Fiddling with Settings

Notice

2007-08-16T11:07:00.000+04:00

Alright, this is rather late, but I haven't been posting at all since Jan '06, since I started a new blog . So if you've been coming here wondering what ever happened, sorry for the lack of a head's up.

Why I dislike Newswagon

2006-11-01T21:06:00.000+04:00

This post is partially a reply to someone who asked 'What else could you expect from NW?'
I treat NW as a single entity, without targetting individual members.

The mandate of Newswagon (NW) is unclear. I checked on the NITK website, their page hasn't been modified even once. So presumably from the title of this club, I'll assume they are responsible with bringing out the news on campus.

NW is probably supposed to be the NITK's press club, bringing the latest news and happenings of campus life to the students, as well as talking about the latest buzz and moods, people's opinion etc.

So why do I dislike it?

It isn't news. It comes out once a month at best. So most of the information is outdated. In any case the content is more of an exercise in condescencion than in portraying 'news'.
It tries to be funny, rarely ( but not never) being successful.
It relies on gossip to hold it together. Indeed, NW editions are like chocolate chip icecreams we get in the mess. Most of it is plain old vanilla: nothing exciting, the very basic and mundane variety available, generally last-preference stuff. The news on who's dating who or whatever are like the choco-chips, which makes it suddenly interesting for people to read. Remove the chips, and youjust have plain vanilla.
It refuses to be direct. NW somehow refuses to call a 'soil-relocation device' a spade. I mean, why the secrecy necessary? To protect someone? If it's so sensitive then it probably shouldn't be mentioned.

I can understand gossip is news too, and it has to be a part of NW. However the rest doesn't need to be plain old vanilla. I also understand that a lot of events in our college are not that great, someare downright shoddy, but how far will pooh-poohing these events get anyone. I've never heard anything positive from NW, about what should be done ( Usually all you'll find is one wise-crack per event mentioned).

I think once upon a time NW managed to be humourous when reporting on events. The present NW is trying to be the same, instead of inventing their own style.

The NW recruitments consist of essays and stories. I have never seen a single worthwhile essay put up by NW on the walls of NITK. You'll find some essays and stories in the Vitruvian, but that still has nothing to do with NW. So then what is NW trying to prove by holding such recruitments? Clearly it has a grand literary image of itself, however it never gets down to putting it on paper. Humour and sarcasm are not the end all and be all of writing skills.

NW might say nothing worthwhile happens in college to write about. So it's not their fault. Strange, most of their members are part of some club or the other. So their own club events are ridiculed. Another point is that lots of things are going on in college, that can be written about. Very few people are aware about the grade conversion and transcript situation and its relevance. Students are not aware about internship opportunities. The fact that the STEP area was merrily ravaged for a naturopathy centre was mentioned in passing. NW prefers to be a ticker tape of what took place with a pinch of condescension that the 'literati' tend to possess. Was there an article that asked students their opinion? Did NW try and rouse any sentiments, even if it meant that students would forget in a while, at least that few minutes of outrage? That's what good writing is about, that's journalism, that what it means to be smart and aware of things around you. Has NW put up an article explaining about who and why we have to thank for the net connection, as well as why its so unbearably slow at times, and what people can do to make it faster? Or will NW just pass some wise-crack about the whole thing?

What? No one takes NW seriously? Of course not, NW doesn't take itself seriously! Its true, NW is supposed to be fun, but that doesn't mean its all fun and games. I don't make a claim that NW should stop making fun of poorly-handled events, that no one is interested in who's dating who and all, but why on earth does it limit itself to that?

I honestly believe NW can re-invent itself, depending on what vision it has for itself, or maybe merely trying to achieve the vision it had for so long.

The intention is merely to serve as a kind of wake-up call... I don't expect any response from NW, but sincerely hope it does include some more positive and useful writing than what it currently features.

Myopia

2006-09-03T20:33:00.000+04:00

Now, I've ranted about my dear college , which recently regained its prestigious position in India Today's top ten engineering colleges. Hurrah. If you remember, we are up there cos of our placements.

So here's my tryst with what makes my college a sought after destination.

I had decided to sit for core companies only. Which translated to Bajaj Auto being the first company I was looking at. They sucked. They corrected our test papers by re-circulating the answer sheets amongst those present and rcalled out the answers. They were the pits, and I wasn't interested in working for a company that doesn't care how i hires its future.

