November 29, 2007

The Verger

A very interesting story by Somerset Maugham

There had been a christening that afternoon at St Peter's, Neville Square, and Albert Edward Foreman still wore his verger's gown. He kept his new one, its folds as full and stiff as though it were made not of alpaca but of perennial bronze, for funerals and weddings (St Peter's, Neville Square, was a church much favoured by the fashionable for these ceremonies) and now he wore only his second-best. He wore it with complacence, for it was the dignified symbol of his office, and without it (when he took it off to go home) he had the disconcerting sensation of being somewhat insufficiently clad. He took pains with it; he pressed it and ironed it himself. During the sixteen years he had been verger of this church he had had a succession of such gowns, but he had never been able to throw them away when they were worn out and the complete series, neatly wrapped up in brown paper, lay in the bottom drawers of the wardrobe in his bedroom.

The verger busied himself quietly, replacing the painted wooden cover on the marble font, taking away a chair that had been brought for an infirm old lady, and waited for the vicar to have finished in the vestry so that he could tidy up in there and go home. Presently he saw him walk across the chancel, genuflect in front of the high altar, and come down the aisle; but he still wore his cassock.

'What's he 'anging about for?' the verger said to himself. 'Don't'e know I want my tea?

The vicar had been but recently appointed, a red-faced energetic man in the early forties, and Albert Edward still regretted his predecessor, a clergyman of the old school who preached leisurely sermons in a silvery voice and dined out a great deal with his more aristocratic parishioners. He liked things in church to be just so, but he never fussed; he was not like this new man who wanted to have his finger in every pie. But Albert Edward was tolerant. St Peter's was in a very good neighbourhood and the parishioners were a very nice class of people. The new vicar had come from the East End and he couldn't be expected to fall in all at once with the discreet ways of his fashionable congregation.

'All this 'ustle; said Albert Edward. 'But give 'im time, he'll learn.'

When the vicar had walked down the aisle so far that he could address the verger without raising his voice more than was becoming in a place of worship he stopped.

'Foreman, will you come into the vestry for a minute. I have something to say to you.'
'Very good, sir'. The vicar waited for him to come up and they walked up the church together.
'A very nice christening, I thought, sir. Funny 'ow the baby stopped cryin' the moment you took him.'
'I've noticed they very often do,' said the vicar, with a little smile. ‘After all I've had a good deal of practice with them.'

It was a source of subdued pride to him that he could nearly always quiet a whimpering infant by the manner in which he held it and he was not unconscious of the amused admiration with which mothers and nurses watched him settle the baby in the crook of his surpliced arm. The verger knew that it pleased him to be complimented on his talent.

The vicar preceded Albert Edward into the vestry. Albert Edward was a trifle surprised to find the two churchwardens there. He had not seen them come in. They gave him pleasant nods.

'Good afternoon, my lord. Good afternoon, sir,' he said to one after the other. They were elderly men, both of them, and they had been churchwardens almost as long as Albert Edward had been verger. They were sitting now at a handsome refectory table that the old vicar had brought many years before from Italy and the vicar sat down in the vacant chair between them. Albert Edward faced them, the table between him and them, and wondered with slight uneasiness what was the matter. He remembered still the occasion on which the organist had got into trouble and the bother they had all had to hush things up. In a church like St Peter's, Neville Square, they couldn't afford a scandal. On the vicar's red face was a look of resolute benignity, but the others bore an expression that was slightly troubled.

'He's been naggin' them, he 'as,' said the verger to himself. `He's jockeyed them into doin' something, but they don't 'alf like it. That's what it is, you mark my words.'
But his thoughts did not appear on Albert Edward's clean-cut and distinguished features. He stood in a respectful but not obsequious attitude. He had been in service before he was appointed to his ecclesiastical office, but only in very good houses, and his deportment was irreproachable. Starting as a page-boy in the household of a merchantprince, he had risen by due degrees from the position of fourth to first footman, for a year he had been single-handed butler to a widowed peeress, and, till the vacancy occurred at St Peter's, butler with two men under him in the house of a retired ambassador. He was tall, spare, grave, and dignified. He looked, if not like a duke, at least like an actor of the old school who specialized in dukes' parts. He had tact, firmness,-and self-assurance. His character was unimpeachable.

The vicar began briskly. 'Foreman, we've got something rather unpleasant to say to you. You've been here a great many years and I think his lordship and the general agree with me that you've fulfilled the duties of your office to the satisfaction of everybody concerned.'
The two churchwardens nodded.
'But a most extraordinary circumstance came to my knowledge the other day and I felt it my duty to impart it to the churchwardens. I discovered to my astonishment that you could neither read nor write.'
The verger's face betrayed no sign of embarrassment.
'The last vicar knew that, sir,' he replied. 'He said it didn't make no difference. He always said there was a great deal too much education in the world for ‘is taste.'
'It's the most amazing thing I ever heard,' cried the general. 'Do you mean to say that you've been verger of this church for sixteen years and never learned to read or write'
`I went into service when I was twelve, sir. The cook in the first place tried to teach me once, but I didn't seem to 'ave the knack for it, and then what with one thing and another I never seemed to'ave the time. I've never really found the want of it. I think a lot of these young fellows waste a rare lot of time readin' when they might be doin' something
useful.'
'But don't you want to know the news? said the other churchwarden. ‘Don’t you ever want to write a letter?'
'No, me lord, I seem to manage very well without. And of late years now they've all these pictures in the papers I get to know what's goin' on pretty well. Me wife's quite a scholar and if I want to write a letter she writes it for me. It's not as if I was a bettin' man'. The two churchwardens gave the vicar a troubled glance and then looked down at the table.
'Well, Foreman, I've talked the matter over with these gentlemen and they quite agree with me that the situation is impossible. At a church like St Peter's, Neville Square, we cannot have a verger who can neither read nor write.'
Albert Edward's thin, sallow face reddened and he moved uneasily on his feet, but he made no reply.
'Understand me, Foreman, I have no complaint to make against you. You do your work quite satisfactorily; I have the highest opinion both of your character and of your capacity; but we haven't the right to take the risk of some accident that might happen owing to your lamentable ignorance. It's a matter of prudence as well as of principle.'
'But couldn't you learn, Foreman? asked the general.
'No, sir, I'm afraid I couldn't, not now. You see, I'm not as young as I was and if I couldn't seem able to get the letters in me 'ead when I was a nipper I don't think there's much chance of it now.'
'We don't want to be harsh with you, Foreman,' said the vicar. 'But the churchwardens and I have quite made up our minds. We'll give you three months and if at the end of that time you cannot read and write I'm afraid you'll have to go.'
Albert Edward had never liked the new vicar. He'd said from the beginning that they'd made a mistake when they gave him St Peter's. He wasn't the type of man they wanted with a classy congregation like that. And now he straightened himself a little. He knew his value and he wasn't going to allow himself to be put upon.
'I'm very sorry, sir, I'm afraid it's no good. I'm too old a dog to learn new tricks. I've lived a good many years without knowin' 'ow to read and write, and without wishin' to praise myself, self praise is no recommendation, I don't mind sayin' I've done my duty in that state of life in which it 'as pleased a merciful providence to place me, and if I could learn now I don't know as I'd want to.'
'In that case, Foreman, I'm afraid you must go.'
'Yes, sir, I quite understand. I shall be 'appy to 'and in my resignation as soon as you've found somebody to take my place.'

