Well, this post is a bit late considering Christmas got over a few days ago, but being generous and nice neednt always be associated only to Christmas. You can start it, do it and should do it at any point of the year.
Here is one B-E-A-U-tiful idea of being nice, generous, make your brain work too and make the people a little surprised and happy and give you that goody-goody feeling.
"The Generosity Game
The following concept, created by John Stoner (and monitored for the Institute by Matthew Mezey) has many similarities with the Random Kindness approach.
Here's another possibility, close to my own heart: the Generosity Game! It's my own project, and you can see the website if you haven't already (at http://www.generosity.org).
For those who haven't seen it the idea is this:
You do something good for someone, and you do it anonymously. For example, you could pay the toll of the car behind you at a tollbooth. One thing we've done is go to a wonderful bakery, and buy a treat for the next person who walks in the door after we leave. Be creative!
And you pass on one of these cards to the person you do it for. On one side, they say
'It's Your Turn.'
On the other, they give these instructions:
'This is for you! Now it's your turn: go do something good for someone else. Do it anonymously. Pass on this card.'
So, you see, the card passes itself on! Someone is the recipient of your good deed (and the card), goes and does something for someone else, passes on the card. Then that person has some good thing done for them (and gets a card), and they do something for someone else ... isn't it great?
Anyway, I've found that doing this a lot does open your heart in a particular way. It opens your heart to being generous with others as a part of your life, and it opens your mind to what resources you can bring to that generosity.
Honestly, I've been very weak in taking it on as a personal practice. But the few times a week (or month) that I do it myself have turned my attention more towards what I have to give. Which I'd say is a positive thing.
"
http://www.generosity.org/download.html
Go ahead, do something nice and make the world a happier place to live in and help someone smile today :)
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
An object of ......
Seen on a gtalk status message about a quote from a friend's sister: "I am not an object of amusement"...
And my friend's response: "Poor thing, little does she know"
And my friend's response: "Poor thing, little does she know"
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
My opinions
Seen on a blog: "My opinions may change intermittently, but not the fact that I am always right!"
Monday, December 21, 2009
The juice of Life
Have you ever tasted the juice of life?
Blood: The real 'juice' of life!
Tastes real good too! :)
Blood: The real 'juice' of life!
Tastes real good too! :)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Losing it all
Dec 10 should go down in my history as a day of losses. From losing a lot to losing it. I have never before said so many goodbyes to so many people ever on a day. On other occasions, I know that the byes are temporary till we meet again somewhere, but this time some of the goodbyes are just that, Goodbyes. I may never get to see some of them ever again. It feels bad to know people so well and then lose them all.
After leaving the IIM, I was on my way to attend a wedding ceremony of my roomie in Indore and on the way saw something horrible: A head on accident of a lady with a bus. The girl's legs were stuck in the vehicle and while her head was on the ground and I saw a pool of blood. Nobody was even helping her and I am not sure if she will live or lose her life. Though the fault was of both the lady and the bus driver, I am sure, the way the Indian police and society works, the driver will be blamed 100% for the accident. A sad state of affairs.
After coming back from the wedding, I came to a guest house and put on the tv. I watched a song on tv for the first time in 6 months. I felt lost watching tv. I couldnt relate to anything on tv. I didnt know so many new channels, I didnt know the songs, the actors and actresses or the movies to which the songs belonged. All the advertisements were new and nothing I had watched before. It felt strange and felt totally out of sync.
I think I have lost my head too. This is the first time I am having a homesick feeling for a few days now. Never before have I had a homesick feeling beyond a day or two. Maybe it is the effect of the gtalk status messages my friends put up "home!", "Want to go home", "Back to Bangaluru" or the fact that I am tired of saying goodbyes and actually want to meet some people I know back or that I am tired of packing full international load baggages with so many unnecessary overheads I am still carrying around which I couldnt dump at home or a potent combination of all these.
The one most important thing I have learnt in my MBA is losing/sacrificing, all kinds, from sleep, friends, family, music, decent food, tv, movies, interesting subjects, hobbies, etc and coping up with the losses and moving on. I guess the end of MBA just reinforces that lesson for me.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Embarking on another nomadic life
Its yet again time to keep moving. From all the way to Philippines to Mumbai to Indore and now back to Mumbai for 5 or 6 days and then to Bangalore for another 5 days and then finally to home after 6 nearly months(out of which more than 3 have been in India itself and still not able to visit home even when my mom was bedridden for a couple of months). The last time I stayed at home was for 72 long hrs. Home time for me cant be counted in weeks but in days and nights only. Don't know how long this time its going to be... Don't want to be too short or too long.