So anyway, I wasn't selected, and the next day I sit for TATA motors. Now this is the dream company for mech, provided GE doesnt hire (and they didn't). They have this online test and it was hard. Managed to get through, did well relatively. Then they had a Group Discussion in which I hardly said much, still got through. Then two rounds of interview.

Wait, I didn't get to the second round! In the middle of the first one they realise I have myopia beyond their medical norms. So they apologize and kick me out!!!!!

I even asked them if they'd take me if I got an MTech and directly started working in a Lab. No siree, I'd never clear their medical test.

Well, to cut a long story short, there was a possibility of LASIK, so they called me back and re-did my interview and ave me the job. But it was too late, I had already made other plans as soon as they booted me the first time. Plus they said something to the effect that I could go through the remaining interviews if I intended to get it done. WTF? I can't tell you that NOW for crying out loud. Then they extended the time frame for my surgery. Great, thanks a lot guys.

So anyway I have a 'job', sort of. Just have to shine a coherent bunch of beams down into they 'ol eyeball and I get 5.3 lakhs a year. Not bad, huh? Well anyway it was a fun experience.
Especially the night after :), but that's another story.

2006-09-03T20:27:00.000+04:00

The skies are often stormy and dark,
Our days sometimes engulfed in pain,
Yet, every cloud has a silver lining,
So, I stare up through the blinding rain.

Do they use a stopwatch?!?

2006-07-13T22:24:00.000+04:00

Another long hard day at the Institute. I just want to rush home, but the thought of traffic sours my mood. Oh well, that's the way it is. So I take a deep breath and ride out the gates.

Pretty soon I'm going at 60 kmh, which is the limit by dear Kiney can go at. Im weaving in and out of traffic, enjoying the game of correctly predicting the best path to take, successfully avoiding the autos with UFO-level maneouvres. I'm still going, when, damn it, the signal up ahead turns red.

I turn the engine off, and coast to the white line that has a pathetic, eroded ' STOP ' painted beyond it, and beyond that an even more invisible 'zebra crossing'. I can't stand it. I'm not moving. I'm restless. Some dude on a Pulsar stops next to me. I look at him, and then at the CUTE chick behind him. We both check each other out to see if we're being checked out. It's a quick look, averted since we were so hopelessly obvious. Why do we doubt it. Why don't we admit it? We both adopt the disinterested expression. I look back at the guy, guilty. He glares.

Another guy coasts in on the other side. I pretend to ignore him. I see his head turn. I look towards him. Our eyes meet. We exchange ... The Look. That challenging expression peculiar to childish men. I stroke my kiney, silently urging it to back me up. The count down begins!

One last look at the girl, and a glimpse of the guy's fuming face.....

And we're off!! I'm on full throttle, and I'm winning. Kiney's have a faster acceleration, at least mine does, initially. However, I know they will eventually catch up, but somehow I've seen they often don't. Not everyone is a psycho like me. Anyway, the road' 's free ahead of me, and I can see the signal. It's green. I'm almost there.

The light turns yellow. OH NO!!!!! Will I make it? should I? Shit.... I slam the brakes, and stop a bit beyond the line, while the signal turns red.

What's the big idea? I mean, do they time how long it takes for a guy to travel from one signal to the next, so that when he leaves the first one, they can EXACTLY stop him at the other. This isn't one-off, I've had this happen so many times. Nowadays I try to push my bike to 65 to make it to the end of the previous green light, but no, they've estimated my speed envelope, and made DAMN sure I have to stop at every signal, wasting my speed and time.

Sheesh.

Oh well, as long as I those cute girls keep stopping next to me.....

Sadness and Sorrow

2006-06-03T11:08:00.000+04:00

Recently in college I started watching a series called Naruto. It's a Japanese cartoon, about a kid named Naruto who wishes to become a Hokage (Ho-ka-gay, not a-j) which i think is Great Ninja or something.

The soundtrack has a beautiful song named 'Sadness and Sorrow', composed by Toshiro Masuda, who I think has done most of the first soundtrack. Its currently my favourite song. It's more a song of regret and something else I can't place, than grief. Coupled with a scene where a young Ninja dies and with that soundtrack playing I had tears in my eyes.

Thought I'd share it, is all.

