Random

24-12-08
Last few days of 2008....
No New Year resolutions....those things never worked for me :)
Just wish that the New Year brings happiness for people dear to me. That’s my only Wish... To keep everyone safe and happy!
I believe that ...if u wish for more...Then you are greedy...
So lesser the better...Hehehe
Merry Christmas!!!

Raj Thackeray's Reaction to Mumbai Terrorist Crisis

• Raj Thackeray has threatened to beat up the NSG, Army and Navy Commandos if they enter Mumbai again because most of them are Non Marathi Manoos
  

• He also has threatened violence if the Sign Boards of NSG, Army and Navy are not written in Marathi
  

• He also expressed his anger towards the non Marathi media for giving so much attention to NSG, Army and Navy Commandos
  “Where was the media when my Marathi Manoos gang was beating up innocent taxi drivers in Mumbai??”
  

• He has also threatened the residents of Colaba for chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" after the successful completion of NSG operations .According to him they should have chanted "Jai Maharashtra"
  

• He said that he has no problems with terrorists so long as they adapt to the Marathi culture and help him beat up innocent non Marathis in Mumbai. In fact, he welcomes terrorist action in hotels because it will deter outsiders from coming to Mumbai
  
  

Courtesy: http://www.zeenews.com/states/2008-11-29/487182news.html (COMMENTS: Rajeev- UK)

Candle in the wind

A Soldier's Story

http://www.hodierne.com/rock.htm

This is an article I came across in reader's digest a long time back


gud one...

Story & Pictures Courtesy: Robert Hodierne

MMA Blog?

Being a life long fan of martial arts and more recently mixed martial arts,I have decided to start an MMA blog! Haven't zeroed in on a name yet .It is a subject that i browse most on the internet .And its a growing sport.So it's win/win situation anyways.

Dad has been around me trying hard to get rid of my lazy nature .Things are fine when he is around me .But when he is away ,all the dominoes crash down.Back to Square One.Personally i think i have a 5/10 rating on the LAZYMETER.So there is room for improvement :)

I haven't received my new ATM card yet.The courier people have been pinging it from 1 place to another.Nothing new.

Today,on the way to office my cab driver clipped a bike rider .Luckily there was no injury .But that #@&*!#$(F word in continous tense) @#$@@#$(B word) does not even accept that it was his fault .He even tried to yell at the poor biker(a 50 something man).There was lotsa space for him to move the vehicle but he kept on moving it to the left trying to overtake the bike .I was so pissed but preferred not to try getting some sense into his cranium.Waste of meat! Sent a complaint mail to transport dept.But most probably SHIFT+DEL is the answer for such emails .

I always thought that my house owner was a myth .I have heard stories of him coming and collecting the rent.There was no news of him for last 6 months .No response to calls.Nothing.Then yesterday he suddenly appeared from nowhere and i now i have to pay 6 months rent in all.Bad things happen to good people these days .What a shame.

Oh i almost forgot.I went for DRONA(It's a hindi movie btw( if you din't know)).Critics have been trying to murder it from day one.I don't find it that bad.Technically it rocks.But lotsa bad songs in wrong places !

And hey when you have time ..check out this song - Mummer's Dance by Loreena McKennitt

Untitled

Another beautiful day in the garden city.
I am in the office .There is not much work today.Had woken up just in time for office.Did not have time to shave.Brushed and bathed though :) . Had to run to catch the route cab to office.I suspect that the stubble on my face makes me look like a thug :).Girls seem to like 'bad' guys.So what the heck eh?
Travelling in the Bangalore traffic for one and a half hrs can be suffocating.I slept off after a while .Woke up when i bumped my head on the window when the vehicle slowed down abruptly.Spent the rest of the time reading a book titled FL!P(read as FLIP).It deals with the ability to 'flip' - to think counter-intuitively and then act boldly, with no regard for 'business as usual' conventions.The author is Peter Sheahan who is globally recognised as a leading expert in workforce trends and generational change. He still under 30 ,in a short span had built a multimillion dollar consulting practice, attracting clients such as Coca-Cola, L'Oreal and Ernst & Young. He is one of Australia's foremost strategic thinkers and business consultants.Anyways I liked the book ! Makes sense.

