C'est la Vie!

Celebrating the Festival of Lights

2008-10-29T14:32:00.002-04:00

Happy Deepavali!

Cheers

This is ME!

2008-07-07T11:27:00.005-04:00

My chuckle burst into a heart-felt self-mocking laughter when i read this and haven't stopped laughing since PS forwarded this! I gave up making Iced Tea.....loooongggg time ago.

Cheerios

Another Gem from Buddhism

2008-06-19T21:30:00.005-04:00

The Buddha called Sujata to him and spoke kindly to her, "Sujata, there are seven types of wives a man may have. Which of them are you?"

"What are the seven types of wives, Venerable Sir?" asked Sujata.

"Sujata, there are bad and undesirable wives. There is a wife who is troublesome. She is wicked, bad tempered, pitiless, and not faithful to her husband."

"There is a wife who is like a thief. She wastes the money earned by her husband."

"There is a wife who is like a master. She is lazy, and thinks only about herself. She is cruel and lacking in compassion, always scolding her husband or gossiping."

"Sujata, there are the good and praiseworthy wives. There is a wife who is like a mother. She is kind and compassionate and treats her husband like her son and is careful with his money."

"There is a wife who is like a sister. She is respectful towards her husband, just as a younger sister to her brother, she is modest and obedient to her husband's wishes."

"There is a wife who is like a friend. She rejoices at the sight of her husband, just like a friend who has not seen her friend for a long time. She is of noble birth, virtuous and faithful."

"There is a wife who is like a handmaid. She behaves as an understanding wife when her shortcomings are pointed out. She remains calm and does not show any anger although her husband uses some harsh words. She is obedient to her husband's wishes."

The Blessed one asked, "Sujata, which type of wife are you like, or would you wish to be like?"

Source: Link

Cheerios...

Out-of-Office? Think Different!

2008-06-17T11:29:00.004-04:00

The Best of Dilbert "Out-Of-Office" E-Mail Auto-Reply:

1: I am currently out at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position. Be prepared for my mood.

2: You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the Office. If I was in, chances are you would not have received anything at all.

3: Sorry to have missed you but I am at the doctors having my brain removed so that I may be promoted to management position.

4: I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless emails you send me until I return from vacation on 6/18. Please be patient and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.

5: Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first ten words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.

6: The e-mail server is unable to verify your server connection and is unable to deliver this message. Please restart your computer and try sending again. (The beauty of this is that when you return, you can see how many individuals did this over and over).

7: Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system. You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.

8: Hi. I am thinking about what you have just sent me. Please wait by your PC for my response.

9: Hi! I am busy negotiating the salary for my new job. Do not bother to leave me any messages.

10: I have run away to join a different circus.

AND,

FINALLY, THIS ONE TAKES THE CAKE

11: I will be out of the office for the next 2 weeks for medical reasons. When I return, please refer to me as 'Susie' instead of 'Steve'.

And the Queen Shall Be Back!

2007-10-18T17:15:00.001-04:00

"Aaja Nachle" is undoubtedly one of the most awaited films of this year. And why not, the dance diva, Madhuri Dixit is back at what she does the best! She is looking fantabulous in the tile track.

Bravo India!

2007-09-25T13:05:00.000-04:00

What a victory! Simply praiseworthy! We are the Twenty20 World Cup champions. A tight match and even tighter control on the nerves displayed by our new captain, the cool one, MS Dhoni. This calls for a double celebration, one for the World Cup and second for our newly found aggressive captain Dhoni!

And India still holds the record of winning 'all' the matches against their arch rivals Pakistan in any World Cup tournament. Awesome, isn't it?

===

As for the Indian Idol 3, Prashan Tamang was crowned the new successor of the musical throne. Congratulations to him. Frankly speaking, Amit Paul was a better and a more deserving candidate. His singing was nearly flawless and absolutely melodious. But, the better one isn't always the winner! What say ya?

Cheerios

Magnetic Keys

2007-07-28T17:17:00.000-04:00

Wow. Now this is what I need! After all, I keep pulling off the letters from the keyboard. And then fitting the key back into its socket is a huge task. Magnetic keys can may my job easier. I would definitely look out for this one.

I love it when technology helps ME.

Cheerios

My Indian Idol Picks

2007-07-27T22:36:00.000-04:00

I have my picks from the Indian Idol: Amit Paul and Emon Chatterjee strictly in that order.

Emon is a cutie. His innocence and naughtiness reflects in his voice, which to some extent resembles Sonu Nigam's voice. His geeky gawky looks makes him more appealing. Emon sings really well. And he definitely has a good range of vocals. The 'Mitwa' song or 'Is pyaar ko main' really rocked. This guy can be a top 3 contender for Indian Idol.

But...Lekin Kintu Parantu Bandhu..(ala Udit Narayan)

Hats Off to Amit Paul. That dude is a terrific singer and can make it big not only in Indian Idol but also in Bollywood. From 'Jhoom jhoom jhoomru' to 'O Tum kya jaano' to 'Pehla nasha', he has done it all. Amit rocks. He has a voice of his own and that is his USP. He has a good command over pronounciation and the tune. Also, he can sing in 14 languages. Talented! I think he truly deserves to be an Idol.

My last top 3 contender is Abhishek Kumar. Abhishek is a good singer though he gets carried away.

Prashant, Ankita, and Meiyang lack the vocal training. I think they cannot sing high pitched songs. Being energetic or a performer just doesn't work for me. It is Indian Idol and the focus should be singing. If you don't have the basics of singing what is the performance worth! Puja , Deepali, and Parleen are simply overrated.

Cheerios

One More From The Wisdom World

2007-07-13T11:06:00.000-04:00

Here is Sujata Brain-Apart re-quoting Napolean Bone-Apart:

'The best way to keep one's word is not to give it!'

Awesome quote. Since I tend to blabber a lot which often gets me into weird troubles, I definitely need to practise this one! My bestestest friend will definitely second that!

Cheerios

Of Sicko and US Health Care

2007-07-11T17:54:00.000-04:00

Sicko - The movie by Michael Moore, the harsh truth analyst as I refer to him, has set the health care discussion on fire. The movie talks about harsh realities of the United States health care system, about it's crippled structure, no health care for middle class, and high taxes that consume an average man's bank account. I haven't seen the move but now I really want to. The reason being the heated debate between Michael Moore himself and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Cnn's most trusted chief medical correspondent on Larry King Live yesterday. HERE is the link to the video. And HERE are Michael Moore's health care facts on his website. This man Michael, has guts to call Dr. Gupta a lier! Yes, that's what he did. The video is really intriguing. After reading Moore's facts, I believe Universal Health coverage may be a solution US is looking for, but I also think that it might not be the best one. We would still face challenges that we are not anticipating now. For sure, it will be cheaper. And if that is what the insured and uninsured Americans want, US should go for it! On that say, I really admire Hillary Clinton proposing universal health care more than a decade ago. If only politics wasn't politics, thing in US would have been different. And ofcourse, 'Sicko' wouldn't have been made.

Cheerios

Technology for Life

2007-07-09T18:52:00.000-04:00

The recent iPhone mania knows no bounds. People all over the worldwide web are talking about its good and bad features. Apart from these already well-known features, I found something that could really help in adverse times like a life emergency. I am talking about EMRs (Electronic Medical Records) on iPhone. How helpful it is to have our medical records on our iPhone!

Indeed, damn good feature. I assume the application was made for having hospital records and billing services on the cellphones of healthcare professionals. Diffusion of innovation would take time considering that laymen use only often-used applications available in a cellphone. But this is a good step in utilizing new technologies towards improving healthcare IT and life in a big picture. Read more about it HERE.

Cheerios

Color Crackle!