Reservation Issue: My own two cents

2006-05-21T14:19:00.000+04:00

Well a lot's been said about this.

Now, who is going to get into an IIM? If you have poor English, I don't think so. Do you think a man who has lived in a dhoti all his life in some tribe will make it through the interview without killing a few of the interviewers with laughter? Do you think an under-privileged person has the resources to be a debating champ/ basketball champ / topper all at once? Highly unlikely.

So the OBC guy who is going to be able to get through that interview is one of the elite anyway. Its just that his ancestors were backward, is all. That is why an OBC reservation to a VERY elite institute like the IIMs is meaningless.

However, it is also true that getting an IIM call is a matter of amazingly narrow margins, and landing a seat after the interview is also difficult, Thats why the OBCs are fighting for any gain the can get, and the remaining students are opposing the reservation, quite rightly. OBCs deserve help in getting into the mainstream, but not the OBCs who get through to IIMs and IITs.

I believe that 90% of people with a lot of money will do anything to hang on to it. This is what has led to the Zamindari systems and such, with greed leading to the milking of the already poor farmers, this is what you see in any big company, this is what the US is doing. Everyone uses their power to keep it, which often means suppressing others.

This fight is going to be projected as a have vs have-nots thing, but trust me, its the have's that will win. And your fellow OBCs who count amongst the haves are going to laugh all the while in IIM and IIT, and like any typical graduate from there, merely work for dollars without giving a FUCK about the really needy people. If someone really wanted to help the poor, they are doing it, poor OBC for OBC, Rich for OBC or SC or ST, whatever. The number of OBC IIM graduates has very little to do with the whole OBC's financial status, I suspect.

Another thing I'd like to point out that if a person has been given a reserved seat into an undergraduate institution, then he HAS been brought to par with the rest, just like it was intended, subject to personal hard work and all. The SC/ST get 7 books from the library, as opposed to my 3. So that guy has one book per subject. I have to buy or borrow for the remaining subjects, whatever, which I may or may not do. Who's fault is it if he can't pass the IIM test CAT, or GATE? He had the seat AND the books.
Thats why the idea that this bastard (and similarly an OBC) who is potentially as good as a non-reservation undergrad, needs reservation is preposterous. Its WRONG.

In my opinion the OBCs are now standing like beggars, this applies only to the anti-protesters. They may soon get alms, and should quietly accept the outcome ( i.e. whether the reservation gets implemented or not). If they get it, lucky them, pity for GM. If not, they're no worse off. This anti-protest thing is what converts them to the kind of beggars you don't like to see. The truly useless desperate bums who think the world owes them a living, and refuse to try and make it on their own feet.

I am sure that many jobs and opportunities are decided based on it, in the sense that a person from one community looks out for his own community, which is a kind of reservation, merit be damned. And it happens in all castes. IIM-B, looks out for its kind of upper-class yo people with a proper accent and all that. I've heard that India's leading research centers are filled with Bengali's, which is a tribute to their intelligence, however I know its easier to get in if you are a Bengali.

Tat is the gist of it. I am sorry that people are being given a reason to be divided, that instead of solving the inequalities in primary education, higher education is being tampered with, and that if the reservation comes through, you can't hate the OBCs (I am assuming this was initiated in the mind of Arjun Singh, NOT by OBCs) and its luck for them.

Sunset

2006-05-11T21:10:00.000+04:00

So the last of my exams as a third year Btech got over today. The first thing I did with my freedom was drink some orange juice, and then head off to the beach.

Now, usually I go there at about six fifteen, walk from the entrance near the ATM all the way to the one near NITK STEP. Its great fun, walking with the waves lapping at your feet. And occasionally drenching your shorts. So by the time I walk the whole distance, I reach the entrance near STEP (and close to the girls' block, I might add) at sunset. I watch the sun go down, praying for a clear horizon so I can see the Sun hit the water... rarely happens. Then I turn back and head to the hostels, picking up some fruit from the grocers on the way.

Well, today I learnt its the time just after sunset that's the best time to be on the beach, when the sky is in various shades of blue and red, and the whole air seems to become golden or pinkish. Its that calm dusk mood, that... subdued feeling thats so nice, relaxing. Great to be with your friends too, right then. The sand looks different, the water... its simply amazing!

