Pure Drivel

aannnnnnnnnnnnddddd... We're Back!!!!

2009-03-24T06:25:00.002+05:30

Its been a long long time since I've written something.... anything... So much has happened in my life since I last posted... and yet... so much is still the same... How about that????

I've been meaning to write something on here for a while now... I thought I needed a break from writing.... but I feel now that it was wrong for me to not write for so long... It has been one of my passions - to write... and if you let go of things that you love to do, well, you end up feeling like I feel right now...

Restless..

That's how I've been feeling for the past few months... like I want to do so much... and yet am too lethargic to do... does that make any sense what so ever???? I don't know... I don't think so..

I haven't really been doing much of anything this past year... Except maybe trying to get into a B-school... but as of now... that plan seems to have gone a bit awry... I want to change my job... I feel I'm stagnating here... and yet... I do nothing about it... WHY???? I have no fucking idea why..

But it sure does feel good to write after so long... Its funny that no matter how much things change and how far along you go on certain paths in your life, the things that make you happy tend to remain the same.... why is that?? I am asking too many questions today...

Ok.. so time for some decisions... Firstly... I'm going to try and be regular with writing over here now... I like to write and maybe I should do more of the things that I like to do (and that are constructive ;)).... Secondly... I have to start looking out for a new job... Its about time Prashant... oh and thirdly... hmm.. let it be.. I should start slow... Just in case I don't even manage to do the first two tasks that I set myself.... so here goes nothing....

Drivel.. is back :)

my lyrics for today:

Where are you going I don't mind
I've killed my world and I've killed my time
So where do I go what do I see
I see many people coming after me
So where are you going to I don't mind
If I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
So I will follow you wherever you go
If your offered hand is still open to me
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

So you've been where I've just come
From the land that brings losers on
So we will share this road we walk
And mind our mouths and beware our talk
'Till peace we find tell you what I'll do
All the things I own I will share with you
If I feel tomorrow like I feel today
We'll take what we want and give the rest away
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

Holy man and holy priest
This love of life makes me weak at my knees
And when we get there make your play
'cause soon I feel you're gonna carry us away
In a promised lie you made us believe
For many men there is so much grief
And my mind is proud but it aches with rage
And if I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

The Kinks : Strangers (From the O.S.T. of The Darjeeling Limited... one of the funniest movies I watched last year... and I absolutely love the music..)

A new year ahead but some things just dont change

2005-12-30T17:39:00.000+05:30

Something I learnt in the past few days... No matter how much we tout the horn of development and India Shining and crap like that, we still have eons to go before we achieve anything... and you know why... Because all the things that really matter get stuck in Parliamentary subcommittees or Group of Ministers.... I was stuck on the Delhi Airport for 8 hours because of fog delays last Saturday... Now I wouldnt mind that... If the airport was any better equipped to handle such a problem... and its a sad truth that its not... Firstly, there was no place to sit... For a passenger load that the airport handles, there are mabbe a 100 places to sit.... and thats pushing it.... A couple of restrooms of which one was shut, without any notices saying why.... and a grossly overprice snack bar, which sells a measly sandwich for 50 bucks... Goddamnit... and where is that highly touted airport upgradation plan????? Stuck in a fucking Group of Ministers... I wonder if they've ever been stuck on the Delhi airport for 8 hours with no place to sit except the floor, one stinky loo and ate measely overpriced sandwiches for lunch... Had they ever been through that, I'm sure the airports would be revamped soon enough... But till then... Dream on kids... India Shining.. my ass....

That apart, had an amazing time on my 4 day vacation... Partied in Bombay and Pune.... met old friends... ate awesome food... ate at or saw from outside, most of the places on our list and generally had a good time :)... Clatix dude, you should've been there... Then the roommates and almost roommates would've been re-united.. All of them :).... Oh and Vaishali does live up to its hype :)...

The year is ending.. a year that started with a lot of promise has ended up being pretty amazing... though not in the way I expected.. But what the hey... Some real important lessons learnt... and completion of a quarter of a century..... reasons enough to party eh.... Here's a few favourites from this year -:

Best Eating Out Place (Food) -: Shalom's (Greater Kailash, N Block Market Delhi.. Awesome Lebanese Food)
Best Eating Out Place (Ambience) -: Thai Wok (Mehrauli, Delhi... Such an amazing atmosphere.. just loved the place)
Best Place to Party: Turquoise Cottage (Adchini, Delhi... They just play my kind of music :))
Best Song (English) -: Speed of Sound (Coldplay)
Best Song (Hindi) -: Jiya Dhadak Dhadak Jaaye (Kalyug Soundtrack, Rahat Fateh Ali)
Best Song (HindiPop) -: Aadat (Jal , The original is wayyyyy better than the Kalyug one)
Best Movie (English) -: Cinderella Man (Amazing performance by Russell Crowe... Loved this one)
Best Movie (Hindi) -: None Really...

So thats my 2 bits on the end of the year :)... Hope everyone of you have a great time celebrating the coming of a new year.. I'm dreading the New Year for a couple of reasons... But you never know how things turn out eh :).. Here's hoping all of you have an amazing year ahead of you...

my lyrics for today:

na janay kab say
umeedein kuch baaki hain
mujhe phir bhi teri yaad
kyun aati hai
na janay kab say

duur jitna bhi tum mujh se
paas tere mein
ab toh aadat si hai mujh ko aisay jeene mein
zindagi say koi shikwa
bhi nahin hai
ab toh zinda hoon mein iss neelay aasmaa mein

chahat aisi hai yeh teri
barr thi ja-ay
aahat aisi hai yeh teri
mujh ko satha-ay
yaadein gehri hain itnee
dil doob ja-ay
aur aankhon mein yeh ghum num bun ja-ain

ab toh aadat si hai mujh ko aisay jeenay mein

sabhi raatein hain
sabhi baatein hain
bhula do unhein
mita do unhein

ab toh aadat si hai mujh ko

Jal : Aadat (Awesome awesome song... Listen to it if you can get your hands on it...)

Musings from an office chair...

2005-12-08T15:10:00.000+05:30

I always manage to like the most craziest songs on the face of this earth... Dunno.. I think it goes with my crazy self ;)... The Thursday morning 8-9 radio show has become one of my fav. times to listen to music.. Mostly becuz the R.J. dudette Medha, plays some of the most amazing songs ever... I have to thank her for introducing me to two really awesome tracks... Dave Matthews Band's 'Grace is Gone' and Sister Hazel's 'Champagne High'... Just in case someone wanted to know which ones ;)... The latter has become a perrenial in my ears... I must've heard the song more than a 1000 times in the past 1 week... and that is not exaggeration... I have this habit (which a lot of people would remember) of listening to the same song over and over and over again... Clatix for one has been a victim of this habit... I remember one fateful night of programming in the Undergrad lab when I listened (and sang along, as is my wont) to Jagjit's Apni Marzi Se... and there were atleast 5 other people in the lab who by the end of it were just about ready to murder me... I wonder why.. Its a good track :).... so anyways.. this morning Medha just surpassed herself... She played one of my most fav. crazy tracks.... Barenaked Ladies (which unfortunately is an all guys band) playing 'Chimpanzee'.... This one is soooooo hillarious... and makes no sense like most of their songs.. But the music is catchy... and you just end up loving it.. Been in love with this one for almost 2 years now.. I mean could this day get any better???? As a matter of fact it did.... But thats a different story :)... So as I listen to the Bowling for Soup, I'm thinking of all the crazy songs I adore... Maybe someday I'll make a list of them... Right now, I'm wayyyyy too pressed for time..

Krispy Kreme is going down.. I was reading in an article somewhere that the doughnut chain has been suffering major losses and even a change of CEO's hasnt really helped.. Americans, the fattest nation in the world (this is just an educated guess ;)) have suddenly realized that sugar is bad for them... What they dont realize is that sugar in itself isnt bad... Excess sugar without exercising is kinda the killer... Its really sad that K.K. might go under... I mean they have the best freaking doughnuts in the world... Not that I can have any.... But still.. A hot original glazed or a glazed creme filled doughnut is absolutely positively my most fav. breakfast of all times... Oh and the Chocolate Iced creme filled ones are also just heavenly... Ok, its just after lunch and yet I'm drooling at the thought of these doughnuts... man oh man... Maybe I should open a Krispy Kreme's in Delhi...

A friend of mine is getting married this weekend... I met him yesterday... The guy looked absolutely cool... and I was saying to him.. DUDE!!!! you are getting MARRIED!!! Do you realize what that means... and he was like.. yeah, so?.. and I stared at him for a whole 5 minutes.. Just amazed.. People just dont realize what a big deal marriage is.. or maybe I dont realize that its not really a big deal... Hmm.. Maybe so... There was a point to this story.. But it has temporarily escaped my mind (with due respect to Mr. Douglas Adams ;))...

Here's another one that I've been listening to a lot lately...

my lyrics for today:

8 o’clock, monday night and I’m waitin’
To finally talk to a girl a little cooler than me.
Her name is Nona, she’s a rocker with a nose ring,
She wears a two way, but I’m not quite sure what that means.

And when she walks,
All the wind blows and the angels sing.
She doesn’t notice me!

Cause she is watchin’ wrestling
Creamin’ over tough guys
Listenin’ to rap metal
Turntables in her eyes

It’s like a bad movie
She is lookin’ through me
If you were me, then you’d be
Screamin’ someone shoot me!
As I fail miserably,
Tryin’ to get the girl all the bad guys want.
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!

She likes the godsmack and I like agent orange
Her cd changer’s full of singers that are mad at their dad
She says she’d like to score some reefer and a forty
She’ll never know that I’m the best that she’ll never have

And when she walks,
All the wind blows and the angels sing.
She’ll never notice me!

Cause she is watchin’ wrestling
Creamin’ over tough guys
Listenin’ to rap metal
Turntables in her eyes

She likes ’em with a mustache
Racetrack season pass
Drivin’ in a trans-am
Does a mullet make a man?

It’s like a bad movie
She is lookin’ through me
If you were me, then you’d be
Screamin’ someone shoot me!
As I fail miserably,
Tryin’ to get the girl all the bad guys want.
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!

There she goes again
With fishnets on, and dreadlocks in her hair
She broke my heart, I wanna be sedated
All I wanted was to see her naked!

Now I am watchin’ wrestling
Tryin’ to be a tough guy
Listenin’ to rap metal
Turntables in my eyes
I can’t grow a mustache
And I ain’t got no season pass
All I got’s a moped...moped....moped.....

It’s like a bad movie
She is lookin’ through me
If you were me, then you’d be
Screamin’ someone shoot me!
As I fail miserably,
Tryin’ to get the girl all the bad guys want.

She’s the girl all the bad guys want!
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!
(there she goes again)
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!
(there she goes again)
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!
She’s the girl all the bad guys want!

Bowling for Soup - Girl all the bad guys want (I have become a big fan of these guys... they're completely crazy...)

Of numb hands and warm hearts!!

2005-11-16T16:50:00.000+05:30

Last year the temperature in Duluth on November 15th was 28 F.... It was freaking cold... There was wind chill as well which I cannot find on my source website, but there was a darned 10 Miles/hr wind.. There ought to be wind chill right :P... It was clear but then even a clear day in Duluth winters is a dhoka .... I remember once when taking out the trash (yes, no matter what my ex-roommates say, I did take out the trash sometimes ;)) I looked out the window and it was clear and sunny.. So I figured it'd be ok to go out in my tracks and a tshirt... Short story shorter, my hands and feet were absolutely numb by the time I came back inside the apartment building.. and I was out of the building for max 3-5 minutes.... And that was not the only time something like that happened to me (or other people)... So afterwards it almost became a ritual to check the temperature before anyone ventured out :)... Not that whenever its -30 F you can do much about it... I mean how many layers of clothes can one wear... I'm not sure but I think the first site that Anand used to visit every morning was weather.com (what do you think Anya???).... So neways, the temp in Delhi right now is 85 F..... It sunny and believe me, its not dhoka :).. I remember writing last year that I dont want to spend another winter in Duluth ever... I was so wrong... I just didnt want to spend the last winter there.. I would love to go experience the Duluth winter again.... What a difference one year makes to our lives...

My gyan for today: Sometimes, working is fun :).. Especially when you're reading Garfield and CnH all day.... ok.. not all day, but most of it...

I'm listening to Pink Floyd singing 'Wish you were here' and I am wishing I was in Gold Coast right now. Another week and I'll be fine though.... But that, is a different and longer story...

My morning drives have become so amazing these days.. The winter is slowly setting in... And its nice and cool and so amazingly fresh in the morning when I drive to work... The sun isnt that harsh anymore... It gets pleasantly warm in the afternoons and had it not been for the mind-numbing traffic, the evening drive would've been so perfect.... For the first time in history, the Delhi winter is warming my heart :)... Is the weather affecting my mood?? Or does the weather seem so perfect because of my mood... A little of both maybe... or maybe a lot of the latter and a little bit of the former :)... Go figure...

my lyrics for today:

I've found a way to make you
I've found a way
A way to make you smile

I read bad poetry
Into your machine
I save your messages
Just to hear your voice
You always listen carefully
To awkward rhymes
You always say your name,
Like I wouldn't know it's you,
At your most beautiful

I've found a way to make you
I've found a way
A way to make you smile

At my most beautiful
I count your eyelashes, secretly
With every one, whisper I love you
I let you sleep
I know you're closed eye watching me,
Listening
I thought I saw a smile

I've found a way to make you
I've found a way
A way to make you smile

R.E.M. - At my most beautiful (One of my favourite love songs... Its also one of the most beautiful R.E.M. songs... absolutely adore this one.. Oh and I heard this first on the soundtrack of Never Been Kissed... Another chick flick which has the most amazing soundtrack :)))

P.S. -: Here is how Wikipedia defines a chick flick - "The term chick flick is slang, sometimes slightly derisive, for a movie which is designed or considered to appeal mainly to women, and generally displaying more of a focus on romance or relationships. Many romantic comedies or films with a lots of female characters are likely to be put in this category."