2007-07-04T14:40:00.000-04:00

Wow! I mean literally wow! That's how I would like to describe the splendid display of fireworks I saw yesterday. The best part of 4th July is not the holiday but the gorgeous show of fireworks put forth by the state authorities. I felt like a little child who dreamt of a bright night sky with colorful stars falling over her. The crackling of fire crackers only made me eager to see more and more. It was a magnificent experience. I always knew pisceans have their own dream-world but wasn't consciously aware of their child-like (not childish) demeanor on having their dream fulfilled. I chose to defy myself yesterday. Well, these moments are rare. I chose to be a child yesterday. Who cares! I enjoyed from the abyss of my heart.

Cheerios

Plagiarism in Bollywood

2007-06-28T17:50:00.000-04:00

If you think that bollywood is getting original these days, I recommend you to think twice. In view of some lovely chart buster melodies or occasionally interesting movie plots, we may be led to believe that movie buffs are getting value for their money. If only we could think more, we'd be sure that we are lying to ourselves. Get real. Here are the chronicles of plagiarism in bollywood. The saga has continued since eons and I see no reason to believe that originality is our next destination.

If you don't care about originality, just chill and enjoy.

Cheerios

Useless But Important

2007-06-21T09:12:00.000-04:00

Rummy is not a state that you reach after gulping loads of RUM. It is a popular cards game in India where you build sequences of 4 and 3 cards. The sequence of 4 cards has to be pure and no jokers can be used. The sequence of 3s are allowed to have 2 jokers at the maximum. Yesterday while chatting with MS, I realized how addictive and compelling this game is. There was once a time...long back...when I used to enjoy games like rummy. Sitting for hours non-stop without realizing that time is passing by, I used to get immersed in this game. Enchanting as it was, the game was fun also. It was an urge to win one game after another. There were other games like Paach-Teen-Don (this is marathi terminology for 5-3-2). One more game that I no longer play. I used to play it with my mom and brother. Lights went out in summer evenings and we (family/friends) used to hang out to do 'Nothing'. Just sit there, chat, and enjoy.

Those were the days. Quality time was spent with each other doing 'useless' things. Even if they seemed 'useless', they are of much value to me than things that I have to do now for the sake of being 'important' or 'meaningful'. Life was okay back then. I used to manage studies, some household chores, and most importantly the 'useless' time. It enhances bonding according to me. The world now I live in has no time at all. 24 hours are less. In today's times, I do everything because I have to do it. There is no time for hanging out for useless purposes. I love setting my priorities for my loved ones, because I know not everything can be achieved in a mere span of 24 hours. Sigh. I wish the days were longer now.

I don't enjoy summer as much as I used to in the past.

Cheerios

Avoinding Recurrence of 9/11

2007-06-20T21:40:00.001-04:00

Cheerios

Apprehension

2007-06-03T10:06:00.000-04:00

It becomes indeed difficult...when our fears start to become real.

Cheerios

A Land Far Away..

2007-06-02T19:58:00.000-04:00

Chhod aaye hum, woh galiyan...

I miss MY home very much.

Cheerios

Pirates of the Carribean III

2007-05-31T14:35:00.001-04:00

Utterly butterly disappointing! An ensemble of characters (I am being too generous here...there were 'god-knows-who-and-why-is this-person-here' characters) throughout the movie kept yapping. Yakity yak yak. The movie is difficult to follow although the pace isn't bad. A professional reviewer quoted that "It feels like you are in a Disney theme restaurant with over enthusiastic waiters". Jack Sparrow has lost his charm (He is barely in half of the movie). The triquels have started a 'disappointment chain'. Lets see how Oceans 13, Rush Hour 3, and Bourne Ultimatum fare.

Cheerios

Update

2007-05-31T08:11:00.000-04:00

A dear friend asked me to update my blog with the current happenings in my life. All the while I was thinking 'What could I write? What should I write? Is something really happening that I can blog about?'. Well, since a past few days, every step I took forward I moved four steps backward. All these days I personally experienced a quotation that another dear friend of mine always says, "You can beat anything but Stupidity!". How do I explain that? I can't. It is really complicated.

Cheerios

Against Superstitions

2007-05-20T11:26:00.001-04:00

"When a black cat crosses your path, it means that the animal is going somewhere!"
--- Grouch Marx

I just kept giggling on hearing this. Yeah, a funny way of combating superstitions.

Cheerios

Moto ROKR AD

2007-05-10T03:46:00.001-04:00

AB junior is awesomely funny! Ads ho to India ki warna naa ho! I just loved this ad. This ad is really creative and tickled my funny bone fully. Enjoy!

Hurray

2007-05-09T13:48:00.000-04:00

Yipeeeeee! I cleared my PhD qualifiers! Time to chillax and celebrate. I still can't believe it. Time to bask in the summery sun! Hurray!

And happy birthday dear NS or now NA!

Cheerios

Save Me Lord

2007-05-05T13:43:00.000-04:00

All winter I was patiently waiting for the snow to subside and make way for spring. And now that 'Spring' has arrived, I am all the more worried. Due to frigidity of the barren winter, I had completely forgotten that spring doesn't come alone. Hurricanes and Allergies go hand in hand with spring. Lord save me from those merciless allergies. Aaaacccchhhooooooooooooo!

-------

People say arguments are healthy. I say they are not! They were not meant to be healthy, otherwise they won't be called arguments.

Cheerios

What PHD Really Means!

2007-05-04T08:07:00.000-04:00

Patiently Hoping 4 Degree
Paid Holi..Days
Permanent Head Damage
Procrastination Hallucination and Depression
Pretty Hard Deal
Philosophically Disturbed
Please Hire. Desperate.
Pretty Homely Dork
Pathetically Hopeless Dweeb
Patiently Headed Downhill
Post Hole Digger
Pathetically Humiliated Donkey
Paid for Hired Dumbness (This one's from a very special friend)

Cheerios

Quotations...

2007-05-03T10:15:00.000-04:00

Few words yet so powerful, meaningful, and in them lies the depth of wisdom. These are the quotations, which I love to quote. Some of my favourites:

Salvation lies within! (Movie: The Shawshank Redemption)
First deserve, then desire.
If there is a better solution, find one.
Once you've gotten the meaning, you can't forget the words. (William Shakespeare)
It is better to bend a little than to break.
Attempting half-heartedly is like expecting failure and achieving it.
The best feelings are those that have no words to describe them.
Eventually all things merge into one and a river runs through it. (Movie: A River Runs Through It)
Either you learn from your past or you leave your past.
It is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice.
Stop analyzing, start living. Stop justifying, start rectifying.
Run towards and not away from your fears. (Robin Sharma)
We'll always have Paris! (Movie: Casablanca)
We marry because we want witnesses for our lives. (Movie: Shall We Dance)
If it wasn't this, it'd be something else. (Movie: Elizabethtown)
Attitude is a small thing that creates a big difference.
It is not what you are inside but it is what you do that defines you. (Movie: Batman begins)
Personality can open doors but only character can keep them open.

Cheerios

Lucky...I guess?

2007-05-01T22:40:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I feel I do not deserve what I have or what I am yet to get. It's such a strange feeling. Often strong enough to engulf my decisive thought process. It is so overpowering that I lose the very desire to cherish it........ And I do not know if it reveals a bad or more meaner side of me. I have to learn to take things slowly, patiently, and most of all maturely.

Cheerios

Nebula...

2007-04-29T10:15:00.001-04:00

I want to fill this void, but I am not sure 'which one?'!

Cheerios

WC '07

2007-04-28T08:36:00.000-04:00

There was once a time, I used to get excited to see all cricket matches, be it India versus someone or otherwise. But the sole reason for the interest, was Indian Team, and MIB. Ya, Sachin Tendulkar too. I dunno what has happened to all of it. The aura of the Indian team has vanished. We now suffer humiliating defeats. Sigh! And my interest in cricket matches went with it too..disappeared out of nowhere. I guess partly, this can be blamed upon the American college football.

I dunno, I feel like saying, 'Thank god! The WC 07 is coming to an end today with a predictable match!' If only the outcome was the one 'unexpected', I might just start watching some good cricket.

