Silly Thinks

Am stopping posting/responding on this space - Visit http://sillygloop.spaces.live.com to stay in touch. Thanks for visiting!

There are so many memories that we treasure and associate with our homes. When it's time to move, that's when we replay them all and wonder if we are doing the right thing. There could be many reasons for the move and it may be done in fortunate or unfortunate circumstances. But whichever way we see it, there's gonna be a break from the past and there's gonna be a new beginning.

 

Maybe, it's just like getting another blank piece of paper to fill up with our thoughts. It could be a case of sheer delight at getting that opportunity or it could be the dread of a blank page filled with nothingness. I guess I'm just writing nothing on the nothingness here...but then again, it me who is moving home.

The world today does not have a full stop. It keeps running around. Problems get reported at one agency and then get happily routed all over the place till we can't even find where the problem is being looked into. Questions asked at one place keep getting transferred all over the network till one is not sure of what was asked in the first place.

 

We have a paucity of people with integrity - people who can stand up and say - the buck stops here!

I'm more comfortable with fewer but deeper friendships than with having many fair weather acquaintances. Of course, I still take an interest in those acquaintances but then my friends mean the world to me and I would be there for them if they were in any problem at all. But once someone has become a close friend, I sometimes do not even keep in touch regularly but then the moment we meet again, it's as if we never stopped meeting each other. That brings me to a question we should be asking constantly - where's our friendship going?

 

Wishing everyone a very happy friendship day/week/month/year..ok ok here's to everlasting friendships!!!

I'm sure all of us have chances to wait for others at some point in our lives. I'm lucky enough to be doing that every work day when I wait for my office cab. I don't mind getting ready early and waiting by the road side 5 minutes ahead of time but that's where the trouble starts. Bangalore traffic seems to make sure my cab reaches consistently late and I end up waiting like a bride at the altar.

 

Those times I spend waiting lets me connect with nature...enjoy the climate before I step into the workplace. It also connects me with people in my neighbourhood - the romeo waiting to catch a glimpse of his juliet, the fitness freak who will not give up till the goal is reached, the elderly couple who bond over a leisurely evening stroll, the mobile wielders who have the device glued to one ear as they perambulate near their house or vehicle. Ok, I'm not really connecting to them but maybe just adding to the scenery they encounter daily :)

 

It seems it's not we who are waiting - the world's waiting for us to join in...to immerse ourselves in nature, in our neighbourhood, and be a part of this society. Care to join in?

As long as war and peace are seen as two sides of the same coin, they will continue to occur one after the other. But lasting war or peace is not an option unless both parties to a conflict are willing to expend considerable resources to keep them going...yes, resources are equally needed to sustain peace as they are needed to wage a war. The middle east is the melting pot of civilizations, and religions and has the potential to emerge as a pinnacle of the peace efforts of mankind or end up as a nadir of man's urge to wage war.

 

No more war and peace. War or Peace?

When our activities become routine, be it for good or for bad, we freeze. We don't make moves as fast as we'd do when everything was rolling along fine. It's an inertia that comes out of our mind trying to find the bottom of a bottomless pit or the height of an insurmountable obstacle.

 

It is then time to go through the obstacles put ahead. If the going's been good, it could be better and lead to a higher plane of existence. If it were the dog days, there's nothing left to loose but to try and act rather than stay and sag.

 

Crash through!

I love Frooti (http://search.msn.com/images/results.aspx?FORM=IRHP&q=frooti) a thick and delicious mango drink marketed by Parle in India. They were pioneers in introducing a 1 litre bottle and even a 1.5 litre bottle of a drink that contained fruit pulp and which was not an apology of a soft drink. But the cola giants Coke and Pepsi have acquired mango based drinks Maaza and Slice and seem to be edging out Frooti from shelf space. It may or may not be predatory or exploitative of their monopoly in forcing retailers to carry just their wares as happens in many small stores but the end result is that the customer is bereft of choice. Is this the kind of market we are proud to participate in? Where's the open market now?

There's so much noise inside me. The brain's getting a lot of signals and trying to tell me something. The eyes...they follow a different direction noiselessly. The ears are picking up every conversation in the vicinity. The tongue remembers the bisi bela bath and the assortment of vegetables and spices that went into it. The sense of smell and touch dont leave anything unsaid and add to the commotion. The mind tries to shout out its orders above all this.