Have two exams the day after, the night marriage of one of my dear roomies to attend, some sleep if I can get some and then an early morning flight to Mumbai.
Have two exams the day after, the night marriage of one of my dear roomies to attend, some sleep if I can get some and then an early morning flight to Mumbai.
As always is my case, my regular life is usually the leisurely break before the hectic packing, travelling and staying in new places, synchronising the many events dependent on so many people and events. And today I heard a person in front of me sighing and saying "I went home only in October and it has been so long". Three things happened immediately: my blood boiled, I felt sad and also pitied the person's ignorance.
Imagine them considering themselves as unlucky. Sigh...I think I know how lucky the person really is.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Know your enemy
If your enemy is superior, evade him. If angry, irritate him. If equally matched, fight, and if not split and reevaluate: Sun-Tzu.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Continous obsolescence
While I was walking on one of the Mumbai suburb roads last month, all of a sudden I smelt something that I hadn't smelt for more than a decade. That smell was of freshly made atta (powdered wheat) at one of the atta making shops. I remember going to a shop and grounding atta when I was in Mumbai in 1999-2000. Ever since, I have never done it and I don't even recollect seeing a shop that makes ground atta with that curious looking long mechanical machine. As a kid, I remember countering my dad on many occasions when he used to argue that during his days, he used to carry many kgs of wheat to the atta maker and get them back ground. That he used to work so hard and not have all the luxuries we have in our times. I used to hit back saying I too have done that. Now, looking back, I could be making the same claim to my kids, the problem is I don't think they will even understand what I am talking about. With all the commercial atta available in ready made packs of various sizes, the need of buying raw wheat or getting it from the ration shop and then grounding it with instructions of the coarseness of the powder (more like the short/medium/long when we guys go to the barber and instruct) has stopped by my family and many other middle class people. It is hard to even see these shops in the cities now.
Found this related article about the flour milling occupation written last year:
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/26/stories/2008102658640300.htm
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/26/stories/2008102658640300.htm
Do feel free to add things that you once used to do as a kid and now our children can't even understand the things if we start claiming those things we did.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
All time best CVs
Here's a sample. At No.10 is Rambo.
Other good ones are Yoda, Pamela Anderson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
10. Rambo
Previous Employment
US Army Green Berets, Nutjob Mercenary, Snake Seller, Jungle Tour Guide.
Reason for Leaving Previous Job
Apparently my personal kit of an M2 Browning machine gun, 4000 rounds of ammunition, 12 inch machete, pepper spray, 8 grenades, a handaxe and a small box of tissues, was considered a ’safety hazard’. On top of this, my jungle-pattern combat facepaint was apparently ’scaring fellow employees’. In any case their facilities were rubbish – there was nowhere to land a helicopter, for example.
Greatest Achievement:
Medal of Honor, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Black Lung, Vietnam Service Medal, 10m Swimming Badge, Advanced Knot-Tying Badge, MTV Cribs Most Homely (for my jungle hut in Thailand) and Nutter of the Year 1988. Did I mention I have killed over 17,000 people?
Personal Qualities
Knowledge of over 23 ways to kill a man with my bare hands; can operate any military vehicle or weapon (including helicopter and tank); expert escape and evasion skills; very good at applying facepaint; extensive collection of bandanas; extremely sensitive.
Ambitions
Eventually I hope to move away from military-based suicide missions and into the softcore porn industry – both as a producer and star. Basically, instead of using guns to create holes, I’d like to fill holes with my… 6 years as a POW does cruel things to a man…
Special Requirements
12 Vietnamese POWs for my personal amusement (and to keep my interrogation technique in great form), my bandana washed and ironed every evening, and a lifetime subscription to Butterfly Collector Weekly – oh, and a helicopter landing pad is definitely a dealbreaker.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Just married
One of the best just married descriptions I have seen: "Two of us trying to dance a duet and two solos at the same time"
Monday, November 30, 2009
Profiting from other people's death
There are two kinds of people who profit from other people's death. The people conducting funeral services and the family getting insurance claims/inheritance. So what if you are not one of the above and still want to profit from someone's death? Here comes the concept of "Death bonds".
Let me explain the concept in simple words: If a guy buys insurance and dies, his family gets the money. Now what if the guy is desperate and just sells his insurance to someone else. Now, if that same old guy dies, the new holder of the insurance gets the money.