Cheerios

Some more...

2007-04-27T22:34:00.000-04:00

Quite an expression, a breather for an 'unusual' Friday night:

Aaj kuch yaad kar raha hai dil
Kisi ki fariyaad kar raha hai dil
Chup ke se keh diya dhadkano ne
Apno ko begana kar raha hai dil.....

Waqt ke saath halat badal jaate
Apno ke khayalat badal jaate hain
Jab azamane ka waqt ata hai
Khud apne jazbaat badal jaate hain....

Waqt guzarta raha par sanse thami si thi,
Muskura rahe the hum, par ankho mein namisi thi,
Saath hamare ye jahan tha sara,
Par na jane kyun kuch kami si thi....

Manzilein bhi uski thi, rasta bhi uska tha
Ek hum akele hi the, kafila bhi uska tha....

Kisi ko muqammal jahan nahi milta
Kabhi zameen to kabhi aasmaan nahi milta....

Phewww!

Cheerios

A Spoof I Can Relate To!

2007-04-21T10:01:00.000-04:00

Here is a spoof on the song, 'Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaye' from Guru dutt's 'Pyaasa'. Every grad student can relate to it. Found it on orkut. Enjoy:

Yeh paper yeh research yeh thesis ki duniya
Yeh science ke dushman publications ki duniya
Yeh results ke bhooke guideon ki duniya
Yeh PhD agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai !

Har ek student ghayal har ek boss pyaasi (or pyaasa)
Dimaagon mein uljhan dilon mein udaasi
Yeh laboratory hai ya aalame badhawaasi
Yeh PhD agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai !!

Yahaan ek khilona hai student ki hasti
Yeh hasti hai ya murda paraston ki grihasti
Yahaan par to hai thesis, chemicals se sasti
Yeh PhD agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai !!!

Jalaa do ise, phoonk daalo yeh paper
Mere saamne se hataa do yeh journal
Tumhaari hai, tumhi sambhaalo yeh thesis
Yeh PhD agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai !!!!

Cheerios

VTech Massacre

2007-04-18T18:23:00.000-04:00

Whatever happened was really brutal and grave. May god rest the departed souls in peace.

Thats The Way It Is

2007-04-12T11:15:00.000-04:00

Some of my favourite lines, that prep. me up, from the song "Thats the way it is!" by Celine Dion:

I can read your mind and I know your story
I see what you're going through
It's an uphill climb, and I'm feeling sorry
But I know it will come to you

Don't surrender 'cause you can win
In this thing called love

When you want it the most there's no easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is

When you question me for a simple answer
I don't know what to say, no
But it's plain to see, if you stick together
You're gonna find a way, yeah

So don't surrender 'cause you can win
In this thing called love

---

These lines sure have a magic feel. Be it any emotion in the world, you feel you have garnered some courage to face it all and lift up the spirits. I have resorted to this song a gazillion times before. And once more time, I croon.....

Cheerios

Revelation of A Sort

2007-04-11T18:33:00.000-04:00

Got to know this from TJ (and it ain't a joke!!):

Use the search term "Failure" in a Google search engine. The first link you would see is "President of the United States: George Bush". Hmm...

How Smart Google!!

Read from 'The Shiva's' blog that Google has a far-fetched sense of humor as well!

Cheerios

Movie Titles and College Students

2007-04-10T20:25:00.000-04:00

True....very true:

Exams - Socha na tha
Classes - Kabhi kabhi
Question papers - Na tum jano na hum
Copying - Yaarana
Maths2 - Asambhav (It really was 'asambhav' for me!!!!)
Maths1 - Mission impossible
1st semester - Kuch to hai
2nd semester - Yeh kya ho raha hai
Distinction - Kal ho na ho
1st class - Raju bangaya gentleman
2nd class - Dil mange more
Fail - Phir milenge

(All you gujju-based students..remember ATKT = Aavu Te Kevu Thayu (Tapasyu)? :D)

Cheerios

Gudi Padwa

2007-03-19T10:49:00.000-04:00

गुढीपाडव्याच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा!

Happy New Year to all Maharashtrians or Otherwise!

What a way to bring up the 200th post!

The Irish Luck

2007-03-17T22:11:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day to ya'll (If you care..)! Yesterday I geared up for St. Patrick's Day! The lucky green, the Irish luck! And guess what, the Irish themselves got a sweet taste of it! Where? Well, the Cricket World Cup in the Carribean. It was a shame to see a big and potential team like Pakistan kneel down to Ireland who came into this competition out of nowhere. And on the other side, it was much more shameful and frustrating to see our own MIBlue the Indian Team loose pathetically to a smaller team like Bangladesh. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Guys, if this is the way to begin the world cup, please return back, don't do any more favor.

Btw, Happy Birthday RS!

Cheerios

Joined da Bandwagon

2007-03-16T12:57:00.000-04:00

Yes, I have joined the bandwagon, the green one! Still did not get it? Well, its St. Patrick's Day tomorrow and I have decided to celebrate it for fun. Hence, my yahoo avatar is donning green. Wondering why do people celebrate it? Read about it here.

I liked the idea of sporting green color to celebrate the arrival of spring. Winter is pretty depressing and barren over here. To move from snowy white to a fresh green is like enthusing new life! The colour green also stands for hope and nature.

But anyways, green looks soothing too and I love it. So, I got one more reason to pretend I am Irish..lol.

Cheerios

Wonder Quote

2007-03-12T14:06:00.000-04:00

"A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?"
-- Robert Browning

I would say, ""A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven worth?"

Cheerios

Hrithik Roshan In Filmfare 2007

2007-03-11T17:46:00.001-04:00

Ahh! This is what I call a 'power-packed', 'smashing', and a 'true' performance. Duggu aka Hrithik rocks!

Spring Ala Re

2007-03-10T16:38:00.000-05:00

Spring ala re....and with a bang! I am really jubilated. It seemed to me that the winter lasted for ever. I can't wait to see greenery now. Yippee! There is more to spring than just winter retreat. After all these years, I have completed my coursework. Yippee again! Time to bask in the crisp sun before I gear up for my grueling qualifiers.

Cheerios

What Sorry?

2007-03-01T19:21:00.000-05:00

Sorry is one word that i sometimes hate from the bottom of my heart. The saying, "Angrez chale gaye lekin sorry chod gaye" aptly depicts the very nature of the word 'sorry'. I don't think it was meant to be used to fake emotions and justify an unjust behavior.

Sorry is misused.
Sorry is not incorrigible.
Sorry is not an excuse.
Sorry is not always apologetic.
Sorry is not a sentence filler word.
Sorry is used to shrug off responsibility.
Sorry is not justification.

How many of us have used sorry for the heck of it? Almost all, isn't it? Yes, I am no exception. But when we have to hear it from others, it only gives way to frustration and disappointment.

Cheerios

Film-Un-Fair Awards

2007-02-27T21:31:00.000-05:00

Yes, I saw the filmfare awards. I am the kind who would skip Oscars to watch apun ke desi stars! The compering by SRK and KJohar duo was strictly okay. I felt it was more about themselves, their failed film KANK and SRK's failed attempt to imitate Big B as Don. Hello, where are the compering dialogues?

There were some nice perfomances by Amrita Rao, Bipsha Basu, Rani Mukherji, and my favorite Hrithik Roshan. But guess who the scene stealer was? The one and only SRIDEVI. It was such a delight to see her recreate the 80s and dance to her hit numbers. Wow! She still rocks!

The lifetime achievement awards went to Javed Akhtar and Jaya Bachchan. Rightly deserved, I must say! Listening to Javed Akhtar's thank you speech made me spellbound. He is such a fine orater. Such a powerful orater, a true master of words. Filmfare then thought, we can only honor two people with achievement awards for lifetime; so why not give our own Yash Chopra a power award. Duh! Get over it people.

