Monday, August 30, 2004

Some of my weird thoughts

As one grows up with age, he observes the world around him and makes his own conclusions. I have my own such conclusions. There is a possibility that this might be present in a book of philosophy or in pschology:

There are two paths to success. One path is a result of engineering(E)other of science(S).

1) The former believes in hard work, dedication, devotion and thinks that it is a 'easy' path to success. These guys are basically restless and work day and night to reach their goal.
2)The latter one comes up with altogether a new techinque for the same goal and believes in spiritual success. These guys want to set their own path of perfection and excellence.

These both paths lead to the same goal.
Now let me give some real-world examples to prove this theory.

1) Sharukh(E) and Aamir(S) (In Indian Film Industry)
2) Agassi (E) and Sampras (S)
3) Mcenroe(E) and Bjorn Borg(S)
4) Roddick(E) and Federer(S)

and above all
5) Windows (E) and Linux (S)

Hope this all stuff made some sense to all u guys.....

Sunday, August 29, 2004

A good quote

I got it from some other blog site while browsing (kinda liked it)

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

-- Robert Heinlein

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

A good lesson of Business

Laloo Prasad Yadav talks to his son :
>>Laloo : Hai Betta......I want you to marry a girl of my choice

>>Son : Oh.... Dad......I want to choose my own bride.

>>Laloo : "But the girl is Ambani's daughter.........yar.."

>>Son : "Well, in that case..."

>>Next day Laloo approaches Mukesh Ambani.........

>>Laloo : "I have a husband for your daughter."

>>Ambani : "But my daughter is too young to marry."

>>Laloo : "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."

>>Ambani : "Ah, in that case..."

>>Finally Laloo goes to see the President of the World Bank.

>>Laloo : "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president."

>>President : "But I already have more vice-presidents than I need."

>>Laloo : "But this young man is Ambani's son-in-law."

>>President : "Ah, in that case....."

>>This is how business is done!!

It teaches a simple thing:

Business is not all about one's personal interests. It is about knowing what others are interested in. And we all know Laloo is the master of this game !!!!!

Perfectionist

Rare are such men
whose beliefs are very strong
never they give up the hope
always sing a happy song

following their wild hearts
they don't mind the daily chores
loss and gain doesn't mean much to them
like a perfectionist, far far away from the shores

answer they have for everything
problem is itself a solution at ease
made not for materials of life
a saint is a hero for these

dreams they have very high
but like to live a simple life
wonders the common on every night
what they eat, what they are like !!

work they do lead to peace
path they choose lead to freedom
rules they define step to success
thoughts they give lead to religion

rare are such men
who live with great passion
great lives, one should learn more
to be a perfectionist, far far away from the shores....

Monday, August 23, 2004

Art of telling a story

During a Charlie Rose interview, Quentin Tarantino talked about screenwriting (It is one of the purest forms of telling a story):

"I start two characters walking down the street. And the characters take on a mind of their own. If I want the characters to go into the bar, they might say to each other -- Don’t mind Quentin, he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Instead, let’s go into this hotel. I say okay and follow them into the hotel."

Sunday, August 22, 2004

The Village

This movie by N.Shyamalan should be considered as a case study for films-related courses. He has built a beautiful love story woven into a thriller. Its similar to "Titanic" where love story is woven into a tragic accident.

The simplicity of the film is outstanding. The village set, children, elderly people, their understanding of outside world et al. Manoj proves that the only thing required for making a film is 'a good concept'. Rest (starcast, big expensive locations) all is just to make a film look good.

Highlights of the film are obviously the twist in the film and its ending. Many trade analysts have rated this film as not a good film. I guess filmgoers (especially US ppl) are used to watching extra-terrestial animals and were expecting the same in this film. But this is a reality film. If one forgets his history of making movies with a twist then this would be one of his best.

But he needs to stop this film culture (with twist) as in the future people will never stick to his storyline as they will always know that there is going to be a TWIST....

