it myself.While at college,guys would gang up and pass crass comments on every girl who would passby.They are basically driven by frenzy and badly reasoned belief that their action does not allow questioning or scrutiny and their only motive is to exercise their dominance on the weaker sex.I pity these troubled souls and pray for their deterioration much like Santosh Singh's(Matoo's murderer).A moments fun can bring in so much misery and pain to the families of both the victim and the murderer.Why cannot men exercise restraint and behave like responsible citizens.Not all men are bad,and the bad ones can learn lessons from the good.For men like santhos singh and his ilk,death is the best punishment,or if something more painful than death can ever happen,i would suggest that.

At the Crossroads

2006-10-11T00:27:00.000+05:30

Moments make life

2006-10-01T00:07:00.000+05:30

Year of grace

Its been a year now.Seems like only yesterday when i boarded the train to Trivndrum(to attend a training before joining the company).My parents were at the station to send me off and i could see a drop of tear waiting to run down my mom's cheek,like i was going to fight a battle on the war front.I embarked upon a new career(sounds good huh!!).All u guys must be wondering as to why i write so much about my work.Though i dont passionately love my work,i dont despise it either.Its given me what i demand the most,a great deal of reverence.My neighbours look upto me ;).Kids(apparently not) come to me for advice on colleges and career options.Most of all the liberty--perfect liberty--to think,feel and do just as i please,simply because i draw a decent salary(i earn a good deal,good enuf to give pocket money to my lil sisters).Its been a decent one year,and am not ecstatic and all and this is blog is by no means a commemoration to it. I just happen to remember this,thanks to my sister who was bent on celebrating this day.

Though it has not been an awesome year,i loved the days at trivandrum.I simply loved it.The stay at hostel,the weekend trips to the some of the most beautiful places i have ever seen,the late night conversations... It was like living college life again.It was a great congregation of a large number of people from various parts of india(i met a guy from jammu).We were about 1200 students(???) under one roof. Too many very talended(born to be software engineers) and good looking people.Kerala is the place to be,i loved kovalam beach the most.Allepey was super and so was ponmudi.Highlights of the place -lush greenery,awesome weather and the sweet mallu accent.

I forgot to mention some very interesting anectodes(atleast i consider them interesting).I was initially very apprehensive about sharing the same hostel room with this gal whom i had met the first day in college and had never quiet spoken to till the last day,though we were in the same class all along..She thought of me as a haughty,intractable person who would not talk to people like her(now what does that mean? no idea).Believe me,we turned out to be best buddies at the end of the training period.Classes were so much fun.We would hide behind computers and play tic tac toe or discuss about stock market :P.

I had a huge crush on this guy at ILP,whose name i would not mention here,and i never quiet got a chance to tell him that ;) ... Its an old and forgotten story now.So lovely were the days that i will never quiet forget them.I had expected an extention of the good days,which apparently were not as good.Though i keep saying,i dislike my work,its what i am and i am so because i am worth it.I am happy partly because my parents are happier and my sisters are proud of me and i can buy gifts for my frens who do not earn and i can buy stuff i like and not trouble dad too much,because i have come to understand what responsibilities are and how to handle them,because i have come to terms with the fact that i am a s/w engineer and i must live with it.

This blog is dedicated to my dearest fren whoz at banglore,one at chicago,one in chennai whoze birthday i missed :(, to all my colleagues ,my ILP room mate who seem to have forgotten that i exist,Trivandram :) ,and to jyotsna the software engineer.

At the Crossroads

2006-09-21T02:15:00.000+05:30

Indulgence
Whose?? Its my space,so probably mine...This friend of mine has already warned me not to reveal all of it.I shall be careful :P. There are a whole lotta things i enjoy excessively and have never quiet regretted doing them.Gobbling icecreams ,pastries,pizzas,chocolate cakes(my weight shows it all :( ),zip past the many vehicles on ECR for a long drive(though i need someone to chauffeur me ;)),engage a conceited airhead in an argument and beat him hands down,hit the theaters every weekend,explore every restaurant in the city,..etcetra etcetra.Recently i tried a coupla things i wouldnt wannna mention here and it felt awesome :P...Its so much fun to discuss stuff with mom(the most intelligent woman on earth)and she provides me with some very enlightening information.Soak up in my own mysterious world and try find a rationale for terrorist blowing themselves up and wondering why all politicans are corrupt and a lotta such crap.If any of u find an answer to all this,do reply.