I expected entertainment and appreciation for good work. I think the cinegoers in India would have expected the same. To the contrary, the filmfare award function just turned out to be like a "family get together". The most coveted and prestigious awards were distributed only to the Chopras, Kapoors, Khans, and Bachchans. I was utterly disappointed to not see any nominations for some finest films this year. To name a few Dor, Being Cyrus, and Khosla ka Ghosla were the neglected ones. I truely believe that these films were different and deserved acclaim. If not the award itself, at least a nomination would have done some justice.

Kuch Khatta Kuch Meetha (Sweet and Sour)...That was this year's Filmfare Awards. Or rather Film-Un-Fair awards!

Cheerios

Food for Soul....My Way

2007-02-25T10:51:00.000-05:00

One of my "Sahir Ludhianwi" favourite:

"Niklete the kahaan jaane ke liye,
Pahunche hain kahaan maalum nahin..
Ab apne bhatakte qadmon ko,
Manzil ka nishaan maalum nahin...."

Cheerios

Of Webchutney

2007-02-22T17:58:00.002-05:00

It started with "Chitthi aayi hai" and continued with "Songcatcher" and "Khul Ja Sim Sim". What I am talking about here is the appreciation for the creative advertisements by Webchutney. The name of the company itself is interactive, isn't it? So are their ads. Their clientele are the creme de la creme of the business world including names like Microsoft, Google, Intel, Maruti Suzuki, and many more. Interactive marketing, thats what they aim at. And bingo, they do hit the bulls eye. I can vouch for their innovative nature of ads. If you haven't had a chance to enjoy any of those different and funny commercials, here are some of them:

'Chitthi Ayi Hai' - Microsoft Outlook
'Jugalbandi' - Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Groove
'Songcatcher' - Airtel
'Khul Ja Sim Sim' - Airtel
'Aao' - Make my trip
'Chidiya Udi' - Make my trip
'Chalo Lanka' - Make my trip
'Seeta Haran' - Make my trip
'Referrals' - Make my trip
'Moving train' - Make my trip
'Daddu Ki Amanat - Protex

Cheerios

The Meltdown

2007-02-20T21:32:00.001-05:00

Yippeee! Mercury in the barometer is rising high. Good 'ol sunshine is back. Back to stay in Columbus at least for a week. Sure there is a high hope of the biggest meltdown of the season. With steadily rising temperatures, huge heaps of snow that have piled up are expected to melt down. Ahh...what more do I want!

===

Britney spears is in news again and for all the wrong reasons. In the wake of her recently shaved head and recheck into a rehab, the 'once a sensation' pop star is being haunted by media continously. The paparazzi just can't get enough of her. Poor gal. Leave her alone. And why would we even care for the reason Britney shaves her head? Those are her hair. Let her manage them. It is okay if CNN tells me that a storm is approaching; that might help. Why would I love to see a 'Britney Spears' whenever I visit CNN? Give me news and not gossip. Also, let Britney live her life on her own.

The point I want to make is that every individual has his or her own life. Let them live it by themselves. No, I don't care what is happening with my neighbor or acquaintances from school. What I care about is MY life and I will pursue it as I like. Every person deserves this freedom.

Anyways, there is something to celebrate on the snow front.

Cheerios

Emancipation

2007-02-18T21:25:00.000-05:00

All I want is "Solitude"...........................

Really really bad.....................................

Up above the world so high..................

Cheerios

It Is About Money

2007-02-17T14:00:00.000-05:00

Read some Ralph Waldo Emerson quotations on money. I am still pondering over these. Grave truth, isn't it?

1) Money often costs too much.

2) Can anybody remember when the times were not hard and money not scarce?

These quotations have a shade of black reality that cannot be ignored. Those who have the bucks are lucky. Those who do not possess the moolah are happy as they are. And those somewhere in between, who don't have enough of it, are the ones the most unhappy creatures. Their entire life revolves around going from somewhere middle to somewhat high and in this process, happiness is lost.

In the morning I was discussing with a friend how human beings are the most evovled species on this earth. Right. But they are the most unhappy ones too. With our intelligence we have created a world that serves us with nothing but worries, troubles, tensions, and unhappiness. Animals with their less developed brains do not have a pseudo world and are free from such botherations. Gibberish, is it? If Darwin was alive, he would have seen how evolution is slowly leading to destruction of our inner world.

Cheerios

Weather Hath Fury

2007-02-14T09:57:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the weather god, my classes got cancelled yesterday and today. Yes, I am happy. Only students can experience the sheer joy of cancelled classes. Yippee! But then again, the weather is really horrible out here. The entire midwest endured this winter storm yesterday. As if it wasn't enough play for this destructive cold storm, the windy, icy, rainy, snowy weather continues to grace Midwest and Northeast today. Ah, what a lovely day to lash fury. Happy Valentine's Day ppl!

Cheerios

Spoof on Prescription Drugs

2007-02-07T15:26:00.000-05:00

Being a pharmacy professional, I occasionally enjoy related humor. If you are aware of the US health care system or know a bit about this high-priced and over-medicated society, then you would surely enjoy 'Drugs I Need' and 'License to Pill' spoofs. Don't worry if you know nothing about it, you will learn more from these (pun intended!).

Cheerios

The Art of Persuasion

2007-02-03T09:58:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I wonder and wish that I could persuade the people in my life - my family, friends, colleagues, and even those who don't know me! I knew it was a skill and it required at least some acumen. I just give up after a while even when I (in my hearts of hearts) know for sure that I am correct. I ain't proud of that. In fact, I need to work on my persuasion skills. And yes, verbal combat is not an answer to that! Even if it was, I would terribly fail. I just cannot be belligerently verbose.

'Persuasion' for me isn't the art of making people blindly believe and follow what I think. It is an art of conveying our thoughts agreeably. How do companies sell their products? Yes, by persuading people to believe them, right? How can one company keeps burgeoning more in the market than others? Thanks to their persuasive skills reaching out to people via the 'idot' box TV (Oh I still say TV and not Television). If not for persuasion, how would then a researcher demonstrate to people that his/her research has all the answers to fill the voids in scientific literature, despite the study being cap a pie flawed? This is life, a real world! We ought to know how to stick here!

I came across 'Introduction to Influence' while researching on Persuasion through Dr. KK. There are people who dedicate their lives to learning and delving more into persuasive skills. Strange, but again isn't that the whole point of this post - Persuasion? It is more than merely art, it is a science in itself.

No, I am not out of my mind. It does help.

Cheerios

Insight

2007-01-28T11:17:00.000-05:00

Maya Angelou:

"I have learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both the hands; you should be able to throw somethings back."

Hmm..now thats interesting! What to throw back, is our decision!

Cheerios

Demotivational Postcards..HUH?

2007-01-24T20:26:00.000-05:00

Yes, demotivational postcards it is! I got this forward in my mailbox and my immediate reaction was (no points for guessing) 'HUH?'. At least I saw such a thing for the first time. I mean, we do send postcards to motivate and cheer up people. Why would we want to send someone 'Demotivating thoughts'. But anyways, here is one that made me smile.

This "Indifference" postcard is funny. Yeah, it does not take any single muscle to look dumb. How easy is that! So why smile and why frown?
Look Dumb! Some of you lazy people out there, are you listening?

No, I ain't serious. Common, giving a smile would not only make our muscles flex, but would be some work for the gesture receiving person as well.

Cheerios...yeah Smile. Our muscles need ample strength. Give them what they need.

Morning Snow...

2007-01-21T10:35:00.000-05:00

Snow at my door step early morning...

I shall have to pave my own path...

Cheerios

At Times....

2007-01-20T15:23:00.000-05:00

A poem about the hassles of life and our inner strength to conquer them...

By Jill Eisnaugle

At times, she wished she had a boat
That would take her away
To someplace peaceful and remote
Where she could spend each day
Without the hassle and the grief
The sadness and remorse
A site where she could find relief
From life’s uncharted course.