So from now on, I'm rescheduling my beach trips to just before sunset till a while after :). And since I'm in final year, I'll be doing that a lot!

Always Coca-Cola!

2006-02-22T10:13:00.000+04:00

This is rather late, but had problems publishing the post. Luckily it was all saved on notepad. Had originally finished it by about February fifth. Quite a long read, and I intend it as a personal memory, more than a post for all. Anyway, if you like, please read on...

This year's Saarang trip looked to be like a great time for me. For those ignorant, Saarang is IIT Madras' annual cultural festival. The crossword was waiting to be won by us, maybe WTGW and all too, to boot.

So we left last tuesday, a whole gang of twenty six, mostly second year guys... had a nice time on the train playing arbit games (actually, one wasn't so nice... really irritating). Reached the next day early morning, and peacefully arrived via an IITM bus at the control room by seven o' clock. Out of the whole group, only six of us registered for accommodation. The rest of them stayed in with their friends studying in IIT. The room we were alloted was part of a hostel STILL under construction, and meant for one person like any other IIT hostel room. Three of us had to stay in one. Great. Three sure is a crowd. Then, they give us just two uncovered mattresses and two pillows. This was a bad omen.Anyway, I go to have a bath and answer natures call, when I see the toilets are filthy.. and there's no mug!!! Oh Man, this really stinks. This direful state of affairs was to follow through out..

Day 1:
After the horrible shock due to the accommodation arrangements, Hrishikesh (my crossword teammate) and I hit our favourite morning activity: the daily crossword. We cracked it and won it, and that fueled our confidence.After that, I was free the whole day... watched the western music solos... Mount Carmel College was prominent in this one as always.Later on had the cluedo (remember the game?) prelims at two o' clock. That was a bad one.... totally arbitrary concept. Too far-fetched. Still somehow Siddharth and I made it to the finals, where we were utterly stumped (thats all of us) and the decision was based on ... college name! as far as I can tell, since no one cracked the case.After that I just hung around, meeting people and just soaking up the fact that I was at Saarang.

Day 2:
As usual, got up with a mind to go for the daily crossword. Went to the loo, and lo and behold, its clean!! And I look around to see if the hospitality people had installed buckets like I told them to, and instead I find.... an empty 1.5 litre bottle of Coca Cola!!!
AAAARRGH * this portion of the author's life brings too much trauma to attempt to describe *

Reached the events desk and found a completely belting crossword, took us three hours to solve, and finally had a third place to show for all the effort. Once that got over, went and watched our second year band perform in Powerchord, the college band competition. After that was the aforementioned Cluedo finals. The solution was the Detective did it!!! Awww man... thats cruel! A missing page was the clue! a MISSING object.Right after that (packed day, what?) was the crossword prelims, where for the first time in a year and a half, we were not the first to submit a written crossword. This was bad. We were to find it wasn't a stray happening.After that I was free, and watched some more of Powerchord... and a bit of the Extempore finals. The finals were baaaad. What do you think of when one says Extempore.... you think of people given five minutes to prepare a meaningful speech on a topic, and to present that speech in a convincing, maybe humorous, and grammatically correct way. Well, I sat there watching people making JAM style comments... that is, loaded with sexual innuendo and double meaning. Not even subtle, I should say. Some where outright blatant. One round was MockPress, and someone got to be Britney Spears, and all she goes on about was her breasts popping out.... using the same words almost. This stuff should have been left to JAM... where time is important, not the quality of content.Went out to Luz Corner and bought two paperbacks... 'A star called the Sun' by George Gamow and 'Get me to the wake on time', a compendium of short stories got together by Alfred Hitchcock. No, he didn't write them. Anyway, all that for a grand total of fifty Indian Rupees. Neat huh!

Day 3: A good day :)
And why, you may ask?.... BECAUSE WE HAD A MUG!!! Ok, that was a good thing, but other things happened too. Won the daily crossword, in a decent amount of time. Then went straight for the Sports and Entertainment quiz prelims, where I sat and stared at my teammates solving the damn thing. Never going for a quiz again. Then went and caught Decibels, the semi-pro music competition. ALso watched the play by IITM. Sahil Kini was simply amazing as a feminine version of Man Friday... awesome stuff man. Stayed for a few min, then went for the scrabble followed by WTGW prelims. Got thtough both. That was good.In the evening watched Decibels.... it was great, real good bands played. The best was Planetela, a blues/rock act that was really good and man did we dance to them! Sadly, the area in front of the stage was a seating area, the stands were not, so we had to head bang and all far away from the stage. And these IIT guys want to get into management.Following the Decibels finals was a performance by a french jazz band whose name I cannot spell. Anyway great stuff!!