My professional life has been a major disaster.I hate what i am today.Though am all dediacted and all,this is not what i wanted.I had always wanted to become a journo.Dresses in a kurta(typical of a journalist),with a journo bag and a mike in hand,interviewing politicians and blowing their heads off,bombarding them with questions.Whoa!! what a profession..I envy them :( .If any journo wants to swap wth me am ready.A far-fetched thought.But all you guys out there,believe me,being a software professional is no fun.This being the reason why i am considering a change of career.Life is not what u have,but what u make of it(i read it somewhere n i dont remeber if this is it). Enough cribbing.

Its 2.30 in the night and i suppose i must get back to my study table.I enjoy exploring formulas and nuances of english literature than sitting in my cubicle and trying to act like a responsible software professional.I hope i get to do something i really like..
ciao for now.
At the Crossroads

2006-09-11T12:09:00.000+05:30

Reward for the Deserving

Members of jury,L.N Mittal(behemoth of the arcelor-mittal steel corporation),Deepak Mishra,Naveen Patnaik,KM Birla and a few others.Where does one find a congregation of such distinguished,super successful people?Well,they were together to decide the deserving candidates for the Economic Times corporate excellence awards,who have excelled in the field of business and also possess the right combination of business skill.

The winners are achievers in the real sense and i pretty much expected their names to figure in the winner's list.TCS which always steered clear of the limelight,even after the listing,recieved the "COMPANY OF THE YEAR" award for honing the skills of fresh engineering graduates and morphing them into potential leaders(The papers says so :P).Indra Nyooi,the designate CEO of Pepsico,was chosen for the award of global indian.WOW!!! i just hope my name appears somewhere soon ;).Bizwoman of the year,Mallika Srinivasan of TAFE,which deals with Tractor manufacturing(it may occur to a lotta men as to what a woman is doing in a company that manufactures Tractors.My answer is,Change is inevitable).

PC chidambaram,Montek sing Alhuwalia,Mukesh AMbani were also among the reciepients.Mittal seemed like a tough judge and forced the other memebers of the jury to make an unbiased and suitable decision.Its defenitely a moment of immense pride and honour for the winners.I conclude hping that i am the chosen one some day.very mean huh??

Amidst all this one cannot forget that its the 11th of sept,the day when terrorism shook the most powerful nation in the world.It was indeed very sad and unfortunate.For peaceful sustenance,terrorism must be controlled.Its hard to instill sense in the minds of the senseless,but we can definitely strive towards containing terror.Well,its for the government of india to learn some lessons from the other countries who have been successful in containing terrorism

2006-09-06T01:25:00.000+05:30

Race against time

I havent blogged for quiet sometime now and i owe it to my new work and a spree of mock exams i have been attending.Time has become the most sought after thing in my life after a long time.Well..work is fun and i am simply loving it.Though there isnt much that i am doing ,but i basically love the place and people.I am glad i have found sometime to fill my space with my latest updates.

My latest bedtime companion is a book by Paulo Coelho.Its not the very famous The Alchemist. Its called Eleven Minutes. While browing through the books at office library,my friend spotted this book.It seemed a little out of place as such books dont find a place in office libraries,which is replete wid books on technologies and things like " how to improve ur communicatiuon skills in 7 days".. Eleven Mintues is a book for the more matured junta and all perverts and immatured scatterheads stay away.

As all know Paulo Coelho is a great writer and this book is defenitely awesome.Though it is not regarded as one of his most memorable works,it is very enlightening.He has shed light on an otherwise complicated issue.He has explored the sacred nature of love and sex.Its defenitely worth a read.Its for all those estranged souls who have lost hope in love.It can get a little crude at times,but one can ignore it and go on.Well,the other books i can suggest is The Kite Runner-Khaled Hossini ..
Thats it for now..ciao

At the Crossroads

2006-08-15T23:11:00.000+05:30

KANK- What does the movie convey??