Her boat would scale the highs and lows
Of every passing wave
To shield her from the ebbs and flows
Should times seem dark and grave
A refuge from a mighty storm
Graced by a docile wind
Where she would feel secure and warm
With nothing to defend.

At times, she wished she had a boat
That would eclipse the tide
Keeping her precious dreams afloat
Despite life’s bumpy ride
But soon, she will realize her craft
Is docked within her heart
Her fortitude is her life raft
From which, she will not part.

--------

It is a journey with obstacles.........always inbound.

Cheerios

The Paradox of Choice

2007-01-15T17:10:00.000-05:00

Read it on Aru's profile and loved it:

"Don't let someone be a priority in your life when you are only an option in their's."

Cheerios

Colbert Celebrity Feuds - Now thats funny!

2007-01-12T07:53:00.001-05:00


Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report on the celebrity feud between Amitabh Bacchan and Shahrukh Khan. It's a kick just to hear him pronounce Preity (or is it Priety. wtf?) Zinta's name. Hear him pronounce "Mohabbatein'. Zimbly Amazing!! Cheerios

Jeff Dunham and Walter on Letterman

2007-01-06T20:43:00.001-05:00

Wow! 'Ventriloquism' is indeed fascinating but extremely tough to master. Ever seen a Ventriloquist who makes us laugh? If you have, you know what I am talking about. Jeff Dunham is one such terrific stand-up comedian Ventriloquist. But more than him, I love his character Walter, a frustrated adult, who knows nothing but cribbing! Enjoy this video if you have a flair for such comedy.

Cheerios

Back to the Pavilion

2007-01-05T16:47:00.000-05:00

Yep, I am back to the Pavilion. After a short and crisp India trip, I am back again in the U.S. of A. Oh, how I wish the days were longer than they are! My vacation came and disappeared in a jiffy. That was definitely the break I had longed for and nurtured for two years. It was really nice to meet my loved ones. Alas! Family reunion times don't last long. I am back to being a regular PhD student. Help me survive here again god. Give me the strength to stay away from my family. Give me the patience to wait for another such break.

Am I happy? Yes, definitely. It feels damn good to be back on schedule and on blogosphere!

Cheerios

What a Blow!

2006-12-06T18:06:00.000-05:00

Ouch!

Did I expect it? No!

Did I want/need it? No!

Can I live with it? No!

Is it a concern? Yes!

And it hurts! Ouch!

Cheerios

Bleak

2006-12-03T22:42:00.000-05:00

Phew! After the snow storm hit Missouri, it came haunting for Ohio. It is 14 Farenheit tonight but without any snow showers. Bleak as it is going to be, this dark starry night, I wish was shorter.

Got some warmth from this quote:
" To be enlightened is simply to be absolutely, unconditionally intimate with this moment. No more. No less." - Scott Morrison

Unconditionally.....hmm........

Cheerios

Forbidden

2006-11-27T17:07:00.000-05:00

I have been strictly forbidden (by a close few) to utter the word "BORE". According to them, I have misused the word at my own leisure; apparently, I don't agree with them. Thats what I feel. But that word has been banned for me. People want to delete it from my list of handful-chosen words.

Err...how can I now express myself? :D:P

Cheerios

Hat Ke...

2006-11-26T08:51:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am on a movie spree these days. I take breaks during my study sessions to enjoy the bolly -flicks. Some of my close friends even call that as "Studying in breaks!" .

Saw Utthaan and Bas Ek Pal. Both very realistic and different. In bollywood, we call that 'Hat Ke'. Both movies are fast paced and leave you wanting for more; albeit the star cast and performances of BEP are far more exciting than the Utthaan. The story or screenplay (I can distinguish between the two) have a feel good factor to it. Not drastically different, but catchy.

It seems bollywood songs these days have very few words to choose from..not so hat ke. Three song titled "Tere Bin" - From BEP, Woh Lamhe, and Guru released this year. All three are hits and I am waiting for more. If you are an A. R. Rehman fan, you will go ga-ga over Tere Bin from Guru. Its the only song in my Winamp since a week. :D

Hope you folks had a good thanksgiving weekend! Ready to get back into gear from Monday?

Cheerios

And I Thought......

2006-11-23T21:53:00.000-05:00

What if you thought 'you were different......different than others......different than even the closest...' but you were made to realize that 'May be you are not'? May be I am or may be I am not. I don't know. But it did shrink my world to the fathoms of that dark abyss. I wish I can realize that nothing is ideal. It is a real world. But I thought.....I was distinct . May be I am not even close. Your set of the 'world' thinks you are a clone! I am lost in that abyss again.

Time to go to sleep and begin a new day afresh anew!

Cheerios

Three Cheers To The Buckeyes!

2006-11-18T20:02:00.000-05:00

Yo! Mucked Fishigan! One of the biggest rivalries in the US college football history was at its zenith today with OSU playing against UMich! I must admit that the game odds were in favor of Wolverines and they putforth a splendid display of their defense. The Buckeyes belligerently retorted and once more it was our offense that saved us. Infact, the Buckeye offense fetched us an entry into the National Championship and the Big Ten title games.

Hip hip hurray! Three cheers to the Buckeyes and well-played Michigan!

I am elated! Of course, its a carnival out here and I am gonna celebrate it!

Cheerios

Thoughtful Rants

2006-11-12T12:37:00.000-05:00

Hum ko maloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat lekin...
Dilko khush rakhney keh liye Ghalib yeh khaayaal achhaa hai....!

Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahan nahin milta
Kahin zameen to kahin aasman nahin milta
Jisay bhi dekhiyay woh apnay aap mein goum hai
Zuban mili hai magar hum zuban nahin milta
Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahan nahin milta....!

Cheerios

Jhute Ilzaam

2006-11-09T23:04:00.000-05:00

kaun kisako yahaa bhalaa samajaa
humane kyaa samajaa tumane kyaa samajaa
bewafaa humane tumako samajaa sanam
tumane humakohi bewafaa samajaa

jhute ilzaam meri jaan lagaayaa naa karo
dil hai naajuk ise tum aise dukhaayaa naa karo
jhute ilzaam meri jaan lagaayaa naa karo

meri aankhon mein jo achhe nahi lagate aansu
to jalaayaa naa karo mujhako sataayaa naa karo
dil hai naajuk ise tum aise dukhaayaa naa karo
jhute ilzaam meri jaan lagaayaa naa karo

tum kisi aur ki kismat mein ho tum mere nahi
ye agar sach bhi hai to mujhako bataayaa naa karo
dil hai naajuk ise tum aise dukhaayaa naa karo
jhute ilzaam meri jaan lagaayaa naa karo

yaa to taawir bataayo mere sab khwaabo ki
yaa koi khwaab in aankhon ko dikhaayaa naa karo
dil hai naajuk ise tum aise dukhaayaa naa karo
jhute ilzaam meri jaan lagaayaa naa karo

abhi aaye ho abhi baithe abhi jaate ho
sirf ek rasm nibhaane ko to aayaa naa karo
dil hai naajuk ise tum aise dukhaayaa naa karo
jhute ilzaam meri jaan lagaayaa naa karo

--- Film: Umrao Jaan (2006)

One For My Passion

2006-10-31T21:41:00.000-05:00

This one is for my passion. The art of dancing!

Recently I have been following Indian television shows like Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and Nach Balie with ardent fervor as if they were close to my heart. For those who aren't aware of these, JDJ and NB are shows were celebrities dance and compete for the trophy. While JDJ is a pretty good desi adaptation of 'Dancing With The Stars', NB entails real life celebrity couples charming us with their moves. It is such a joy for me to watch different genres of dancing styles, the portrayal of situations, depiction of words by movements, and learn some or the other thing every time a judge comment's on contestants' performance. I get so involved that I forget the distinction between being an audience and a keen critic.