In death bonds, a lot of such insurances are bought from people to make a pool and parts of this pool are sold off to investors. So if you buy death bonds, it is profitable for you if the guys insured die within the time period of the life insurance. And since death of a few people will always occur in some probability, you are assured some returns always. I guess most finance guys will say CDO means collaterised debt obligation, but then this is a "collaterised death obligation" :P
After seeing the kind of money that the priests took for the funeral services, I realised that, if there ever was one sustainable business, that would be the "business of death". You are always in business till the last guy on earth perishes and then the whole world is yours.... hahaha
"Maut ka saudagar"....
Whats on people's mind?
The latest results of "Whats on People's mind?" update is here.
"How to hack into orkut accounts" is a new entrant of what people want to know in India...
The others are regular on the list of "how to" with "how to get pregnant" as always the topper of the list.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Benefits of social networking sites
One of the best things about the social networking sites is the birthday reminders. Not just the previous day, but at least 2 or 3 days in advance.
It gives enough time to friends to buy cake, presents, etc and also to warm up and get their shoes ready to kick some arse :)
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
A historical perspective of Eunuchs
In today's encore excerpt - eunuchs, those castrated servants who performed a wide variety of functions for kings in ancient and more recent times. The special value of eunuchs (literally bed-keepers) to kings and other high-ranking officials was that they could be better trusted since they had no desire for the wives and other women of the court, did not have the distractions of family life, and were thought to have less ambition. Here we see eunuchs in the capital of Constantinople circa the fifth century CE:
"Eunuchs gave the palace at Constantinople a special atmosphere. They were men who had been sexually damaged by disease, accident, or deliberate mutilation. Mutilation, as horrible as it sounds, was not always or only conscious cruelty, inasmuch as eunuchry was a path to power and safety for the marginal or the vulnerable. One source speaks of the Abasgi outside Roman territory at the eastern end of the Black Sea (modern Abkhazia retains the name), whose king sold boys for castration and killed their parents. If the fatality rate on these castrations was about ninety-five percent, few cared, and the survivors might feel themselves lucky in many ways.
"Eunuchs gave the palace at Constantinople a special atmosphere. They were men who had been sexually damaged by disease, accident, or deliberate mutilation. Mutilation, as horrible as it sounds, was not always or only conscious cruelty, inasmuch as eunuchry was a path to power and safety for the marginal or the vulnerable. One source speaks of the Abasgi outside Roman territory at the eastern end of the Black Sea (modern Abkhazia retains the name), whose king sold boys for castration and killed their parents. If the fatality rate on these castrations was about ninety-five percent, few cared, and the survivors might feel themselves lucky in many ways.
"So normal a part of the landscape did the eunuchs seem, and so easily was their involuntary sexual isolation compared with religiously approved abstinence, that in later times when exegetes read of the service of the prophet Daniel at Nebuchadnezzar's court, they naturally assumed - meaning it as a respectful interpretation - that he must have been a eunuch too. On a higher level, the angels and their sexlessness gave sexless males below a kind of respectability. The general Narses, who replaced Belisarius and finally brought grim peace to Italy for [the emperor] Justinian, was a eunuch. By the eighth century, a eunuch could even rise to the patriarchal throne in Constantinople.
"At the pinnacle of the household was the grand chamberlain, always a eunuch and thus supposedly without family interest to corrupt his service, responsible for every aspect of management and control. He supervised the silentiaries (court officials) with their golden wands, who offered discreet guidance and control to ensure that all would be orderly and impressive, and whose influence could thus incidentally mean a great deal. On retirement they were normally admitted to the senate."
James J. O'Donnell, The Ruin of the Roman Empire, Harper Collins, Copyright 2008 by James J. O'Donnell, pp. 200-201.
James J. O'Donnell, The Ruin of the Roman Empire, Harper Collins, Copyright 2008 by James J. O'Donnell, pp. 200-201.
Cognitive miser
In today's excerpt - the human brain is a "cognitive miser"- it can employ several approaches to solving a given problem, but almost always chooses the one that requires the least computational power:
"We tend to be cognitive misers. When approaching a problem, we can choose from any of several cognitive mechanisms. Some mechanisms have great computational power, letting us solve many problems with great accuracy, but they are slow, require much concentration and can interfere with other cognitive tasks. Others are comparatively low in computational power, but they are fast, require little concentration and do not interfere with other ongoing cognition. Humans are cognitive misers because our basic tendency is to default to the processing mechanisms that require less computational effort, even if they are less accurate. Are you a cognitive miser? Consider the following problem, taken from the work of Hector Levesque, a computer scientist at the University of Toronto. Try to answer it yourself before reading the solution.