But when Albert Edward with his usual politeness had closed the church door behind the vicar and the two churchwardens he could not sustain the air of unruffled dignity with which he had borne the blow inflicted upon him and his lips quivered. He walked slowly back to the vestry and hung up on its proper peg his verger's gown. He sighed as he thought of all the grand funerals and smart weddings it had seen. He tidied everything up, put on his coat, and hat in hand walked down the aisle. He locked the church door behind him. He strolled across the square, but deep in his sad thoughts he did not take the street that led him home, where a nice strong cup of tea awaited him; he took the wrong turning. He walked slowly along. His heart was heavy. He did not know what he should do with himself. He did not fancy the notion of going back to domestic service; after being his own master for so many years, for the vicar and churchwardens could say what they liked, it was he that had run St Peter's, Neville Square, he could scarcely demean himself by accepting a situation. He had saved a tidy sum, but not enough to live on without doing something, and life seemed to cost more every year. He had never thought to be troubled with such questions. The vergers of St Peter's, like the popes of Rome, were there for life. He had often thought of the pleasant reference the vicar would make in his sermon at evensong the first Sunday after his death to the long and faithful service, and the exemplary character of their late verger, Albert Edward Foreman.

He sighed deeply. Albert Edward was a non-smoker and a total abstainer, but with a certain latitude; that is to say he liked a glass of beer with his dinner and when he was tired he enjoyed a cigarette. It occurred to him now that one would comfort him and since he did not carry them he looked about him for a shop where he could buy a packet of Gold Flake. He did not at once see one and walked on a little. It was a long street, with all sorts of shops in it, but there was not a single one where you could buy cigarettes.

'That's strange,' said Albert Edward.
To make sure he walked right up the street again. No, there was no doubt about it. He stopped and looked reflectively up and down.
`I can't be the only man as walks along this street and wants a fag,' he said. `I shouldn't wonder but what a fellow might do very well with a little shop here. Tobacco and sweets, you know.'
He gave a sudden start.
`That's an idea,' he said. `Strange 'ow things come to you when you least expect it.'
He turned, walked home, and had his tea.
`You're very silent this afternoon, Albert,' his wife remarked.
`I'm thinkin',' he said.

He considered the matter from every point of view and next day he went along the street and by good luck found a little shop to let that looked as though it would exactly suit him. Twenty-four hours later he had taken it, and when a month after that he left St Peter's, Neville Square, for ever, Albert Edward Foreman set up in business as a tobacconist and newsagent. His wife said it was a dreadful come-down after being verger of St Peter's, but he answered that you had to move with the times, the church wasn't what it was, and 'enceforward he was going to render unto Caesar what was Caesar's. Albert Edward did very well. He did so well that in a year or so it struck him that he might take a second shop and put a manager in. He looked for another long street that hadn't got a tobacconist in it and when he found it, and a shop to let, took it and stocked it. This was a success too. Then it occurred to him that if he could run two he could run half a dozen, so he began walking about London, and whenever he found a long street that had no tobacconist and a shop to let he took it. In the course of ten years he had acquired no less than ten shops and he was making money hand over fist. He went round to all of them himself every Monday, collected the week's takings, and took them to the bank.

One morning when he was there paying in a bundle of notes and a heavy bag of silver the cashier told him that the manager would like to see him. He was shown into an office and the manager shook hands with him.

'Mr Foreman, I wanted to have a talk to you about the money you've got on deposit with us. D'you know exactly how much it is ?'
'Not within a pound or two, sir; but I've got a pretty rough idea.'
'Apart from what you paid in this morning it's a little over thirty thousand pounds. That's a very large sum to have on deposit and I should have thought you'd do better to invest it.'
'I wouldn't want to take no risk, sir. I know it's safe in the bank.'
'You needn't have the least anxiety. We'll make you out a list of absolutely giltedged securities. They'll bring you in a better rate of interest than we can possibly afford to give you.'
A troubled look settled on Mr Foreman's distinguished face. 'I've never 'ad anything to do with stocks and shares and I'd 'ave to leave it all in your ‘ands,' he said.
The manager smiled. 'We'll do everything. All you'll have to do next time you come in is just to sign the transfers:
'I could do that all right,' said Albert uncertainly. 'But 'ow should I know what I was signin'?
'I suppose you can read,' said the manager a trifle sharply.
Mr Foreman gave him a disarming smile.
'Well, sir, that's just it. I can't. I know it sounds funny-like, but there it is, I can't read or write, only me name, an' I only learnt to do that when I went into business.'
The manager was so surprised that he jumped up from his chair.
'That's the most extraordinary thing I ever heard.'
'You see, it's like this, sir, I never 'ad the opportunity until it was too late and then some'ow I wouldn't. I got obstinate-like.'
The manager stared at him as though he were a prehistoric monster.
'And do you mean to say that you've built up this important business and amassed a fortune of thirty thousand pounds without being able to read or write? Good God, man, what would you be now if you had been able to ?'
'I can tell you that, sir,' said Mr Foreman, a little smile on his still aristocratic features. 'I'd be verger of St Peter's, Neville Square.'


November 28, 2007

Celebrating your small small wins

In the busy journey of life many feel burned out. Many feel success evading them. Many feel low because of it.

But why does this happen? Have you thought about it?

It is because one doesn’t pause to take a proper look at what he/she has done in the past. He/She has never stopped to celebrate and enjoy the little successes he/she gained. It is important to celebrate the little successes one gains. Success breeds success. Celebrate your little success, and feel lighter and motivated. That will fetch you bigger fishes in your net.


What do you want?

Here's an interesting clip from the movie - notebook. Towards the end of the clip Noah asks Allie the question "What do you want?"

In real life, many find it hard to answer that question.



November 18, 2007

Addiction to loneliness

"I don't think I'll get married" My friend said sipping his beer
"Why?" I asked
He said "Over the past four years I have developed a liking for loneliness. After the hectic work in office, I look forward to go home and soak myself in the peace that loneliness offers. It gives me the space I need! Everyday I dearly need some time exclusively reserved for myself with no one in the nearby vicinity of MY 'time-space'. A marriage will ruin the bliss loneliness offers. I value my loneliness so much that I will do anything to guard it"

I nodded. I was able to fully understand what he meant. Sometime back another friend had mentioned something similar. In her case, her mother wanted her to end her lonely stay. Her mom feared that she would get addicted to loneliness and would eventually decide against getting married. Anyways, after constant pressure from home, she packed herself to her hometown.