What is disheartening is that which pair goes into the next round depends on the television viewers' votes through SMSes and calls. People obviously tend to vote for their favourite stars and not 'good dancers'. What are the studio judges for? Why cater decision power to such an large audience who (at least most of them) are not even aware of the 'D' of dancing. Favouritism takes the non-dancers/bad-dancers into one round after another. The so-called (and I believe this too) best jodi of NB, 'Narayani and Gaurav' were eliminated in the second round. Why? Because they neither got the people's support nor their co-contestants' who voted them out in a gimmick that was the controversy of NB. As for JDJ, the world and even judges knew that Shveta Salve was a true deserving winner, such grace, such style, and oodles of oomph. Be it Salsa, Samba, Jive, Cha cha, or apna Bollywood ishtyle dance, she was an epitome of perfection. But guess what, Mona aka Jassi of the Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi fame won the contest. Duh! Such a disappointment for the true admirers like me. Believe me its not a child's play.

Who cares? The Channels are earning TRPs in leaps and bounds. Only fans like us are left disgruntled. This is showbiz!

Cheerios

Taking a Chill Pill

2006-10-28T13:49:00.000-04:00

It seems like ages that I can relax at my own leisure. I feel exhausted and tired, yet I have fresh enthusiasm infused in me. I was so waiting for this moment. The moment my midterms got over on Friday, I felt like a free birdie and that my time was my sky though only for a couple of weeks before I resume the incessant daunting routine. It isn't that I am cribbing, everything comes with a price. This is just graduate school. I am enjoying a little bit more of my "same-old-grad-student" life though boring and nonhappening. I don't miss earning big bucks in some job while I crave for that kind of grad-life which seemed so monotonous at times. Believe me I have tons of friends who want their school life back! I am enjoying every fraction of a moment being a student and I shall continue my exaltation for two more years.....hopefully.

==
Every 'desi' friend these days asks me whether I am following the Champions trophy aka Mini World Cup currently held in India. Yuck! I have had it with being an ardent fan of cricket team. They have developed a habit of disappointing millions and millions of zealot fans. Whether we replace Sourav Ganguly with Rahul Dravid or Sachin Tendulkar with XYZ, no good can come of it. The MIB won't stop displaying pitiable performances especially on home ground. Who cares which team will win this cup or that trophy?

On the sports front, thank god the Buckeyes are playing well. The college football season will see its one of the most challenging 'Do or Die' matches - OSU vs. Michigan in mid November. I would not be surprised if this will end up being a clash for title.

==
Bollywood movies are getting worse day after day. I don't know why Farhan Akhtar remade Don. As tabloids put it, "Recreating the Magic of DON". What the heck? The earlier version was a Superhit movie in its time and made every character a legend. The new DON killed the magic, the entire essence of DON. All actors are unfit for their roles. What can be worse than seeing Kareena Kapoor (who has two left feet, and barely any sex appeal) stepping into the shoes of dancing queen Helen? How can we see Arjun Rampal as Jasjeet, originally portrayed by Pran? I don't even want to talk about SRK, Priyanka, Ompuri, and Boman Irani enacting their roles. Technology is all that you have got in this movie. Audience are used to seeing slick action in Hollywood movies, give us something original. Pray my friends, pray that SRK would stop remaking all Amitabh Bachchan hits. I really liked the tongue-in-cheek comment by the rediff reviewers, "If this is what you have got Farhan, dude lets go back to Three guys picnicking in Goa".

As for Jaaneman, it appears like a "boring-to-death" and hammering Broadway Hindi musical. So very predictable and cliche. It was utterly butterly boring. Duh! No matter how many shimmering stars you put in the movies, it doesn't always shine!

==
Hail the weather god in Ohio and he help us. Its an unendurable windy, rainy, chilly weather out here.

Enough of my rants. Blah blah blah, whatever. Time to take a chill pill. Time for a cozy comfy nap. Ye!!!!!!

Cheerios

One More Year Older

2006-10-25T17:14:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to my dearestestest brother TJ!

Cheerios

Festival of Lights is Here!

2006-10-19T14:12:00.000-04:00

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY DIWALI!

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दीपावली की ढेर सारी शुभकामनाऎ!

Cheerios

Set it free

2006-10-15T10:09:00.000-04:00

Wizard of Oz: "Hearts will never be practical until they are made unbreakable!"

The soul's tug-of-war between clinging to things and setting 'em free never ceases. The more we cling, the more it hurts. How to let it go? I dunno. It is a quest for me and I am ready to take it. I must first distinguish between what is material and what is eternal!

As the Bhagwad Gita preaches,

"sattvam rajas tama iti gunah prakrti-sambhavah
nibadhnanti maha-baho dehe dehinam avyayam"

Translation: Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas - these three qualities born of material nature tie down the imperishable soul to the body.

"sattvam sukhe sanjayati rajah karmani bharata
jnanam avrtya tu tamah pramade sanjayaty uta"

Translation: Sattva drives one to joy and Rajas to action; while Tamas, clouding wisdom, incites one to error as well as sleep and sloth.

I wonder what prevails more within myself - Rajas or Tamas?

Cheerios

Yippppiiieeee !

2006-10-13T22:40:00.000-04:00

Finally...I got my driver's licence. Time to celebrate!

Cheerios

Overreacting

2006-10-05T22:46:00.000-04:00

Overreacting. Yes! Thats what I do sometimes conciously knowing but moraly unknowing. I know I am overreacting but still i cannot restrain myself at that very moment. No brownie points for guessing that it is coupled with heaps of troubles. Come to think of it, the root cause of overreaction are gigantic expectations.

People say, human beings have wants and needs. I say, besides those two we also have expectations from anything be it living or non-living. The whole 'to expect' thing is like a surmise. We base our wants on our expectations and call it a need. It is not only crucial to differentiate between wants and needs but also to understand how much to "expect" or "contemplate" about something. I have to learn it and I shall! Vicious chain, aint it?

Somewhat similar to my situation, is this famous quote from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain:

"..Then away out in the woods I heard that kind of a sound that a ghost makes when it wants to tell about something that's on its mind and can't make itself understood, and so can't rest easy in its grave, and has to go about that way every night grieving..."

Ghost here represent my mammoth expectations. It is indeed difficult sometimes for our mind and heart to come to the same decision/conclusion/understanding.

Cheerios

Remembering Ghalib

2006-10-03T22:13:00.000-04:00

D'eja vu! Again, it is one of those moments where we expect a lot but get disappointment, where we wait a lot for nothing, where we wanted to say a lot but couldn't speak, and where no one knows who is at fault. Sad yet funny, isn't it? Guess who comes to my rescue then.."Ghalib". His ghazals are so surreal. I feel like crooning to some of Ghalib's compositions....right here right now.

"Humko maloom hai jannat ki haqeqat magar
Dil ke behlane ko ghalib, yeh khayal achcha hai.."

"Hazaron khwaahishein esii k her khwaahish pe dam niklay
Bohat niklay miray armaan, lekin phirr bhi kam niklay.."

"Aye dil-e-nadaan, aye dil-e-nadan..
Aarazoo kya hai, joostajoo kya hai.."

I am not much of a ghazal fan but Ghalib is one exception.

Btw, PKSE (Pyar Ke Side Effects) is a one-time-see but definitely much better than those candyfloss multi-starrers.

Cheerios

Fortune or Advice?

2006-09-18T12:25:00.000-04:00

A chinese fortune cookie told me "Patience is one of the hardest virtues to master!". And my personality prayer is, "God give me patience and give it to me now!". What do I do?

Cheerios

Of Tenses

2006-09-14T09:57:00.000-04:00

Often we battle with our innerself to catch a foothold somewhere between living life in the past and ignoring the present or trying to forget the past and living the present or somewhere similar. Many of us do experience such turbulent emotional outbursts, isn't it?

Someone has rightly and wisely said: "Life is always lived forward but understood backward!" So true!

I wish there was brigde connecting the two tenses so that we could tread down the memory lanes re-living the cherished moments and improvising the deemed-to-be-forgotten ones. But again, let bygones be bygones. The best option is to pave a path for a better future!