Problem: Jack is looking at Anne, but Anne is looking at George. Jack is married, but George is not. Is a married person looking at an unmarried person?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Cannot be determined
"More than 80 percent of people choose C. But the correct answer is A. Here is how to think it through logically: Anne is the only person whose marital status is unknown. You need to consider both possibilities, either married or unmarried, to determine whether you have enough information to draw a conclusion. If Anne is married, the answer is A: she would be the married person who is looking at an unmarried person (George). If Anne is not married, the answer is still A: in this case, Jack is the married person, and he is looking at Anne, the unmarried person. This thought process is called fully disjunctive reasoning - reasoning that considers all possibilities. The fact that the problem does not reveal whether Anne is or is not married suggests to people that they do not have enough information, and they make the easiest inference (C) without thinking through all the possibilities. Most people can carry out fully disjunctive reasoning when they are explicitly told that it is necessary (as when there is no option like 'cannot be determined' available). But most do not automatically do so, and the tendency to do so is only weakly correlated with intelligence.
"Here is another test of cognitive miserliness, as described by Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman and his colleague Shane Frederick.
"A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?
"Many people give the first response that comes to mind - 10 cents. But if they thought a little harder, they would realize that this cannot be right: the bat would then have to cost $1.10, for a total of $1.20. IQ is no guarantee against this error. Kahneman and Frederick found that large numbers of highly select university students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton and Harvard were cognitive misers, just like the rest of us, when given this and similar problems."
Keith E. Stanovich, "Rational and Irrational Thought: The Thinking That IQ Tests Miss," Scientific American, November/December 2009, pp. 35-36.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Vision of Mankind 2
Referring to my previous post on the vision of mankind, http://ajitjagan.blogspot.com/2009/11/vision-of-mankind.html, I think I have found a solution...
The vision of mankind is same as that of cockroaches. And that is to propagate and have continue the generations.
I think the cockroaches are better at risk management than all of mankind combined. They have survived for millions of years with just one technique: "When you sense risk, run like crazy". We human imbeciles haven't even learnt that well. The amount of humans dying/suffering as a ratio of total human population is greater than a similar proportion for cockroaches. The mighty cockroaches have survived metrorites, ice ages and what not.
Humans also just want to survive and keep propagating. They want to reduce the risk of dying and being extinct. So they started cultivating food to avoid starvation, started using fire to protect themselves from animals and from the cold, etc. One day, when the next ice age occurs or meteors strike, temp of earth reaches 50 degree celsius or water submerges all land, we may have technologies and ways to survive extinction.
Say for the next ice age of 100,000 years, humans may freeze themselves in machines and come out automatically when the ice age stops. We may genetically modify ourselves to breathe underwater or live in 60 degree celsius without being burnt.
Humankind sees the benefits of diversification. From experimenting with ligers and tigons, now we have gayism nad a few crimes of people mating with animals. What next? Interspecies mating? Maybe the human genes can get better with the diversification and a hardier gene pool with hardier characteristics for better survival for gene propagation.
Humans dont want to accept a simple reality of death of the human kind at some time. So the adventurous imbeciles keep doing something or another to change the reality. So far, so good imbeciles! But at the end of every millennium, you are no greater than a cockroach whose goal is to just survive and propagate its genes to the next generation.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
On the taxiway
Now, I am on the taxiway waiting for the other aircrafts to take off. Once the runway is clear off them, I hope to get the Air traffic Controller's permission to take off on the runway. But I dont know where to take the plane. I am happy that I have loaded the plane with enough of good stuff that will be useful to me for a long time. I know the plane will have to travel not only during the daylight, but also in the pitch of darkness and hopefully in the right direction. As of now, the plane is on its schedule to go to a maintenance hanger and wait there till some charter's the plane for use.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Planning
We overestimate what we can achieve in a day and we underestimate what we can achieve in a year.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Dialogues with guns in hand
"When you have to shoot, shoot, don’t talk"
The Gaint Panda franchise
"Maybe the Giant Panda, a byword for endangered icons if ever there was one, is on safer ground. In the 1960s and '70s the nearly extinct creature, together with some acrobatic ping-pong players, emerged as a notable asset in the diplomatic arsenal of the beleaguered People's Republic. Much sought after by zoos worldwide, the pandas, especially females, were freely bestowed on deserving heads of state. The presentations were described as 'friendship gestures', and experimental breeding was encouraged as if a successful issue might somehow cement the political entente. But not any more. From sparse references in classic texts such as the 'Book of Documents' a pedigree of undoubted antiquity has been constructed for the panda and a standard name awarded to it. Now known as the Daxiongmao or 'Great Bear-Cat', its habits have been found sufficiently inoffensive to merit its promotion as a 'universal symbol of peace'; its numbers have stabilised, perhaps increased, thanks to zealous conservation; and lest anyone harbour designs on such a national paragon, no longer may Giant Pandas be expatriated. All are Chinese pandas. Foreign zoos may only lease them, the lease being for ten years, the rental fee around $2 million per annum, and any cubs born during the rental being deemed to inherit the nationality of their mother - and the same terms of contract. Like its piebald image as featured in countless brand logos, the Giant Panda has itself become a franchise."