P.P.S. -: No, I do NOT have too much time on my hand :)...

Next time you dont understand Science go ask the nearest holy dude!

2005-10-22T15:34:00.000+05:30

I was having a nice little discussion with this person in my office about how little we know of the laws of nature... Yeah I know... A little deep for me :).. Neways... I was very very surprised to hear him talk the way he did.. He was right about the fact that we have very very limited knowledge of the universe, science and how it works.. But he went on to argue that there are certain people (for example a rishi meditating in the himalayas) who understand how things work much better than any of our great minds.. He claimed that people who can lay on a bed of nails understand the laws of physics a lot better than any present or past physicists... He went on to say that there are some magicians (I WAS LIKE WAT!!) who can actually pass through walls and that its not an optical illusion.. His argument was that the human race as a whole has a very limited field of vision (metaphorically).... and that we refuse to acknowledge anything that is paranormal when it might be in the realms of science... The science that we dont know..

I was completely flabbergasted by the views of this person who is an IIT Delhi product... Ok.. I agree, we dont have that much knowledge about the universe as such.. and no, we cant travel at light speed or jump into hyperspace (though that would be soooo fucking cool)... We have not achieved particle transference beams or time machines or any of those cool things that science fiction movies/books make us believe we can/will... But the thought that people-whose ultimate aim in life is to meditate so as to achieve a "higher" sense of reality - have better knowledge of how exactly does the universe works is just outright crazy.. The thing that made me extremely agitated/sad and a little angry was that these were the views of a person who spent 4 fucking years in one of the most prestigious science institutions of our country.. He might be an aberration, but still... There are instances of such weirdly outrageous views all around us... A double M.Sc. (Maths and Bioinformatics) who thinks that fasting on Tuesdays and Thursdays will make his life completely amazing (gave the same suggestion to me.. I said in my head, "yeah fucking right man!!")... An amazingly qualified woman who believes that an astrologer predicts her life absolutely perfectly... and these certainly arent aberrations... Rather this most certainly seems like the norm.. Maybe I am overreacting.... After all, when a whole country can come to stop because we believe that idols of Lord Ganesha have suddenly started consuming milk, then what more can be said...

my lyrics for today:

I don't need to fall at your feet
Just 'cause you cut me to the bone
And I won't miss the way that you kiss me
We were never carved in stone
If I don't listen to the talk of the town
Then maybe I can fool myself..

I'll get over you.. I know I will
I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
And I'll tell myself I'm over you
'cause I'm the king of wishful thinking
I am the king of wishful thinking

I refuse to give in to my blues
That's not how it's going to be
And I deny the tears in my eyes
I don't want to let you see.. no
That you have made a hole in my heart
And now I've got to fool myself..

I'll get over you.. I know I will
I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
And I'll tell myself I'm over you
'cause I'm the king of wishful thinking..
I'll get over you.. I know I will
I'll pretend my ship's not sinking
And I'll tell myself I'm over you
'cause I'm the king of wishful thinking

I will never, never shed a tear for you
I'll get over you

If I don't listen to the talk of the town
Then maybe I can fool myself..

Go West : King of Wishful Thinking (From the O.S.T. of Pretty Woman.. Heard it for the first time, on radio some 10 years ago.. Have loved this one ever since.. For a chick flick, this movie had some awesome music :))

The funniest man ever..

2005-10-14T20:42:00.000+05:30

I dont think there has been a funnier man on this planet (or the galaxy, as he would've said) than Douglas Adams... No.. not ever Jerry Seinfeld... He just had such an amazing way of writing things... Dont believe me... For example,

"That young girl is one of the least benightedly unintelligent organic life forms it has been my profound lack of pleasure not to be able to avoid meeting" -- Marvin's idea of a compliment (Oh I sooooo love him man...)

Jeez man.... I mean top that ;)... There are a crazy number of quotes from his various books... Just go ask god (a.k.a. Google) and you'd know.. As for me.. I'm gonna put a new one that I like in my blog description area, everytime I make a new entry...

He died when he was just 49.. Life sometimes, is really unfair...

my lyrics for today :

Debbie just hit the wall, she never had it all
One Prozac a day, husband's a CPA
Her dreams went out the door
When she turned twenty-four
Only been with one man
What happened to her plan

She was gonna be an actress
She was gonna be a star
She was gonna shake her ass
On the hood of White Snake's car
Her yellow SUV is now the enemy
Looks at her average life
And nothing has been alright

Since Bruce Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she's uncool
Cause she's still preoccupied
With 19, 19, 1985

She's seen all the classics, she knows every line
'Breakfast Club', 'Pretty in Pink'
Even 'St. Elmo's Fire'
She rocked out to Wham!
Not a big Limp Bizkit fan
Thought she'd get a hand
On a member of Duran Duran

Where's the mini-skirt made of snake skin
And who's the other guy that's singing in Van Halen
When did reality become TV
Whatever happened to sitcoms, game shows
On the radio was

Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she's uncool
Cause she's still preoccupied
With 19, 19, 1985

She hates time, make it stop
When did Motley Crue become classic rock
And when did Ozzy become an actor
Please make this stop, stop
Stop, and bring back

Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she's uncool
Cause she's still preoccupied
With 1985

Bowling for Soup - 1985 (This one is soooooooooooooooooooooooo hillarious.. Just love this band man.. Watch the video.. You'd die :))

A year of Drivel

2005-09-30T09:25:00.000+05:30

As I write this, I'm listening to Police doing their amazing 'Every breath you take'.. Its the song that plays on my caller tune... I've had it almost 4 months now and yet I dont feel like changing it... Mostly becuz I never have to listen to it ;)....

Well, its hard to believe, but I've actually been posting drivel for the past one year... and it has been so much fun... I bow to all of you who've had the patience to read my take on the world around me... Not to mention countless pieces of random information about my life... Oh and I'm sure I've taken your lyrical knowledge to new heights... Netime people.. no need for thanks :)

These days if you happen to drive in Delhi during the times of 07:45 to 9:00 between North Campus and Vasant Vihar (or in the evening 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM the opposite way) and if you just happen to see this guy singing really loud in his car, his head banging away to glory, be kind and ignore him... Cuz he just bought 'The best of Modern Rock' albums 1 and 2 and he just happens to love listening to them LOUD... and he is extreeeeeeeeeeemely fed up with people staring at him... I mean its hard to ignore it when you're stuck in traffic and people have nothing better to do than stare at you.... GOD MAN!! GET A LIFE!!!!! I mean what is it with us Indians... We never have anything better to do than stare... Especially on a freaking signal... And heaven help you if you have a girl (pretty or otherwise) sitting with you... I think when we learn to drive, we should also be given lessons on doing timepass while we're stuck in traffic/red signals... Its just something really irritating...

On a different track altogether... Now, I've seen countless movies in Duluth (thanks to Mr. Movies ;)).. There's this one movie though, "Stand by Me", that keeps coming back to me a lot.. There was nothing really special in the movie actually.. Its about these four friends who go on an adventure to find the body of a missing boy who is presumed dead... based on a Stephen King short story actually.. River Phoenix was amazing in his role... and I was really saddened to find out later that he died of a drug overdose when he was only 23... What a waste of talent.. What a waste of life man... My lyrics for today are from the O.S.T. of this movie, just an awesome awesome track... Dedicated to the dude who died too young...

my lyrics for today:

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see

No, I won't be afraid,
No, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand,
Stand by me.

So darling darling, stand by me, oh, stand by me,
Oh, stand, stand by me, stand by me.

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the Mountain should crumble in the sea,

I won't cry,
I won't cry,
No I won't shed a tear.
Just as long as you stand, stand by me.

So ,darling, darling, stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me, stand by me

Stand by Me : Ben E. King (from the O.S.T. "Stand by Me".. Originally a 1961 song, re-released in 1986 for the movie..)

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!!

2005-09-18T08:16:00.000+05:30

Its a beautiful Sunday Morning... and its raining... God it has been raining incessantly for almost a week now... and Delhi has been at her most beautiful... and yes I can see the beauty despite all the waterlogging and traffic jams.. God man, some people just dont see beyond the mundane.. Its the kind of weather when one just wants to sit out in the balcony, with a cup of chai/coffee, and a nice book and just spend the whole day like that...and when its not raining heavy, just a slight drizzle, it'd be great to just go on a long walk.. There is nothing more refreshing... Actually, thats not a bad plan for how I'm gonna spend my Sunday :)...

But before I do any of the above mentioned things, I need to get rid of this awful hangover man... Even though hangovers suggest that you had a great time the night before, I hate them all the same ;)... Though 'Buzz' last night was just too good.. The music was nice (coming from me, that is a huge compliment ;)) and the company was amazing.. Though now that I come to think of it, I cant remember the names of even half the people I danced with... Oh well.. I remember all the ones I shud ;)...

I read this interesting article a few days ago in HT.. Out of all the metros Delhi has the maximum road length.. Now that is not the interesting part.. What is interesting though, are the figures.. The road length in Calcutta is around 1400 Kms., while in Chennai its 1800 Kms and Bombay is around 1900 Kms.. The figures for Delhi astounded me.. 26000 Kms.. I wonder why the disparity... Or it is just because people drive a lot more vehicles than any of the other metros....

The Vikes lost their opener.. But I won my first Fantasy matchup by loads of points :)... The good and the bad eh... This week though, while I wud love to continue my winning streak (of 1 game) in my fantasy league, I would prefer that the Vikings win on road in Cinci...

my lyrics for today:

Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are

I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

Tell me your secrets
Ask me your questions
Oh, let's go back to the start

Running in circles
Coming up tales
Heads on a science apart

Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard

Oh, take me back to the start

I was just guessing
At numbers and figures
Pulling your puzzles apart

Questions of science
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

Tell me you love me
Come back and haunt me
Oh, and I rush to the start

Running in circles
Chasing tales
Coming back as we are

Nobody said it was easy
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard

I'm going back to the start...

Coldplay : The Scientist ( I heard this yesterday after a long time.. Its such an amazing song.. Just like everything Coldplay have come up with...)

Stupid personal fact for the day: I was nicknamed 'scientist' by a few friends back in school... What an amazing let down I've turned out to be eh ;)!!

I solemnly swear that I'm upto no good...

2005-09-08T08:51:00.000+05:30

When I was younger :(, I always used to wonder why people make such a fuss about going to work, crib about their boss, wait breathlessly for a weekend, be positively ecstatic when there was a holiday besides the weekend.. Well, now I know why :) ... It hasnt even taken me two months to get an answer to all these stupid questions... The question now is... How long am I willing to do this :)...

Oh yeah before I forget... If I have said or done anything to hurt anyone who has read this page, in the past year, I am extremely sorry. Just a little Jain thing we do every year.. Personally, its a bit wierd eh.. I mean, first go and hurt people and then once a year ask for forgiveness.. oh well..

I would've been the last person to admit that I enjoy writing code... But for the past month or so, I've been spending almost all my time doing that... and to my own personal horror, it seems like I am enjoying it.... I think its all becuz of that dumbass clatix... Some of his nerdish traits have rubbed off on me.. I never used to be like this... But mabbe that was becuz I was living with cool people all the time... Six months with a nerd and look what it has done to me ;).... Even though I have had another six at home now, but that doesnt count na.... (Though Clatix is cool.. sometimes.. when hez not busy licking off every piece of news on Slashdot.. or talking about Version 3.6.4.8.6.10 of Fedora.. not to mention STRING THEORY!! ;))

Delhi is hot as ever... and crowded.. and noisy.. and extremely beautiful... Oh btw, I am planning to run for the Hutch Delhi Half Marathon... Not the whole thing ofcourse.. I can never do that I think.. But just the 7-Kms run... That should be fun.. Its happening on Oct 2nd.. Nagu, any pointers dude?

The football season is about to start and I am so disappointed that I wont be able to see any game besides the Super Bowl.. Fuck I hate that... neways... I will still be saying GO VIKINGS!!!! every sunday :)...

Its been a year since the worst 10 days of my life... I seem to be getting along pretty well :)

my lyrics for today:

All day
Staring at the ceiling
Making friends with shadows on my wall
All night
Hearing voices telling me
That I should get some sleep
Because tomorrow might be good for something
Hold on
I'm feeling like I'm headed for a
Breakdown
I don't know why

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know, right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know, right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be

Me
Talking to myself in public
Dodging glances on the train
I know
I know they've all been talking 'bout me
I can hear them whisper
And it makes me think there must be something wrong
With me
Out of all the hours thinking
Somehow
I've lost my mind

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know, right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be

Unwell : Matchbox 20

2005-08-06T10:57:00.000+05:30

I cant believe it... I never thought it'd be like this but then after having no schedule at all for practically all my life (how cool is that ;)) I have to conform now to something that I dont know a jack about... I mean conforming is a big problem for me.. and conforming to a schedule.. thats even worse... Mabbe its time to grow up eh :)

The only thing for which I get time these days is reading.. Well I read Harry Potter's entire series over the past 2 weeks... I must say that I was wrong about this book... Its really well written... and I must say I have a lot of respect for the author cuz she has put in an amazing amount of work into creating such a masterpiece.. I've always admired writers who can create a complete world of their own.. A world which is completely different from the one that we live in.. Cuz that takes a lot of imagination.... Hence my admiration for Tolkien and even George Lucas... I'm not gonna write a review for HBP cuz there must be like a million and two reviews out there.. I just loved the book though..

btw, the odds on Vikings going to the SuperBowl are really long.. Its like if u bet $100 u'll get $1250 if the Vikes go to the SuperBowl.... Now those are some really sexy odds eh??? And I'd say we have a really good chance of getting there.. So any of u with some money to spare.. Please go to Gambling911.com and when (not if) you win, please remember that it was I who recommended this :)

Its a lazy Saturday morning and I'm trying to figure out how to spend my time till this evening.... I dont get it... When people have time they crib about not having nething to do with it.. When they dont have time, they crib about not having enough free time... I wonder why....

my lyrics for today:

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools", said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls"
And whispered in the sounds of silence

Sounds of Silence : Simon and Garfunkel (If anyone ever watches 'The Graduate' they'll get sick of this track for a while :).. they've overused it...)

