She’s got the look!!!!

On Sunday, my daughter wanted to sit on the rides outside the restaurant where we had gone to have food. Now there was a small girl sitting on a ride which was inactive. No one was with her. I was looking around for her parents. Saw a female in all finery trying to avoid my gaze. After a few minutes she came ahead and instead of starting the ride or picking up her kid, she started combing her kids hair while the kid was sitting on the ride, inspite of seeing that I am losing my patience. In the end I had to request her to shift her kid to another ride…but not before I saw a look of ‘disgust’ on her face. Seriously the look got my mind thinking.My wifey was laughing at my experience, saying that this is norm with certain mothers and kids everywhere. Unless you dont open your mouth, they dont even remove their kids for others to use the rides.
Some mothers always tend to turn a blind eye. Inspite of their kids crying reaching the ears of every other person in the vicinity, surprising they lose their hearing capabilites while the howling is going on. And when finally they see that no other person is coming forward to quiten the kid, one should see the “Look” on their faces, when they have to drop the current gossip and go and attend their kids.
Then there are mothers, who “break” the queue. They will just walk ahead of the queue, start chatting with their family member/friend who is already in the queue, and next you will find that they have secured their place in the queue. I have seen this a lot many times in gardens, in school fees queues. Best is the school fee queue, mothers will come up to a mom already in the queue, ask about her kids acadamics, and then oh, i forgot to pay my kids fees too…..why dont you take this cash and pay my kids fees too!!!!!! Very rarely I have seen other moms object. Maybe they do the same thats why. But when anybody does object…..one gets to see the “look”……….
Mothers in finery,best dresses, best sarees, and the tiny tot comes running and is responsible for a crease which can only be seen by its mothers eyes….one gets to see the “look”:))))))
Any other observations are welcome;)

Overdose of Social Networking

Lately I find myself just staring at my social networking web page, wondering what to do. Facebook or Twitter, I am just not able to know what is to be done. People have been asking me about where are my new posts, but frankly my mind is blank.
Infact, I am even tired of all new mobile phones being more inclined towards Social networking applications. Its making me sick now. There was a time, when I could not do with Facebook or Twitter, but now I dont even log on to them for hours together, without having to worry which friend is doing what. Being updated is good…but being constantly updated…………………………………
Maybe an overdose of being on the social networking sites has killed the fun, or maybe they are really losing their charm as time is going by……….
Whatever it maybe, but I have decided today to stop my mobile live updates of both Twitter and Facebook…….maybe the previous system of checking them once in a while will be worthwhile……….

Mumbai water woes

Recently I read an article in the newspaper about how a Municipal Corporater almost came to tears in the Municipal house while describing her situation with the people in her constituency, who came to her residence at odd times complaining about the erratic water supply, this inspite the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai, withdrawing its water cut. The Hydraulic Department  responsible for water supply responded back saying that if they tried rectifying the supply for one are, another area started suffering because of the way the entire network of pipeline was layed.

Frankly, I am not an expert at this, but it did made me recall a simulator game I used to play, Simcity 2000. As my city used to grow, I needed to connect more and more water pipelines, and as the web of pipelines started growing there were always areas which faced difficulties with the supply of water.

Mumbai’s growth I guess is something similar to my experience of Simcity, connections are just added and the loop of pipelines, just keep on adding to the mess. Our people in Municipal Corporation might be inexperienced like me, or are at loss at rectifying the problem, because somebody before them might have sanctioned laying of pipeline, without worrying about the future.

I dont thing this issue will ever get solved, unless the entire pipe network is re-layed……..

Some mobile applications I cant do without

It took me more than 5 years to shift to Nokia phones, since i found them very common then, and then I have been using Nokia phones since past 8 years after my wifey gifted me one. What kept me attracted to them were the number of applications Nokia has and the ease of usage. So thought of jotting down the application which I have been using over the years…..
Nokia Sports Tracker : Very good application for recording your walks/cycling exercises. Needs GPS enabled phones. After shifting to touch screen mobile was saddened by the fact that there was no application available for it. But last year they launched the touch screen version and since then it has found a place on my cell.
Maps : Frankly I hate Nokia/Ovi Maps. They take too long to load, and most of the times are inaccurate. Been using Google Maps since past 4 years. Amazing accuracy. Though I wish it was intelligent enough to chose the shortest route possible, which many a times it fails to do.
Quickoffice : Seriously cant do without it and it needs no introduction over here.
Whatsapp : This is one messaging software which incorporates Blackberry, Android, Iphone and Symbian 60 phones. It doesnt require you to have a new messaging user id and password, just your phone number is sufficient for it. All the above phone uses just need to register their cell numbers once, and the application will go thru your contact list, find the people who are using the application and you are connected with them. The application doesnt hog the battery of your cell and is very useful.
Socially : Sadly for me, Nokia is having some issue with social networking applications for my current cell. I know they are working on it, but no results yet. So after going thru various other third party applications, I settled down with an application called Socially. It incorporates Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Linkedin. The only disadvantage with the software is that its not real time, the minimum time for auto update is 30 mins, which i feel is too much. Otherwise it has all the features one requires for social networking sites.
There are many other applications…….some I delete over the time…some I use randomly……….

The chance to earn….

Due to urgent matters had to book airline tickets to Kolkatta. Actually were planning to go today, but were shocked to see the return fare totalling to Rs. 32000/- per person. In the end booked tickets for Monday, which is like only 3 days away, wherein we had to shell out the same amount for two people!!!!

The reason was simple….Durga Pooja and Kolkatta….the airlines have jacked up the prices seeing that its festive season. Infact while we got Mumbai-Kolkatta for reasonable price, the Kokatta Mumbai flight we thought was unreasonable. Again the reason was same…since Monday the festivities get over, there will be many people who are travelling back to Mumbai and so the prices are up.

Really made me think….these airlines always come out with catch lines like they care for the passengers…etc…etc…but when they see an opportunity to earn….they jack up the prices……….