John Keay, China, Basic Books, Copyright 2009 by John Keay, pp. 1-3.
For what?
What will you live for?
What will you die for?
What will you fight for?
What will you stand for?
What will you die for?
What will you fight for?
What will you stand for?
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Everybody hurts
Everybody hurts - R.E.M
A soul stirring song when you are down...
The video is more awesome than just the great lyrics.
Watch the video at:
When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes
Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on
'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone
If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on
Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Everybody hurts. You are not alone...
Secrets
I know so many secrets about so many people (friends, roomies, cousins and family) and I feel happy that so many people trust me so much, but at times I feel it is complicating my life a little more. I have to be that much extra careful when I speak that I do not speak about the secret. Worse, I have to remember that I have to act innocent as if I didn't know certain things about a certain person's life. That is still ok. That is the easier part. Fortunately, all the secrets I know are directly from the people about themselves. The secrets that are the hardest to own and protect are leaked secrets - A secret that has been leaked to me as gossip. Then it is an open secret and any number of people could have known it. Bringing the knowledge of this secret in a discussion can make things go really bad. I am happy I don't get to know much of the juicy other's secrets. Secrets/Personal information coming from the very person are always much better than hearing the same through someone else(though it is far more interesting).
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Time zone difficulties
It is difficult connecting to people across various time zones. Previously, while I was in Manila, I remembered that Pittsburgh is exact 12 hr behind and it was easy to chat with someone there knowing the time. Now after coming to India, I have moved 2.5hrs. Had to think to know what time it is in Pittsburgh while I am here. Now another complication, daylight savings...It has moved one hr... had to again figure out which way is that...When someone in Pittsburgh says I will come online and chat with you at a particular time on some date, I need to start calculating which day is it for me: is it the same date or the next one(as I am ahead). Then calculate the time...Pretty complicated... Thankfully neither I or my friends move around countries... Else, my time warped life will be in a recursive time warp...which basically means going insane....
Life isnt about balance
"I have a belief that life isn't about balance, because balance is perfection....Rather, it's about catching the ball before it hits the floor.": Carol Bartz, CEO, Yahoo!
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination
J.K. Rowling, author of the best-selling Harry Potter book series, delivers her Commencement Address, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination,” at the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Remember
1. If you feel different than everyone else, thats probably because you are indeed different.Thats no crime and stop making excuses for yourself.
2. The mean things which you cried over would be a silly joke which will be quickly forgotten in a decade. And you would meet meaner people and will have meaner and vile things said and done to you. Chin up and smile.
3. The best friends you have now will be the ones whom you will turn to when you need someone the most. They might never understand you-but they will always be there.
4. Nobody is perfect,not even you.Forgive and forget.The Karma always gets back to you.
5. Your looks would be totally different 10 years down the line. So will be your thoughts, dreams and your outlook towards life and living.
6. You will see and learn things beyond your comprehension. So stop planning and worrying over the future. Life can never be planned.
7. Friends are friends. Regardless how gay,drugged,drunk or wicked they are. They bear with you, so you have to return the favour.
8. Save some of the childhood innocence tucked deep down. It will help you sharpen your charm sometime in life.
9. Accept failures. Your wins are not worthy without them.(And I ought to share this link-courtesy Cherian)
10. Eat, pray and love- The rest will work out fine.
Vision of Mankind
I realised the value of a vision or a dream sometime ago. Every individual and every organisation needs it so that it can continuously go forward and keep on its path and to overcome obstacles in times of difficulty. It gives a certain drive, motivation, energy and something to look forward to each day. So I wonder what is the vision of mankind as a whole? What does it want to achieve once all the infightings are sorted out or not?
One should read Scott Adams book "Gods Debris" and from there comes certain ideas... I can see things happening as predicted in that book. The world is coming together as a whole, especially with the help of the internet. People all over the world can come together and decide on various important topics staying far away. Internet unites everyone like nothing else has ever done before. It is a social fabric in a way intertwining everybody's life into it. And as more people use it, more people are going to spend sufficient amounts of time on the net. So what next? Similar to people vote in a country to choose elected representatives to solve people's problems, what will the people of the world come together to do? What is it that Humanity wants? What does the mankind look forward to? What is the vision of Human existence as a whole?