Day 4: The truth dawns...
Wake up and the first thing we do.... nope, not the daily crossword.... its the Main Crossword Finals!! After losing for the first time in a long time, we had to make a come back. The crossword had three rounds... two grids on infinite bounds and one just a series of theme clues on buzzer. So after the first grid we were tied for first place...,after the theme round ( I forgot what) we were third, simply cos we buzzed without having an answer and got a negative half, and two teams were initially tied with us. Then we stopped the event cos the Audio-Visual Quiz elims had to happen and some of the people were tied up in the crossword. So anyway we continue the crossword at 1:30... and well after an hour the top three teams each got five clues, so the results were the same, we came third. We could have won if we guessed egoistic cadets (with cadets being obvious since c d and t were displayed) but nope we didn't and finally lost in the end. And what hurts isnt that we came third... as my Hrishi pointed out, we have nothing to prove to anyone. What hurts is that we were so good last year and this year we were struggling. Chinmay, once an awestruck fan of our feats last year, who now sleeps in greater peace knowing he beat us, asked us if we hadnt been practising. Thats when the truth dawned. We hadn't been. OUCH!!!Well the rest of the day was no better. Got smashed in the Scrabble finals, losing all three matches ( we wisely ditched the fourth) by successively increasing margins. However the last one was interesting, when we almost pushed the other team into forfeiting due to exceeding
the time limit... it was definitely fun.I was royally depressed that night.... just loafed around IIT-M campus... it was a bad feeling, to be dethroned by your own complacency... my mind wasn't even thinking half the time... normally the gears turn and an answer flashes in my mind.... and pretty fast I might add. However, now...Anyway a good thing was that our second year team won the Pot Pourrie, rather convincingly too. Although an allegation of cheating cropped up, they overcame the repeat round and silenced the critics. Thats a cheesy line. Anyway.

Day 5: A final Insult
With our present financial condition at break-even point, we were hoping for the last daily crossword to put us in the black over all. We even landed at the Hospi desk half an hour early because they sometimes give it that early ( Unlike last year when they always gave it half an hour late )!! Alas, it was not to be... the crossword guys decided to ditch the last one. Ah well. So instead watched the debate finals for some time, after which I had to go catch an auto and keep it waiting for two guys still in the Sports and Ent Quiz finals. They had a train at one o' clock and at twelve they were still inside!! They caught it, I might add.So anyway, I go back to the debate finals and find myself watching the final too... a sardarji and a cute chick from some Law College. The chick won, and deservedly too. The topic was whether or not the concept of Juvenile Delinquent Centres was valid or not. They went off the topic, focussing on the realities instead of concept, but anyway the Surd was all rhetoric while the chick had some good points.Soon after that Was the WTGW finals. I've written a long story so far, so i'll keep it short... we came last. We didn't answer anything fast enough (this whole thing was on buzzer) nor get our words. We ended up with a net score of zero. And that comp leted the utter feeling of defeat.

Day 5: Going Home
Hrishi went back to the room, feeling low and basically to get away from the fest and be by himself awhile. I just wanted to soak up the atmosphere of the fest, the last time I may be here again. Its true, yo' should see something like Saarang at least once in your life. I was almost choked up, to be leaving the place on such a low note. I sat in their OAT, for a few minutes, just because I might not do so ever again. I also realised some other things.... I was taking crosswords too seriously. Yes, we were once the Kings of this game, and it hurts now that we're not. But what if we had one? It would have been a repeat of last year. Somehow that struck me as boring... to go to a fest where so much happens and end up doing the same thing both times. I next year if I actually make it to Saarang, I'll try debate, go for art workshops and events... watch ALL the other events. And not compete to win... just to enjoy the challenge, and to do what I really loved doing at Saarang the first time... to live the life I love.

The Monster Rages

2006-01-22T21:42:00.000+04:00

The thing I feared is coming true.... more people are working for the beast now. They've gotten organized, and they are becoming zombie's. People are standing up and shouting against detractors, swearing by their scheme.