Addiction to loneliness is an interesting subject worth studying…

Gospel

My niece - Laya - has a friend called Matthew.

She is 2+ years old and is a little bit naughty. My sister takes her to the church on Sundays. Church is not that "holy" to my niece. So she spends her time roaming around, observing people - especially kids, who would also be busy doing the same. What else can you expect from a two year old?

But last Sunday, when my niece went to church, while roaming around she caught one sentence of the priest - "The gospel written by Matthew"

She stared at that sentence for a while and then came running to my sister "When is the priest going to say 'the gospel written by Laya'?"

My sister chuckled...


November 17, 2007

The beautiful horizon

On my flight from Pune to Bangalore, I captured the horizon using my camera phone... See the riot of colors!! Isn't the horizon a beauty...


Does the horizon always "appear" to be beautiful? When you reach the horizon will one realize that the horizon was not that beautiful? Are pastures greener on the other side?


Two Poems...

Came across two poems...

Interesting simple ones...

Feelings Poem... by Spike Milligan

There must be a wound!
No one can be this hurt
and not bleed.

How could she injure me so?
No marks
No bruise

Worse!
People say 'My, you're looking well'
…..God help me!
She's mummified me -
ALIVE!


Tonight

I’ll hold back my tears tonight
As I know I can’t have you with me
I’ll try to sleep tonight
But what’s the point?
When I wake up nothing will have changed.

I’ll be sad tonight
And probably tomorrow too
I’ll put on an act though
To try to keep a straight face around you
I know you won’t sense my pain

I’ll think of you tonight
It’s so hard to not cry
Heartbreak feels so low
I’ll try to forget my sorrow
As I know you won’t think of me

I’ll see the stars tonight
And watch them twinkle in the charcoal sky
If the universe is infinite
Then I’ll look for a parallel world
Where you and me are together

And I’ll just wish I was there.


November 12, 2007

Leadership & Griping

How many times have you cribbed along with your team members? Countless? If yes, please take a look at the following conversation between Captain Miller and Private Reiben. It offers some tips to handle a cribbing session. Both are entrusted with a mission, which Reiben believes is a waste of time and resource. Miller too feels the same, but doesn't reveal his thought in the open.
REIBEN (Referring to griping-about-the-mission): And what about you, Captain?

MILLER: Reiben, what's the matter with you? I don't gripe to you. I'm a captain. There's a chain of command. Griping goes one way, up, only up, never down. You gripe to me, I gripe to my superior officers. Up, get it? I don't gripe to you, I don't gripe in front of you. How long you been in the army?

REIBEN: I'm sorry, sir, I apologize.

After a pause...

REIBEN: But if you weren't a captain, or if I were a major, what would you say?

Miller considers his response.

MILLER: In that case, I would say this is an excellent mission, with an extremely valuable objective, worthy of my best efforts.

Reiben rolls his eyes. Miller plays it straight, with no obvious sarcasm.

MILLER (continuing): In addition, as I pointed out earlier, I have a fondness for cheese and I hope to have the opportunity to sample some of the Ramelle products, when we arrive there, to see if they live up to their excellent reputation. Moreover, I feel heartfelt sorrow for the mother of Private James Ryan and I'm more than willing to lay down my life, and the lives of my men, especially you, Reiben, to help relieve her suffering.

Captain Miller's army men thoroughly enjoy his performance.

And the Captain wins the heart of his team's heart without griping!


The above script is lifted from the movie "Saving Private Ryan".


November 11, 2007

A breakfast conversation

It was quite sometime since I had visited my hometown. On the dining table at my home, while having my breakfast, I thought I'll catch-up with the latest local news and gossips. I asked my mother to unravel the bundle of gossips.

She started. The first one was the sad story of a neighbor. The second one was an unhappy incident that occurred to one of my acquaintances. The third one was the annoying news of a distant relative. I felt the air of discomfort surrounding me. I was expecting her to share some good news, and here I am having a bad start of the day with all those unpleasant news served with my breakfast.

Before she started with the fourth one, I interrupted and told her that she was spoiling my mood and perhaps my day, and hence should tell me only good news and stories, and nothing else. “For each bad news there should be at least two good news” I said. I was becoming unreasonable.

She paused for a while. Then looking at her plate said casually "Candy is sweet. So is sugar and honey. But lemon is sour. And bitter gourd is bitter. Can you really change their nature?"

I stared at her, then at my father. A smile spread on our faces and we exchanged a hearty laugh. I got my mother’s message. She was just sharing the local news - good, bad and the ugly ones. She couldn’t change their nature. Could she?


October 26, 2007

Two questions on flickr and photography

Q&A that appeared in bangaloreshutterbugs@yahoogroups.com
I have two questions in relation to safeguard of photographs published on Flickr etc. I have come across many instances where photographs have been stolen.

1. How can I watermark my images? I do not have Photoshop.

2. How can I disable "download" function in Flickr?
A. Flickr provides a way @ http://www.flickr.com/account/prefs/downloads/

October 10, 2007

Cashback

How many times have you sat for a movie expecting nothing and then, when you start watching, you realize... slowly... that each scene of the movie is bringing that dazzle on your face. How many times have you felt that you have known those characters in the movie, you have seen them, you have heard them talk, their smile, their expressions… Was it yourself in them?. How many times have you seen each frame of a movie getting better and better, like slowly getting to the center of a chocolate toffee? How many times have seen a movie that narrates a story in pure art soaked with beauty? How many times have you seen a movie whose scenes are crafted in an angle which you always wanted to get? Cashback just blew me away!

A wonderful movie well written and directed by Sean Ellis. His first major venture came out as the "shorter version" of Cashback. Cashback is a beautiful movie! Backed by Agnus Hudson's crafty camera angle/tricks. If you haven't watched it, go watch it. But with least expectation. My taste may not match yours...! Nyways, am looking forward to Sean Elli's next movie...

Given below is the trailer of the movie. Folks who haven't watched the movie, please skip the trailer...




October 02, 2007

Good Will Hunting Philosophy

I liked this "fucking" philosophy from Good Will Hunting...