The new Herbivore culture
The new 'girly' men culture of Japan: a new solution?http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article6903043.ece
The good, the bad and the ugly
Today is the day for me to hear all three events from various quarters for me.
The good: A friend of mine got a job.
The bad: Got a cheated feeling by trusting some people.
The ugly: A friend did a very very bad thing against his gut feelings and is now repenting it badly.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Women want more!
Consumer behaviour for Marketing for womenkind:
http://www.businesspundit.com/women-want-more-a-book-review/
http://www.businesspundit.com/women-want-more-a-book-review/
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Of rich guys and pretty girls
Damn, I didn't keep a note of the pretty girl I once saw in an finance newspaper. If only, I was able to remember her beyond her beauty and remember exactly what she did or what her name was!
This girl has attracted the attention of a quiz master and now I cant answer the quiz question of who she is and what organisation she works for!!!
Lesson of the day: Keep a special note of the details of beautiful girls and rich guys!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Writing and reading
“There are two types of writers: those who make you think and those who make you dream” - Brian Aldiss
The writer has to be a good reader. The kind that sticks to academic texts and does not read what others write (and here I’m not just talking about books but also blogs, newspaper columns and so on) will never know his own qualities and defects.
People always judge others using the model of their own limitations – and at times the opinion of the community is full of prejudices and fears.
Join those who sing, tell stories, enjoy life and have happiness in their eyes. Because happiness is contagious and always manages to keep people from being paralyzed by depression, loneliness and troubles.
William Blake said: all that we write is the fruit of memory or the unknown. If I can make a suggestion, respect the unknown and look there for your source of inspiration. The stories and facts remain the same, but when you open a door in your unconscious and let yourself be led by inspiration you will see that the way to describe what you have lived or dreamt is always far richer when your unconscious is guiding the pen.
Two sides of a coin
I learnt a trick that is really useful for making decisions in this web world. Usually, when we don't understand a specific topic or want to know about something, we do a search of the topic in google or do the search on wiki. This is ok. But when you need information on topics that you going to make you decide on something important, this is not enough.
Eg: Say you are planning to buy a product made of Neem(a tree) for your family and assuming you didnt know about Neem before. Doing a google links gives wiki as the first link. I went through the page and understood all its benefits.
Now, does that mean I can just buy it and use it? Could there be any harmful effects of it?
So now I do a google for the words 'harmful neem' and I got multiple links saying the harmful effects of neem on children and on pregnant women.
This is my learning from my finance prof. Deepak Kapur: Do the google search as before and then do a google search with the contents "problems" along with the topic. The word problems/harmful effects, etc will give you the lesser known criticising view of the topic at hand. This tip/trick can be used to gauge the problems related to companies in the stock market to increasing your knowledge and for being more decisive and critical in your thinking.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Success and failure
Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm- Winston Churchill
Thursday, October 29, 2009
One night stand
Based on accidental experience, I can say that one night stands are the most exciting and fun things one can indulge in...
But the risks are way too much and I plan to avoid getting into this business irrespective of how many ever of my friends get into these on a regular basis...
By my definition, a one night stand is a buy today sell today/tomorrow stock trading strategy, but I dont know why investopedia (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/onenightstand.asp) gives it a different definition (The equivalent of a chicken in the market http://www.riyaz.net/blog/stock-market-wisdom-from-chicken-little/)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Birthday Bumps
Today, I witnessed a nice birthday bumps of a friend of mine in really close quarters...Involved quite a lot of things that could come under the human rights violation acts...
So here is the wiki topic on Birthday bumps:
Punches, pulls, and "the Bumps"
One widespread birthday custom takes many forms around the world, all rooted in the idea of delivering some form of physical torment to the person whose birthday it is, in order to drive away evil and to attract good luck. These torments range from beatings, through punches and earlobe-pulling, to "the Bumps".
"The Bumps", a torment common in countries such as the U.K., Ireland, and the U.S., involves the friends and family of the person whose birthday it is taking him or her by the arms and legs, and "bumping" him/her up into the air and down onto the floor. The number of "bumps" given equals the age of the person in years plus one "for luck". Usually "the Bumps" are administered only to children, in part because as people grow up they become too heavy for the process.