Its the end of the world as we know it.. and I feel FINE!!!!

2005-07-21T11:14:00.000+05:30

Yeah!! This song has been playing in my car everyday since last friday..my first day at work.. Its pretty apt actually considering the my present state of my mind.. It is the end of the world as I knew it... R.E.M. always have amazing songs dont they.. 'Everybody Hurts'.. a case in point...

I had a hard time yesterday... A very hard time actually.. I cant come to terms with it.. NO!! I cant be 25.. not already... How can I be twenty fucking five... I was just 22 the time I went to Duluth.. Its been 3 years already... NO!!! The other day some kids called me Uncle :(.. baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!! I felt like... well they were cute kids so I didnt feel like doing nething.. But damn man.. HOW.. WHY??? I know.. most people think its not a big deal... But look at it in perspective.. 5 years down, I'll be 30.... THIRTY... thats like a huge humongous positively out of this world number man... Its like that Friends episode where Joey keeps going, "WHY GOD WHY??? WE HAD A DEAL REMEMBER!!!"... Oh well.. wtf... Atleast I am in exalted company... Both Anya and Clatix have reached there first ;).. small comfort...

I never thought I would be the one to get into that stupid grind of work, home and work again... But I guess that happens.... and it sucks majorly.. Plus the 1 hr drive to work.. each way.... And Delhi traffic... man oh man... Ok.. I should be allowed to complain a little.. I havent complained in ages... Not about anything.. This is basically a whiny post about everything that is bad in my life :)...

But hey.. I feel fine... absofuckinglutely FINE!! actually.. I'm happy.. and thats a lot.. btw, kids... if any of you listen to Punjabi muzak... then listen to Sohniye by Juggy D... its a good good track... This is specially for you Alpesh.. :)... Oh and dont forget... Listen to Kajra Re from the Bunty aur Babli soundtrack... sexy sexy sexy track...

I'm planning to get absolutely hammered this Saturday night.... I wish I could have just one more of those Duluth daaru parties :)... There has been nothing better... Especially our dear beloved inventor of B-scale...

I'm not gonna put the lyrics of 'Its the end of the....' cuz jo already did the honors a few days back :)... Here's another favourite though...

my lyrics for today:

I know its hard to keep an open heart,
when even friends seem out to harm you..
But if you can heal a broken heart,
wouldnt time be out to charm you..

....... (THE BEST GUITAR EVER PLAYED!!!)

Everybody needs some time, on their own...
Everybody needs some time, all alone..

...

I know that you can love,
When there's no one left to blame...
So never mind the darkness,
we still can find a way...

Cuz nothing lasts forever...
Even cold November Rain..

I dont think anyone in their right mind would ask me to name this song.. I adore it.. For so many reasons... The words.. The memories.. Arguably the best guitar ever played.. Slash is god :)... and no matter how much I hate Axl, he just does such amazing vocals.. Man that guy was good.. The first four lines that I've typed (yes I've typed this out on my own for once :)) are the best... and so freaking true...

2005-07-10T11:23:00.000+05:30

Okkk... I said I'd talk about my trip to Bombay... Well... I think if I start talking about the whole trip... This post is gonna be endless.. so I'll just give a brief description...

A few observations... Bombay, for all the great things about it.. is wayyyyy tooo dirty... I dont think there were so many slums the last time I'd gone there... And yet now... Everywhere I looked there was a slum cluster... Sad really... People feel that the rainy season is the worst time to visit Bombay.. For me.. its the best time... Bombay rains are so amazing.. I got drenched the first day that I reached there.. and for 6 days, my general state was medium to very very drenched :)... I was in Pune for just a day.. and I didnt get to see much of it.. But yeah.. someone owes me 52 bucks for a very wrong recommendation... and also punitive damages for the face loss in front of my younger brother :).. The weather there was awesome... btw, I thought Pune was on the leeward side of some mountain... then why the fuck was it raining incessantly!!!!! Ok, I've driven a lot on Indian roads... and I think that the Bombay-Pune expressway is the best highway in the country.. Not only becuz its an amazingly well maintained road.. But also the view.. I almost felt like I was driving in upstate New York.. Or mabbe it was just the rain effect... Watever it was.. it was just amazing... I went to Bandstand and the reclaimation area in Bandra and that was a sight.. I just wanted to tell those people... Guys get a room... Also I wanted to tell them... Enjoy it while you can.. Cuz it wont last ;)...

Finally... the one thing I adore about Bombay.. the sea.. I was staying in Juhu for most of the time so I had the most amazing view of the sea.. and I also went to the beach a lot... It used to be such a nice beach.. But I guess that was a long time ago... I love it all the same I guess... Too many good times are associated with that place... and some bad ones too...

Oh also, I think Bombay people are too used to travelling in local trains... There was a lot of turbulence on our flight back to Delhi, and yet none of the Bombay people seemed to be affected by it... The flight was literally shaking like a train.. and people were just busy doing what they do... Me on the other hand.... I had my eyes closed and Guns n Roses on loud...

Got struck by the proverbial thunderbolt yesterday!!! The girl in question though, is completely off limits :((

my lyrics for today:

And I’d give up forever to touch you
’cause I know that you feel me somehow
You’re the closest to heaven that i’ll
Ever be
And I don’t want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
’cause sooner or later it’s over
I just don’t want to miss you tonight

And I don’t want the world to see me
’cause I don’t think that they’d
Understand
When everything’s made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can’t fight the tears that ain’t
Coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you’re alive

And I don’t want the world to see me
’cause I don’t think that they’d
Understand
When everything’s made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

.......

Goo Goo Dolls : Iris (from the City of Angels Soundtrack.. A fav. movie and a fav. song :))

Why me!!!!!

2005-07-03T11:42:00.000+05:30

Got tagged... By anya and ajit... So I'm gonna tag both of the tags together ;)... Here goes..

The movies tag -:

Total Number of Films I own on DVD/Video -: No idea.. All my dvd's (should be around 15 methinks) are in a box which is somewhere in Chicago ;).. In Delhi, I own around 10..

Last Film I bought -: Last DVD I bought (rather my brother bought with my money ;)) was LOTR (all three parts on one DVD, a steal I must say)..

Last Film I watched -: a) In theatre : Mr. & Mrs. Smith (that should change today or tomm) b) On DVD : LOTR - Return of the King (Its a LOT more fun in the theatre.. trust me)

Five movies that I watch a lot or mean a lot to me -: Sweet November, Forrest Gump, Life is Beautiful, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na, Jerry Maguire (Honorable mentions : I am Sam, Seven, LOTR 1,2,3 , Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron.. the list is never ending)

The books tag:

Total number of books I own -: No idea... I have 2 book cases full.. I left a lot of my books in the basement of Apt I ;)... Rough estimate.. between 100-150...

Last book I bought -: State of Fear - Michael Crichton

Last book I read -: ditto

Five books that mean a lot to me : Hmm.. That is a real tough one.. It was easy with movies I think.. Books.. There are just too many.. But lets try...

1. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

2. Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

3. English, August - Upamanyu Chatterjee ( he really lost his marbles while writing the sequel I think)

4. LOTR - J.R.R. Tolkien (It deserves the title of 'the best book of the century'...)

5. Any R.K. Narayan book.. I'm just a huge huge fan.. I love the way he writes.. Making stories out of small little things that happen in everyday life..

Honorable Mentions :

Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle.. All of them.. But most of all, the hound of the baskervilles..

The Godfather - Mario Puzo (The book is soooo much better than the movie)

Christmas Holiday - W. Somerset Maugham

Arguably the worst book I've ever read -: The Mammaries of the Welfare State - Upamanyu Chatterjee (the sequel to English, August.. I seriously felt like throwing the book out of a moving train, or destroying it using a flame thrower or something...)

Finally... My turn to tag people... Well I'll be nice and wont tag neone.. But if someone feels like doing it on their own, please be my guest... Its nice actually.. Good luck..

Bombay!! Here I come :)

2005-06-23T18:27:00.000+05:30

I'm going to Bombay for a week.. Finally.. After 2 years... I just love the place... despite everything.. So basically that means that I wont be updating my blog for a week atleast.. Not that I do it that often as it is ;).. I might also go to the city I know so well even though I've never been there... Pune.. So FINALLY I'll get to see what all the fuss is about ;)... Of course knowing that Pune just has 2 streets and 7 avenues, it wouldnt be hard to get to know the city... eh anya ;)!! cya all in a week... I promise to give an account of all my antics in bombay and pune...takecare people and as I always say, dont do anything I wont do (though that list is very very very small ;))....

my lyrics for today:

You take away
I feel the same

All the promises you made to me you made in vain

I lost myself inside your tainted smile again

Cause you can’t feel my anger

You can’t feel my pain

You can’t feel my torment

Driving me insane

I can’t fight these feelings they will bring you pain

You can’t take away

Make me whole again

I feel betrayed

Stuck in your ways

And you rip me apart

With the brutal things you say

I can’t deal with shit anymore

I just look away

.......

You will feel my anger

You will feel my pain

You will feel my torment

Driving you insane

I can’t fight these feelings they will bring you pain

You won’t take away

I’ll be whole again

Mudshovel...

Staind : Mudshovel (am kinda in the middle of a stainD mood)

P.S. -: Check out clatix's music blog... Hez put some awesome songs on there...

Sloth to Activity in just a day

2005-06-17T18:59:00.000+05:30

Ok, apparently I have become really lazy in updating my blog.. which is true but I didn't realize it until appu (I wanted to use the other nick she has but she wud've murdered me for sure if I did ;)) told me the same thing yesterday... So to show the prompt action that I can take when I want, here's a post...

It would've been really cool had I just ended the post at the last sentence... But oh well.. Since I've taken all the effort to come online on this fucking dialup connection I might as well write something...

BTW, I have this huge big grudge against VSNL-Tata Indicom people... I mean I thought a private company wasn't supposed to act like a bloody babu infested one... Becuz of the great broadband plans they have, I applied for a broadband connection from VSNL about a month back.. paid the money and was told that I would be getting a connection within 15 days... Like a nice guy that I am (yeah right ;)) I waited all of the 15 days and then called them up.. They said that they had some logistics problem that wud be solved within 10 days and I shud expect my connection then... Well again I waited like a freaking idiot... and now even that has passed and I've lost my patience... And I've been trying to talk to the person incharge, some territory sales manager dude but apparently he has gone on a vacation and there is noone else who can provide information.. My check in the meanwhile has been cashed.. I'm planning to go down the VSNL office sometime next week and give them a piece of my mind... You just don't expect these kind of things from Tata somehow... I could've gone in for a MTNL connection but I was skeptical of their 15 day claim (plus it was expensiver that VSNL)... but this is incredible.. No matter how many call centers we have, we would never learn customer service... Noone knows how to treat the people who earn you your living... I wonder why...

Ok.. now that thats out of the way... Music... I'm seriously planning to quit watching t.v. or listening to radio for a while... I end up liking the stupidest of songs... Ok fine.. I admit it.. I like a couple of songs from 'Dus'.. I was even planning to buy the tape but I stopped myself at the last moment... There, I admitted it... I'm sure Navneet wud be really happy hearing all this... Thats the only reason I'm not gonna tell him...

I watched 'Parineeta' last week... Its ok... I didn't enjoy it much, but everyone I know has been raving about it.. I found it tooooooooooooooooooooo slow... I'm sure if I hadn't had good company I wud've slept off... As it turned out, we had loads of fun, at the expense of the people around us.. and the actors in the movie... and now I'm waiting for 'War of the Worlds'.. That should be good..

did you know that there is nothing of any consequence on t.v. at 4 in the morning ?

my lyrics for today:

It's been a while

Since I could hold my head up high

and it's been a while

Since I first saw you

It's been a while

since i could stand on my own two feet again

and it's been a while

since i could call you

But everything I can't remember as fucked up as it may seem

the consequences that I've rendered

I've stretched myself beyond my means

It's been a while

since i could say that i wasn't addicted

and It's been a while

Since I could say I love myself as well

and It's been a while

Since I've gone and fucked things up just like i always do

It's been a while

But all that shit seems to disappear when i'm with you

......

Its been a while

Since I could look at myself straight

and it's been awhile

since i said i'm sorry

It's been awhile

Since I've seen the way the candles light your face

It's been awhile

But I can still remember just the way you taste

Do I even need to name this song? The last 4 lines are my favourite..

Another Naseer in the making?

2005-06-05T13:21:00.000+05:30

Yes!! He is that good... I'm talking about Randeep Hooda and his stellar performance in the movie "D"... If there was nothing else in this movie, it would have worked just for the sheer force of his performance... But there is a lot more to this movie than just that...

Firstly, the storyline isnt all that different from "Company".. It can be said that this is the prequel to "Company" and even though everyone denies it, it sure seems like it.... The director Vishram Sawant has done a wonderful job... The direction though not as slick as an RGV made Satya/Company is well above par... Another good thing about the movie is that its only 2 hours long... it remains fast paced and boredom is out of the question (even for anya ;))... Chunkey Pandey has played a good role in the movie though I think (as does the HT reviewer) that its inspired a bit from Bhiku Mhatre.. There's just one song in the movie but I think the director just put it for the heck of it... I think the movie would have been just as good without the song.. Actress Rukhsar whoz making a comeback (after a DECADE!!!) with this movie is a good choice for the role (and is decently hot too ;))...

And now for the cake... Mr. Hooda, whoz only claim to fame (besides the two bit role of the Australian returned hunk (who gets to kiss Neha Dubey.. &@%#^%^@) in "Monsoon Wedding") was being the boyfriend of Sushmita Sen, has actually proven his credentials... He is every bit the Ajay Devgan in "Company" for the lack of a better comparison... I would even say that there were traces of Michael Corleone in his character, but then, mabbe thats going overboard... This guy has trained under the great Naseeruddin Shah and I'm sure that has something to do with the performance hez given...