Time Management & Planning are things i gotta work on.Biiiiiiiig Time.....

Oh by the away adding insult to injury ,my atm card got stuck in the atm couple of days back.Had to get the card deactivated and apply for a new one .


Anyways things are good the way they are ...

Dusk

View of Bangalore sky captured from our rooftop.Beautiful isn't it ...

Becky

hmm...

After a long hiatus (well ...not that long) I am back. I was home last week. The trip as always was refreshing. Even though i was very happy about it, it made me rue over what i was missing every single day. But things are good as they are .I have learned to take everything in a positive way. There is a single way to move and that is forward. So be it.

I prefer buses when i travel home as it drops me nearby home.Travelling by train is not that good an option as i have to take a 30 minutes bus ride from the railway station. Airlines are no longer an option as the new Bangalore Airport is miles away and the air fares are not affordable anymore.

The bus I was in broke down on the way. I got out .It was close to midnight and the bus was parked in some place along the highway. I got out because of a strong urge to take a leak. I went and used the toilet in a petrol pump nearby while the bus driver and others were trying to fix the vehicle. There was no light in the toilet. With the 5 Watt light from my cell phone for light, i did the needful and quickly exited.

Bus driver and co were trying to repair the bus .After a while they suddenly said there is nogo.They stopped another bus and asked the rest of passengers to board it .They said that as it was Friday & no buses were free and there is no point waiting. There were no seats in the new bus and the only option was to stand or sit in the empty space between seats till next main city is reached(it could easily take another 6 hrs).I did not see a single person raise voice and people started taking their bags and boarding the new bus. Imagine 64 people in a 32 seater bus and that too including women and children. Some of us protested and asked them to repair the bus or get an alternate. They did not comply saying the issue could be repaired 'only' by a mechanic from Bangalore. I decided enough was enough. I went to the Petrol bunk nearby and asked for Phone no of the local police station. I called the Polic Station. As usual they were non responsive. I managed to get the Sub Inspector's no. The SI was a lady who said not to worry and that she will be there soon. Just before the Police arrived the 2nd bus left with 26 passengers leaving us 6 behind. When the police came, we explained the situation and the Inspector asked them to get us an alternative and even took their vehicle registration papers and asked them to get it the next day . We thanked her and we managed to get another bus in due course of time. Bus i am sure all of them felt bad that no one supported us for the common and just cause. But i felt happy and contented that what we did could stop such things from happening again. We later came to know that all those people who had gone earlier had a tough time and reached after we did.

Certified

I made a late decision to take the ITIL V3 Certification. It was like now or never. I was tensed about the outcome. It was not about about passing/failing. It was about the money involved. The certification itself costs around 165 USD .Man... that's lotsa money right there.
So...attended the certification today and passed by god's grace .The strangest thing is that I got 100 % in it. I am not trying to be humble but the last time I got cent percent in a paper was in LKG.So at the end of the day, i am a very happy man.


**The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is a customizable framework of best practices designed to promote quality computing services in the information technology (IT) sector. The Certification enables people to understand the terminology used within ITIL. It focuses on foundation knowledge with regard to the ITIL Service Support and Service Delivery sets as well as generic ITIL philosophy and background

At last ....Gold!!!

Its very strange that it took India 108 years of participation in Olympic games to win an individual Gold medal .The last time India won the gold was for Hockey at the 1980 Moscow Olympics .It's a welcome relief as it may wash away some angst at the National Hockey team for not qualifying.