The Ayodhya Issue

Since past one week I am seeing fear again in the eyes and talk of many. This fear was witnessed by me during the Babri Masjid Demolition. I have always said, sometimes someone starts a thing which blows out of proportion for that person also to control. The political parties for their benefit tried to rake up the Ram Mandir issue then…for the vote bank….and it backfired badly on our Country. The riots which followed after that are still reason enough for everybody to be afraid of a reoccurrence.

Now our Court of Law is going to decided whom the land belongs to. Frankly I give a damn about the land, but yes I am worried by seeing so many people worried about it. Everywhere the topic is the same. It was politics then, and so it is now. Our Government would not like any problems during the CWG games, for which they are already facing a flak for reasons best known to all of us. If the verdict comes out now, and God forbid there is some problem because of it, then whatever face it has to save by running the games successfully will be in dumps.

The Supreme Court of India, today has rejected the appeal for deferment of verdict by the High court. Too late …i feel….too convenient for the Government I feel……since one of the judge is set to retire in two days. So will the High Court give out it judgment in the coming two days. Highly unlikely I feel, since the CWG games are to be held successfully by the Government of India. Politics….Sigh!!!!!

The Owl

Yesterday turned out to be very interesting day. At around 10 am my factory worker excitedly called me inside the factory area….Quick bring your mobile and click the photos of an owl who has entered in the factory he said. When I reached there, I found two empty cans of 50kgs had fallen off from the overhead loft(the owl did this said my man). The owl had now hid itself below our big vessel.  I clicked a few snaps and then asked my people to scare it out of the window. But instead of going towards the window, it ran into another machine. We opened the door of the machine to find it neatly hidden there. From there we managed to make it go upto not one but three windows. But it was just not ready to go out. The reason of which dawned on us soon. A lot of crows had accumulated outside the window now. We were now aware that if we let it out, then the crows would surely peck it to death. Slowly we made the owl reach one of our office rooms, the doors of which we closed once it was inside. We were able to see thru the glass doors, that the owl was now sitting on the window ledge, (the glass pane of the window was closed), while the crows were pecking at the glass trying to get to it.

My  brother called up the Animal Hospital at Parel, from where he got a few other numbers. But mostly we got the reply that they did not have the facility to take it away. In the meanwhile our habit of posting every bit of our life on facebook started a series of comments and phone calls. Some people were informing us its auspicious, while others were informing us its bad. Whatever the case, the thoughts in my mind were to get it out safe.

By afternoon a new issue cropped up in the office. There was a lot of chirping sound in our office bathroom loft. We were now worried …what if the owl has given kids over there. Finally one person climbed up the loft to only confirm that they are pigeon kids.

Thru net, we got numbers of BNHS, who informed us that they have already been informed, but were not able to help us out, and PAWS. From there, I was asked to leave the bird out only in the evening, since that is when the owl would be able to see and fly away. The dilemma was , that my office shuts down at 5 pm. sun down normally is at 7 nowadays. We got a cardboard box, punched holes on all sides and then with the help of one labour put the owl in the box.

I took it our residence. In the evening  all the kids of our building had accumulated on our terrace to see the release. On opening the box, it just gave a two second stare and flew off as if nothing has happened.

And Oh yes…my wife did some research in the night, and found that the Owl is the mode of transportation of Goddess Laxmi in the night. In the morning she uses Elephant. So it is supposed to be auspicious:)))

Art and craft bug

This Ganpati the Art and craft bug had bitten me. I had seen a show on the TV once with my kids, where they were showing how to make a small cave. I decided to do away with the “small” and make a bigger cave for decoration to keep my Idol in this year.

I started off with a cardboard box, after having secured the back with thermocol, i started making newspaper balls and using diluted fevicol stuck those paper balls on the top of the box. In the show they had used craft paper and tissue paper to cover up the paper balls. I found it unfeasible after starting. Got stuck. So then I used hessian bags to cover up the entire box and started giving the shape of a cave by using Plaster of Paris. Not being used to it, I used hand gloves, but found that they hinder the working. So started doing so with my bare hands. Daily evening after putting in 2-3 days into it, i realised that once i had put plaster of paris inside the box my height was reduced and that my Idol wont fit in. Infact I had overlooked the height factor of the idol totally!!!!

So it was back to drawing board. Now I got 50 mm thermocol sheets. but them below the box, on two sides and started cutting the centre of the box. Not an expert in mixing Plaster of Paris, some parts were becoming soggy, some parts were cracking, and the major hurdle i was facing was to prevent the front top from sagging down because of the weight. I next placed the entire thermocol and box cave on a table and right from the top of the box to the floor, i started shaping the cave using Plaster of Paris.

Support from family members was there, but then even they had their doubts , if it will look good. Finally, the entire structure was brushed using White cement with the help of a local painter on the last day.

We brought in some plants from our terrace and placed them all around the structure, lights were added.But……the main beauty came out after placing the idol in it. Ganpati Bappa Morya!!!!

Tweet or blog

Less action nowadays on my blog. I would blame it on tweeting actually. It much easier to express your thoughts sometimes in a single line. It helps in two ways…one ..its like a dairy you are maintaining…two…sometimes you express your feelings and the load is off your head.
Many people ask me if anybody reads the blogs or tweets…for me its just like noting down what is in my head. Sometimes friends/relatives read the blogs/tweets and give their opinions, which are always helpful.
Whatever it is….I am continuing with whatever is possible with me….tweet and blog………

One hour in a mall

Yesterday spent one hour observing people in the mall while wife was on a shopping spree. Trying to reproduce a few observations over here….
There was some Karaoke competition going on in the mall. Either people love to sing or simply have the guts to stand in front of so many people and make a laughing stock out of themselves. They were singing confidently, infact too confidently, unfortunately their voices were not ready to support them at all.
One easily comes to understand what kind of couples there are. There is a courtship couple or recently married couple, walking side by side, hand in hand, and then there is a married for eternity couple, the husband walking far ahead of the wife. Made me think…..before courtship the boy walks behind the girl, after courtship the two walk next to each other, and after marriage, the boy walks far ahead of the girl!!!!
Then there are people who come in the mall only to spend time, they have no intentions of buying, they will roam around aimlessly, eat popcorn, and just crib, “Too much rush on a working day”.
Actually one gets to see a sea of humanity in malls, with varied interests, moods, anyways my one hour passed off with a good timepass;)

Comments on blogposts

Twice it has happened that some people use the comments option on the blogposts to post advertisements. Frankly I am not liking it and so have activated comment moderation on my blogs. The comments will first come to me in email and only after accepting them will they appear on my blog.