 

In such a time, why am I so silent? There's a maelstorm of action within but calm reigns supreme outside. Today, we suppress our thoughts and maintain silence. What about tommorrow when it would be possible to read or hear what eveyone's thinking? Will I be so silent then :)

I read 5 point someone at a single stretch yesterday not withstanding the Brazil Croatia matchup. It's a short tale to say the least and a very filmy one at that. Anyone who has read it should actually go ahead and write a tale of their own college days...there's so much to add to the tale that it somehow feels like the story is being told in its entirety. Shall I write one on my days of joy? Only time will tell...n till then watch this space :)

More than anything else that can determine how your life's gonna turn out, the circumstances around your birth already decided it for you. One aspect of it is in the stars...no one needs an introduction to astrology and whether or not you believe in it, there must be something in it going by the huge interest in that area since time immemmorial. The other aspect is the people in our lives. Being born with a silver spoon can be the difference between studying in a top notch institution and a public school. Though it is highly debatable as to whether private institutions are better at imparting education than public ones, there's no contest as far as placements go. Now, the reservation of seats in India has opened up another dimension which slowly may expand to determining your future based on what religion and caste you belong to.

 

Are you born free?

Early in life, we learn that all are not alike. Some stand up to be counted, some stand apart from the crowd, but except for the few who do that, the rest run as part of the herd. The same friends, the same places, the same work, even the same hangouts to relax and unwind. While bonding with the community gives us a sense of belonging, it also keeps us from showing our individuality strongly. Isn't that shying away from ones' destiny?

 

Ideas break like waves for those who are patient to spend the time thinking. But do each idea find a discussion ground. Sometimes we stop short of doing what we have to in order to release the idea. Maybe, we think, it's not the right time...the right place...maybe not the right idea even. Our judgement could be telling us to be careful and we may have thrown away our destiny.

 

Think. Act. Grab your destiny!

A human has so many dimensions, so many skills, so many talents. While one gets to glimpse most of the talents in a short span of time, some of the talents do not get out till late in life. Mid-life crisis brings out some and so does the onset of old age. The question that arises is why were these talents hidden deep down and why did it take them so long to emerge?

No, this post is not about my alma mater University of Madras and how we pass time over there or learn how to become an 8 pointer...now where'd my GPA sheet go?

 

Ok. I'll clue y'all in - I got tagged by http://spaces.msn.com/divoo (evil exists in many forms) who's asked me to come up with this info -

1. Come up with 8 different points of your perfect lover.
2. Mention the sex of the target.
3. Tag 8 victims to join this game and leave a comment on their comments saying they’ve been tagged.

 

I'll do it in the order given but all information down here is fictional and any resemblance with someone alive or dead is coincidental or maybe intentional or I'm just guessing maybe :)

 

1 point someone

Homo sapiens sapiens is gonna be the lucky species. Your pomeranian is disqualified and so is the tabby cat. Ask your cockatoo to find someone else and the same goes for Lucky Strike High Flier, the derby winner. Maybe the vet can console them but I can't be their lover and I'm really sorry about it.

 

2 point someone

Straight drive. No alternate, no funky, no praying mantis business, no black widow spider moves, no doggie poses and yeah...I dont like the looks of that whip and thigh high boots ;)

 

3 point someone

Earth bound. I am ok with bungee jumping, skydiving, parasailing, ok even with flying carpet rides but all gotta be earth bound sooner or later. No martian, no trips to saturn or jupiter or some crazy trip to the center of the sun

 

4 point someone

Physically existing. Gotta be tangible to the touch and all the other senses. Don't wanna get into any seance, no messing around with my lady's ghost, no divining, no mind reading, no telephone recording, no internet program and definitely not that virtual *** game :)

 

5 point someone

Definitely not Chetan Bhagat

 

6 point someone

We've now got a home sapiens sapiens who's got a straight drive, is earth bound, physically existing and not Chetan Bhagat. Plus, 6 point someone is brainy...wish I had that GPA! And yeah...someone with brains would never hurt. I can suffer comeuppance in debates and discussions and feel that is better than having to suffer ignorance, stupidity, craziness, and insanity...sometimes all rolled into one!

 

7 point someone

Since this is impossible, we'll now open this super opportunity to more than 1 person. Yaay! Let's find that top 50 most beautiful people on the planet list and get started now. Sorry...I am a bit busy now - please leave me a message after the tone.

 

8 point someone

We've now reached the realms of impossibility. Such a GPA score would either mean cheating or impossible. I'm not gonna have a truck with either and I'll continue with my list. If you are desperate please leave another message after the tone but I make no promise to return the call.

 

Now, the sex of the target?

I see 3 concentric circles arrayed before me. How am I to know the sex. Does it have a special spot, someone that triggers it? I think the bull's eye is quirky to the core. I'm definitely not sure about the sex...so between male and female you can also add emale...just a sec...there's someone saying You've got male!

 

Tag 8 victims to join this game and leave a comment on their comments saying they’ve been tagged?