September 20, 2007

LG Service Center

I wanted to get an AMC for my LG TROMM Washing Machine. I called up the LG helpline number that I got from http://www.lgindia.com/Service/Services.aspx . Given below are the rates that were provided

AMC for
1 yr = Rs 2650/-
2 yr = Rs 3050/-
3 yr = Rs 3400/-
4 yr = Rs 3800/-

Need to call up the nearby Service Center to understand the formalities [Ph: +91-80-25202988, +91-9986506093]

Addr:
A1 Service, 56 Double Road
Opp Srinidhi-Sagar Hotel
Indiranagar, Bangalore
Ph: +91-80-25202988 (This no. is always engaged)


Other interesting cricket videos

Recently, Shane Warne listed Curtly Ambrose as his 3rd greatest cricketer. He mentions about the game in Perth (1992-93), where Ambrose turned the game and series against Australia through his devastating spell of 7 wickets for 1 run. Given below is the video that has captured Ambrose's performance. Click here to see Shane Warne's greatest 50 cricketers.



Given below is another intersting video titled the "The Top Ten Weird Dismissals Of Cricket!!"





Yuvraj's six sixes

Awesome sixes by Yuvraj... Check this out...

Yuvraj's Six Sixes




Yuvraj's Interview - I see hubris in him...




Yuvraj tasting humiliation from Dimitri Mascarenhas




Herschelle Gibbs' Six Sixes




Six Sixes from the legendary Sir Gary Sobers



I couldn't get Ravi Shastri's six sixes.

September 18, 2007

Every Second Counts

Some good quotes from Lance Armstrong's Every Second Counts
You ask yourself: now that I know I'm going to die, what will I do? What's the highest and best use of my self?

Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.

I've often said cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me. But everybody wants to know what I mean by that: how could a life-threatening disease be a good thing? I say it because my illness was also my antidote: it cured me of laziness.

But fame, I learned, is an isotope, and it's not good fir you. When you become celebrated, a kind of unhealthy radioactive decay forms around you, and the decay can be creeping, or even catastrophic.

J Craig Ventner (who developed human genome): Fame is an intrinsic negative. People respond to you based on their preconceived notion of you, and that puts you at a continual disadvantage.

I like to control things, like to win things, like to take things to the limit. A life spent defensively, worried, is to me a life wasted.

Lee Walker (Former Dell President): Schedule is how we make our intentions manifest in the world.

Mary Oliver (Poet): What will you do with your wild and precious self?

The world is full of people who are trying to purchase self-confidence, or manufacture it, or who simply posture it. But you can't fake confidence, you have to earn it, and if you ask me, the only way to do that is work. You have to do the work.

There comes a time in every race when a competitor meets the real opponent, and understands that it's himself.

Suffering is essential to a good life. It's a great enhancer. It might last a minute, or a month, but eventually it subsides, and when it does, something else takes place, and maybe that thing is a greater space. For happiness! Each time I encountered suffering, I believed that I grew, and further defined my capacities - not just my physical ones, but my interiors ones as well, for contentment, friendship, or any other human experience.

If you are willing to examine failure, and to look not just at your outward physical performance, but your internal working, too, losing can be valuable. How you behave in those moments can perhaps be more self-defining than wining could ever be. Sometimes losing shows you for who you really are.

J Craig Ventner (who developed human genome): It's unequivocally clear that life begins at birth and ends at death and if most people on this planet understood that, they would lead their lives very differently. We find religious or mysterious forces to fill in our inadequacies, but heaven and hell are both here on earth everyday, and we make our lives around them.

If you want to win something, you've got to have single mindedness and its all too easy to wind up lonesome while you're at it.

There aren't many clearly marked, signpost moments in your life, but occasionally they come along. And you have a choice. You can either do something the same old way, or you can make a better decision. If you are willing to make a harder choice, you can redesign your life.

If you want to do something great, you need a strong will and attention to detail. If you surveyed all the greatly successful people in this world, you will find a common denominator: they are all capable of sustained, focused attention.
A far more difficult test of endurance than a bike race is how you handle the smaller, common circumstances of your days, the more mundane difficulty of trying to make your life work.

People warn you that marriage is hard work, but you don't listen. You talk about the pretty bridesmaids' dresses, but you don’t talk what happened next; about how difficult it will be to stay, or to rebuild. What nobody tells you is that there will be more than just some hard days. There will be some hard weeks and perhaps even some hard years.

I've known guys who never quite put it all on the line, and you know what? They lost. One minute, after nearly a month of suffering, can decide who wins. Is it worth it? It depends on whether you want to win. I have the will to suffer. I do have that.

The experience of suffering is like the experience of exploring, of finding something unexpected and revelatory. When you find the outermost thresholds of pain, or fear, or uncertainty, what you experience afterwards is an expansive feeling, a widening of your capabilities.

Hot Ice

Don't get surprised in my listing down Nora Robert "quotes"! I did find some interesting quotes in her book - Hot Ice
Doug Lord: They say that knowledge is power. I used to think so, but now I know that they meant money.

Doug Lord: If you can't have fun with money, there is no point making it.

Dimitri: An employee remained an employee until death.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Some quotes from Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Most families work from Jan to mid-May for govt. just to cover their taxes.

When it comes to money, learn to manage risk. Don't insist on playing it safe.

House is a liability - not an investment.

Rich Dad: I don't work for money. Money works for me.

Rich Dad: You are poor only if you give up. Most of the people only talk and dream of getting rich. You got to do something.

Rich Dad: If you can't make up your mind decisively then you'll never learn to make money anyway. Opportunities come and go. Being able to know when to make quick decisions is an important skill.

Rich Dad: Most of the time, life does not talk to you. It just sort of pushes you around. Each push is life saying - 'Wake up. There's something I want you to learn'.

Rich Dad: If you're the kind of person who has no guts, you just give up every time life pushes you. If you're that kind of person, you'll live all your life playing it safe, doing the right things, saving yourself for some event that will never happen.

Rich Dad: Most people want everyone else in the world to change but themselves. Let me tell you, it's easier to change yourself than everyone else.

Rich Dad: The poor and the middle class work for money. The rich have money work for them.

Rich Dad: True learning takes energy, passion, a burning desire. Anger is a big part of that formula, for passion is anger and love combined.

Rich Dad: First, the fear of being without money motivates us to work hard, and then once we get the paycheck. greed or desire starts us thinking about all the wonderful things money can buy. The pattern of - get up, go to work, pay bills, get up, go tow work, pay bills ... - is set. This pattern is the rat race.

Why grownups hurry off to work. It did not seem like fun, and they never looked happy, but something kept them hurrying off to work.

Rich Dad: When a poor amass money they end up fearing losing it. The fears that drove them to get rich got worse.

Rich Dad: Learn to use your emotion to think, not think with your emotions. Master your emotions.

There is only one rule to be rich. Know the difference between an asset and a liability, and buy assets. If you want to be rich that is all you need to know.

An asset is something that puts money in my pocket. A liability is something that takes money out of my pocket.

Unknown: Remember the golden rule. He who has the gold makes the rules.

Rich buy luxuries last, while the poor and middle class tend to buy it first. They often buy luxury items to look rich, but in reality they just get deeper in debt or credit.

We all have tremendous potential, and we all are blessed with gifts. Yet, the one thing that holds all of us back is some degree of self-doubt.