What I find hard to decide is how to treat its members. Some people I respected have joined it... what do I make of it? Its puzzling... and saddening. Are they dumb, or am I being some high-brow moralist over something i have no idea about, making an ass out of myself by judging others? Why is'nt there an outcry, a lament, an outrage against such a thing? Maybe many are thinking the same thing. I haven't yet publicly criticised it, except by consistently refusing to join it. And only a few read this blog. I suppose the members haven't the time for doing that :)

So I guess I'll say it... I'm against eBiz, and If you want an opinion, mine would be you shouldn't join it.

For the monster is made of all its members.... they are its blood... its life.

Unconditional Love

2006-01-12T09:53:00.000+04:00

Even God does not love us unconditionally, so what do we humans keep talking about?

To Beer or not to Beer

2005-12-27T23:25:00.000+04:00

Aditya, a guy from school, contacted me through hi5, and since I'm in town, invited me for his birthday treat yesterday. So I land up at the Tavern, Museum Inn, and end up meeting a lot of guys from school.

Now the place has horrible air conditioning. Seasoned men beside me are complaining about the smoke. I was ok, maybe cos of the contacts, but later on my eyes burnt too. Some VTU guy must have designed the place.

Conversation is easy.... we catch up. There's a guy Amit who is all kicked about quitiing engineering mid-way and taking up a diploma in Sound Engineering. He was really rubbing it in. You do realise that by now 95% of us curse the day we took it. I admire what he did, truly.

So they order a pitcher and the forces of peer pressure(a small bit) and curiosity ( actually a product of peer pressure: 'One should try everything at least once', I just realised) make me accept a mug. It's bitter. I don't know how they like this. It's an acquired taste they say. Oh well.

Anyway the easy conversation mainly revolves around girls, dope, loaned jackets and the beefed up Traffic Police Force looking out for drunk drivers this holiday week. All this in a hazy pub sipping a bitter drink. And I sometimes wish I had joined Ramaiah. Ok even if I didn't pub-hop.... I'd have chased girls instead. What a change.

So I very slowly sip my drink, some more friends walk in, they are all shocked to see me: first of all its been two and a half years, secondly I'M in a pub!!! They ask me about Surathkal... some ask me whether there's any place to hang out in that wilderness, other's ask me about the major dope scene there, and their brightly lit eyes fade when I say not much really happens. Well the truth is I don't know.... I think some people do, but I don't know.

This goes on till around ten thirty. My Mom calls.... 'When are you coming home?' 'In a while' 'Where are you?' 'M.G.Road' 'In a Pub?'
Oh Shit.... well, I didn't want to lie.... pretty funny, done that a lot, but at that moment I didn't want to. How on EARTH did she pick that one question? Well I said I was, and she said drive home carefully, don't speed.

So I stay for another hour.... someone has finished of the remaining half of my beer. I'm happy, I was woried it'd go to waste. Apparently the alcohol test passes the content corresponding to one mug. I had no clue how it works for a guy drinking for the first time, so I thought half a mug is enough. Plus, I didn't like the taste!

They order one last pitcher. half the guys had left earlier... I should have too, but I haven't seen these guys for so long. Funny, I didn't chat much with them.... They hung out together regularily, had the same expeiences and attitudes. In a way I was a mute observer. But still It was good to see 'em. Anyway I left then... said my goodbyes and all.

Came home stinking of cigarette smoke to an upset Mom.... next morning Mom and Dad gave me a lecture. They had a cousin, the brightest in their generation, died on the street at 29 due to liver failure. Another Uncle started wasting away his life sitting around and boozing.

I wanted to tell them that I'm not stupid, I asked eveyone before I started about how much gets you tipsy and all that... I was just curious and no it wasn't peer pressure. No use. But then they are my parents.... they don't want to see me follow the other cases of alcoholism. The mere possibility probably gave Mom a sleepless night yesterday. It ended in a promise not to drink again, and an appreciation of the fact that I was honest with them.
I guess they are right.... many who are just curious end up addicted. You can't tell.... and I certainly don't want to risk it. There is a seductive charm to the idea of catching up with friends over a beer, I certainly had a romantic notion of that, which was dispelled. I just found it too bitter!

In hindsight, I guess if this is to be my one time only taste of beer, I should have at least gotten sloshed! never mind the taste.