You mean to say I gotta make 8 people all horny and chemically stirred up and with their imagination all fired up figuring out those spots..err points??? Sheesh! I'm not gonna stir up some trouble out here but if someone has the urge...well...jus do it :)

I spend a lot of time in front of the mirror even when I don't have to step out my home. It's my vanity that has to be assured that I look good even as I deal with the cobwebs inside my computer tower. If I have to step outside, you can bet that I would spend some time in front of the mirror shaping my mop of hair until it seems something much better than presentable. Is looking good the key to feeling good?

 

I know deep down that I'm doing something silly just trying to look good everyday but then the ego boost I receive seems to get me smiling from the word go as I tackle the day. Of course, there are off days to my "movie star" looks, and maybe that's when the power of goodness carries the day like it should. Less presentation and more substance is definitely something I'm working on and hope it becomes the norm rather than the exception. Feel good and you will look good!

I saw a billboard opposite Chennai Central Railway Station. It showed a road lined with potholes and had the simple copy Dont Vote Dont Complain. A well executed ad it was and definitely a message that hits home!

 

I had made the trip to Chennai to vote and was happy to be a part of the democratic process which works so well in India. It is very easy to take the day off and provide excuses. But when the election process is transparent and notifications are provided much in advance it is very easy to schedule time for it and participate.

 

At the minimum - 1 pothole, 1 accident, 1 death, 1 lawsuit, 1 culprit, 1 judge, 1 life sentence or 1 vote - you decide!

1.Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4.

No books on my desk at office :)

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.

My computer monitor hates me for traumatising it and threatens a class action suit!!!

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?

Planets' Funniest Animals on Animal Planet :)

4. Without looking, guess what time it is?

3:40pm

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?

3:45pm, Seems I'm counting every minute towards my masala tea break

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?

The moment I read this, I got a call...my phone's ringing!

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?

I enjoyed lunch at our rooftop cafeteria just about an hour ago.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?

MSN Spaces :)

9. What are you wearing?

A jeans n a tee and no hearts on my sleeve for now :)

10. Did you dream last night?

Plenty!

11. When did you last laugh?

Can't remember the last full throated one where I fall from the sofa...but am smiling...very much smiling now!

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?

3 clocks for 3 corners of the world!

13. Seen anything weird lately?

Isn't 3 clocks with different times weird enough?

14. What do you think of this quiz?

Was that a quiz??? Where's my prize then :)

15. What is the last film you saw?

The Island starring Scarlett n lots of sci-fi

16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?

I need more than that to buy Microsoft

17. Tell me something about you that I dunno.

Have I told you about the time when I was at Playboy HQ and ;)

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?

Restore nature to its pristine glory and close down all polluting industries

19. Do you like to dance?

Definitely but dunno how :(

20. George Bush.

Bill Clinton was better ;)

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?

Child? Whose? I'm happy being single now!

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?

Not again!

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?

Depends...if the White House needs me around I can't say no :)

24. What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?

Go back where you came from...you ain't dead yet :)

25. 5 people who must also do this in their blog.

Make 5 enemies now you say??:) I'll spare them the trouble now...what say?

We are so self-centered most of the times that we fail to acknowledge and cater to the needs of others around us. It may be because of our survivalist tendencies or even because of the culture of I, Me, Myself that seems to be pervading our consciousness today. We are so busy with ourselves, our thoughts, schedule and stuff that we fail to connect with others in a way the earlier generations generally did.

 

"May I help you" is not just something that just customer service personnel need to practise. We need to imbibe that spirit in our day to day life. In all our interaction with others including our loved once, let's look for cues that give us a hint of their needs and aspirations. If we can connect to those unsaid and sometimes well said needs, we can definitely make it a better world - a world where concern for others is a way of life!

 

How may I help you today :)

To be perfect is to be determined and focused in achieving excellence in whatever one does. But rarely is that effort being applied in this fickle world of today. Perfection is shunned...in the bookworms who dedicate their life to understanding something, in the geek who comes up with the perfect solution, in the student who scores straight A's in all his papers...in any achiever in any sphere of activity. Perfection stands out from the crowd like...a sore thumb!

 

Being popular is what more people aspire to be today. Being smart is not even a close second. An easy going nature has been combined with shoddy execution of tasks and feigned ignorance of common knowledge to cultivate the perfect image of imperfection...that exact state of being needed to become popular among the multitudes acting equally ignorant of plain home truths.

 

Perfect Imperfection is here to stay...will you revolt, will you stay numb?

The song is good and gets you all fired up with youthful energy. It also reminds me that my youth is the time I'm gonna cherish for long and I better do something with it while it's still there :) But, if my youth is spent doing constructive stuff when will I give vent to the rebel in me...when I'm 80??? So what do I do?