In the real world outside of academics, something more than just grades is required. It is called - guts, balls, daring, tenacity etc. This factor whatever it is labeled, ultimately decides one's future much more than school grades.

Often in the real world, it's not the smart that get ahead but the bold.

The world is always providing us with instant feedback. We could learn a lot if we tuned in more.

In most cases when someone gives you an advice - "You can't do that here", what they really mean is "I don’t know how to do that here .. yet"

Financial Intelligence is a synergy of accounting, investing, marketing and law. Combine those four technical skills and making money with money is easier.

Rich Dad: Leadership is imp. You got to learn that. If you're not a good leader, you'll get shot in the back, just like they do in business.

unknown: Workers work hard enough not to be fired, and owners pay just enough so that workers won't quit.

It is communication skills such as writing, speaking and negotiating that are crucial to a life of success.

The skills of selling and marketing are difficult for most people primarily due to their fear of rejection. The better you are at communicating, negotiating and handling your fear of rejection, the easier life is.

There are five main reasons why financially literate people may still not develop abundant asset columns. - Fear, Cynicism, Laziness, Bad habits, Arrogance.

Texans don't bury their failures. They get inspired by them. They take their failures and turn them into rallying cries. Failures inspires Texans to become winners. But that formula is not just the formula for Texans. It is the formula of all winners.

Rich Dad: Cynics never win. Unchecked doubt and fear creates a cynic. Cynics criticize, and winners analyze.

The most common form of laziness - Laziness by staying busy.

When you see something you can't afford but want to get, ask the question - "How can I afford it ?"

Greed is good. Guilt is worse than greed. For guilt robs the body of its soul.

There is gold and opportunity everywhere. Most people are not trained to see it.

If you cannot get control of yourself, do not try to get rich.

Stop doing what you are doing. Take a break and assess what is working and what is not working.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.


Tuesdays with Morrie

Some quotes from Tuesdays with Morrie
Morrie: Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.

Henry Adams: A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops

Morrie: Do what Buddhists do. Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, 'Is today the day? Am I ready? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I being the person I want to be?

Morrie on why people hate aging: It reflects unsatisfied lives. Lives that haven't found meaning. Because if you have found meaning in your life, you don't want to go back. You want to go forward. You want to see more, do more. You can't wait until sixty-five.

M Gandhi: Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.

Morrie: I believe in being fully present. That means you should be with the person you are with. When I'm talking to you now, I try to keep focused only on what is going on between us. I'm not thinking about something we said last week. I am not thinking of what's coming up this Friday.

There is no thing as "too late" in life


September 02, 2007

Entrepreneur

A bus journey from Kerala to Bangalore:

The conversation between two businessmen is given below.
Business Man1: Did you hear about that new law?
Business Man2: Which one?
Business Man1: The one that will ban the use of plastic bags in Kerala. The state govt is planning to restrict shops from providing plastic bags to the customer.
I was out of touch of the current affairs of the State. I had no clue of such a law. I felt good about the law that is aimed at protecting the environment. I thought Kerala was yet again setting the right trend and standard. I thought the two men will continue their discussion in that line discussing the far-sightedness of the govt. I learned soon that my prediction was wrong.
Business Man2: Oh yes. That is a very good thing to happen. I'm in touch with some paper mills in Bangalore. I'm thinking of distributing paper bags here. It is a very good business opportunity.
Lesson Learned: Look for opportunities. Think like an Entrepreneur


Ignorance of a Friend??

I was browsing the Moserbear DVD rack in Planet-M. I had dropped in Planet-M to give my friend a company. I thought to make use of the opportunity to add some good DVDs to my movie collection.

I was checking the Malayalm movies when my friend came to me and said: "Oh no! Not mallu movies." She is from North. I didn't understand what she meant. Her tune was definitely that of dissapproval. But did it have the faint touch of contempt? I didn't know! I didn't know what to say! I didn't understand why she said "Oh no!". How would you react to someone who comes to you and says "Oh no!" when you are checking a Satyajit Ray DVD or a Hitchcock DVD?

Perplexed on what made her say "Oh no!", I decided to play the incident down and said: "Have you heard the name Padmarajan. His scripts are classics."

What do you think? Why did she say "Oh no!". Was it ignorance speeking? Was it prejudice? It better not be the latter.


A proud Mallu

A bus journey from Ernakulam to Bangalore:

I overheard the following conversation from two North Indian Muslim Businessmen whose business base is in Bangalore.
Business Man1: Here (Kerala), the quality of life is really good!
Business Man2: Yes. True. Initially when others used to tell me, I never believed it. Now I see it. It is far better than any other states of India. The common man of Kerala has a much better quality of life.
Business Man1: Yes. Yes. Sometimes I wonder if Kerala were in some other state, India's Human development Index would have been really low.
Me (in my mind): Hmmm... feels good to hear an 'outsider' talking high about your own state. But this last point I disagree. The HDI will become low for sure. But nor "really" low.
Business Man2: But what I liked most is the peace. I have done business in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan. I had no major (communal) issues there. But when I came here, I felt the real difference.
Business Man1: Very true. The southern states are in general peaceful. But Kerala is much peaceful than any of them.
I wanted to record their conversation and post it. I felt really proud of being a Mallu and the manner in which the keralites are brought up. They are brought up in a communally congenial environment and are taught to make best use of their common sense.

Said that, I don't think everything of a mallu is great. There are quite a few things which I don't like about them. Guess I'll cover that in another blog


July 29, 2007

Today's Sith

Have you not heard the Story of Dr. Haneef? The poor soul who was traumatized and used by politicians in power to create an opinion wave that favored them; to invoke fear in THEIR OWN fellow citizens and use that to their advantage. All this to get back the power they think they might lose. Human rights, feelings and existence of an individual, doesn't matter to them! What matters is POWER! For them an individual is just a minnow that can be crushed on their overzealous greedy march to power.

All over the world anti-terrorist laws that are anti-democratic, and that goes against human-rights, seem to be the fad. Is curtailing democracy and human rights the solution to terrorism? Isn’t the lack of democracy and human rights the cause of terrorism; not the solution? P V Narasimharao - India's Former Prime Minister - once said: "The answer to the problems of democracy is more, not less, democracy". Aren’t the people aware of this fact? Perhaps some are. And yes, they are trying to “educate” the crowd about the impending danger. But their voices are not heard. They are lost in the cry for "more security". But why? Are people so deaf... or dumb? Are they so lost in their “phobia” of “world not being a safe place”.

The current affairs of anti-terrorist laws reminds me of “Star Wars: The revenge of the Sith”. I see the current affairs similar to the storyline of Star Wars. There are common threads between the Dark Sith Lod - Darth Sidious - and today’s supporters of anti-terror laws, who wield the power.