HT gave this movie 3/5 but I'm more inclined to give it a 4.. Its worth a watch... Just for the silent killer look that Randeep portrays... Here's hoping we dont have another Vivek Oberoi in the making :)...

my lyrics for today:

You and I got somethin
But it’s all and then it’s nuthin to me, yeah
And I got my defenses
When it comes through your intentions for me, yeah

And we wake up in the breakdown
With the things we never thought we could be, yeah

I’m not the one who broke you
I’m not the one you should fear
We got to move you darlin
I thought I lost you somewhere
But you were never really ever there at all

And I want to get free
Talk to me
I can feel you falling
And I wanted to be
All you need
Somehow here is gone

I am no solution
To the sound of this pollution in me, yeah
And I was not the answer
So forget you ever thought it was me, yeah

And I don’t need the fallout
Of all the past that’s in between us
And I’m not holding on
And all your lies weren’t enough to keep me here

And I want to get free
Talk to me
I can feel you falling
And I wanted to be
All you need
Somehow here is gone

Goo Goo Dolls - Here is Gone

Drunken revelry!

2005-05-29T23:55:00.000+05:30

I have consumed an equivalent of a twelve-pack of beer and hence watever I write in this post should be weighted according to that fact... Not that I intend to write things that might create a controversy in the very small readership of this blog..... But still, a disclaimer is always the safest bet ;)...

I believe that there is nothing more precious in this world than the friends that you make in your lifetime... I have been blessed with a great number of the most amazing friends ever.. and I thank each one of them for standing me and my follies... Especially those people who've seen me at my worst and gotten me out of it.... Clatix dude, I love you for that talk that you gave me ( you remember when, i'm sure)... My dear roommates, all of them, Dev, Nitin, Suma, SpyD (1st year) and Ani, Anand and Prashant... The best people I could ever live with.. Made my time all the more amazing... Alpa and Nitin V..... guys we need to play 304 again :)... rush.. my favourite.. Navvo my dearest friend.. my sounding board... my lightning rod.. Gunjan, the longest sufferer of them all...

I'm so damn lucky... and so damn drunk :)... not really.. but yeah.. I always wanted to thank the people who make my life worth its while.. There are a lot more people that I fail to mention I'm sure, but they know how important they are to me... I guess its easier to get away with a lot of things when u're high.... I remember telling a certain person how much I hated her at that time, allegedly under the influence of alcohol.. The truth was, I really wanted to tell that person that I hated the way she behaved with me and I cudnt get myself to do it cuz she was a dear dear friend... But when u're high, u can get away with almost nething...

I always feel that looking back at one's life is a sign of having nothing to look forward to... The more we look towards the has been, the lesser certainity we have of the will be... Mabbe its just the way it is... Or mabbe there is some reason why we do it.. My point is, either of them is wrong.. Life I believe, is wat we have right now.. Not what has gone by or what might be... Most of us live in denial... and end our lives as cynics.. I see it everywhere... In most of the people i meet.. I see it when I look in the mirror goddamnit... I intend to change that... despair not for the present can be changed..... and its upto oneself, if they want to do it or not...

I'm so tired and decently high..... and yet sleep evades me... the doctor had two words for me, 'think less'... I had two words for him.. 'fuck you' :).... I didnt say that ofcourse... but I wanted to.. the human mind is programmed to think... how can i not think.. its stupid to even ask me not to think.. neways.. chuck that...

I wanted to leave with the message of god to all mankind (according to the amazingly funny book 'the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy').. 'I apologize for the inconvenience'... Danke ani for such an amazing recommendation.. You are so right about this book....

my lyrics for today:

Never made it as a wise man

I couldn’t cut it as a poor man stealing

Tired of living like a blind man

I’m sick of sight without a sense of feeling

And this is how you remind me

This is how you remind me

Of what I really am

This is how you remind me

Of what I really am

It’s not like you to say sorry

I was waiting on a different story

This time I’m mistaken

For handing you a heart worth breaking

And I’ve been wrong, I’ve been down,To the bottom of every bottle

It’s the words in my head

Scream are we having fun yet?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, noYeah, yeah, yeah, no, no

It’s not like you didn’t know that

I said I love you and I swear I still do

And it must have been so bad

Cause living with me must have damn near killed you

And this is how, you remind me

Of what I really am

This is how, you remind me

Of what I really am

It’s not like you to say sorry

I was waiting on a different story

This time I’m mistaken

For handing you a heart worth breaking

And I’ve been wrong, I’ve been down,To the bottom of every bottle

It’s the words in my headScream are we having fun yet?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, noYeah, yeah, yeah, no, no

Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, noYeah, yeah, yeah, no, no

How you remind me : Nickelback (Play it reaaaaaaaaaaaaallllly loud in your car.. trust me, its worth it)

mirror mirror on the wall whoz the greenest of them all???

2005-05-23T19:09:00.000+05:30

its been a while... Dont blame me... Blame my fucked up computer... and the fact that my laptop modem doesnt work with the fucking dialup connection I have.... or blame it on the fact that I just dont feel like doing anything about it :)... I have turned into a fucking lazy bum and I'm loving it.. There have been a few things that I've wanted to blog about... so here goes...

I read a very surprising fact the other day... Delhi, known for being a concrete jungle, polluted and wat not, is surprisingly, one of the greenest cities in India... And you know the delicious fact... Its greener than the garden city... Yeah.. Bangalore... There was nothing about Pune in the survey or else I wud've loved chaffing the likes of Anya, Ajit, Nitin and Anand ;)...

The big news in India these days is the completion of a year in office by the UPA government... Now I'm no big fan of the BJP and there brand of politics... But I dont like the congress's coalition partners... The left keeps pushing the economic reforms a step back and dont get me started about Laloo... I was reading this editorial by Vir Sanghvi in HT last Sunday and he wrote about the bad habit of governments to scrutinize and taint all the dealings of the previous Government... He noted that though the UPA government didnt do nething of that sort in almost all of the first year, lately they've come back with a bang... They rejected the Phukan commission report which exonerated George Fernandes... The CAG report slammed Vajpayee's pet project, the golden quadrilateral highway project... The politicians in this country really need to get over the petty things and get on with doing some good work... Because if reports are to be believed (i am a big skeptic, but maybe its true) India is going to be the third largest economy in the next 30 years... I just hope though that our politicians can take some time off from their bickering and get down to some serious business.. Build up infrastructure, speed up the reforms and get the hell out of the way... India Shining... maybe it will... If our politicians let it...

Oh I wanted to talk about the music I've been listening to... Loads and loads of Hindi music... I absolutely adore the music of 'Kaal'... and also from the movie 'Zeher' Woh Lamhe... The remixed one... its amazing....

btw, I watched my favourite movie in theatre again.... yeah, DDLJ... they've re-released it in theatres on the occasion of its 500th week aniv and trust me, if you love this movie and you are in India, just go and see it in a theatre... it just feels amazing, to see it once again :)...

my lyrics for today:

hamein tumhaare sivaa kuchh nazar nahiin aataa
tumhein nazar men sajaakar sharaab piite hain

unhiin ke hisse men aatii hai pyaas hii aksar
jo duusaron ko pilaakar sharaab piite hain

Jagjit Singh : Nazar Nazar Se ( The first sher is my favourite of all times... )

One of those days when you think too much!!

2005-04-28T10:02:00.000+05:30

I've heard all through my almost 25 years of existence that patience is a virtue... Right from my parents to the best of my friends have told me this.. I'm freaking impatient... But I've come to notice something... Lately, everyone and I mean EVERYONE, seems so freaking impatient.. Since I am still doing nothing at all (isnt that the most amazing thing ever ;)) I get a lot of time to observe the things around me... and you get to see it on the roads... in the way people talk.. the way they behave... I dont know about anywhere else, but atleast in Delhi, people have become so freaking impatient and intolerant... The most obvious place to see this is on the road.. Now trust me, Delhi roads were never a model of patient driving ever... But the languid pace at which Delhi used to move has been shifted up a notch or five....

I was reading India Today and the latest cover story talks about how India as a nation is sleeping less by the minute... On an average 64% of Indians do with 6 or less hours of sleep... And these are people who dont suffer from any sleeping disorders... and here I thought, I was one of the few people who just cudnt sleep... Talking about which, my sleep pattern has changed.. I dont stay up too late anymore.. max till around 3... but I get up at the most unearthly hours ever... oh well..

Havent heard any good music in a loooooooooooooooong while.. Except probably some hindi and punjabi... Its a shame that we hardly get any good English music over here... either on radio or tv.. There's this one thing that I really want to do.. thats to start an all English radio station.. And play the best music ever over there... The way I see it, there have to be people like me who'd prefer to listen to GnR, Nirvana, U2, REM etc, more than they'd like to listen to the latest remix/item number crap...

I'm cutting down on my smoking... bigtime.. my frnd N sends me a msg twice a day... 'quit smoking'... poor guy.. hez really concerned about my lungs... but as i told him.. I've lived in Delhi for 20 years... my lungs wud be black with all the pollution already :)...

just found this interesting link... try it out...

I dont know why people dont realize... sometimes you just have to do things in order to let things go... I've burned stuff... dumped stuff out of a bus... tore things up... just returned stuff... and I'm a lot happier...

I'm dying to go out and get drunk... I will.. soon... :)

The vikings have made some good changes during the offseason and I think their draft choices were good too... hope the coming season wud be good for us.. I'd die to see the vikes in the superbowl... who knows... Maybe the defense can get hot this season and I'm sure Culpepper is gonna be good for another 3-4 years.... Vikes fans, keep your fingers crossed...

I'm just dishing out random stuff as it comes to my mind... I really want to blog more often but I havent gotten around to getting broadband and dialup is just way too fucked up... neways.. I think I have drivelled enuf... I'm in a Pink Floyd mood tonight... peace out people...

my lyrics for today:

Hello.
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?

Come on, now.
I hear you’re feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain,
Get you on your feet again.

Relax.
I need some information first.
Just the basic facts:
Can you show me where it hurts?

There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re sayin’.
When I was a child I had a fever.
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I got that feeling once again.
I can’t explain, you would not understand.
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.

Ok.
Just a little pinprick.
There’ll be no more --aaaaaahhhhh!
But you may feel a little sick.

Can you stand up?
I do believe it’s working. good.
That’ll keep you going for the show.
Come on it’s time to go.

There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re sayin’.
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.

Pink Floyd : Comfortably Numb

An ideal breakfast and other sundry stuff

2005-04-19T19:51:00.000+05:30

A cup of coffee and a cigarette... Now that is my idea of a good breakfast... Actually replace coffee with tea and its even better... My mom insists on breakfast, which is crazy cuz I cant recall the last period of my life when I used to have breakfast.. mabbe 4 years ago I think... oh well..

I have officially disowned our cricket team.. They've really disappointed yaar... I have nothing but sympathy for all of you in the u.s. who stayed up nights and watched the matches just to see us lose.. I know how that feels believe me.. I was one of the few people who actually used to stay up throughout the night :)... waise if the series is fixed like many people say it is, then tommorow's match should be ours... my ****hole brother is going for the math but not me :( ... it is sad that I've never ever watched a cricket match at the stadium... mabbe next time....

Been reading a lot lately... I read the super hyped 'Da Vinci Code'... Its really good... actually I think the book has actually been written to be made into a movie.. Its that fast... btw, I dont agree with Ron Howard's choice of Robert Langdon.. Even though Tom Hanks is one of the best and one of my favs, I dont think he'd be suitable for playing Langdon.. Someone like Depp or even an aged Pacino wud've been awesome.. oh well.. btw, I heard the girl whoz playing Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou, I believe) is real hot :)... good for us guys eh....

I wrote everything before this, 2 days ago :)... I had the most amazing Lebanese food yesterday.. Had the second most amazing falafel I've ever had... and the hummus was just out of this world.. btw, so was the bill ;)

I was watching my Duluth pictures yesterday.. actually I was showing them to someone... I miss the lake...

my lyrics for today:

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want
Your story to remain untold

But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You say you’ll give me
A highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night

You say you’ll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest

But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You say you want
Your love to work out right
To last with me through the night

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold

All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You...all I want is...
You...all I want is...
You...all I want is...
You...

U2 : All I want is you (one of my most favourite songs.. I heard it for the first time when I saw 'reality bites' and consequently, the movie has become special too :))

2005-04-05T13:18:00.000+05:30

There are two things that punjabi people are obsessed with... Food and Marriage... So I wasnt surprised that these were the two things that were topmost on the discussion list of all my relatives (on my dad's side, my dad included) when I came back... 'aay haay, munda kinna patla ho gaya hai'... 'khana nahin khanda si'.. 'achcha vyha(shaadi) kadhon hai'... 'kudi vekhni hai ki aapo le aayega'... god the questions never stopped.... firstly... to punju people, being healthy means being overweight.. damn if you dont have a belly you dont look from a 'khaata peeta ghar' ;)... Secondly, the minute you reach 23-24 (if you're a guy, lesser if you're a girl) they have to start the embarassing talk.... So my bua says, 'Prashant, ek kudi hai.. dekhni hai tujhe... ghar achcha hai.. padi likhi hai...' and all that crap..

man, I havent yet figured out one thing that I want to do in my life... and these people are all ready to get me married off... I pity the woman who'd get married to me... right now or ever... I wish people would realize that a person should get married, when he/she is ready to get married.... mentally.. N and I had a long talk about that a few days ago... He faces a similar situation, though not as chronic as mine ;).. The point is, I've had too many bad experiences and choices in my life (especially when it comes to girls... ) and I just dont think I'm ready for a commitment... such a huge one at that... and I dont think anyone my age is... But how to explain it to a flood of people... oh well... just something that I have to get used to...