In Francophone Canada and the U.S. "birthday punches" are given in a similar fashion, where the person whose birthday it is is punched a number of times equal to his/her age, plus one for luck. In Brazil, Hugary, Argentina, Italy, and other countries, the person has his/her earlobes pulled. The Hungarian tradition also involves at the same time as pulling the earlobes wishing the person a happy birthday or reciting a rhyme whose English translation is "God bless you, live so long so your ears reach your ankles.".
In Israel, part of the birthday celebration for a child in kindergarten is to lift the decorated chair that the child sits on into the air several times, once for each year of the child's age, plus "one for the next year".
Friday, October 23, 2009
Exception or a norm?
Another such story in a week I have read.... I was just reading about this topic here and there and I came across a reliable research which states that approximately 10% cases of rape are just made up. What better weapon can one get than just acting like a victim for sometime and getting the guy(s) one of the harshest of punishments around.
Disgusting truth...
Life's like that! Really?
People: One of those topics I have wondered often on...
I know more than just a handful of them. And many things about them are so difficult to comprehend. Not sure if so many people have a common attitude and common beliefs or is each one different in their own way but have common traits with some group of people. I have certain notions about some things about people. But I am not sure since many of my held notions have broken. I am constantly trying to find out if my notion was itself wrong in the first place or if my notion was right and people have changed by finding other notions to live up to. Notions are so personal to each one that it is very difficult to share with just about anyone around and that just complicates things to get my answer. I am not satisfied with the answer "Life's like that". I want to know why is it that Life's like that? Have people actually done something or made an effort to stop something that they love calling "Life's like that" ?
"Life's like that!"
Really? Or is it just convenient that way for people to do whatever they want and use this statement as a justification ?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Signing off
I recently got an email with the following sign off "xoxo". Knowing the person's sophistication, I knew this was something I clearly didnt know. I searched it online and wikipedia says x= kiss and o=hugs and this expression xoxo is typically to express affection or good friendship at the end of a written letter, email or SMS text message.
I have usually wondered what to write at the end of emails and especially greeting cards to friends(if they are not the closest or if they may not particularly like the words love as a sign off). So I finally did a search which I should have done a long time ago and found this really nice site:
Now, I think I have something new and interesting to sign off with :)
And I think I can also come up with some of my own :)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
No gimmick this!
The Maldives Presidency, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed signs the decree of the underwater cabinet meeting off Girifushi Island on October 17, 2009.
The government in the Maldives held its first underwater cabinet meeting on October 17, 2009 to attract international attention to the dangers of global warming.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Emails and emotions
I recently realised something by what my friend said today. I am usually good at writing mails and reviewing documents, but at times like today, I just seem to have lost that talent all of a sudden. I drafted a mail to a higher authorty which wasn't a neutral toned one. I didnt like the mail myself. I asked for help to a friend/classmate and he drafted me a good mail. Sent it.
I asked him, how come you are so good in drafting mails. He said he learnt it from me. Now, that is a paradoxical statement. He told me that when the person drafting the mail is involved in the reason for writing the mail, emotions come in the way. And these emotions are strong enough that the mind cant even write a simple clear mail in a neutral tone. There have been instances when I write his mails for the best effect and he writes up my mails for the best effect. Strange, but true. The partner needs to be able to understand you completely and take up the complementary task in the best way when due.
There are exceptions though. There are mails where emotions can actually help. Like a mail criticising the pathetic situation to a lower/equal authority after many complaints have gone on deaf ears or a real sentimental/loving mail that can really touch one and maybe even bring them to tears.
One of the most important ingredient to emails is the state of mind or the emotions at the time of writing it.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Future Kitchens
A ready made kitchen that grows fresh food... Interesting...
Feelings
Shock
amusement
sadistic pleasure
sadness
frustration
why am I not lucky for once?
The same order of feelings repeat itself everytime the grades are out...
The best excuse
One of the best non-arguable excuses ever for anything anyone asks you is "work". The various versions are "I am caught/stuck up with work", "work yaar", "I have some work", "have some work at home", "busy with something", "busy with work".
The all time motherhood statement with no explanation of what possible work that could be. If they say it, there is a chance that we may for heavens sake find out a way for their "work" problems. Now that shouldn't happen, can it?
I honestly have come to believe that people saying they are busy with work with no explanations whatever; or without a description of how that work is affecting so many other things too and how they are making other sacrifices; or without a statement that they will make up for the request surely some other time is basically a lie to avoid the request and/or to stop getting a guilty feeling.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Drinking
Met a friend today who told me she drinks close to 12 cups of tea a day(actually more like 7 or 8). And she says it has no effect on her. Ya right! I think she is totally addicted and I see the effect of addiction.