The paper flags

Every Independence or Republic day we see scores of hand held flags being waved. Its quite a sight. But every wondered what happens to these flags once the celebrations are over. One eighter finds them lying mutilated on the road side or in the bins. I am not blaming anybody. Afterall, these flags are not going to last for ever and there is no proper code for disposing such flags. Try putting such flags along with old newspapers, even the vendor will just refuse to take them.

But arent these flags a matter of pride for the country??? And isnt our pride being thrown away casually????

Personally I feel that these flags should be banned altogether. If we dont have the facility to have a proper disposal system, which infact is next to impossible, then we have no right whatsoever to use these flags.

Colours

A girl from her childhood has colourful things around her in form of colourful bangles, lipstick, earrings,necklaces etc. She  grows up with those colours around her. Her bridal dress is of the brightest colours. But when her husband dies...she is deprived of all these and more importantly...colours.Seriously .... I just hate this system...particularly in the hindu community. What are the changes the male has to undergo if his wife dies first? Nothing. Then why this discrimination, and why is this continuing in this day and age?

Kiddie talk

Sometimes Kiddie talk is so much fun to hear, I really wish that it never ends. My 5 year old daughter was discussing her school roll number with my brothers 6 year old son. Her roll number is 22, and she thinks that 22 is better than roll number 1, because it is greater than 1!!! Then she is saying, my best friends number is 15, but she is smarter than me, wonder why her roll number is less than me. I am also smarter, but maybe my teacher knows why I am given a better number.

Real fun to hear….

No social networking – day 7

Why is it that when you are so near to your goal, you get impatient. Very frankly, today is the last day of my being away from facebook and twitter, but hands itching to log on. Its like…i have been a good boy…one day wont make a difference!!!!

Always amazed with technology

I always get jitters travelling anywhere, without knowing the directions, and particularly when I am traveling alone.
In the past, I have traversed across Goa on a motorbike with my wifey.  It was our very first visit over there. We had purchased road maps and travelled accordingly, but still, there were times when we did have to stop and ask for directions, there were times when we actually went on the wrong route.
Yesterday I travelled for nearly 200 kms just with the aid of GPS on my mobile. It kept on giving me precise junctions for turning, and for the first time i reached a place without stopping and asking anybody for directions. Amazing thing this GPS. Though I am not sure if it did give me the best possible route to reach there, having had to travel thru market places and the sort, but it did take me to my destination and back properly. Amazing what technology can do.
There was only one point yesterday, where the GPS system made me take a turn, which led to a dead end. Actually it was an old bridge which was shut down, since a new one had come up, but the GPS led me to the old one. But hardly a distance of around 500 meters was what I had to travel back. Still no complaints about it.

Guru Poornima

Yesterday was Guru Poornima. This a day in the hindu calender when people worship their teachers, mentors etc.

Got me thinking. Who is my GURU. Well frankly I feel everybody around me a is my GURU(pun intended). Seriously, I am learning everyday from people around me. They are teaching me the biggest lesson called life. Some by fooling me, some by loving me, some by arguing with me, some by siding me. It is a daily learning process. A GURU is not necessarily your school teacher or college professor, GURU can also be your mentor, your parents, your siblings, your better half, your children, your neighbors, infact every living being you encounter including animals. We are learning daily from everybody.

So I salute all the people , animals, things around me….Boss you are my GURU!!!!!!

No social networking –day 3 and 4

Nothing to write about. Maybe I am not addicted to social networking. Maybe people are wrong. Who knows……

No social networking- day 3

Not much to say, except that I am quite ok. But certainly noticed that my mobile battery life is lasting 2 hours longer than what it normally lasts. Some applications are really battery hoggers………

No social networking – day 2 (contd)…

Yes….got to admit…facing withdrawal symptoms now. During free time….hands itching to go on the facebook/twitter site. Called up wifey during the free time…..was happy to hear from her… “where are you”, wow got to hear that after ages…….So summing it up as an advantage….instead of interacting with wifey on messenger, spoke to her directly…should have made her happy…and frankly even I feel elated…….

No social networking – day 2

Its actually a lot easier then my fears. I haven't had the temptation to go online at all. There were two or three times, when I actually typed the facebook URL instead of some other site I wanted to go on,  but then realized it on time and hit the stop button. What I would describe it is…no withdrawal symptoms.

Infact my sister was asking me, what I was still doing on MSN, now thinking about going offline in MSN too.

It actually made me wonder, what is it that requires us to be in touch 24x7. All these years, I used to check my emails once in a day, hardly log on to the messenger, but then, it became a different ball game altogether. After all people who are emailing you don't expect immediate answers, cause if they wanted immediate answers, they would certainly call up.

No social networking –day 1, contd…

Ok logged off fring, skype and whatsapp on the mobile. No more alerts to tempt me more….This is like detoxicifaction. But then what the hell am i doing on the blog…….cant stop in one go man…….

Will try and cut down on this also for the week…….

No social networking – Day 1

I have decided to avoid social networking sites for a week. The coming days will witness if I am successful or no.

Day 1 : First 12 hours I have spent at home and sleeping. In the past twelve hours, I have peeked in my facebook and twitter account 4 times. Was tempted to interact, but have restrained my self from doing so. The problem lies in my  email notifications. Even the little birdy sound on my mobile tweet notifications keeps me wanting to go ahead and read and reply. They are really tempting me to reply back…….