Have done a lot of nothing lately... Taking a break is the best thing one can do... It cleanses the system of all bad things (emotionally)... It also gives one some time to set new goals and decide the path which needs to be taken to achieve those goals... My break time is coming to an end... Another week or so and then its back to the real world... But this last 3 weeks or so has made me realize a lot of things... The most important thing that I wish to remember... Sometimes, you have to put your foot down and not be a doormat or else people will just tread all over you...

my lyrics for today:

apanii marzii se kahaaN apane safar ke ham hain
ruKh havaaon kaa jidhar kaa hai udhar ke ham hain

pahale har chiiz thii apanii magar ab lagataa hai
apane hii ghar men kisii duusare ghar ke ham hain

vaqt ke saath hai miTTii kaa safar sadiyon tak
kisako maaluum kahaaN ke hain kidhar ke ham hain

chalate rahate hain ki chalanaa hai musaafir kaa nasiib
sochate rahate hain ki kis raahaguzar ke ham hain

Apni Marzi Se : Jagjit Singh

2005-03-27T09:03:00.000+05:30

There are things that I've been known for but laziness shouldnt be one of them... and yet thats what I've been when it comes to this blog... Which is a sad thing.. But I guess I was taking a break from everything.. Its been an amazing 3 weeks (almost..) since I've come back... both in good things and not so good things... and yet, here I am smiling at the end of it all.. Thats the change in me.... ever since I've come back...

Of course coming back means that "road wars : return of the road rage" was released in my head ;)... god the driving sense of the people in Delhi needs soming serious upgrading... But I guess thats 2 1/2 years on Minnesotan roads thats talking.. had I stayed in a big city like Chicago/New York mabbe I wudnt have felt too much change... eh??? Besides that, Delhi is still the same... crowded in the day time, amazingly silent at nights... The "boorish" people (as I've read on a lot of blogs) are still "boorish" (though I dont think Delhi people can ever be defined as "boorish"... flashy and loud mabbe... but not boorish)... I dont think that there is one person who can ever stay here for some amount of time and not come to love this place.... There is just something about this city... It makes you not want to leave... You just have to open up to it... Most people who just visit for a few days dont realize just how much this city has to offer.. All I've heard from people who've visited Delhi, is that its hot and polluted and the traffic is crazy.... Now I dont think that any city in India right now is not hot/polluted/has crazy traffic... Give me any of your haven cities like Bangalore and Pune and they have the same problems.... Maybe people who have these misconceptions about Delhi should visit sometime... Come and stay with me... I'll show you why I love this place... :)

P.S. : This was mainly for all those Pune crazy people I know ;)... "Gaonwalloh ko waise bhi shahar zyada pasand nahin aate"... LOL!!

my lyrics for today:

I see trees of green........ red roses too
I see ’em bloom..... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin’.. how do you do
They’re really sayin’......i love you.

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more.....than I’ll never know
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world

And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world

What a wonderful world : Louis B. Armstrong

2005-03-13T01:21:00.000+05:30

Sometimes, its really hard to leave... and yet, you know its the best thing you can do... I believe in doing things and then not regretting them afterwards.. There have been some bad decisions in my life which I've had to pay for over and over but still, I dont regret them... This one, wasnt hasty (as a lot of people think it was) or short-sighted or taken because of other things (most of you know what I mean)... it wasnt.. It was just something that I had to do.. Unfortunately, noone agrees with me... I did what I thought was best for me.. someday, I'll be able to justify it as well... mabbe not today... not even in the near future mabbe.. But I will... This is the best and only explanation I can give...

And yes it feels great to be home... *wink* to everyone who hasnt been home in a long long time... You guys oughta do it :)

my lyrics for today:

And I remember what she said to me
How she swore that it never would end
I remember how she held me oh so tight
Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then

Against the wind
We were runnin’ against the wind
We were young and strong, we were runnin’
Against the wind

And the years rolled slowly past
And I found myself alone
Surrounded bv stranners I thought were my friends
I found myself further and further from my home
And I guess I lost my way
There were oh so many roads
I was living to run and running to live
Never worried about paying or even how much I owed
Moving eight miles a minute for months at a time
Breaking all of the rules that would bend
I began to find myself searchin’
Searching for shelter again and again
Against the wind
A little something against the wind
I found myself seeking shelter against the wind

Bob Seger - Against the Wind (Forrest Gump Soundtrack)

My latest desktop wallpaper..

2005-03-06T13:34:00.000+05:30

Its better to burn out then fade away... believe it!!!!!

Rock On!

2005-02-21T11:05:00.000+05:30

I am crazy about music (as most of you would know).. I cant think of a life without music.. and the only regret I have in my life is that I never took the time to learn to play the two instruments that I love so much... The guitar and the drums... though not in that order... There is nothing I'd love to do more than play either of these amazing creations... I dont know.. Whenever I hear someone play the guitar or the drums, I feel awe (though not at that chick who was pretending to play the guitar at last nights FON)... My dear friend Ajit plays one mean guitar man... He really rocks (as he showed yesterday :)) and its all the more amazing since he learned it all by himself... A lot of credit to the man... A couple of days ago we were sitting in the lab and doing our versions of 'Hotel California' - The Eagles, 'You got to hide you love away' - The Beatles/Eddie Vedder and a couple more... as usual I was croaking along but man did that feel good...

The one song that Ajit and I like to jam to together is 'The man who sold the world' by Nirvana... He plays it really really well (due respects to the dearly departed Kurt Cobain)... Heck someday I hope to give him a sexy Fender Electric Guitar... and mabbe he could teach me how to play it too :)... For now though, Ajit, dude, i'll give you a virtual iou.. for all the great times man... keep rocking... (and learn how to play 'Black' :))

my lyrics for today:

We passed upon the stair
We spoke of was and when
Although I wasn't there
He said I was his friend
Which came as a surprise
I spoke into his eyes
I thought you died alone
A long long time ago

Oh no, not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With The Man Who Sold The World

I laughed and shook his hand
And made my way back home
I searched for form and land
For years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazeless stare
At all the millions here
I must have died alone (Alt: I must have died along)
A long, long time ago

Who knows?
Not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the Man who Sold the World

Nirvana - The Man Who Sold the World (MTV Unplugged - Live at New York)

'That was a David Bowie song' - Kurt Cobain

Appeasing the gods: my way

2005-02-16T00:59:00.000+05:30

Sometimes, you just have to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to change the way your life is going... This morning when I looked in the mirror, I told myself, Prashant, the time has come when you made that sacrifice... appease the gods for they arent giving you anything... I figured that if I give up something or someone I love a lot lot, then mabbe it would pacify all those gods whom I have angered... and so with a heavy heart, I did it... I did the unimaginable... I did what I said I wudnt do... for I loved so much..... the feel... the touch... even the thought... and now nothing remains.... nothing but emptiness... well not emptiness exactly, but yeah.... almost emptiness (if there is something like that ;))... I guess I am the better for it (atleast everyone else thinks so)... I feel lighter already... literally...

Oh my dear dear locks.... forgive me cuz I had you chopped off... It hurt me a lot more than it hurt you (for you are nothing but dead cells) to see the scissors mercilessly hack you off the head that has carried you so well... for so long... I will miss you falling on my face and sometimes smiting my eyes.... I will miss the oh sweet curls.... tsk tsk tsk.. this is an emotional moment for me... I would like everyone to observe a minute of silence for the dearly departed...

P.S. - : the guy wanted to charge me by the pound, but I said i'd go broke if he did that ;)...

Pure Drivel

2005-02-13T22:38:00.000+05:30

I am wondering what to write because the words just wont come to me... Its very seldom that something like this happens.. Usually, I have the words for all occasions.. But somehow, these days, my words have abandonded me too.. Not that I should be complaining.. I was talking to a friend the other day and she said, 'we should complain you know.. cuz it helps'... Well, most of my complaining just leads me nowhere.. So I wont complain... I miss my city and my friends.. I know its gonna be a while before I see either but then, that is how life is.. I had lots of work this past week.. I still might have a lot more work before this week is over.. I like having work.. Gives me something to do.. for ages now, I have believed in this one line that has gotten me through a lot of things.. 'Good things happen to good people'.. But lately, I am losing faith... Seems that this is just another stupid line of mine... which works in utopia but not in real life.. All I see is good things happening to bad people... My best friend N tells me that life moves on and doesnt wait for nebody.. but does it really? Guess its upto the person really.. and I will eventually.. and I have no idea what I am writing... just need to get things out of my system... I went to the lake late last night... threw some rocks in the water... thats wat I do usually when I go there.... But like Forrest Gump says, 'Sometimes, I guess there's just not enough rocks'...

my lyrics for today:
Time, why you punish me?
Like a wave bashing into the shore
You wash away my dreams.
Time, why you walk away?
Like a friend with somewhere to go
You left me crying
Can you teach me about tommorrow
And all the pain and sorrow
Running free?
Cause tomorrow's just another day
And I don't believe in time
.....
Can you teach me about tomorrow
All the pain and sorrow
Running free?
But tomorrow's just another day
And I don't believe in...
Time is wasting
Time is walking
You ain't no friend of mine
I don't know where i'm goin'
I think I'm out of my mind
Thinking about time
And if I die tomorrow, yeah
Just lay me down in sleep
Time, you left me standing there
Like a tree growing all alone
The wind just stripped me bare, stripped me bare
Time, the past has come and gone
The future's far away
Now only lasts for one second, one second
Can you teach me about tomorrow
And all the pain and sorrow
Running free?
'Cause tomorrow's just another day
And I don't believe in time

Hootie and the Blowfish - Time

2005-02-06T10:58:00.000+05:30

You wont cry for my abscence, I know.
You forgot me long ago,
Am I that unimportant?
Am I so insignificant?
Isnt something missing?
Isnt someone missing me?

Even though I'd be sacrificed,
You wont try for me, not now.
Though I'd die to know you love me,
I'm all alone.
Isnt someone missing me?

And if I bleed, I'll bleed,
knowing you dont care.
And if I sleep just to dream of you,
I'll wake without you there,
Isnt something missing?

Evanescence - Missing

Revelations of the past 5 days

2005-02-05T15:31:00.000+05:30

Have you ever been in a room full of people and felt completely alone?

Have you ever closed your eyes and felt as if you were falling, into this deep emptiness, of which there is no end?

Have you ever felt so scared that you were afraid to even breathe?

Have you ever felt so fucked up, that the words fucked up actually dont mean anything anymore?

Have you ever heard your favourite song and not been able to recall its lyrics?

Have you ever looked at something for 2 hours and not have a single thought in your mind about that thing?

Have you ever tried not to look at the largest lake in the world which sits bang in the middle of any view, any side you look?

Have you ever realized that you cant run as fast as you used to and felt really sick about it?

Have you ever asked yourself, 'why me'?

Have you ever hated someone?

Have you ever loved someone?

Have you ever tried to fall out of love?

Have you ever tried to forget?

my lyrics for today:

I wanted you to know that I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away
I keep your photograph; and I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain

cuz I'm broken when I'm open
and I dont feel like I am strong enough
cuz I'm broken when I'm lonesome
and I dont feel right when you're gone away

you've gone away; you dont feel me here, anymore......

Seether (feat. Amy Lee) - Broken

bonus lyrics for today:

When I find out all the reasons
Maybe I'll find another way
Find another day
With all the changing seasons of my life
Maybe I'll get it right next time
.......
I'll never find anyone to replace you
Guess I'll have to make it thru, this time
Oh this time
Without you
....
I knew the storm was getting closer
And all my friends said I was high
But everything we've ever known's here
I never wanted it to die

Guns n' Roses - Estranged

My motto from here on in

2005-02-01T00:55:00.000+05:30

Fuck it!

P.S.: Also happen to be the words that my favourite actor Johnny Depp tries to live by. I'm rooting for him again this time for the Best Actor Award at the Oscars.. But I dont think second time is gonna be the charm either for Johnny..

Update

2005-01-27T07:43:00.000+05:30

Added a lot more links to blogs that I visit regularly... and I'm using blogrolling now... Its pretty darn good..

P.S.: Age of Mythology (The sequel to the sequel of Age of Empires) is very very very addictive... :)

my lyrics for today:
Maybe I'm crazy, but it's crazy and it's true
I know you can save me, no one else can save me now but you

As long as the planets are turning, as long as the stars are burning
As long as your dreams are coming true, you better believe it

That I would do anything for love, and I'll be there til the final act
I would do anything for love, and I'll take a vow and seal a pact

But I'll never forgive myself if we don't go all the way tonight
And I would do anything for love, oh I would do anything for love
Oh I would do anything for love, but I won't do that, no I won't do that
........
Some days I pray for silence, and somedays I pray for soul
Some days I just pray to the God of Sex and Drums and Rock 'N Roll
Some nights I lose the feeling, and some nights I lose control
Some nights I just lose it all when I watch you dance and the thunder rolls

Maybe I'm lonely and that's all I'm qualified to be
There's just one and only, the one and only promise I can keep

As long as the wheels are turning, as long as the fires are burning
As long as your prayers are coming true, you better believe it

That I would do anything for love, and you know it's true and that's a fact
I would do anything for love, and there'll never be no turning back

But I'll never do it better than I do it with you, so long, so long
And I would do anything for love, oh I would do anything for love
I would do anything for love, but I won't do that, no no no I won't do that

Meatloaf : I would do anything for love (but I wont do that)

Note: A one hit wonder, Meatloaf never actually could come up with something as good as this ever again... But this one is just so good... I heard it after a long long time today and I loved it...

P.P.S.: I just remembered another Meatloaf song.. Its pretty obscure and I heard it only because it was on a tape that I own.. Its a very good mix tape and believe it or not I bought it for the songs 'Always' by Erasure (its a good listen, once in a while) and 'I swear' by All-4-One (I know, what was I thinking ;))... Neways, back to the Meatloaf song, its called (believe it or not) 'Objects in the rear view mirror appear closer than they are'... JESUS H. CHRIST... Now who would ever come up with a song like that ???