2005-11-10T22:02:00.000+04:00

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot,
The world forgetting by the world forgot,
Eternal Sunshine of a spotless mind,
Each prayer accepted, and each wish resigned.

-Alexander Pope

Thanks for the correction Amulya.

2005-11-10T21:56:00.000+04:00

"Without you, today's emotions would be the scurf of yesterday's"
- Amelie

The value of Effort

2005-10-17T15:13:00.000+04:00

A lot of people before me have put in a lot of effort in things I have deemed boring or of little value. Like manufacturing engineering and repetitive work like sorting letters at a post office. However, its due to their effort that I can keep in touch with someone I love so much, in so many different ways. And that adds so much to my life.

Movie Review

2005-10-03T19:36:00.000+04:00

Title: Mulholland Drive
Director:
Genre:

This is one weird movie the first time you watch it. It seems to have unrelated strands, but you know that thats not true, that the scenes must have some connection, and as a result you're confused.

There are three main strands in the movie: Initially when a woman in a black evening gown loses her memory in a car crash, and ends up at Betty's (Naomi Watts) house just hours before she comes to the house to stay. Betty is a wannabe actress chasing her dreams in L.A. , staying at her aunt's house in Havenhurst. She finds the woman, who calls herself Rita. Together they chase a Diane Selwyn, the only name Rita remembers, for a clue to her real identity. In between Betty manages to wow a small group with her acting in an audition.
Alongside this investigation is the story of Adam Kutcher, a hotshot movie director who is being forced by the mafia to cast a Camilla Rhodes as the lead in his new fil

A Monster Awakes

2005-09-15T19:32:00.000+04:00

Greed has raised its ugly head today. I have read about it in countless stories, seen it in many movies, in a lesser form in children's eyes , my own contained it often. But today I perceived it in a sinister form in reality, and tears welled up in my eyes. And no, im not exaggerating about that.

It wasn't some childish thing, or some desperate object, but completely a monster, one that will stomp across everything, an unstoppable machine, out for your soul. It's only just come, and i'm a bit scared.

Its form is very subtle, it seems perfectly normal, a legitimate transaction..... a simple opportunity to get a bit more..... and it transforms inside of you, taking control of you. Its probably true about all things that are sinister. In the end, you become the monster's servant, clearing the path for it, so it can spread faster.

to conlude, i'm really sad to see the monster alive and kicking...
I'm grateful to a few souls who have outright rejected its advances..... they remind me i'm not some lone fool.

In case you're wondering, ever heard of eBiz?

2005-09-13T20:39:00.000+04:00

"To live in fear is not to live at all"
- Mary Alice, Desperate Housewives.

The BTech

2005-09-13T14:20:00.000+04:00

I never wanted to make the first post a rant, but right now this is whats on my mind.
I'm fed up with BTech. I can't believe I'm earning my graduation this way. I actually thought you understood Fundae, and applied them with some creativity and get workable solutions. I dont think i should say I'm doing Engineering, rather, I'm writing BTech Exams, and pretty soon: I'm just staying in a hostel doing nothing with my life.

Every day this series of lecturers will walk in. They'll fill you with a gallon of their Favourite Author... the one book they ever read since joining this place. This will be done with an air that they are actually teaching you 'concepts' and making you learn something, sharing their 'knowledge and experience'. Actually, its plain boring. We won't listen to any of it, and chuck it into this ingenious device from Hell called the Backlog. Now the beauty of the BTech course is that you never need to open the Backlog. And it never changes size. Ironically a marvel of engineering. Then come the Finals. On this day, most will open the bag and plunk their heads in it, drinking it up all they can till the wee hours of the morning. They walk into class, their bladders groaning under the strain, Until finally the paper comes, and its all puked onto the answer sheet. Depending on how much you could fill yourself with, you score that much better. The rest is just pissed out immediately on the way out of the hall.
Its pathetic. These guys then walk around with astronomically high GPAs. Hope they die of kidney failure.

Yeah, I know, its THE SYSTEM. I never really minded History and Hindi and all that. Because it was alongside English, Math and Science. I used to finish going through all the short stories and Non-Detail texts before school re-opened. At least something in BTech could have been interesting. Why must it be some fringe moments in tech fests to feel like an engineer.

But this, is the pits.