Do I hate luv stories??

Actually I hate luv stories with sad endings. Our literature, is full of luv stories with sad and tragic endings. Many Hollywood and Bollywood movies converted these stories into movies. Frankly, I dont see such movies. I hated Ek Duje Ke liye, or even Sadma. As a matter of fact I didnt like seeing Kamal Hassan cry in Saagar, his expression said it all in the song “Sach Mere Yaar hai” particularly at the point when he says “Apni to haar hai”. I was given rave reviews about Tere Naam, but when I came to know of the tragic ending….sorry mate… dont want to see it…..

I have my favourite Bollywood love stories, and surprisingly a few didn't click on the box office. So what. I liked them and still see them if i get a chance. Just thought of sharing a few of my favourite bollywood luv stories….

1. Lamhe : The movie was way way ahead of its time. The general public were not able to absorb the fact that a young boy could fall in a love with a girl double his age, or a young girl falling for a person who could have been her fathers age. Hats off to both Sridevi and Anil Kapoor for carrying out the roles of adolescence as well as that of mature age. Sadly the movie bombed at the box office, but nevertheless, one of my all time favs.

2. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai : This was certainly the best movie from the SRK, Karan Johar and Kajol combine.

3. Jab We Met : Refreshing, something different. The only Kareena Kapoor movie I have ever liked in my life till date

4. Dilwale Dulhaniyan Le Jayenge : Epic of our generation. Actually this was the first combination of SRK and Kajol which set the screen on cupid fire. It also changed the normal eloping strategy of many lovers.

5.  Maine Pyaar Kiya : The movie which launched Salman Khan, the movie where every prospective mother-in-law wanted a bahu like Bhagyashree, and every prospective daughter in law wanted a mother in law like Reema Lagu.

6. Jane Tu Ya Jane Na : Like Jab We Met, found it very refreshing, young…..It was a perfect story of totals confused youngsters.

6. Chalte Chalte : It moved ahead of the luv stories. It started from where the luv stories ended. It moved into the world of marriages…. Sadly, this was one of those movies which didnt click on box office…

I Hate Luv Stories

Mil gaye jo chora chori…Hui Masti Thodi Thodi…bus pyaar ka naam na lena …I hate love stories….

This is the anthem of current generation of Kids. Seriously, they are not interested in commitments. They dont want to marry. I have spoken at length with a few. Their take on the matter is very clear…we have seen our parents screw their lives….we have seen them fight like dogs…we dont want to go thru this mess….we dont want children. We dont want to go thru the tedious pressure of Divorces in future. We want to live life at our whim, not having to worry about our mate. We want to earn for ourselves first, and then again after earning, why should we settle down. Etc Etc…..

They want to enjoy life while its going good, and when they feel its getting bad, they just want to move on, without any commitments. Just Good friends. Who can meet again after a few months and hug each other.

Times are changing, good or bad only the future will tell……….

Sorry

This is something I have never said to my granddad, whose tenth death anniversary falls today. During his last years, we both were not on cordial terms. The terminal illness he suffered, moved me enough to talk to him and enquire about his health, otherwise, it was mostly hi, bye, ok.

Now that I think of it, I feel foolish. I used to call it his arrogancy, my young blood, but no, it was totally foolish on my part. Till now I was only trying to find ways of making me feel good by blaming it on all such things.

Since childhood  he was the one who had taken care of me and my two siblings. He was the driving force behind us for our upbringing. His knowledge was legendary in our relatives, but so was his temper. Maybe the same genes came into me, as I grew up. And that temper led to a lot of arguments. Young age is so foolish. Sigh!!!

But sometimes I wonder, was he really that hot tempered. One incidence is still bothering me. One of our cars was in a garage for a long time, since its body was to be changed totally. We got it after quite a few months. The day we got the car, he asked me to go with the mechanic to buy some parts for the car, and me...i took out the car on the road, and dashed it against another. But surprising he didnt say a word. So he had a temper in the right place? Now that I think of it. Maybe yes.

Today the similar things which I used to argue with him, are staring at my face, and I realise, it was his experience which was talking, which I like a fool was not able to understand then.

Unfortunately, till his death, I didnt tell him sorry, and now I guess its too late.........

Why am I writing this, I dont know....felt like saying sorry today......

School bags….

Daily Morning I see my son struggle with putting up his school bag on his back. Seriously the weight is killing. He has around 8 subjects in day. All his text books are long book size. So are his notebooks. During our time, at least the books used small in size, and we could easily divide the books into two lots, side by side in the bag. Not anymore. The size of the books allows books to be kept in one single row, which bulges the bags out like a pregnant woman’s baby hump. Exactly what is being gained by this I dont understand. Kids of such small ages have to pick up more than 10 kgs daily on their backs. Serious thought should be given by the schools about this. They are playing with the developing spines of kids or developing brains of kids?

Automation killed the typewriter

Today in the office, my attention fell on our typewriter. Sturdy old thing. Facet. Today my sisters and my own typing speeds are good , because our grandfather had insisted that we learn typing the old fashioned way. I still remember typing asdfg;lkjh on a single paper continuously. Then it struck me that last month during its service , the service person told me that he is not renewing his Annual maintenance contract. The reason being that he was finding it difficult to earn his bread and butter since more and more offices were discontinuing with typewriters. I spoke to him at length then. He said he has been offered a job as a office boy in one of the offices where he used to go to service the typewriters.

Now today I am wondering who will service my typewriter. Will have to search for some one. But automation has slowly killed many such things. Take for example the Pager. But unlike typewriters which have been in existence since long, Pagers had a very short life. There was a time, when every individual carried one, nicely attached to the belt. But in a short time, mobiles replaced the pagers.

There are many such examples, the gramophone replaced by the Tape Recorder, which in turn was replaced by Compact Disc, which in turn was replaced by MP3 players. The radio was lucky, it got a second lease of life because of FM channels, but still one doesn't see the big mono speaker radio players anymore. Moreover, one hardly sees a radio player at all, since mostly mobiles are used to access the FM channels.