===

I am very much elated this hour as Sachin Tendulkar is back and back again handsomely. He scored a smashing 141 runs (including 13 fours and 5 sixes) against the Windies. What more could I ask for! I hope he stays with his rejuvenated form for good. So what if they won? We got a player back. Damn the D/L method.

Cheerios

Recent Movie Mania

2006-09-13T11:34:00.000-04:00

Saw some handful of movies in the past coupla weeks. Some old, some new, some criticized, and some hyped. Audiences these days have a penchant for something different, certainly not the run-of-the-mills.

KANK: Yuck! It should be named "Desparate lovers seeking a raison d'être". I guess Karan Johar is better at making candyfloss entertainment. Sparing a couple of songs and some rare specific-scene-limited performances this film has nothing to offer. And it is bagging laurels in the Toronto film festival. Gosh!

LRMB: Okie-dokie! One-time entertainer with a good concept. Definitely different. The director should receive an award for light-hearted motivational drama. But it is too far from reality. Thank god, they show the appearance of Gandhiji as Munna's hallucination!

Omkara: Falls below my expectation. The hpye and hoopla this movie generated was the very cause that it plummeted at the Box office. I couldn't sit through 2 and half hours of bihari slang. If you still wanna see, go and see for Saif Ali Khan's praiseworthy performance.

Corporate: Top Class. Another classy movie by Madhur Bhandarkar. Nice work by the entire star cast.

Devil Wears Prada: Chick flick! Ahh..Meryl Streep is awesome. Anne Hathaway is cute. But the movie fails to entertain.

Superman Returns: Why did he have to return? Chalta hai type film. The earlier versions of superman were more promising.

Friends With Money: Not to be seen when you desire entertainment. Strangely sadistic movie. Everybody is sad, depressed, frustrated, and it still ends like that. I did not understand what the movie was all about!

Waiting for some better movies.

Cheerios

Am I a Nomad?

2006-09-12T10:17:00.000-04:00

"Musafir hoon yaaron, na ghar hai na thikana..Mujhe chalte jana hai bas...chalte jana hai.."

Remember this beautiful song penned by Gulzar? Kishore da crooned it and gave it a soul. A searching soul, I would say. Yes, life takes a nomadic course time and again. Nothing stays for ever. Life moves and so do we. From one thing to another, searching and hoping to find a niche only to leave it sometime later.

Why am I saying all this? Because I just shifted my apartment. Yes, rather than it being a gruelling experience, it appeared more emotional. I wonder how long am I gonna keep hopping! I get accustomed to fit myself in an unknown world and after an era of emotional bonding with the place, I quit it to find a new shelter. C'est la Vie!

And I couldn't agree more with the quote of the day by Mary Wollstonecraft: "The beginning is always Today!"

Cheerios

Ganapati Bappa Moriya

2006-08-26T09:15:00.000-04:00

Happy Ganeshotsava!

Cheerios

Shhh....

2006-08-24T23:27:00.000-04:00

Silence can express what words cannot!

Silence is light..
silence is dark..
silence is power..
silence is feeble..

Silence is golden.....but only seldom!

Can anyone comprehend Silence? You can! My alter ego and my agony aunt...hats off to you! :)

Cheerios

Ouch!

2006-08-20T11:03:00.000-04:00

I just bit my toungue....ouch it hurts. But i enjoyed it. No, I am not a masochist. Blame it on the "Tongue Twisters". I love them. Really. I am not childish either. Believe me TTs can be addictive and quite a challenge. Ever tried playing with them? I am still not able to master this one, which happens to be world's one of the most difficult tongue twisters. No seriously, try this one: "SIXTH SICK SHEIK'S SIXTH SICK SHEEP".

And yeah, no pauses are allowed in between words. Say these tongue twisters (each one) continuously for 5 times. It is addictive and a dose of humor too!

Here are some of my favourites:

"Pakke ped ka pakka papita."

" A skunk sat on a stump. The stump thought the skunk stunk. The skunk thought the stump stunk. What stunk the skunk or the stump."

If you want to purport your addiction further, click HERE !

Cheerios

One of those moods...

2006-08-18T23:24:00.000-04:00

"mere mann ye bata de tu
kis or chala hai tu
kya paya nahi tune
kya dhundh raha hai tu
jo hai ankahee jo hai ansuni
woh baat kya hai bata..."

-- Mitwa from KANK

A very refreshing and soulful song that I heard in the recent times. The last one was Woh Lamhe from Zeher. One more addition to my chosen ones!

Cheerios

Double Dhoom

2006-08-12T22:07:00.000-04:00

They are back again! Yes, the 'Dhoom' team is back with a bang. The theatrical trailer of the sequel to 2004's superhit movie Dhoom, titled 'Dhoom 2' is out. If the desi version of hollywood need-for-speed movie Fast and Furious, Dhoom, left you greedy for more, I bet D:2 is going to be more adrenaline-pumping. If you haven't checked out the trailer yet, it is HERE!

Being a devout Dufan (Duggu Hrithik's Fan), I grabbed the opportunity as soon as it knocked on the door of my firefox browser. I must admit, the entire look of the movie is really 'Slick'. From the promos it seems a suave remake of a hollywood flick. I seriously do not mind the movie being a remake. All I want to see is a mammoth starcast of HR, Junior B, Ash, Bips, and Uday teamed together to create more Dhoom. Abhishek totally rocked as the smart cop and Uday was funnier as the street lad in the prequel. To add to the glamor of D:2, Bipasha Basu is seen as a desi Lara Croft. Aishwarya teams up with Hrithk. Both are going to sizzle the screen in grey shades. Wow! Could I ask for more?

Hrithik dons a new hairdo. He definitely looks more dashing than ever. I just could not hold myself back from gawking at the more sexier Hrithik. I just cannot wait to see the movie. No seriously.

Cheerios

Déjà Vu !!

2006-08-10T17:07:00.000-04:00

I guess PhD students revisit the banality of the above situation often. How often? Well, that depends on their advisor! Lol.

Oh yeah, I am feeling it again too! Déjà Vu!

Cheerios

Hope

2006-08-07T16:25:00.000-04:00

"Hope is a good companion but a poor guide!"

Argh, could not agree more. I just don't like those Ifs and Buts. They make life weaker.

Cheerios

Is It A Matter Of Choice?

2006-08-03T19:46:00.000-04:00

Came accross this Greg Anderson quote today:

"You can't expect to prevent negative feelings altogether. And you can't expect to experience positive feelings all the time...The Law of Emotional Choice directs us to acknowledge our feelings but also to refuse to get stuck in the negative ones."

Is it just choice? What about personal preference to be in a particular state of mind? We all have some or the other preference and our choices are always dominated by those preferences, isn't it? Or are we prejudiced to certain extent that we don't want to justify and accept the other side of the coin? Forget about just the two sides of the coins. There can be also a bridge between the two opposite banks of a river, right? I think it is just how we chose to express our feelings to portray ourselves in a particular way. Who cares though? Things are not always justifiable. What say ya?

Cheerios

Post 26/7

2006-07-26T17:16:00.000-04:00

Wow. A year has gone by since I defended my master's thesis. Still cannot believe it! No actually, I cannot. It is not because I completed my official requirements for graduation last year that I will remember this day, but for another reason. The Mumbai rain disaster. Yeah, it was on the same day as my thesis defense. I still remember how worried I was for my folks down there, my little cousins. Hmm. Where are all of us post 26/7? Still here. Today is also 26/7 but a new year, new place, new friends, and a new life. Life moves on. New challenges come and go hoping to faze out some memories. It is just a temporal transition with new circumstances everyday.

Cheerios

How To Tick People Off?