I AM DEFENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-01-21T00:35:00.001+05:30

YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its scheduled for the last week of Feb... A long time away but STILL... ITS DECIDED!!!!! AND I AM FREAKING PUMPED!!!! YEAH THATS RIGHT... I'M FREAKING SHOUTING IT OUT LOUD!!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

P.S.: Monday, Feb 28th 2005. 4:00 P.M. .... yup.. thats the date and time....

What would you like to be?

2005-01-13T01:57:00.000+05:30

A new year... its been a while since I wrote something here... Dont know why the freak have I not had the time... Cuz I hardly have been doing anything else.. Oh well.. I've been playing a lot of Madden 2003.. Its a football game (the american kind )... its a LOT of fun... and unlike real life, my team actually wins - which is good.. Life goes on.. not the way it should but then, who am I to complain? I hate my choice of career.. which is not a good sign ;)......... oh well.. I remember last year we talked about 'if you can be anything you want, unrealistic or real, what would it be?' thing.. mine was to be a formula 1 driver... But here's an actual list of what I would really love to be, if I had the choice:

1. Music Reviewer - As my best friend recently told me, this would be the best job for me cuz I'm just so freaking crazy about music...
2. Writer - That was what I wanted to be all through school and right before I joined BIT... damn was that a bad decision or what.. Anyways, now I realize that I'm not much of a writer.. so cant really be one :)
3. Sportsperson - I feel awe when I look at anyone who is a sportsperson.. Its just something that takes lots of hard work and dedication.. I love the highs of a victory... It would've been a great choice of profession had I been good at anything ;)..
4. Botanist - Yeah yeah.. I know... That sounds geeky... But I actually took up bio in school because I wanted to be one... Infact I was gonna do either English or Botany in my undergrad had I not gotten through that stupid BIT entrance... Always loved nature and wud've enjoyed studying it closely..
5. House Husband - Its been my ultimate ambition.. For a long time now... I mean, marry this rich girl and just stay home.. cook, clean and takecare of the kids.. full time job... amazing pay and awesome benefits.. now who wudnt want that.. Problem is, I also want to own a ferrari... and these two things can never go hand in hand :)...

Now why dont you guys tell me your top 5 choices of professions, besides the one that you are already pursuing... and please, no game programmers ;)

My lyrics for today:

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone

I walk alone

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah

I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone

Read between the lines
What's fucked up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone

I walk alone

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone
...

(Green Day: Boulevard of broken dreams)
Note: This is such an amazing song.. A must hear.. Just go download it and listen to it.. the lyrics.. and Green Day is mindblowing with the music as always.. Another great Green Day song is Good Riddance (a.k.a. Time of your life)...

Auld Lang Syne

2005-01-01T02:44:00.000+05:30

They say that what you do on the first day of the year, generally reflects what you are going to do for the rest of the year.. Now I dont believe in that at all.. I am a skeptic (its a euphemism actually ;)).. I always doubt accepted beliefs and this one is outrageous anyways... Anyhoo, this time, I met my match I guess... The year that started at the La Quinta Inn in Miami, which was followed by a 4 hour drive to Orlando airport, followed by a 1 hr flight to Atlanta airport, followed by a 2 1/2 hrs flight to Minneapolis airport followed by a 2 1/2 hr drive to Duluth (reached home at around 2:30 in the morning jan 2nd), which meant that we spent the whole of new year's day 2004 travelling.. How apt then that the year ends with a trip to the Minneapolis airport on Dec. 31st 2004... Oh and for good measures, the year included 3 trips to Chicago and a trip to the east coast (read, NYC,Niagara Falls, Washington DC and Baltimore) and I dont know how many trips to Minneapolis (airports and otherwise)... True, I didnt spend the whole year travelling but damn I did rack up more miles than I ever have in one single year ;).. and AT, I covered 7 more states :P (so my count officially stands at 12)... One bad thing though.. I have never felt so homeless than I have been feeling ever since August.. I mean there was this one time in early september, when in 13 days I slept in 10 different places (and guys, dont get your dirty minds to work :P)... I know one thing for sure, I am NOT even gonna think about my thesis tommorow ;)... Heres wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year...

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

Its traditional to sing this at the stroke on midnight and signifies the start of a new year.. Auld Lang Syne is actually old scottish for "times gone by"...

On a sombre note, please say a prayer for all those who were affected by the terrible calamity we all know about.. If you wanna make a monetary contribution here's one link you could go to..

My lyrics for today:

The pressure is building I want to break away
Motivation is lacking the point starts to fade
I look to the bottom still empty still the same
I'm waiting for something to show me the way
To the path that I should take, it's just too real to go ahead and fake
Every step that I make
Name your price I would give anything
I want to start over again
What do I want I have nothing to say
Whatever it is I want it today
Do we choose our own ground Do we choose to stay
Well I've seen too many throw it away

Do I see just one small chance to be myself to try and make it last
Every step that I take

Trapt - New Begining

2004-12-23T13:33:00.000+05:30

At first I was afraid I was petrified
Kept thinkin' I could never live without you by my side;
But then I spent so many nights
Thinkin' how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And so you're back from outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I'd've known for just one second you'd back to bother me
Go on now, go walk out the door
Just turn around now
('cause) you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Did I crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no, not.I. I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive;
I've got all my life to live,
I've got all my love to give and I'll survive,
I will survive. Hey hey.
It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
Kept trying' hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart,
And I spent oh so many nights
Just feeling sorry for myself. I used to cry
But now I hold my head up high
And you see me somebody new
I'm not that chained up little person still in love with you,
And so you feel like droppin' in
And just expect me to be free,
Now I'm savin' all my lovin' for someone who's lovin' me
Go on now.. etc.

Gloria Gaynor - I will survive

Ajit is crazy about this song... He heard it for the first time when we watched "The Replacements"... I've known the song for a while though... and I used to like it... But after hearing it about a zillion times (thanks to Ajit :P).. I've become addicted to it too... I'm a little high right now.. twas freaking cold today.... my hands nearly froze while trying to get the groceries in from the car.... wanna go watch swades.... a new year is coming... mabbe this year will be better than the last (this one is from The Counting Crows: A long december.. a must hear)... just for the record... 2004 was even worst year of my life.... and I wish i cud just wipe it off.... but then life doesnt give you that priviledge.. well... as my current fav. song goes... I will survive....

Singin' out LOUD!

2004-12-15T11:25:00.000+05:30

I was reading pompy's blog and somewhere between the headphones and the bus, it reminded me of something that happened a couple of years back.. It was embarassing but out and out hillarious... Well, for our last semester in BIT we had to do a full time project and I was working for this company in Okhla (10 bucks to anyone who can find out the name of the company ;))... I used to take this chartered bus from my place to there and it was a good long 1 1/2 hr bus ride :(... But that was not the worst part.. the bus driver dude, had this one tape - I found out later that it was of the Akshay Kumar, Karishma Kapoor movie 'Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya' - and he used to play that over and over again and boy did he bug the hell out of me.. damn I hated those songs.. Well, one fine day, while coming back from office, I have my walkman and I'm wearing out the GNR live era tape 2 side B songs 1-4 as usual (for the uninformed, those songs were, Sweet Child of Mine, Knocking on Heaven's Door, Dont Cry and Estranged) :) and the bus driver is playing his stupid music as usual... Now I have this bad habit of singing along (more like croaking along ;)) with the songs that I really like and I'm doing the same... After a while I realize that everyone in the bus (I was sitting on the last seat) is staring at me... So I pause the tape and lo and behold the bus tape is off.. and everyone till the cleaner of the bus could hear me trying to emulate Axl singing Knocking on Heavens Door :D... Thankfully though my bus stop was near and the minute I got off the bus I couldnt stop laughing like crazy..... Well the same thing happened a few weeks ago.. Just that the scene was the grad lab.. and the audience as it turns out was Ted's group meeting and Lori and Linda ;).. The song was the same... Moral of the stories: Play GNR music on speakers, not headphones :)..

Well this blast from the past made me think of the songs that I really really love to sing out loud.. Here's my top 5 singin' out loud songs (WHEN U ARE ALONE IN UR ROOM/CAR!!!) of all times (ala John Cusack in High Fidelity, where he is making a top 5 list of everything, including the top 5 breakups of all times ;))...

5. Chumbawumba - Tubthumping . I havent met one person who wud not want to shout this song out loud.. They may be one hit wonders but man this song is so much fun to sing out loud.

4. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Free Falling. I used to do the same thing that Tom Cruise does in Jerry Maguire, soooo much.. Even before I saw the movie.. Its so awesome when he goes 'And I'm freeeeeee.. free falling'

3. AC/DC - Shook Me All Night Long. Need I say much about this one.. Anyone whoz ever heard it would wanna sing it out at the top of their voices...

2. GNR - Knocking on Heaven's Doors (The Live Era Version). My nemesis.. But a mind blowing song none the less.. I sing this when I'm happy or just really really pissed off.. I love it when Axl goes, 'We got one more time to go, lets make this one reach the heavens'...

1. Pearl Jam - Black . One of my most favourite songs.. Its not much of a shout out loud song but the part which is gonna be the lyrics of the day, is the one which makes me wanna sing (and sing loud) this one over and over and over again... I cannot describe in words what this song means to me..

Honorable Mention: When I was 16 I used to listen to MLTR :)... Their song 'Someday' was one of the firsts of the above mentioned category for me and hence deserved a mention.

P.S. - I didnt put Bryan Adams - Summer of 69' in there because I'd anyday headbang to that then sing it out loud :)...

my lyrics for today:

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life.
I know you'd be a sun,
in somebody else's sky,
but why, why, whyyyyyyyyyyyyy
cant it be, oh cant it be,
mine...

Pearl Jam - Black (from the album Ten)

The White City

2004-12-03T09:51:00.000+05:30

I think Tolkien came to Duluth before he wrote about the white city of Minas Tirith... Ok this is a bad analogy but yeah, every Duluth resident woke up today to their own white city.. There was a lot, I mean a LOT of snow outside.. and its darned freaking -15 C outside right now... Life sucks and then you die. right??? But, the hunter dude is back in the sky... hez my favorite.. and... The dude was finally like, 'umm, mabbe you should work on the writing till I come back next week'... and I was like 'YEAH BABY!!!'... Well neways, so I havent started writing yet.. But I will. soon.. If neone is interested in making 50 bucks per chapter, just mail me :)...

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet,
And whither then? I cannot say.

(J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)

A thought and some nostalgia..

2004-11-26T13:40:00.000+05:30

A funny thing happened today... I was standing outside in the afternoon cause I had nothing better to do :)... Usually, no matter what time it may be, there's always a few cars going up and down the 19th.. Now I know its thanksgiving day but still, there were no, absolutely no cars on the road.. And it was really really quiet... I mean all I could hear was a few birds chirping and a squirrel frantically moving around rustling the leaves that lay dead on the grass.... It was kinda depressing to think that this is probably the last time in a while that I would hear birds and see squirrels.. In a few days, all I'd see is the grass covered in a white sheet of snow.... No birds.. No leaves... I really didnt want to see another Duluth winter.. Its harsh.. and can break the spirits of the best of us... Looks like I dont have much of a choice :)...

As I was standing there, I began thinking of home... The Delhi winter... Sitting outside in the sun, on a lazy afternoon.. Eating moongphali (peanuts, for the uninformed ;))... The rewris (til papdi), gajaks, chikis... Drinking doodh jalebi at night.. or even the kesar piste ka doodh.. Moong Daal halwa.. My black jaipuri rajai.. The morning fog in Delhi.. I thought about the time when my pockets used to be filled with kaju, badam, pista and kishmish... Its a sad thought that those times are long gone... and they will never come back... Whoever said nostalgia is a good thing :(..

My Lyrics for today:

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

Pink Floyd - Wish you were here ( from the Album: Wish you were here)

Random ramblings of a sleepless mind

2004-11-23T14:31:00.000+05:30

There have been so many things that I've been meaning to write about... But I just dont get around to it.... I wonder why.. Its not like I dont get the time.. I just dont know. Well here goes..

I was reading the latest Time Magazine (thanks to Anya's subscription ;)) and the cover story was about the Fallujah invasion.. How else can it be termed I dont know... Here are a couple of narratives from the article -:

"In the side street below, twin bombs erupted. A detonator cord led to the adjoining home, and someone thought they saw a movement. The platoon lit up the house with volleys of automatic fire tripping a battery of hidden devices. The house blew forward and a young sergeant on a balcony took a shrapnel in his groin."

"An insurgent jumps out of the cupboard. Bellavia falls down and fires, spraying the man with bullets. At some point another insurgent drops out of the ceiling. Yet another runs to a window and makes for the garden. Bellavia hits him in the legs and lower back as he flees. When its over, four insurgents are dead; another has escaped badly wounded."

My question to anyone who is willing to listen, is this.. Would you allow anyone to come to your country, push you around, install a puppet government and tell you that they're doing it for your good? I have another question, would you be willing to go yourself, to a war which might cost you your life, when you dont believe in it? Would you not expect better from your commander-in-chief? Truly, this is no war on terrorism... Hell these are just a bunch of fighters who are sick of the U.S. trying to act as global policeman for its own good.. Where does Al-Qaeda come in.. The narrative here describes how one of the insurgents was injured. There are so many more such accounts where human beings were just killed... Because they choose to stand up for their right to freedom? Since when did human life become so cheap? Who am I kidding... since eternity...

Another thing that has been bugging me since last week.. The Ron Artest incident in Detroit on Friday night. For the uninitiated, read this. What I want to ask is, why are some players and coaches defending the culprints? I mean think about it.. As a sportsperson, you know that you'll be heckled when you play (and play well) against the home team. Now I know he got hit by a glass full of water but that does not mean that he should just go into the stands and start throwing punches and all and sundry. People idolize sportstars... They worship them... Kids treat them as role models.. I just hope that what Ron Artest did does not become a role model for some others.. It was just a disgrace... Where are the Michael Jordans of the game?