Things have changed a lot in the recent times….my typewriter though old is still going good…though I only have to search for a good person to service it regularly…Long Live my Typewriter……

Friends, Numbers and social networking….

Its becoming a number game on most social networking sites. People keep on adding ‘friends’ to their profile. Facebook which has limited the maximum number of friends to 5000, is facing a petition from its followers.

Frankly, how many friends can one have? Close friends are usually limited to les than 5. Other than that ones memory can at any particular point of time not remember more than 100 odd people,unless it is being written down. Others you can put down as acquaintances. So what does one achieve by having thousands of friends . You attend any party or function and you will come across a new person and the first thing you get to hear after speaking for more than 5 mins is that I am on XYZ social networking site, I will be sending you an invite tomorrow!!!!! Or an acquaintance asking you to add a person s/he has added thru another acquaintance. It is practically impossible to know so many people personally or up close. So what is being achieved? Frankly this is not a simple add and forget thing. Social responsibilities should be followed in virtual world also.

My memory cannot absorb so many friends nor the idea of adding unknown people……

Its a c-razy world

Hey, there was a crazy idea in my head, which I have put into existence.Check out

http://c-razyworld.blogspot.com/

An amazing reunion

Met my college friends after a gap of 14 years. 14!!!!. Actually I thought it might be 5-6 years, but they corrected me. And then I realized that time has flown faster than I have thought about it. We have spend 5 amazing years together in college. And then…each person went on his own way. But I loved meeting them all after so many years. The spirits were flowing in literal terms…with us being busy in our talks…and forgetting to shut off the beer tap…the glasses were overflowing in literal terms while being refilled.:)

The memories of college, the names we had kept for each other, were enough for the meet to last from 7 pm to 1 am, when we finally bid goodbye to each other. Now looking forward to the next meet….hope it not long way off………

Farmville on facebook and the false profiler

What does one do, when s/he is addicted to the game farmville on Facebook, wants to add more friends to go ahead fast in the levels but still keep away unknown people from self. Simple create a false account, put a nice picture and add everybody left and right. This is what was told to me by a friend. He is saying that way you do not allow unknown people to access your true data, you can have more than 500 people on you friends list, most of who are already playing farmville, either in their true profile or maybe again a false profile and enjoying the game without worrying.

Wow . I am learning a lot nowadays:))))

Technorati Tags: false profile,facebook,farmville

What a weekend

It all started on Thursday evening, when I had my tooth extracted. Hopelessly under sedation our doorbell started ringing ferociously in the night at 11.30. This made me also get out of the bed to see who it was. My sister had planned to surprise us by landing in Bombay a day before our fathers 60th birthday on Friday. We had planned for the party on Saturday.

On saturday, my family members received one more surprise in the party in form of live gazals……and so did the attendees. Nobody except myself and my brother in law knew about this plan. One of my cousins had gone to the extent of informing people that they were sure to get bored in the evening. But then the live gazals…set the mood and the party was rocking.

Sunday again was a bit of rest for us….but for me personally Monday was fun with my sister. She wanted to see the sea link. Morning we moved out at 7.30, and after seeing the sea link we came to our office. After setting up the work for the day we moved out again, now it was time to pay our childhood areas a visit. It started off with stopping at Ashok wada pav at prabhadevi, then a visit to our old building, reliving the memories. Called up a few friends from there, and though it was not possible to meet them, it was fun remembering the good ole days. We even went to the extent of clicking photographs of a crematorium behind our old house. For me and my sister it was full on fun. From there we went to a temple in Shivaji Park maidan, and then back home, since she had to catch a flight back home. In between this we stood at many places which hold a lot of memories for us. My extended weekend has ended today, here in the office, with me feeling totally out of place and wondering from where to begin work from:)))

Take no logic(Technology)

Yesterday my Internet Service Provider sent its personal for collection of renewal amount, which was due in one day. The person, entered my account number in his cell, and all my account details were available to him immediately, wherein he filled the amount and pressed OK. Then he removed a small handheld printer and voila, out came a receipt duly printed with the details. On enquiring with him, if was in a position to accept my office internet payment also, since even that was due, he replied in affirmative, and continued with the same procedure. Really amazing at the way technology has progressed.

Recently my travel in Mumbai’s BEST AC bus made me encounter a similar system in ticket vending. Instead of the age old system of tickets, the conductor entered the details in his hand held machine and out came a printed ticket.

But this got me thinking, if my internet provider could have such a service why is it that our government does not have it. I am here talking of the census, which is being conducted throughout the nation. Instead of filling in the forms, which are later scanned, why cant the same be conducted on hand held machines. It will save the time of scanning, the data can be sorted out immediately. But no, we are still way behind in governance for which i think there is no logic at all!!!!

Summer vacation and native place….

In India it is quite normal for most offices to be short of staff in Summers. Most of the staff take leaves and go to their native place. This is normally an annual affair. The best part is that since they have their own homes at their native places, the only expense they have to incur is the travelling part. Infact while returning back they bring loads of goodies from there.

Unfortunately for me, my ancestors decided to land directly at Mumbai(then Bombay) from Karachi during India Pakistan Partition. Had they given a thought that in future one of their generations might want to go to a “native” place, they would have done loads of good to me. So they came directly to Mumbai, my father was born and brought up in Mumbai. To make matters worse on the “native” place issue, he got married to my mom who’s parents had also migrated to Mumbai directly from Pakistan. So starts my agony, no paternal or maternal native place.

I got married….love marriage…which doesnt see “native” places….now i realise, even my wife doesnt have one. So from my fathers generation onwards, not a single of our generation can boast of a native place, where we can compulsorily go during vacations. Had my wife’s parents been in some other city, again it would have been to my advantage, visit my inlaws once in a year. But no….no native place …no inlaws in other part of the state, or country or world. But they are also based in Mumbai since long.