 

I'm not going to throw away my principles and go for any and all experiences just to have a good time or because many people are doing it. I believe in youth being a spirit of the mind rather than just the body and in leveraging that spirit to stay connected with my buddies and other like minded souls. But that spirit is doing no good when it comes to being deprived of the thrills of youth. Maybe a little spending now can see me enjoying myself thoroughly and creating great memories. But by doing that, I may be delaying cautious investments in real estate and stuff that can keep me in good stead when I'm in trouble. This thought got me back to what youth is all about - Experience the now without a care and do it like there is no tommorrow! It needs guts to be youthful when you'd rather play safe and stay stale till old age.

 

Dare to be young!

During my childhood, my parents tell me, I never ate alone. Always ready to share a meal, someone had to be there to share any small snack that was there for me. Since then, the shameless and in your face display of India's poverty has dulled my senses. If I kept sharing on, I found more often that there was little left for me with people fending for just "I, Me, Myself".

 

Survivalist tendencies are ok but the decadent indulgence of the privileged classes leave no one in doubt that we have and never will attempt a judicious distribution of resources. Let's put a stop to this culture and spare a thought for the less privileged. Just donating money is not the answer unless such money is effectively tracked to confirm that it reaches the intended beneficiaries. Contribute your time, express your opinion and support systemic changes to ensure upliftment of the downtrodden. Exercising affirmative action and providing equal opportunity could be the first step in what would be a giant step for humanity.

 

Step up to the plate and get counted. Drive corporate philanthropy. Uplift humanity.

In life, so many of us just fall into a routine and fail to find our true identity. As we study at school and college, we fulfil the desires of our parents and friends more often than not. Getting a first job seems like finally we are on our own till along comes marriage and commitment. Then, it's the daily grind of living between pay cheques and constantly searching for a better deal for our labour. Finally, a day comes along when we think up What If we had taken a different choice but then it's too late to do anything about it without risking what we had.

 

That brings me to my topic today. We are what we dream. It is through them that we realize what our mind may be trying to tell us through the cloud of our daily activities and chock-a-block calendar of appointments. They bring out our innermost desires and place them bang in the center of our being. While every dream may not bring out our innate potential, a pattern of our dreams will surely let us know what we are suppressing. Our youth is the best time to find out what our dreams are trying to say and see if we can take some risks. Having age on our side when we take risks minimizes the probability of failure as you can move onto other things if something does not work out.

 

Dream! Follow your dreams! Be what you wanna be!

History has not been fair to everybody. There are people who have not been fortunate to see development and progress. Fair chance was tough to come by for them and they were discriminated against. I am all for correcting that imbalance through steps that will lead to equal opportunity, progress and development.

 

In India, this is being carried out by reservation of seats in educational institutions, and may soon extent to jobs. While this action is supported by legislation and has been upheld by the judiciary, it is not in the best interest of the country and its citizens.

 

By having a separate merit list for candidates who are applying for the reservation quota and the open quota, candidates seeking reservation sometimes get thru without meeting adequate requirements for the course/post. Once someone has gained admission to a course, our education system is weak enough for them to come thru successfully even without having the requisite knowledge. Doctors, Engineers, and others who are not technically proficient not only graduate but are able to get government jobs through reservation quotas. Once they are employed, their erroneous acts on the job are hushed up and sometimes never even see the light of day.

 

When there is a critical medical emergency with a patient required to be operated upon by a doctor, would you rather place your trust in the doctor and go ahead with the procedure OR would you spend time verifying the credentials of the doctor to ensure they know what they are dealing with?

 

Affirmative action is the correct alternative as practised in countries like America where they create an environment where the job goes to the best candidate among a pool that get an equal opportunity at bagging the job.

 

Support the disadvantaged by providing monetory aid for education, but select the best for the job so the meritorius can thrive and help restore this country to its former glorious days of scholarly achievement!

 

[This is my personal view and does not reflect the views of any organization I work(ed) for or am affiliated with]

I have never been an advocate of free software, even when I got to benefit from it. That got me thinking as to why that thinking stuck with me. Here's this silly think -

 

Writing and working with software and business applications is how I earn my bread and butter. If manufacturers of other goods and providers of other services see no need to give their products or services free, I see no need why software needs to be handed over free.

 

Regarding advertisement driven software, key question is "How many ads are we ready to put up with?"

 

Utopia is still far away and though my view on this one will change, it will take some time and reciprocal steps from other profiteering industries.

Ideas are my life breath and this space is a reflection of all the ideas I'm playing with. One place where you can catch up with all my recent work and play (Ah! No need to visit all the blogs eh? Don't you dare do that or I'll be mad at you and launch a comment war on that one :)

 

SillyThinks? I'm gonna be dropping in my deepest thoughts (and shallow ones too) so we can chew on that and find what we think about it. Are you Game? Drop in soon then and catch the Silly Thinks out here!