Cheers to Abhinav Bindra for making the country proud. News is already out that various States and Organizations are competing in announcing cash prizes. Good for Abhinav .He deserves every bit of it .But why doesn't anyone realize that he will be earning exponential amounts for endorsements in years to come. If they had so much money to spare, there are numerous ways to use it to develop our infrastructure. But anyways...better not dig graves on this awesome occasion.

No one believed it could happen until it actually did. Better late than never

Nobody cares!

In today's world, the rich are getting richer and poor becoming poorer. But there is no space for sympathy or even empathy. People just keep moving blindly forward without giving a damn about what's happening around them. I bet you and even me would think twice before helping someone in need. I saw an article in the local news paper which showed the sad plight of a 10th standard kid and his suffering family. I normally read right through these pages so as to get to the sports or entertainment column .But, I don’t know why, i just stopped and read the complete article. I was very moved by it and decided to send some much needed cash (whatever I can afford).I talked to my friend who a social worker was trying to get her to talk to her roommates as I thought help from any quarter was to be taken. While she was telling explaining the story to them, they all crowded around her .But as the story unfolded, they began to lose interest. Comments like," These kinds of stories come in news everyday. How can you help all of them?” Even though she has had heard enough, as loyal a friend she was, my friend asked them again if they will lend help. Silence! She later told me that she felt embarrassed by non- responsiveness. I think it should have been the other way around.
She always sees the glass half full than half empty and says everybody has their own opinion about these things and we should respect it. I am not a Buddhist and do not take things like these too kindly.
I was not ready to give up. Rang up dad. Talked to him. First thing he said was,"Give me the address the money has to be sent" .It may sound dramatic but I truly feel blessed to have a family who always stands by me no matter what.

Later, when I went to office, I thought of letting my team mates know of the matter. After all, they are rich folk who like most of their IT counterparts spent large chunks of money on meaningless things .So, I sent across a mail to my teammates which go like this...

Hey Guys,

This is a heart touching story I read in today’s paper. It’s about the sad plight of family of two brothers both of who are woodcutters.
5 years ago, the elder brother had an accident .While cutting a tree, the roots gave way and the tree fell on him .He was paralyzed .He is unmarried. The younger brother who has wife and 2 kids had to take the burden of the family on his shoulders. Two months ago, disaster again struck. While cutting a tree branch he slipped and fell breaking his back. He too is bed ridden .His elder son who is in 10th standard works in order to support his family. He cannot even manage to get enough money to buy medicines .Even though the school he studied in offered him free education he cannot continue as he needs to support the family. His mother is unable to go outside the house as her husband and brother need help for everything .They even need assistance in doing their basic body functions. A committee has been set up by good hearted people living near by. They are expecting assistance of any kind for the suffering family
This is a terrible story and I was really moved by the plight of the family. I have decided to sent in some help .I thought I would let you know of this as you can also pitch in as this is for a good cause. Doesn’t matter if you are not interested in doing any monetary aid. A prayer or two would do.

Vivek


After getting the mail there was absolutely no response from the team. I was becoming embarrassed now.

Then came a mail from one of the guys!
It was a one liner - "Sure will do it ….!"

I was delighted .At least some one cares. He was sitting near me. So I went to him and said-"So you will really help eh?” His reply proved to be the final nail in the coffin-

“Yes dude.....I will definitely... pray.”

Brutal

This is a piece of news which really shocked me.
This is a story which appeared in Hindu, July 23, 2008

Belgaum: On Tuesday morning, passers-by on Belgaum-Ganeshpur Road in front of Benon Smith School here were shocked to see an abandoned calf bleeding. The animal was in pain after someone had cut its ears and tail.

With no help coming from anybody, the calf collapsed on the ground and people, who watched the animal suffer, did not inform the veterinary hospital or the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Belgaum unit.

When this correspondent reached the spot, the calf was lying on the ground with very little energy to stand on its own. However, the bleeding had stopped.