Now the only option for me is to have myself adopted by some village, wherein every year, I can also say I am going to my native place, wherein like others, I can also boast of booking tickets three months prior, because it the peak season, wherein I can also enjoy my vacations without having to worry about paying exorbitant prices for the hotel room. :))))))

A stitch in time….

My personal experience with a 15 year old medical condition and finally a small stitch has made me realize, that things when done immediately can save you a lot of agony. Seriously it has given me so much relief, sometimes i feel why didnt I have it done before.

The same applies to all things other then that also in life. But unfortunately some things are not in our hands, and cause long lasting damage, inspite of being aware of it.

One Coconut tree in my residential building was in a very bad shape. Fortunately the rain gods had not been so kind of India last year, else it would have fallen off a year back. After numerous visits to the Tree Authority by our building people, the department finally sent its personal to cut it off. Unfortunately the tree fell down by it was being cut. Fortunately except for a car there was no other damage. Anyways better late than never.

Wish some action will be taken on the repairs of my office building also which is more than 50 years old. Total neglect by our landlord over the years has led to a lot of weakening of the structure to the extent that certain portions are now falling off. The collapse of a spiral staircase and death of one person which occurred last week,should hopefully act as wakeup call. But then there is always an element of argument. Tenants feel that they have been regularly paying their dues to the landlord since past 50 years. Had he even maintained the building every 10 years also, todays condition could have been avoided. I agree…things need to be maintained.

Now my residential building is around 6 years old, in need of painting…any new building needs to be repainted in 5 years…since the walls are cured with water during the construction. But the matter is being stretched. Some of the people in the building are saying why should we paint a building which is hardly 6 years old. When will everybody learn that  A stitch in time……will save nine..

The IPL business

I had to visit my family doctor yesterday for my daughter. The doc was busy on the phone, arranging for his ticket for IPL. He told me this is the fifth IPL match this season which he will be going to see in the stadium. What followed later amazed me. He has spend 35000 rupees including the current match for which he was making arrangement for. No the tickets are not priced at 7000 each…he is buying a 1500 rupees ticket for 7000 rupees. I was not able to stop myself from asking him…who is earning the extra 5500 rupees. For that he had no reply. His argument was that instead of spending on some tour he enjoys seeing the matches live, inspite of spending 350 rupees for cable tv on which he receives the matches. I can frankly understand the wishes of a diehard cricket fan to see a few matches live…but this as per my thinking is excessive!!!!

Cricketers are ready to be used as a commodity and sell themselves…why not …they are earning in crores. Team owners are spending crores to become franchisees….the BCCI is earning crores from selling the teams and advertisements….and the public money is being used to provide Police Protection for the games. Public money is being used to purchase the tickets. Public money is being used to pay for the advertisements shown on the TV. Companies are not paying for the advertisements from their pockets…..thats a fact. Still with every break we are showered with advertisements…asking us to spend more money on their products…or make them earn more by sending SMSes as to what will happen next.

This is big business….IPL business….the Indian Popat Lal business….

What happened to the Indian?

 

AN AMERICAN VISITED INDIA AND WENT BACK TO AMERICA

WHERE HE MET HIS INDIAN FRIEND WHO ASKED HIM

HOW DID U FIND MY COUNTRY

THE AMERICAN SAID IT IS A GREAT COUNTRY

WITH SOLID ANCIENT HISTORY

AND IMMENSELY RICH WITH NATURAL RESOURCES.

THE INDIAN FRIEND THEN ASKED ….

HOW DID U FIND INDIANS …….??

INDIANS??

WHO INDIANS??

I DIDN'T FIND OR MET A SINGLE INDIAN

THERE IN INDIA…….

WHAT NONSENSE??

WHO ELSE COULD U MET IN INDIA THEN……??

THE AMERICAN SAID ……..

IN KASHMIR I MET A KASHMIRI–

IN PUNJAB A PUNJABI—–

IN BIHAR,MAHARASTRA, RAJASTHAN, BENGAL,TAMILNADU,KERALA

BIHARI,MARATHI, MARWADI, BENGALI,TAMILIAN, MALAYALI………

THEN I MET

A MUSLIM,

A HINDU

A CHRISTIAN,

A JAIN,

A BUDDHIST

AND MANY MANY MANY MORE

BUT NOT A SINGLE INDIAN DID I MEET

…………………………………………………………...

THINK HOW SERIOUS THIS JOKE IS……………..

THE DAY WOULD NOT BE FAR OFF WHEN INDEED WE WOULD

BECOME A COLLECTION OF NATION STATES AS SOME

REGIONAL ANTI-NATIONAL POLITICIANS WANT ...

FIGHT BACK -

ALWAYS SAY I AM  INDIAN

Ask…and thou shall not receive

I acknowledge my mothers visits to religious preaching for the following writing.

How many times does one fulfill the wishes of our children. Consider this scenario. Your child might ask you for chocolates on day 1. You will certainly buy it out for him/her. Day 2 again the demand will be fulfilled. Day 3 again, but then there might some thoughts in the mind. Day 4 onwards you might or might not buy it out.

Now consider this……People pray to God daily…asking for fulfillments of wishes. Will God fulfill those wishes daily????

And yet like small children we will ask God for fulfillments of wishes daily and then crib that God is not listening to us.

Worth thinking about:)

The way Indian mind works….

My visit to the bank manager and casual discussion enlightened me to some amazing systems run by a group of passengers on suburban trains running in Mumbai. A monthly pass costs around Rs.255 to a daily traveler. What has been informed to me is an amazing trick played by commuters for travelling ticketless. A group of 50 people is formed. Every month this group pays Rs. 100 to the group leader, and all these 50 people travel without ticket or pass. If they are caught, they have to shell out Rs. 250 as a penalty. On producing the paid penalty receipt to the group leader, they are reimbursed the penalty amount from the kitty. At the end of the year, whatever amount is remaining in the kitty is divided and returned back equally amongst all the 50 people.