Reminded me of an old joke:
Once a guy plans to test a theory on drinking. So he goes to the bar and orders 4 shots. Gulps down one after another. Not much of an effect. Now orders 3 shots. Gulps them down. Feels a bit oozy. Orders two more shots and drinks them. Feels a high. Orders one more shot and drinks it. Feels very very high.
He concludes: The lesser I drink, the more high I get.
This image is dedicated to my dear friend in Bangalore:
Monday, October 12, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Hocus Focus
See the resemblance??? :)
This photo taken Oct 2, 2009 shows a view of mummified corpses in the Capuchins' Catacombs located in Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy.
British designer Vivienne Westwood arrives at a party for the opening of her new boutique in downtown Beirut, Lebanon on Thursday, Oct 8, 2009. (AP)
Unexpected surprises
Some of the smallest things are some of the most honest and nice things that can bring on a smile to a person's face. An unexpected sms of a friend who became a new aunt (and I have been addressing her aunty ever since) asked me for an honest suggestion of how her niece should be addressing her made my day today. Thanks friend :)
A good date
I knew my day would come again. I was waiting for this day for a long time now. Finally it came today. I got a chance to go out with her. I heard about her in the evening and I instantly knew she was the one. Almost perfect. Exactly what I wanted. But I had been with one perfect one some time ago. Memories started coming back about how nice, enjoyable and hard times we had with one another. But that relationship had ended. This was different. Different place, different situation and a new chemistry. And it all began. Took me some initial time to get to know her. She was very enthusiastic, more than what I had expected. I soon got to understand her talk and her ways. The chemistry developed...slowly but steadily. We travelled far and long on the highway to go to a restaurant. After completing dinner, it was well past 10.15pm and we started back on a dark road and we travelled through the cold breeze at good speed back to our place. Indeed, had an amazing day. Wish I get to go out with her more often and spend more time with her.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Wedding Insurance
Wedding insurance is being offered in India, though under the event insurance category. See for more details:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/5085837.cms
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Questions to eternity
I was searching through my gmail for something and stepped across a chat with a friend and an email conversation with another friend. If you read it, you will find a level of closeness and comfort between the friends. I would have never expected some things to change so drastically in such a short period of time (2 months)...the strangest part is the ironicity of the advice of my friend to me... well, things have happened/not happened, and the situation today is different. I no longer feel hurt or pain because of this... But one thing that went on in my mind while I read it was: we will never be able to get answers to many questions in this lifetime...
Well, there was a time to think of questions, possible answers as to why some things transpired, but I think I am over those dead questions. The questions will remain zombies forever with no one ready to answer it.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Guide to hiring women
A very interesting article. Tells you about the psychology and characteristics of woman kind in workplace. Also gives tips on managing women at the work place.
A read for every manager who deals with women, I guess.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Resume & CV
I was recently told that a CV is different from a resume. The CV is longer and more detailed than a resume. But the top search results say that in some countries CVs are called resumes.
Now I am in a confusion. I have a resume but dont know what a CV should look like.
People's priority indicator
Well, I was at it again. I went to google and typed "how to" and back came the response.
Two months ago, "how to write a resume", was the first in the list as mentioned here previously.
I guess people are back to wanting to make babies again.
Now that I am searching this pretty regularly, I am thinking of a fancy name I can give to this indicator. I can then report the monthly state of affairs and can observe the lastest trends in people's priorities. It may give some clue as to what people are upto these days.
Thinking it cross sectionally, maybe it can work as a crude indicator to predict the number of children born in the next year or so.
Having some hopes that one day, this will be refered to something like the long skirt theory, the leading lipstick indicator.
@readers: please suggest an appropriate/wacky name with/without including my name in the indicator :)
p.s: The search is for google.co.in..... You may get different results if you are in another domain/country.
Get rich soon
I had identified this amazing opportunity a few years ago to get rich quick.
The problem was I am/was not in US or Europe.
Let me get to the point: The easiest way to get (filthy)rich quick is to sue. Sue someone, some company, some institution, something.
Sometimes you have to be in the right situation in the right place to be the victim. But if you already want to get rich quick, you can start searching/looking out for possible victimisations and make yourself a victim and then cry foul and sue.
The processes in the developed countries are pretty efficient and you can make plenty of money in a short period of time.
Just look what one guy has done:
He has sued Bank of America for 1784 billion trillion dollars, that is 1 followed by 21 zeros. The world's GDP in 2008 was merely $60 trillion.
I think I am just not in the right place to get rich soon.
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