If u plan to watch Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna,bear one thing in mind...its 4 hours of good entertainment,but it hardly makes sense.Stunning visuals,elegant mansions,good-looking people,stylish clothes,some heart stirring dialogues,awesome performances and mild romance...Its all about the above mentioned..

What makes it watcheable is Sharukh,Rani and New York city.He is an excellent actor...Rani and sharukh share amazing on-screen chemistry.Scrpit is a little crazy.Its all about falling in love with other's spouse and making out with them.Watch it once for all the hype..It will fizzle out soon..

At the Crossroads

2006-08-12T22:09:00.000+05:30

All About her!!!

She is ambitious,oblivious of dangers and if any, resolute in facing them,uncompromising,overbold..She is the loving daughter who can make her folks proud of her,the very affectionate sister,the undemanding and easygoing girlfriend who can break relationships at her will,a socialite and a professional who can bring an overwhelming change in her workplace..Her charm and smile can make a hundred hearts skip a beat.She aspires to achieve everything possible and strives equally hard until she finds success in her endeavour.She can set rules and dictate terms and will have others follow them.She is skilled and knows how to execute her policies efficiently.She can talk at lengths about politics,sports,ecomonics and can come up with out of box ideas and the best of solutions to political and ecomonic problems.She is the winner and has the whole world at her disposal.
Nevertheless,she wants a family,a loving life-partner(who isnt jealous of her success),lovesome children. She enjoys ice-cream,burger,cola,stuffed toys,a stroll at the beachside...She sobs uncontrollably if her loved one is hurt.She enjoys cooking and making her bed.She loves catching up with friends and smiles in tranquility recalling the lovely moments.Guess who she is??
Thats it for now..gotta get back to my study table and delve in the myriad mystries of problem solving..Wish me luck..
ciao

At the Crossroads

2006-08-03T23:27:00.000+05:30

Yeh Dil Maange No More!!

The debate that is currently gripping the nation is whether the production of pepsi and coke be banned completely.The issue is defenitely controversial and throws light on a lot of other related and unnoticed issues.With large amount of money invested in the manufacture and endorsements and also the kind of employment it generates,i would rather suggest alternatives than support the imposition of a ban.The row over this issue in the parliament clearly indicates that most of the politicians are very much in favour of the ban.From what i have understood,the problem is not with the drink,but with the water that is being utilised for the manufacture of these drinks.The manufacturing units are located near vast agricultural fields.The fertilizers used for the crops seep through the soil and reach the groundwater,thereby contaminating it.The water is utilized for the manufacture of these drinks.When the root of the problem is identified,its more advisable to find a solution to it rather than get rid of the problem.Its very unfortunate indeed.

I am against the ban for several reasons.Lets take a look at the statistics.Its obvious that not more than 3 to 4 % of India's population can afford to sip cola or pepsi.Another very obvious and unfortuante thing is that 100% of india's population consumes water and about 70% of it consumes the same contaminated water thats used for the making of the drinks.So if the government plans to ban the biggies,its gonna be a huge loss for the country.Instead it must formulate plans to set up recycling plants to purify the contaminated water.I guess everyone must agree with me that the ban is not going to help,unless the govenment takes significant measures to eliminate the problem. Every life is precious and hence the safety of the users must be of paramount importance.Ban on the drinks will stop their manufacturing and distribution,but how can one stop people from consuming contaminated water.The media must look into this matter and must insist the govenment to deal with this issue in the most appropriate manner.
At the Crossroads

2006-07-29T21:58:00.000+05:30

U-Turn

First love never dies..How true.Life has taken a u-turn and and i am back with my first love..Yes,its the very place where i began my career as the software engineer.I fell for this place the day i got in.I was awed at its majesty.The huge plasma screens displaying images of accomplished individuals,the busy receptionist over the fone,haggard associates scampering around,clients(i suppose) being ushered to the cars in the most obsequious manner,security guards keeping a check on every individual in order to avoid any breach of rules..The place was buzzing with activity and i wanted to throw up for no reason whatsoever.
I was shifted to another office and now am back to the same old place.Its defenitely the place i had always wanted to be.Iam loving it ;)
At the Crossroads