Considering that 50 people give 100 rupees for 12 months, then the annual collection amounts to Rs. 60000/-. On a rough edge, even if an average 5 people are caught per month(the probability is in the favour of not being caught, with 2 million people using the trains daily), the total outgoing per month is Rs. 1250, ie. Rs. 15000. By the end of the year, the amount in the kitty is 60000 less 15000, ie. Rs. 45000. So each person gets back Rs. 900. If he would have purchased a monthly pass his expense would have been Rs. 3060 in a year, whereas here he has to pay only Rs. 300 in the entire year, i.e less than 10%. Amazing. But works wonderfully. Incredible the way minds of certain people work.

The ageing tiger

Mumbai has been seen as cowering under the tigers roar upto mid 90’s. This tiger goes by the name of Balasaheb Thakeray. He fought for the common man and common man supported him. But with age his roar has lost the touch. Yesterdays protests against Shah Rukh Khan’s movie have shown just that.

Yesterdays protests were a different ball game after a long time. Most of the active Shiv Sainiks have become too old to echo in to the Tigers roar or have quit Sena to join other parties. What is left in Sena is what I would like to describe as Hyenas. People who preyed on the leftover, after the stalwarts had created their damage. These hyenas dont scare the Mumbaikars anymore.

One more thing to note was the 24x7 New channels have come into picture only since the last 5 odd years. In Sena’s heydays, only a clarion call by Sena mouthpiece, that the protest has been successful was enough for people to believe it. Nowadays, the new channels are everywhere, showing that normal life is unaffected. People are more open about their criticism, unlike before, and this too is telecast openly. So everybody is aware of the real situation.

I feel pity for the ageing tiger, but unfortunately he has missed out on one point in his life, that inspite of being so many years into politics, his party has always been confined to being a regional party and never a national party. When you are protesting against a National Hero(sic) like SRK you need support from the Nation, not just from your state.

One more point of note in yesterdays protests was the adequate policing by our Police Department. Kudos to it. But it also makes me wonder, where was their active policing when Raj Thakeray’s MNS people were running riot on the Mumbai street. There seems to be more of political will over active policing over here that meets the eye. The State Government wasnt that keen at that time to rein in MNS then, as they were yesterday. Wonder why…..

SRK has sided the Pakistani Players over IPL. He is loved by Pakistanis for his movies, and for his moves. But those he have the GUTS to protest against the various attacks Pakistan has carried on India? If called for , will he lodge a protest about these attacks. He says he loves India. He should be asked to do it.

Not eating sugar wont kill you

These words by our Agricultural minister Mr. Sharad Pawar, reminded me of a lesson in History. It has been a myth that the French Revolution got more push after the Queen on knowing that people cant afford bread had said….”If they cant eat bread, then let them eat cake”.

The price of sugar has almost trebled over the past two months. Frankly everybody knows that its just not the inflation or bad climatic conditions. Our agricultural minister is involved in the major sugar lobby of India , and that is a know fact. Hoarding of sugar during festival seasons is nothing new in India.

Yet people never complain. They buy at whatever rate it is available. So nothing wrong with our minister again saying that “People’s purchasing power has fueled the price rise”.

We Indians wont complain about the price rise. We will only complain to our bosses to increase the salaries, to face the price rise. The boss will increase the price of his products to cover the increase in salaries paid by him and to also pay for his own purchases. The cycle will just continue, and we will say…oh sugar used to be 1/3 of the price of what it is today…….

Save the tiger

Mufasa: You see, Simba. Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.

Simba: But dad, don't we eat the antelope?

Mufasa: Yes, Simba, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life.

I start off with this dialogue from the movie The Lion King. Yesterday while watching Tv, I happened to see an commercial by a cellular company, which was informing us that there are only around 1400 odd tigers left in India. We have to save them.

My head had only one question in it……WHY???? I mean why should we save the tiger? How is it going to be helpful to us. What does the Tiger do for us?

Surprisingly the same question was also going on in my sons head, and he finally popped it to me and my wife.

I wont deny that even I would like to know why the tiger is to be saved? Just because it is our National Animal?

Frankly I wonder how many people care a damn. Deforestation is a priority today, jungles are being destroyed to make way for the Concrete jungle. So these last 1400 odd tigers need to be saved for what …..to be kept in the Zoo?

Priority should be given to save the forests, the trees, our nature. If the natural habitat is destroyed then what is the use of saving the tiger. Sadly no one is looking at that angle.

Mind games on what to write…

Many a times, we just sit on the blog writer, with a fixed notion of what to write, and many a times, there is nothing in the mind. Today just for the heck of it, I am thinking of writing any nonsense or whatever comes in my mind. But need something to start with, from where I can pick up one word and write about it in the next thought……..hmmm…lets see….i can start of with the fact that today is my paternal and maternal grandfathers birthday. They shared their birthday on the same day. Both are dead. RIP. But both used to wish each other every year.

At that time , I used to like hearing them both speak on the phone, wishing each other. As I grew up, in college I met a friend, who shared his birth date with me. It was fun wishing each other in front of everybody. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! SAME TO YOU!!!

Time flew we got married, met each other one  fine day in a friends marriage, were discussing our marriages and lo….we had got married on the same date!!! Now its like HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!! SAME TO YOU!!!!

While on birthdays, having just celebrated my daughters birthday, it reminds me of how, when my wife was due, I was hoping for the delivery to be on the 26th January, since it is a national holiday. I thought it would be great to have a birthday on a holiday, can enjoy more. But my daughter was born on the 25th. Having celebrated her birthday on 25th every year since then, i have realized my folly of wishing for a birthday on a holiday. A birthday on a day previous to a holiday is much better, since you can rest the following day!!!!!

Infact partying for this reason is done on saturdays and not on sundays. Party lovers can get over the hangover on Sundays!!!!!!