Let us go through the script of the movie and compare it with what is happening today. [ Note: I have used the term “Today's Sith” (T-Sith) to represent today’s power bearers who support "anti-terrorist" (read anti-democratic) laws ]

Scene1 - First move of T-Sith: In this move T-Sith attempts to gain more power by curtailing the human rights, claiming that that is for improving the "security" of the citizens, and that democracy will suffer "a bit" as they have "no other options"
ANAKIN stands with PALPATINE at his window overlooking the vastness of Coruscant. Several buildings have been destroyed. A brown haze hangs over the landscape.
PALPATINE: Anakin, this afternoon the Senate is going to call on me to take direct control of the Jedi Council.
ANAKIN: The Jedi will no longer report to the Senate?
PALPATINE: They will report to me . . . personally. The Senate is too unfocused to conduct a war. This will bring a quick end to things.
ANAKIN: I agree, but the Jedi Council may not see it that way.
PALPATINE: There are times when we must all endure adjustments to the constitution in the name of security.
ANAKIN: With all due respect, sir, the Council is in no mood for more constitutional amendments.
PALPATINE: Thank you, my friend, but in this case I have no choice . . . this war must be won.
ANAKIN: Everyone will agree on that.
PALPATINE: I need your help, son.
ANAKIN: What do you mean?
PALPATINE: I fear the Jedi. The Council keeps pushing for more control. They're shrouded in secrecy and obsessed with maintaining their autonomy . . . ideals. I find simply incomprehensible in a democracy.
ANAKIN: I can assure you that the Jedi are dedicated to the values of the Republic, sir.
PALPATINE: Nevertheless, their actions will speak more loudly than their words. I'm depending on you.
ANAKIN: For what? I don't understand.
PALPATINE: To be the eyes, ears, and voice of the Republic . . .
ANAKIN thinks about this.
PALPATINE: (continuing) Anakin . . . I'm appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council.
ANAKIN: Me? A Master? I am overwhelmed, sir, but the Council elects its own members. They will never accept this.
PALPATINE: I think they will . . . they need you more than you know.


Scene2 - T-Sith’s second move: Shut the mouth of those who argue for democracy. Assure the supporters of "democracy" that the anti-terror laws are "temporary". That the laws will not be misused. And that they got to "trust" the T-Sith so that he can quash the bigger threat - the terrorists.
PALPATINE listens to a delegation from the Senate, which includes PADME and five other Senators: NEE ALAVAR, FANG ZAR, MALEDEE, SWEITT CONCORKILL, and MON CALAMARI. ANAKIN stands to one side of PALPATINE.
PALPATINE: I understand your reservations completely, Senator, and I assure you the appointment of Governors will in no way compete with the duties of the Senate.
PADME: May I take it then, that there will be no further amendments to the Constitution?
PALPATINE: I want this terrible conflict to end as much as you do, My Lady, and when it does I guarantee an immediate return to democracy . .

Scene3 - T-Sith's third move: With threat and an iron hand crush those who still harp on democracy. Herman Goering, the old Nazi, once said, "People can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. All you have to do is tell them they're being attacked and denounce the pacifists for a lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."
OBI-WAN: Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic... to democracy.
ANAKIN: If you're not with me, you're my enemy.
OBI-WAN: Only a Sith Lord deals in absolutes. I will do what I must.
Guess the same thing is happening now. The philosophy in vogue is: "If you speak against us, you are a terrorist and we will hunt you down". Remember what Bush said. He said exactly what the "dark force" in ANAKIN said.

Scene4 - T-Sith's fourth move, which I believe is yet to happen. This is most likely to happen if citizens of the world don't act now: The T-Sith will prolong the war on terror thus helping himself to play with power and gain more power by using the anti-democratic laws to his advantage. When he is confident that the power with him is absolute, make the anti-democratic laws the norm, claiming that those laws helped the "citizens" to “regain peace”
PALPATINE continues his speech at the podium.
PALPATINE: The war is over. (applause) The Separatists have been defeated, (applause) and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning.
There is a long period of APPLAUSE.
PADME: Well, this is the moment we discover if he intends to return the Republic to a democracy.
PALPATINE: In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society which I assure you will last for ten thousand years.
There is a loud, sustained CHEER from the Senate. BAIL ORGANA and PADME sit, dumbfounded.
PALPATINE: (continuing) An empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body, and a sovereign ruler chosen for life . . .
The Senate CHEERS again. BAIL and PADME are devastated. PADME begins to cry.
PALPATINE: (continuing) An empire ruled by the majority . . . Ruled by a new constitution . . .
The Senate APPLAUDS.
PADME: So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause . . .
I hope the real world democracy will not come to an end like that - with THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE. The responsibility for that lies in our hands.

PS: Also read Arundhati Roy's NY lecture on freedom: Instant-Mix Imperial Democracy



July 28, 2007

Elisa Sabu's Performance

Elisa sabu's devotional malayalam song. I liked the beats, music and Elisa's voice. Even the accent gives the song a special touch



July 27, 2007

July 25, 2007

It is never too late to chase your dreams

Check this video of Jack Reeve the tap dancer...

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The Stranger

As narrated by Soham Bandyopadhyay
She was getting engaged
And all I could do was stand by and applaud along with all. I didn't dare open my mouth for fear of saying something stupid. Something like "I LOVE YOU"

I remembered the other day when she had come to with red eyes. Her "best friend" was going away. It has never mattered to me that her best friend was a guy. I thought I was above such things. But then her tears awoke the sin of jealousy in my heart. Fighting it, I had consoled her and gave her chocolates to eat. She proceeded to rest her head in the crook of my arm. And promptly fell asleep. I chuckled at her baby - like innocence. But now, as I applaud, I felt something stabbing my heart.

She was getting married
I saw her come down the stairs decked out in her bridal finery. Never has I seen her looking this pretty. I saw her taking the seven rounds around the sacred fire with the man I had come to hate, holding his hand. I saw her engaging garlands with him.

She was a total stranger to me now.
I was standing near the car when they came over to me. I wondered what they wanted. I wondered what to sat. Farewell to the departed.

Nevertheless, as my daughter and son-in-law touched my feet, I blessed them. She was openly crying. I told her not to worry. That I'll be here. She responded by hugging me. And I could not stop tears anymore.



July 23, 2007

The middle finger greeting

Another question on 'super souls': If you show your middle finger at Satan, how will he react? Will he be furious at the dareness of an earthling to lift his middle finger against the mighty Satan? Will he burn that middle finger of yours for the disrespect you showed? Will he turn you into ashes? Of course not! He will definitely not be angry! On the contrary he will be happy! Why? Coz raising the middle finger is an offense to the good guys. Not to the bad guys. For the bad guys that act is like "politely" saying "hello". The more abusive words one can use against an evil spirit the more happy it will be. It is like a foreigner talking to you in your native language. You would be glad to hear him talking to you in your mother tongue, won't you?