The Vikes won... Man they tried so hard this time and got the results... Hopefully things will look up.. I'm an eternal optimist when it comes to the Vikings.. Unfortunately, the Packers won too.. So we have a tied division.. Lets see where we go from here..

Life goes on as usual.. The wind is howling outside... winter cometh.. :(

Now I've seen everything !

2004-11-18T02:21:00.000+05:30

You have got to check this out.. I mean the lengths to which people go to in this country is just unimaginable... Its just a 10 year old grilled cheese sandwich for crying out loud !!!!! The current bid is at $69, 107.69 . People just spend their money on any stupid thing dont they? This is just a country full of weirdos...

Wanna get high?

2004-11-14T01:33:00.000+05:30

I remember talking about this a year back with the gang during one of our usual 3 o'clock at night timepass talk... At that time most of the people did not believe it.. well TOI is not really a great source anymore as Anya talks here, but still, the news is there ;)... So people, Iodex and bread DOES exist :)...

My lyrics for today:

Now while the beat is slow
Here in your arms I sway
Now that the light is low
Something I want to say
I guess you've known it for a while
that I mean trouble
I only want to see you smile
And I burst this bubble

The hardest thing is to let go
When love is real...
Like a flower loves a bee
But I know you're meant to give yourself to someone else
Not me

And I could carry on with you
Does that sound crazy?
I think you feel the same way too
And you can't face it

The hardest thing is to let go
But it's not defeat
When you set somebody free
And I know you're meant to be yourself with someone else
Not me

Can you let go?
'Cause that's love that's real
Like a flower loves a bee
And you know you're meant to give yourself to someone else
Not me

Somebody else not me
Meant for somebody else not me
Somebody else not me

Duran Duran - Someone Else Not Me (from the album: Pop Trash)

P.S.: This song is a must hear.. I'm not much of a Duran Duran fan and everyone knows they're over the hill.. But this one, from their 2001 album Pop Trash is just too good.. the music, the words... you just gotta hear it..

Morning Ritual

2004-11-10T00:33:00.000+05:30

Thats me every morning :)

My lyrics for today:

Oh, look around you
Look down the bar from you
The lonely faces that you see
Are you sure that this is where you want to be

These are your friends
But are they real friends
Do they love you the same as me
Are you sure that this is where you want to be

You seem in such a hurry to live this kind of life
You've caused so many tears and misery

Look around you, take a good look
And tell me what you see
Are you sure that this is where you want to be

Don't let my tears persuade you, I had hoped I wouldn't cry
But lately, teardrops seem a part of me

Oh, look around you, take a good look
At all the lonely used-to-be's
Are you sure that this is where you want to be

Willie Nelson - Are you sure (from the album : Other Songs)

Always there for me... shining..

2004-11-05T12:45:00.000+05:30

Whenever I have a real bad day or when I cant sleep at night, I go outside and sit for a while, looking at the stars... There have been so many times, I've just driven to the lake and just sat there looking at the stars and the water... It makes my mind feel a lot more at peace than it is before.. I dont know why.. They've been there always... The first night that I spent without sleep... The nights that I used to stay awake to study but just didnt... Those nights when I used to be on the phone till 4... The nights when I used to just hate myself for being so stupid with my life... And tonight, when I'm feeling kinda nice... I've just always felt so amazing, looking at them.. The pitch black sky and the bright dots that are so abudant, so radiant, so powerful.. People say, stars tell you your destiny... Some other people say, stars are your ancestors... Science tells us its just Hydrogen being burned into Helium.. But for me.. They've always been the one source of peace and serenity... If I ever have my own house, I'll make sure that I have a room just for star gazing... Wont that be just amazing? *sigh*

Be it the hazy Delhi night sky, the chilly Mussorie hotel terrace, the Juhu beach at 1 in the morning or the edge of Lake Superior... These friends of mine make sure I never feel alone ever.. Not even when I feel like I have noone else... I have them.. and that for me, is the most wonderful thing in the world...

My Lyrics for today:
There's a road - long and winding
The lights are blindin' - but it gets there
Don't give up - don't look back
There's a silver linin' - it's out there somewhere
Everybody wants an answer - everybody needs a friend
We all need a shinin' star on which we can depend
N' so tonight we're gonna wish upon a star
We never wished upon before (to find what you're looking for)

There'll be times - in your life
Ya when you' be dancin' n' shit - but you ain't gettin it
But don't get disillusioned - no, don't expect too much
Cuz if what you have is all you can get - just keep on
tryin' - it just ain't happened yet
Everybody wants ta be winner - everybody has a dream
We all need a shinin' star when things ain't what they seem
So tonight we're gonna wish upon a star
We never wished upon before - (gotta get where you're
headed for)

Everybody wants some kindness - everybody needs a break
We all need a shinin' star when things get hard to take
So tonight we're gonna wish upon a star
We never wished upon before

Bryan Adams - Star (from the album 18 till I die , also O.S.T. - Jack)

Of sleepless nights, halloween parties, a whole day of programming and a 15 minute walk

2004-11-01T10:34:00.000+05:30

I've discovered something.... Alcohol doesnt have the same effect on my sleep as it used to.. I can recall a time not long back when a couple of shots of tequila made me sleep 8 hours... Damn I didnt sleep 3 last night and tequila was not all that I had had ;)... Oh well.. happens I guess..

We went out last night.. It was halloween and also Anushri's last night in Duluth and we thought we'd party (that justfies the drinking :D) ... I must say the people over here do dress up with some enthu when it comes to halloween.. There were like a kazillion costumes.. and everyone was having a great time... Our dear Nagu had a lot of fun with a MGD beer bottle cap... If you know him, I'd suggest you ask him why ;)... Damn it was the first fun thing I've done in a long long looooooooong time..

The Vikings are self-destructing again... yeah the same time as last year... and the same team has started the run... The Vikings were 6-0 last year before they played the Giants at the Metrodome... They lost that game and just won 3 more games after that and did not make it to the playoffs.. Today, it was the same story.. It was just stupid the way they played today.. No other word for it... Damn, try comparing our esteemed cricket team and the vikings... Too many similarities there...

So I go to school in the afternoon and sit there for 10 hours trying to solve a stupid stupid seg fault/bus error problem... Nothing works.. Rack my brains for hours.. and when I finally give up and am walking back home the damn freaking answer hits me... It didnt come to me in the 10 hours that I was sitting there.. It came to me in the 15 minute walk back home... Guess I shud've walked home earlier... It wud've saved me a ton of hair that pulled out in frustration :D

My lyrics for today:

Bichhad Gayaa Har Saathi Dekar Pal Do Pal Ka Saath

Kisko Phursat Hai Jo Thaame Deewano Ka Haath

Humko Apna Saaya Tak Aqsar Bezaar Mila

Humne To Jab Kaliyaan Maangi Kaaton Ka Haar Mila



Isko Hi Jeena Kehte Hain To Yunhi Ji Lenge

Uf Na Karenge Lab See Lenge Aansoo Pee Lenge

Gham Se Ab Ghabraana Kaisa Gham Sau Baar Mila

Humne To Jab Kaliyaan Maangi Kaaton Ka Haar Mila

Jaane Woh Kaise Log The - O.S.T. Pyasa (Singer:Hemant Kumar, Lyrics: Gulzar)

2004-10-25T11:48:00.000+05:30

My lyrics for today:

faces that i've seen turn old and grey
i've lost too many freinds along the way
memories i never thought would fade
they fade and blow away
i wish that i could disappear
unzip my skin and leave it here
so i could be no one again
and never let nobody,
i'd let nobody, i'd let nobody in

StainD - Blown Away

Subway: Are we choosing well?

2004-10-25T09:55:00.000+05:30

Our (Ajit's and mine) Sunday dinner always ends up being a Subway sub because of the Sunday making of chicken in the house. I really really like Subway (even though I absolutely adore Quizno's ;)) and have it anytime I possibly can.. I am also impressed with their 'Choose Well' ad campaign... However, I wasnt really sure how true their claims really were.. I mean, sure.. Jared lost sooooooooo many pounds by eating just Subway and documentaries like 'Supersize Me' show the problems of eating unhealthy fast food.. But just how can we be so sure that what Subway say, is the whole picture... I present to you what I came up with... The information presented here is taken from Subway and Burger King.

I always have a Veggie Footlong on Parmesan Oregano with pepperjack cheese, with both Chipotle and Sweet Onion sauces. Here is the nutrion info. on the same.

Parmesan Oregano Bread: 420 Calories/60 Cals from Fat/7 Gms of Fat/80 Gms of Carbs
Pepperjack Cheese (4 triangles) : 100 Calories/70 Cals from Fat/8 Gms of Fat/no carbs
Chipotle Sauce : 90 Calories/80 Cals from Fat/9 Gms of Fat/2 Gms of Carbs
Sweet Onion Sauce: 40 Cals/none from Fat

Total: 660 Calories/210 Cals from Fat/24 Gms of Fat/82 Gms of Carbs

Comparing it with what I like to eat at BK (BK Veggie and Medium Fries).

BK Veggie: 290 Calories/60 Cals from Fat/7 Gms of Fat/44 Gms of Carbs
Medium Fries: 360 Calories/160 Cals from Fat/18 Gms of Fat/46 Gms of Carbs

Total: 650 Calories/220 Cals from Fat/25 Gms of Fat/90 Gms of Carbs

How about that?? If you guys think that this is something to do with the veggie you could try comparing the ever favourite (Anya's for sure) Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki footlong with a BK Chicken Whopper+Fries. You'd find the results pretty alarming.

The way we (and I think most people) have our subs, they arent much better than having a BK or McD's. I'd really like to ask Jared about these figures.. Wouldnt you? I mean... are we really making the right choice here?

Will Boston defy 'the Curse of the Bambino' this time?

2004-10-21T08:48:00.000+05:30

I am writing this as the Yanks are losing it.... Its the top of the 8th and they're 9-3 down to the Bosox... Well I was gonna write a post about how Boston are cursed right after the fourth game when they almost got swept.... And here I am writing about the best comeback in the history of baseball... The Red Sox were within 3 outs of getting swept 4-0 in the best of 7 series and yet here they are on the verge of a historic win... So up comes the question again for any Boston Red Sox fans out there... Will the curse of the bambino strike again?

For those who dont know what this curse is all about.. A little history.. Boston Red Sox were one of the premier team back in 1918 and they had won a leauge record 5 world series which was more than any other team ever. One of the major contributors to their victories was a young pitcher (who later went on to become a star hitter) named George Ruth (popularly known as the Babe or the Bambino) . However, in 1920 the owner of the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees for a sum of $100,000 and a loan to finance his girlfriend's musical on Broadway. Well, since then, the Bosox have not won 'A SINGLE' world series. They have gone to the world series 4 times since 1920 and have lost every single time, in 7 games... In contrast the Yankees who had never won a championship before getting the Babe, have won 26 titles since then. Many Boston fans believe that the performace of Boston is due to 'the Curse of the Bambino'..

So what do you think guys... Will Bosox finally find it in them to get the better of the curse or will the curse get the better of them... yet again...

P.S. -: Anya, AT... happy now!!! The Yanks are losing man :( ... they just got outplayed... hats off to Boston... and good luck too..

'Friday Night Lights' shines....

2004-10-19T13:20:00.000+05:30

We went for the movie 'Friday Night Lights' on Sunday... This is certainly not gonna be one of those comprehensive reviews that ones reads elsewhere. My way of judging how good or bad a movie is, is very simple. For me, if I can sit there for the length of the movie, and it completely absorbs me... If the movie doesnt let me think of anything else besides what is happening on screen. If the movie makes it through my short attention span.. Then I believe that the movie is good... And this one folks.. is really really good.

The movie is about a high school football team from a small town called Odessa in West Texas and how they stand up to the challenges of playing without their best player and living up to the hugest of huge expectations of an entire town. The movie is based on a true story converted into a book written by H.G. Bissinger. Billy Bob Thronton gives an awesome performance as the coach of the Permian Panthers team. Other notable performances include Lucas Black (the Quaterback of the team) , Garrett Hedlund (son of a local football legend) and Tim McGraw (the father of the afore mentioned).

There's this one dialouge in the movie that got stuck in my head... Its when the coach is giving his team a pep talk in the half time of the final game (where they're getting mauled badly)... He says

"Being perfect is not about winning or losing... Its about being able to look your friends in the eye and know you didn't let them down.......forever is about to happen. Can you live in that moment as best you can, with clear eyes, with love and joy in your heart? If you can do that, then you're perfect."

I am kinda biased towards movies based on sporting stories... especially the football (the american kind, where almost no foot is involved ;)) movies... Names like, 'Remember the Titans' , 'Varsity Blues' and 'Rudy' readily come to mind.. Now I can add this one to the list as well :)

Speaking of football, how about them Vikings eh :) .... Yeah I know, its too early to blow the trumpet (since we started 6-0 last season and yet didnt make the playoffs) but yeah the offense is playing damn good.... Well I'll just keep my fingers crossed... Will we see some playoff action this time? Watch this space....

So FINALLY they get him!!!

2004-10-19T01:29:00.000+05:30

The man was wanted for the murder of 120 people... Killing 2000 elephants and smuggling around 88000 pounds of ivory and sandalwood (read article here ).. But according to reports he was finally shot dead along with 3 of his associates.. Thank god. He has been an outlaw for almost 40 years and the special task forces of 2 states werent able to catch him. The bible says, those who live by the sword, die by the sword and I guess it was a deserving end to a bloodthirsty murderer. Had he been caught and tried in our esteemed courts , I'm sure he would've lived to be 80 or something. Somehow, I believe that people like him deserve to die the way they do... I might be taking the hardline, but think about it. He killed people in cold blood. That according to me is the most barbaric crime one can ever commit. He asked for it, and he got it.

One amongst a kazillllllllllllllllion !!!!

2004-10-16T00:50:00.000+05:30

Sometimes you just feel so humbled :)

A molecule of fat :(

2004-10-15T01:21:00.000+05:30

You are a lipid. You know whom you like and whom
you hate, and you like hanging out with people
who think like you do. People who disagree with
you annoy you to no end. You either love
Abercrombie and Fitch or you despise it, but
there's no middle ground. You're polar.