Sundays nowadays are becoming boring for me, particularly in the mornings, when my daughter goes for her drawing classes. She is my total timepass for sunday…keeps me occupied with her talks, her dances, her games……

Yesterday I made my wife, son and daughter play a very simple game. I was giving them an alphabet and asking them to name any 5 things starting with that alphabet. The amazing thing is that when one tries to do that fast, you simply cant think of 5 things at all. Surely will be incorporating this game in the next function, and will be keeping a time limit to it also…

Guess will limit this blog to this much only;)

Blog clearing

Sitting on my Blog writer, I was going thru the number of blog drafts I have, ones which I had written but never posted. Its amazing the thoughts one has to certain things or events, the reactions one has at such times, of what could have been done etc etc. Some reminded me of bad things in the past, some amused me, as to there was no reason for such reaction. I read thru most of the drafts, deleted a few, kept a few for further references. Blog writing has become more of Mind clearing, though most of these thoughts dont make it to the publishing stage, but still its very helpful in sometimes taking out the frustration of mind, sometimes sharing the happier times. It has become more like a diary, which only I have access to, now I know my wife will certainly be curious to know what is in there, but unfortunately for her, I have deleted most of the drafts today, as I was on a blog clearing spree…..

Ayi re Ayi re Khushi!!!!

After having a son as the first child, even though I wanted a daughter at that time, the second time round we were in suspense till the end, because the doctor had refused to give us information about the child during the pregnancy.

The elation and emotion I felt when I came to know that my wife has given birth to a girl is something which I will never forget in my life. We had decided quite a long time back that if its a girl , we will name her Khushi(our happiness). My sisters first congratulatory message came via sms…and she had quoted lines from a film song….”Ayi re Aye re Khushi”………….

Today my nani maa….dadi maa….. as i affectionately call her is all of 5 years. But I still remember the day she was born and the feelings of at last clutching in your arms the little bundle of joy which we were wanting since our first child.

Wish you a Very Happy Birthday…my love….lots and lots of kisses and love to you!!!!!!!

The Christmas Tree

I have a Christmas tree on my terrace, since past more than 8-9 years. It was brought from Pune from my brother in laws place when he shifted back to Dubai.

 

At that time it was a small tree around 1-2 feet tall, in a small flowerpot. With time we increased the size of the flower pot on suggestion of our gardener. Its height increased more. Then the gardener again suggested a bigger pot. However for a 1-2 years we noticed that there was not much increase in the size. Last year, when the gardener again said change the flower pot, we were surprised to see that the previous pot was still intact in the new pot. The gardener pointed out that this is the reason it has not grown. The previous pot was restricting its growth of roots.

 

Today the height of the tree is around 6ft plus, and the gardener again has suggested increasing the size of the pot to make it grow more. Maybe plant it in the compound now is my opinion.

 

This has taught me one lesson. Give space to people around you to make them grow. Don't restrict their space. The more space you give the people around you, the more they can spread their roots and grow.

Delicate strings

It was nicely windy in the morning, enough for my wind chimes to spread their sweet music. Only last week I had untangled it, because it had got tangled up very badly. Had to do it very patiently so as to not to break the strings.

Today while listening to it chime, i remembered the way I had to untangle it, and this in turn made me remember a very delicate gold chain I had gifted my wife during our courtship days. It was so delicate and thin, that every time during storage, it used to get entangled badly, and I had to work on it with a needle to set it right.

Relations are also like this. Very complicated and if they get entangled the wrong way, can break. One needs patience to untangle the strings of relationship slowly, one by one, to ensure that they are not broken. Fast or rash acts can only lead to damage which may or may not be irreversible.

Influence of TV and Movies

Both have always influenced people, but the way it is influencing kids and adults, is amazing.

The latest movie 3 idiots has set a craze for the dialogue “All is well..All is well”. My 4 year old daughter fell down in the garden, bruised her knee, cried a little, but then said “All is well…All is well” and started playing again. One of my friends daughter was slapped by her mom in front of her cousins. She just turned to face her cousins….and said “All is well…All is well”.

Such influence has been from time immortal, be it kids moving around with belts in their hands, and spouting “Kitne Aadmi The” from Sholay to “Kya bolti tu”  to the current “All is well”. Maine Pyaar Kiya’s signature whistle tune, to Tu Cheeze badi hai mast mast had been a regular item in public places much to the embarrassment of girls.

I have heard 8 and 9th standard students sing “Give me some sunshine” song from 3 idiots. The spate of suicides, 21 at the time of writing this blog, is alarming, though I am not sure if the suicides are happening because of the movie, or the number was always there, but being given extra publicity due to the movie.

For females, the dresses, sarees and accessories worn by various artists in movies and serials are always the trend setters. Merchandise based on Movies has also been a regular influence.Caps from Maine Pyaar Kiya, to Locket worn by Shah Rukh Khan in Main Hoon Na, some trend or the other always keeps on popping up.

One of the latest craze under influence of movies was the replacement of F with S in words, due to the movie Kaminey.

All said and done, now my daughter is insisting on changing her name to “Alisha” seeming the promos of the latest movie “Pyaar Impossible”, proving that sometimes names of kids are also kept as per the current trend of the hero or heroine in the movie:)

3 idiots – Rating 5 point something

A lot of controversy is being raised at not acknowledging Chetan Bhagat and his book 5 point something in the credits of the movie 3 idiots.

The movie is a par excellence and the basic storyline is very frankly taken from Chetan Bhagats first book 5 Point Something, which also undoubtedly is good, as it also brought Chetan Bhagat into limelight as one of the best story tellers.

I frankly feel this is just a publicity gimmick, though I dont understand why!!!! The book was one of the bestsellers. The movie is raking in moolah!!!!

The makers of the film had initially announced that the 3 idiots is an adaptation of the novel. Are the book publishers so naive, that they have given away the rights for nothing at all? Is Chetan Bhagat so naive that he might not have earned in royalty from his publishers?

Chill out guys, we are not idiots!!!!!!!

In the meanwhile I am giving the movie a rating of 5 point something on a scale of 5.