So... If that is the case, what would an evil spirit hate? - The opposite of abusive words! i.e. words like "I love you", "hello dear" etc. For them, good words and deeds, especially those directed towards them are anathema and torture. They simply can't stand it? They consider that as 'rude'! Guess that is the reason why the saying goes "Love thy enemies". That is the one true way to inflict true damage to your enemy provided the enemy is with the "bad guys".


On Hell Fire

One doubt. How will you treat your good performers when they return after successfully completing an assignment? Will you ill treat them and punish them for their good service? Guess not.

Why would Mr. Satan ill treat the souls that are sent to hell when he knows very well that those souls favored him while they were in earth by committing quite a number of sins? Why would he let those souls burn in the "fire of hell"? Is hell facing a fuel shortage that it needs souls as fuel?

May be the big boss of hell is not satisfied with their performance. May be he thinks that those souls could have committed more sins; that they could have done better. But, if that is the case, then almost all souls will find it difficult to get a good treatment in hell. After all who can match the 'high' expectation of ol' Lucifer. Almost no one is going to be a perfect angel on earth nor will any one be a perfect daemon. So... does it mean that almost all sinners are gonna go to the red region of perdition due to not meeting Satan's expectations? Satan is known to be void of 'kindness' to consider the fact that one did his/her best to do as many sins as possible. That means almost all sinners are gonna taste 'fire of hell'.

But why fire? Why not ice water? Is hell facing a fuel shortage?


July 21, 2007

Generous vs Selfish Gift

"A gift is not generous unless it is intended to benefit the recipient and is worth more than what is expected or customary in the situation; a gift is selfish if it is given to benefit the giver or is less valuable than is customary." Says a book that I read.

Looking back, I had my share of "selfish" and "generous" gifts. I remember my friends gifting me a book with the intention to read it themselves. Today I don't know where that book is. Guess it is with one of them or their acquaintances.

My younger sister is good in gifting me "generously". Often she has gifted me the stuffs that I needed and have found good use. Guess gifting generously is a skill.


Paul Pott's Magic

This is called drama in life - drama in REAL life: Paul Potts - a person with a humble background, who lacks self confidence, who was bullied in childhood days, who worked in The Carphone Warehouse - performs opera and stuns the audience and judges with his vocal ability to get a standing ovation from them...

Do you know what made him tick? He concentrated on his strong point - his music - and nothing else! That made the difference!

Watch the video. Take a note of the judges' rolling their eyes when Paul expresses his wish to sing opera (Nessun Dorma)... and then their jaws dropping when Paul starts singing. Also checkout the standing ovation and incessant claps he gets.





Scott's Career Advice

Here's Scott Adem's career advice (click here). Quite insightful...

July 17, 2007

Tip to increase the hits on your website

Today, this blog 'officially' touched grand hits. On this occassion I would like to share one tip with the readers, if any. It is on how to increase the hits on your website/blog. The ones who are already 'wise' on this matter can ignore this post. The rest can continue reading.

All you need to do is pick up one hot celebrity, say Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan, and add the words "hot pics of so-and-so", "nude pics of dash" etc. If you add the names of more celebrities, your site will get more hits... Try it out. I rode the wave of Mini Mathur's fame ;-)


July 16, 2007

Rangers ride: Mentation

I have come across quite a number of articles like this one (click here) that talk about motorcycle riders. Guess these days very very long bike rides are becoming common in India. Some random thoughts on these rides.
  • Do these riders 'really' ride for a cause, as mentioned in the dailies? Couldn't there be some other 'real' motives behind the ride? - Like getting their name published in a national newspaper, helping bolster their resume etc.
  • Adventurous folks are becoming common. Folks (read parents) who detest adventure should learn something from these news clips.


July 15, 2007

Flash Video Format: A wonderful Technology

Adobe's FLV (Flash Video Format) is just superb! What I like about the format is that it has kept the "usability" factor of the end user as its corner stone. The slide bar gives the user amazing control over the streaming video. It gives the user the control to decide where in the video he has to start or end, even while the buffering is going on. Other video formats lack this capability. Often the user has to wait for the entire buffering to complete to see the clip. And the control he has on the slide bar of other streaming formats is less. Click here to read more on FLV.

PS: There is a Greasemonkey script available to download FLV files from youtube. Click here to learn more


Amit Paul

Well... My recents posts might have hinted that I closely watch the Indian Idol show. One comment on Amit Paul. I just loved the way he came back strongly after being voted out. Given below his last two week's performance. As of now, he is way way ahead of others....

13th July 07 Performance


6th July 07 Performance

July 14, 2007

Shabana's Advice

Liked this word of wisdom from Shabana Azmi : "I want to tell you something that I have learned from my life. When you participate in a competition, you have to play to win. There can be no second best. You need to develop the killer instinct".

Reminded me of my old philosophy: "Trying" is a waste of time if you won't succeed.

Click here to see the video. The advice comes towards the end.


Thanks Mini Mathur ;-)

Offlate the hits on my blog started sky rocketing. Curious to know the cause of it, I checked the logs and found the culprit - Mini Mathur!! My previous post on Mini Mathur and google was the cause of the high hit! I guess this post will just accelerate the hits. Thanks to google search.

The following search words in google leads to my blog!!
mini mathur, mini mathur birthday year, mini mathur's height, mini mathur hot photos, mini mathur hot pic, mini mathur personal life, mini mathur wedding pictures, hot photos of mini mathur, mini mathur naked photos, mini mathur naked, hot photos of mini mathur etc etc

Sorry to disappoint you folks, who were (and are) looking for "hot" pics of Mini Mathur. You have REACHED THE WRONG WEBSITE!

And Thanks Mini Mathur for making my blog so popular ;-) Didn't know that you had such a huge fan following :-)

PS: I think the only person who has Mini's "hot" pics is Kabir Khan - her husband. Why don't you check with him ;-)

Kabir and Mini


July 13, 2007

Fastest Man on No Legs

I could never imagine authorities checking an amputee to verify if he/she has an 'unfair advantage' over 'normal people'. With his determination, Oscar Pistorius, just forced the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to do that unimaginable. Click here to read more.


Pink Slips

Today my ex-project manager mailed me her resume seeking opportunities in MBI. She is in US. I replied providing her whatever info I knew. Felt bad about not being able to help her to the full extend. Pink slips are terrible... Hope she gets a good job.


July 12, 2007

Result of Initiative

Some years ago, three brothers left the farm to work in the city. They were all hired by the same company at the same pay. Three years later, Jim was being paid $500 a month, Frank was receiving $1,000, but George was now making $1,500.

Their father decided to visit the employer. He listened to the confused father and said, " I will let the boys explain for themselves."