Which Biological Molecule Are You?
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P.S. -: I love Abercrombie and Fitch clothes... Unfortunately my wallet and my heart dont go hand in hand :(

Jagjit and Kaifi Azmi: An amazing combination

2004-10-14T21:37:00.000+05:30

Koi yeh kaise bataye ki woh tanha kyun hai?
Woh jo apna tha wohi aur kisi ka kyun hai?
Yahi duniya hai toh phir aisi yeh duniya kyun hai?
Yahi hota hai toh aakhir yahi hota kyun hai?

Ek zara haath badha de toh pakad le daaman
Uske seene mein samaa jaaye hamari dhadkan
Itni kurbat hai toh phir faasla itna kyun hai?

Dil-e-barbad se nikala nahin ab tak koi
Ek lute ghar pe diya karta hai dastak koi
Aas jo toot gayi phir se bandhata kyun hai?

Tum marsarat ka kaho ya kaho isse gam ka rishta
Kehte hain pyaar ka rishta hai janam ka rishta
Hai janam ka jo yeh rishta toh badalta kyun hai?

Such amazing lyrics. They mean so much. Say so much... This one is from the movie 'Arth'. Jagjit has rendered it really really well. You should really hear it out. Ask Ajit. I hear it every day. Poor guy gets so bugged after a while. But then.. thats me.. I bug the hell out of people ;)

What is up with this world...

2004-10-10T06:59:00.000+05:30

Here are a few things that are happening around the world these days....

The second presidential debate happened yesterday... and it is all over the news today. A New York Times article read like this -:

"An Associated Press survey published Friday, just before the debate, showed Mr. Kerry leading Mr. Bush 50 percent to 46 percent, reversing Mr. Bush's 52 percent to 45 percent lead from two weeks before. The margin of error was three percentage points. Time magazine has the two deadlocked at 45 percent, with Mr. Bush having lost a six-point lead, and Mr. Kerry with a strong advantage among women."

Now personally, I dont have any love lost for Bush. I think the war is Iraq was stupid and unnecessary and that his stand on the same is questionable. But then I dont like the way Kerry 'changes his mind' on things.. I mean at the start of his campaign, his first ads on television talked about how under the Bush regime American jobs are being outsourced to other countries. In yesterday's debate Mr. Kerry says that outsourcing cannot be stopped. Dude make up your mind... Its a no-win situation actually. I dont like Bush and I dont think Kerry would ever be able to make up his mind.. Man Clinton was so much better :)....

Another thing that was all over the news (on which Conan had an amazingly funny segment on The Late Show, last night) is Martha Stewart going to jail. One thing I like about America... They can impeach their Presidents for lying under oath and they can send their celebrities to jail.. I wonder when would Salman Khan be tried for hunting an endangered animal... Will Laloo ever pay for the fodder scam????

The oil prices just keep on climbing. They've now crossed $53 per barrel which is an all time time... Thank god I dont have a car right now.. Man when I came here 2 years ago, the gas used to be $1.30... Its now $1.94... So much for the argument that the war on Iraq was all because of the oil... ;)

Afghanistan had their presidential elections today after 22 years of war.... I really wish that country some peace... They deserve it...

Another place that is gearing up for elections is my home state (yes it is my home state, cuz I was born in Bombay and am an unofficial Puneite :)) Maharashtra... Wonder how Sharad Pawar and co. would do against the tiger (personally, I think hez no tiger) with failing health... Would Sena/BJP be able to come back to power... I think not.. But I wouldnt want to predict anything... Going by how elections have been going these days, anything could happen...

The Twins lost :(..... yeah i know i know.. most of u would go, Twins who... The Minnesota Twins.. get it.. they play baseball and were playing the playoffs against the Yankees (my second favourite team..) and lost about 30 minutes ago... I was watching the game... Damn they were leading 5-1 till the 8th innings... Talk about chokers... (what say you AT??)

Talking about chokers... how about our esteemed cricket team... Ok so they were set a target of more than 450... But there is a dignified way of losing and there is a way of losing your dignity.. These guys are just doing the latter.. The best batting lineup in the world on paper.... They keep disappointing dont they... Last season they played so well, I was like... Finally we have reached a place where we can safely say that we arent chokers.... Take the Pakistan series as a case in point... But what the hell... look at their record this season... They are back to being the India of the old.... To be fair to them though... The umpiring standards in this test atleast were really really questionable... I havent had the benefit of watching most of the questionable dismissals... But I did see the one that was not given.. Michael Clarke on 92 facing an Anil Kumble flipper takes one on the front pad right in front of the wicket... and Bowden shakes his head... I mean... come on... and this just keeps happening with India doesnt it... I would be the last one to attribute our teams bad performace to bad umpiring.. But then time and again, we just are handed out the most worthless decisions ever... Oh well.. lets hope for the best for the rest of the series....

Looks like Taiwan has gotten itself the world's tallest building.... The Taipei 101 tower has been officially certified as being the tallest building in the world.. Its a whopping 508 meters high.. Thats more than half a freaking kilometer... According to this site there is speculation that India might be the site for the world's tallest building.. Any guesses how long that might take ;)....

Closer home... Everyone here in Duluth (read: Ajit, Nag and Anoop) is talking about the fall.... Now I dont want to add my bit here except that I dread fall becuz it tells me that winter is coming and damn do I hate the cold.... Besides that... the insomnia continues unabated... The cricket match doesnt help much (but then I know its just an excuse, I'd stay up anyways)... thesis is just going along.. 'the dude' wants me to write another piece of code... life goes on....

My lyrics for today....

But I'm in so deep. You know I'm such a fool for you.
You got me wrapped around your finger,
Do you have to let it linger? Do you have to, do you have to,
Do you have to let it linger?

Cranberries - Linger

Joey is missing his friends...

2004-10-08T08:25:00.000+05:30

I'm sure you all have atleast heard about (if not watched) the new sitcom Joey on NBC. I have been such a big fan of Friends . I have probably seen most of the episodes (its impossible to see each and every one) of all the seasons.... So when I first heard that they were going to end the series and start a new one with just Joey in it , I thought hmm... this might just be good.. I mean you know that Joey was arguably the funniest of all six of them (actually, before he mellowed down (after he started going out with monica .... a bracket inside a bracket.. WOW) Chandler was THE funniest... I mean could anyone else BE any funnier ;) ....)

So anyways.... I have now seen the new show a couple of times... and I am disappointed... bigtime.. I mean I really thought that Joey should be able to pull off half an hour of being himself ...but frankly... I think he cant and shouldnt... I think I (and most of america) is so used to seeing him with Chandler and the rest of the gang, that seeing him with his elder sister (man she sucks...) and nephew (whoever thought Joey would have 20 year old nephew..... its just kinda wierd) is something that is just unbearable... Also, I think that the Joey Chandler team was just too awesome.... It made the show so much better.... Its just too difficult to think of Joey without Chandler and hence the disappointment.... I so wish that they had just ended the series and not brought out this show.... I dont think it would do well... I just wish they'd just ended the series for good... atleast that ways we wouldnt have to see Joe doing his thing without everyone else making fun of him (it was so great the way Joey never understood that his friends were making fun of him....) . I feel for Joey..... he soooo misses his friends.... and u know wat?? I miss my friends too... :(

I need some sleep....

2004-10-06T15:33:00.000+05:30

I need some sleep.
You can’t go on like this.
I try counting sheep,
But there’s one I always miss.

Everyone says, "I’m getting down too low"
Everyone says, "You just gotta let it go"
You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go

I need some sleep
time to put the old horse down
I’m in too deep
and the wheels keep spinning round

Everyone says, "I’m getting down too low"
Everyone says, "You just gotta let it go"
You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go

You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go

Eels - Shrek 2 Soundtrack

THE most played songs this summer : My Rating

2004-10-05T07:20:00.000+05:30

Now that the summer is officially over (damn the winter has started , here in Duluth), I look back and the one thing that comes to mind (musically) is the songs that we all heard on radio. We have some awesome stations in Duluth but unfortunately, the one bad thing with radio (as with TV here in the U.S.) is repetition... I mean they play the same songs over and over again. I can sing along to most songs that are played on the radio today and that is just because they are played so much.... Neways, here is my list of the best and most played songs on radio over the summer....

10. Yeah by Usher featuring Lil' Jon and Ludacris (Now personally I am not into Rap,HipHop or RnB, but this one is kinda catchy so it finds a place on my list)

9. Move your body by Nina Sky (Another really catchy number.. Damn this one is for the dance floor)

8. Turn me on by Kevin Little (this is an awesome song just for the way he sings it... the lyrics though... they're something else ;) )

7. Hey Mama by Black Eyed Peas (awesome group... they played at UMD last year and man have they got energy... The song is good too.. Not as good as 'Where is the love?' though)

6. How far is heaven by Los Lonely Boys (this song finds a place here only because it is played atleast 5 times a day... everyday....)

And now my top 5 favourite (overplayed...) songs for the summer -:

5. 100 years by Five for Fighting (never heard of the group before this and never heard of them after. But the song is a great to listen to...)

4. Broken by Evanescence (they are a great group... simply awesome.. love the lyrics of this song but I think My Immortal is much better....)

3. She will be loved by Maroon 5 (amazing song... It sounds sooooo good... This one is from their first album 'Songs about Jane' which features a couple of their other famous songs 'This love' and 'Harder to breathe')

2. The Reason by Hoobastank (almost my most favourite song for the summer.. great lyrics.. sugar sweet... amazing voice... was number 1 on the U.S. charts for a while)

And my favourite song for the summer, and an addition to my top 50 favourite songs (I might just post the list someday... need some more time when I have NOTHING to do.. but i'm off topic)...

1. Accidentally in love by Counting Crows ( they've been one of my most favourite groups for a long time... Some of their best songs are 'Rain King' , 'A long December' and 'Big Yellow Taxi'... If any of you ever get a chance, then give them a listen... they're really good.. Now to the song... I can listen to it any time and all the time.... The music is great and so are the words.... and Adam Duritz has a great voice... its got everything that a good song should have and that is why it wins... Also, its on the soundtrack of my favourite movie for the summer 'Shrek 2' , so it leaves the compitition 'far far away'... hehehehhee...)

Whatever has to happen will happen????

2004-10-04T07:08:00.000+05:30

How many times have you heard someone say "Whatever has to happen will happen" ??? Believe me when I say it, I have heard it said to me alone, a zillion times by all kinds of people. It seriously makes me think. To what lengths can we go to run away from the fact that we are the ones who are responsible for the situation we are in and we are the only ones who can change it. I have always believed that 'Whatever happens, we make it happen'. Its not fate or destiny or act of god or whatever you may call it. Its our own doing. Its my belief that our life is based on a set of choices we make and however good or bad it may be, its all because we chose it to be so. Now you might say that circumstances play an important role in our life being what it is. I say that its we who create those circumstances. We choose not to change those circumstances. Its always in our hands.

Which brings me to another of my much abused (by other people;)) philosophy. I've always thought that whenever I dont succeed in doing something that I want , its my fault. Its so easy to blame a failure on someone/something else. But if we look deep inside, we'd realize that somewhere, it was our fault. Its a very hard thing to do. Sometimes, its very very harsh on oneself. It hurts, a lot. But then I believe that it makes one stronger. It makes one want to not make the same mistakes again and thats the most important thing right? I wouldnt say that I've always done this. I try to. But there are times when I end up saying 'Now where did I go wrong over here? It surely couldnt have been my fault".... But then thats just my frustration talking. I'm just trying to take the easy way out and I shouldnt do that right... So I am trying... really hard.. This time.....

Rahman creates another masterpiece

2004-10-02T22:00:00.000+05:30

Have you heard the music of Swades ? Its all that I've been listening to recently and knowing me and my taste in music, that is something. Rahman , as always does an excellent job and thankfully we dont have a young Sonu Nigam singing for an old Shahrukh. And in case you dont trust my taste in music (do u dare????) , well read Suneet Kapoor's review here .

Happy Birthday Mr. Gandhi

2004-10-02T20:03:00.000+05:30

Today is the birthday of the father of the nation. Gandhiji is probably one of the most maligned people in India. Now I know everyone respects him because we 'have' to. But do people really believe that what he did for the country was something worth respecting him for? Do people really think that he deserves the title of 'the father of the nation'? Do people really think he was 'Mahatma Gandhi'? I for one have heard him being called everything , from 'ganja buddha' (a guy in my school once reffered to him like that) to an extremist (my good friend AT calls him that). India is a free country and everyone has a right to freedom of speech, right? So they can say anything they want. But really, maligning a person who got us that freedom of speech, is criminal I'd say. Of course, I also know that had he been around, he would have accepted such talk with folded hands. Such was the greatness of the man. Such was his total belief in non-violence.

I respect Gandhiji for what he was and I hold him high in my thoughts because of what he did for our country. But it seems like our country has forgotten some of the basic things that he fought for. Anya talks about the abuse and opression of an innocent man. Nagaland Violence . The Gujrat violence. Graham Staines's gruesome murder. Ayodhya. Everything. What do you think he could have done had he been around? Could he have been able to fix the mess that we've gotten into? We wish, right.....

The First Post

2004-10-01T04:40:00.000+05:30

So I decide to take the plunge into the world of blogging... For no obvious reasons. Actually I had a few reasons why I didnt want to take up this activity. For one, I wasnt sure how updated could I keep this thing. Another thing that bothered me was that I didnt want this to end up as some personal/public diary (believe me I've seen so many blogs like that) . Well anyways... I just have been reading a lot of blogs lately and I've always wondered how it would be to write a blog of my own.. And even though I have so many other things on my mind right now, (finish my damn thesis for one) this might just end up being some fun... So let the drivelling begin.

P.S. -: Pure Drivel is a book by Steve Martin that I enjoyed reading a lot. I'd suggest it as a good read.