2006-07-23T11:03:00.000-04:00

Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 99 copies.
In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sexual favors."
Specify that your drive-through order is "TO-GO."
If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.
Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.
Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."
Reply to everything someone says with "that's what you think."
Practice making fax and modem noises.
Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc" them to your boss.
Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.
Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy."
Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears and grimacing.
Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge across the room.
Holler random numbers while someone is counting.
Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."
Staple pages in the middle of the page.
Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a croaking noise.
Honk and wave to strangers.
Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints at the cash register.
TYPE IN UPPERCASE.
type only in lowercase.
dont use any punctuation either
Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets.
Repeat the following conversation a dozen times.
"DO YOU HEAR THAT?"
"What?"
"Never mind, it's gone now."
As much as possible, skip rather than walk.
Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "No, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.
Ask people what gender they are.
While making presentations, occasionally bob your head like a parakeet.
Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.
Sing along at the opera.
Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.
Ask your co-workers mysterious questions and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something about "psychological profiles."

Found this article while stumbling i.e. surfing in firefox. Funny, ain't it?

Cheerios

Quote Unquote

2006-07-21T14:52:00.000-04:00

Coupla days back I read this quote: "Research is when you don't know what you are doing."

To me it is, sometimes, as is right now; "Research is when you don't know what you are supposed to do!"

As captain Jack Sparrow puts it in POCII, "Savvvvvvy???"

Whatever be it, enjoy your weekend folks.

Cheerios

Vanity

2006-07-14T22:35:00.000-04:00

The smog of ego
Is so deft it can rid our
World of fervency.

How true! Ruins of all those moments rest scattered over the reigns of desires leaving me parched!

Cheerios

Flurry At Box Offices

2006-07-12T16:55:00.000-04:00

Jack Sparrow, rather Captain Jack Sparrow is back with a bang. With 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' releasing this friday, the wait is over. Surely the movie hit theatres after a much awaited three year time and it showed its effect on the box office opening collections. POCII clinched the title of hollywood movie with biggest opening ever. Wow! Yes, POCII is here. It has its moments of fame and lull. Though the movie is entertaining, it appears a bit strectched. A swashbuckler, POCII belongs to Johny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley. And the saga doesn't end here, it leaves you greedy for more. Yes, POCIII captioned 'At World's End' is ready to captivate your attention in 2007. Also, hitting theatres in later this year is Mel Gibson's Apocalypto! Man, I can hardly wait!

Btw, the desi box office is having a party too. Krrish emerged as a money spinner (100 crores in 14 days) and RDB and Fanaa also rocked the box offices all over. And still there are more movies in line to create new records. I am waiting for the gamut of biggies: Dhoom2, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Don, Umrao Jaan, Jaaneman, and Babul. Super duper star cast...wow we have galaxies of stars lined up!

As a crazy movie buff, I am excited!

Cheerios

Bounce Back....But On A Different Ground ?

2006-07-10T15:01:00.000-04:00

This is my glimpse of my most adored player 'Sachin Tendulkar' after a huge hiatus by the GOD of Indian Cricket himself. Seen in the picture below is Sachin with his wife Dr. Anjali Tendulkar in the Royal Box at the Wimbledon court engrossed in watching the clash between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the men's single title. I am delighted to see Sachin resurfacing in the media.

Hope ya'll had a great weekend.

Cheerios

Significance or The Lack of It?

2006-06-27T17:12:00.000-04:00

Astronomy gripped me again. This picture (forwarded by NS) shows the size comparsion of all the planets in the Solar system. The next picture compares how gigantic the Sun itself is, making us look so small, so insignificant. Despite the size of all the other planets, our very own Earth is the only planet where LIFE thrives.

Small yet Alive!

Mesmerizingly HUGE Sun!

And these are just objects to demonstrate the comparison. Wow!

Cheerios

Oops...I Did It Again!

2006-06-25T12:06:00.000-04:00

Another online presence for me...argh..I am losing the track of alla'em. Hmm. After Orkut, I really admire the Y! team, to have created an all-in-one profile page. Keep up the good work. Just did it for killing time, but found it good. HERE is my profile.

Cheerios

Tagged Again.....But This Time It Is WEIRD!

2006-06-24T14:47:00.000-04:00

Wow, I got Tagged again! This time by Zoxcleb. This tag is about six things I think are weird about myself. Only six to enumerate, that ain't fair for such a weirdo like me. Lol. Anyways, five weird things about me are:

1. I am an orderliness freak. To call me a freak would be an underestimate. If people don't do it, I do it for them. I just cannot see things out of order.

2. I am a complete foodie! I have atleast one dream per week regarding food; what to eat, where to eat, what to cook, what to try, etc. No wonder people call me Petu!

3. I am a neat handwriting buff too. I judge people quickly from their handwriting. I always use a black gel pen while writing reports or important letters or while signing. I used to do that a lot in India. Though this weird habit of mine has subsided to a certain extent, I still save my black gel pens for the best. After three years of dwelling in the US, I haven't used even half the ink of my black cello gel tip pen that I got from India. It still is my cherished one!

4. I love to talk on the telephone. I can remain glued to the two-way-blabber box for hours, infact aeons. And I am not exaggerating. Ask my friends. They will vouch for it! My cell phone carrier company should offer me some special deals. Lol.

5.To be an ardent fan of Hrithik Roshan and seeing all his movies atleast 8 times itself is weird according to some..well most of the folks who know me. Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Duggu's first movie, deserves a special mention here; I saw it 53 times!

Weird ain't it. I know. Thats what the tag is about. :P People who happen to read my blog or this post for that matter, feel free to get tagged!

Have a nice weekend people!

Cheerios

I Believe I Can Fly

2006-06-20T18:09:00.000-04:00

No, I don't want to fly. I know I am a human. But I do want to achieve certain things far beyond my reach. I want to break the fences of my claustrophobic quotidian life and reach for my aspiration. Can I? Can You?

Simply the thing that I am shall make me live.
- William Shakespeare

Belief in the self is the strongest motivation one can expect and also create in themselves. Belief in the self is enough to go with the tide and also against it. To proceed further from here, it is just enough for me to believe in myself, in whatever action/task I undertake.

Btw, Click HERE to see a pseudo rainbow.

Cheerios

United Nations ?

2006-06-14T11:19:00.000-04:00

This is the United Nations Road in the historic city of Philadelphia. Flags from all the UN members glorify the beauty of this road that leads to the heart of the city, its downtown! This is photography in motion, I clicked it while touring the city in an open roof bus. Btw, can you spot the Indian tricolor?

Cheerios

Weirdo....Me?

2006-05-16T18:38:00.000-04:00

"Everyone is somebody's Weirdo'!

How true! We think we are normal, and find a lot of people around us eerie. Have we ever imagined, that in an own world of theirs, their insanity is not abnormal; infact, we seem weird to them. Their infinitesimal eccentricities are quite a second nature to what we call weird people. I don't know who defined the word 'weird'. Is there a scale to judge what would and would not qualify as being weird? Frankly, I do not know. I am seeking an answer, to some extent an explanation to gratify my soul and support my societal nuances as being one of theirs and not an outcast.

You might now think, isn't this weird, is she eccentric? May be. Nevertheless, it is my regular way of channeling my 'regular' thoughts. I seem weird to you. May be you seem weird to me. If it were even existant; the benchmark of eccentricity, would still continue to be irrelevant, given the unfathomable philosophies people pursue.

Cheerios

A Beautiful Postcard......

2006-05-15T13:13:00.000-04:00

Came accross it while browsing. Isn't it truely beautiful?

Cheerios!

21st Century.....

2006-05-08T08:56:00.000-04:00

Our Communication - Wireless
Our Dress - Topless
Our Telephone - Cordless
Our Cooking - Fireless
Our Youth - Jobless
Our Food - Fatless
Our Labour - Effortless
Our Conduct - Worthless
Our Relation - Loveless
Our Attitude - Careless
Our Feelings - Heartless
Our Politics - Shameless
Our Education - Valueless
Our Follies - Countless
Our Arguments - Baseless
Our boss - Brainless
Our Job - Thankless
Our Salary - Very less

Cheerios!