Jim was summoned to the supervisor's office and was told, "Jim, I understand the Far East Importers has just brought in a large transport plane loaded with Japanese import goods. Will you please go over to the airport and get a cargo inventory?"

Three minutes later, Jim returned to the office. "The cargo was one thousand bolts of Japanese silk," Jim reported. "I got the information over the telephone from a member of the crew."

When Jim left, Frank, the $1,000 a month brother, was called. "Frank," said the supervisor, "I wish you'd go out to the airport and get an inventory of the cargo plane which was just brought in by Far East Importers."

An hour later, Frank was back in the office with a list showing that the plane carried 1,000 bolts of Japanese silk, 500 transistor radios, and 1,000 hand painted bamboo trays.

George, the $1,500 a month brother, was given identical instructions. Working hours were over when he finally returned.

"The transport plane carried one thousand bolts of Japanese silk," he began. "It was on sale at sixty dollars a bolt, so I took a two-day option on the whole lot.

I have wired a designer in New York offering the silk at seventy-five dollars a bolt. I expect to have the order tomorrow. I also found five hundred transistor radios, which I sold over the telephone at a profit of $2.30 each.

There were a thousand bamboo trays, but they were of poor quality, so I didn't try to do anything with them."

When George left the office, the employer smiled. " You probably noticed," he said, "that Jim doesn't do what he's told, Frank does only what he'd told, but George does without being told."


July 09, 2007

Bernard Weber - The smart ass

I admire Bernard Weber. For he is perhaps the only person in history who has fooled millions across countries at the same time, and has made good money out of it. Smart and courageous entrepreneur. He even succeeded in fooling many country heads to go live on TV and urge their citizens to vote on Weber's website! His new7wonders.com played into the emotions of people and helped him fetch millions of dollars. Not many folks who visited his website and SMSed their choice knew that they are contibuting more to the coffers of this millionare. At that point of time all that mattered to them was emotion. Rationality took the back seat. I'm surprised why the fourth estate waited long to expose Weber!!

Btw, do you know his website's operation costs were minimum and efficient. Most of the softwares used by the website came from GNU/GPL open source. Here's a testimoney to that. I got this from new7wonders.com: "TYPO3 is a free open source Content Management Framework created by Kasper Skaarhoj and licensed under GNU/GPL."


Anyways, now that Berner chose the new seven wonders and made money, I'm eagerly awaiting his next new move. Am also thinking of starting a website called new7bangalore-wonders.com ;-)


Mini Mathur's Tips

Came across this link about Mini Mathur - a popular TV anchor who is an MBA. In this interview she talk about her marriage and work-life balance. Interesting excerpts are given below...

Q: You took a year long sabbatical from the telescreen. Tell us about your domestic life. You got married and have a baby. How do you balance your home and your career?

A: Very beautifully. I'm the kind of person who would be very unhappy not having a career. But I am lucky I have a great husband, Kabir Khan, who makes documentary films, so he understands how we function. He has always been very encouraging. So I've never had to adapt myself and be someone else. I've never felt shackled. We give each other phenomenal space. He also travels 65 days in the year and both of us are very busy. It's the most beautiful experience to go back to this lovely little baby at home after work. It makes life so much more worthwhile.

Q: Did your inter-religious marriage pose any problems?

A: Never. Both of us are not very religious. On a personal level we don't really sit and pray or anything, so it's never come in the way of our marriage. But he comes to my family's pujas and I am more than happy to be part of his family's religious functions. My child will decide when he is old enough to. He is only a year and a half old right now.

Q: How do you spend quality time together?

A: We spend Sundays together and whenever we are not shooting we catch up with each other. We brood that we don't have bank holidays etc like our other friends. We always bring work home and we never switch off, being in this line! We manage our yearly vacations though! I have a fantastic mother-in-law who takes care of my son when I am out shooting. So I am blessed with a great family and infrastructure and support system. I wouldn't have been able to do my work had it not been for her!

Here's more on her: Click here


July 04, 2007

Correct usage of "love"

Pick the correct usage

A) Love is blind
B) I'm in love
C) I fell in love

If you don't want to give your grey cells some exercise, I'll provide you the answers. Option-A is definitely incorrect. Love is never blind. YOU could be blind. That doesn't mean LOVE is blind. Blindness is associated with living things. Love is not a living thing. And hence it cannot be blind.

Love is like a ditch or cage. You can be IN a cage; locked and deprived of your freedom. Love can do the same thing to you. The English pundits have rightly used the preposition "IN" to describe love. No one says "I'm ON love" or “I’m BEFORE love”. They say: "I'm IN love". This brings back the cage simily. You can be IN a cage just as how you can be IN love.

The “ditch slimily” is much better than the “cage slimily”. For the simple reason that, many "experienced lovers" agree that they really FALL in love. They find it uncontrollable. Picturize this: A blind guy walking towards a ditch and then falling into it. There is no way how he can control the situation. Once in the ditch, he has got two choices: start liking his new environment i.e. the ditch, and continue living in it, OR try to get out from the ditch, for which he would need someone's help

So the best answer is C.

What do you think? Did someone help you get out? ;-)



What should I do with my life?

Something which you already know is seen through a different lens. Take a look at the article "What Should I Do With My Life?"

Job Interview - Honest HR Question-Answers

If we were to Honestly reply to all the HR Questions they would go something like this

1. Why did you apply for this job?
I have applied for many jobs along with this and you called me now.

2. Why do you want to work for this company?
I have to work for some company who ever gives me a job, I don't have any specific company in mind.

3. Why should I hire you?
You have to hire some one, you may give me a try.

4.What would you do if we hire you?
Well, it depends on my mindset but I will try to work on whatever is allotted to me.

5.What is your biggest strength?
Basically, daring to join any company who pays me well, without thinking of the fate of company.

6.What is your biggest weakness?
Girls

7.What was your worst mistake, and how did you learn from it?
Joining my earlier company and learn that I need to jump to get more money, so I am here today!

8. What accomplishments in your last position are you most proud of?
Had I accomplished any in my last position, why do I need to change my job? I could demand more and stay there.

9.Describe a challenge you faced and how you overcame it?
Biggest challenge is answering the question "why are you looking for a change" and I started blabbering irrelevantly to overcome that.

10.Why did you leave/ are you leaving your last job?
For the same reason why you left your earlier job... more money

11.What do you want from this job?
If no work is given but keep giving good hikes

12.What are your career goals and how do you plan to achieve them?
Make more money and for that keep jumping companies for every 2 yrs

13.Did you hear of our company and what do you know of us?
Yeah, I know that you will ask this, I've gone through your website

14.What is the salary expected and how do u justify that?
Well, no one will change job for the same salary, hence, give me 20% extra than what I am getting and that is unpublished industry standard (I know you will bargain on what ever I ask, hence, I have already hiked my current salary by 30%).