Street vendors present at the spot since morning said that it was not a case of accident. They alleged that it was a deliberate act of violence. Efforts to trace the owner of the animal went in vain. Some people tried to feed the animal with bananas, but it could not take them.

On being informed, the staff of the veterinary hospital rushed to the spot and administered first aid and anti-septic medicine to the calf. But, efforts to trace the SPCA activists failed. Though the SPCA had opened an office on the premises of the veterinary hospital, it does not function from there anymore.

A senior official in the hospital feared it to be a case of superstition. He said many people, including farmers and cattle owners in villages, cut ears and tails of cattle as mark of sacrifice in the hope of getting divine blessings

********************

Note: How can God be satisfied by the heinous torture of the baby animal.I have nothing more to say?

Travelogue

She cribbed about the breakfast. She said she did not like the one for the day. I told her that we can go have it from outside .Poor thing was delighted.
So I embarked on my journey. Took the shortcut which passed through a narrow galli (lane). I looked around. The galli was unclean. Kids were running around. There were office goers trotting along .Some were talking into their phone mikes and were oblivious of the surroundings .Most of them had backpacks with their company logos printed on them .Reminded me of my schooldays. An old lady was sitting on the side and washing clothes .I "carefully" crossed the connecting road as I did not want to be a hit and run case. Death was not an option. At least not for the time being :).
In another 5 minutes I reached the main road. The main road was crowded with a hoard of people trying to rush to office. I skillfully moved from side to side avoiding collision. A girl was coming from the other side and I noticed her looking @ me. As we came closer, she looked away probably to show that she was a 'decent' gal. So did me.

WYGIWYG (What You Give Is What You Get)!

Vehicles were piling up on the main road. I could see buses flocked with people helplessly looking outside trying to find the cause for the block .As if it could do them any good if they find the cause. As I neared my destination, I saw a Corporation lady worker carrying a pile of trash and dumping it on the roadside. She might as well have put it right in the middle of the road. God knows why things are the way they are in our country.
Till next time...Adios Amigos...

Ps: Oh by the way…Had breakfast. And she liked it. That’s what counts.

Cell Phone

It’s become an important part of my life .I won't say I cannot live without it as I am sure I will take it as a challenge and somehow get on with it. It makes me happy @ times, sad @ others .It basically helps me to connect to people like never before. Surely would have bought lots of changes in my life if it had come sooner .But things are good the way they are. So what the heck!
I dislike the way my mind waits for a reply when I message a loved one. I was never a fan of something that makes me wait. Maybe it’s a matter of 3-4 mins, but the pain of waiting is bad.

My friend was telling me that she feels bad for her mother who lived miles away from their home. She stayed in a small hostel and is provided with a small room with an even smaller bathroom which she has to share with a roommate. It was pretty evident that my friend was feeling bad about her mum while speaking about this.

I thought about the psyche behind her mother's decision to stay there. People, especially the one's from the previous generation want security .They take minimum risks in life and want a secure future for their kids. It really moved me when she said it but I did not show it & somehow changed the subject.

It made me think of my own mother .How little I talked to her!
I asked myself when the last time I enquired her about her job .
I wondered how she manages to motivate herself to travel 100 of kms from work and then back. How does she manage to do it day in and day out in spite of her age (54 at last count).To be honest it strikes an emotional cord inside me. I felt helpless and sad!

Phone to the rescue!

I gave her a call, and this time spoke in length about her work load and how she manages it .Felt good doing that. I am sure she felt good that I asked. It won't make a difference to her though. She has already accepted her destiny, i.e. to dedicate her life for a cause.
She gives her 100% in everything whether it’s at work/home. She is honest and sticks to what she feels are right. I am learning something from her and will surely implement the values she teaches me through her life.

Inauguration

Good morning/Good evening/Good day..depending on where you are.I am really excited to start blogging.Atleast doing something worthwhile and interesting.No promises regarding when next update will be, but since i have started it i might as well continue :)
Cheers!