Thursday, August 19, 2004

India as seen by NRIs

What exactly is India for NRIs? They learn about India from newspapers which are available online and what do they find?

More than 50% of the articles are about "Bollywood" and "Cricket". I guess all media guys have made a rule: "No newspaper is complete without an article on Amitabh (AB), Ash or Sachin (tendulkar)." So what image should one have about India !!

Yeah ! they are having the exact same one: India is an underdeveloped country where only news worthy events occur in filmland and sports (that too only in cricket).

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

This is what I call as "Luck"

It was viva season of 6th sem. Me and some other dombivilians boarded a heavy crowded bus to college for viva of microprocessor. As some of u might know viva is something mumbai students (especially boys) think as "revenge time" for profs where they can selectively screw-up any guy. Anyways, we got into heavy disussion about some concepts in MP and ended up with some unanswered questions.

After an hour or so, my time came to go in torture chamber and face the profs for viva. After entering the room external prof gave me a mischievious smile. A cold chill passed thru my spine. I convinced myself that i am stucked in this room for atleast an hour as my previous classmates.

External guy requested my (internal) prof to permit him to ask me questions. "Go Ahead" my prof told him. This is the time when every guys asks himself the same question "Is engineering necessary for succesful life? Can I just ...."

He started asking me questions and i kept murmuring something. Wait !!! these are the same questions i was discussing with my friends. He introduced himself as a passenger of the same bus. He confessed for listening to our whole conversation and ended up answering all my doubts.

He praised all dombivilians for thinking (in the right direction) and questioning every small doubt. I was out of that room within 10 mins breaking the stunning news to my fellow anxious dombivlians.
I got a good score for this viva and it will always remain my most pleasant exam....



Thursday, August 12, 2004

The Da Vinci Code

This novel by Dan Brown will explain clearly the secret to success for the fiction stories :"make readers believe that everything is real".

Fiction is a medium where you can present your fantasies in a realistic manner. And the key to it is play around with some unsolved mysteries and build up your own script. And to make it a bestseller make sure you show the protoganists on a run where "thrill is waiting for them at every corner and 'someone' is always watching them".

By now you guys might have concluded that I am insane to comment about one of the bestsellers (of all time) in such plain english. Its nothing like that. Just that being a regular reader of fiction novels I was able to guess the characters of "The Teacher" and "Sophie".

I liked a lot of things about the novel. Especially the way Dan Brown has mixed his concepts with the truth - the way he has dragged big personalities (Da Vinci, Isaac Newton, Pope) in his fiction. The story is very convincing especially the secret codes hidden in some famous paintings. I guess it requires a lot of hard work and heart for such a brilliant creation. The best part I liked was the plan 'grandpere' devised along with his family to hide the secret.

Hats off to Dan Brown !!!

Sunday, August 08, 2004

"The Best"

What is "the Best" ? X is the best in ABC and Y in PQR. And on what basis is this rating given?

I am the person who believes that there is nothing called "the best" in this world. The world is no more "a black n white" place. There exists no guy who is out n out "a bad guy (villian)" or "a good guy (hero)". World (of Kalyug) is painted in grey.

If you believe in mythology then probably u might believe in gods (white) and demons (black).

Yeah!! it is equally true that some are damn good in some stuff. For e.g. Sachin in cricket, Schumi in F1. But "the best" seals the future with no hope for possiblity of better person existing in future.

The reason for my "uncomfortability" with this term is that it just halts the definition of perfection i.e. there is nothing beyond this best. And I believe that nobody is perfect and learning curve never stops. In that way it keeps the thrill in life going. So whenever somebody say: "Man !! that guy is the best", then u shud repy: " Nah !! somebody might be better than him".

Friday, August 06, 2004

fundas of fun !!!

Each individual has his own idea of happiness. Some ideas are weird, in the sense, it is fun only when it is done in a particular way in the presence of particular ppl on a particular day.

I have experienced such types of weird fun:

1) Playing football(soccer) with my friends on a rainy day on my favourite ground (gaudevi grnd).
2) Watching soccer leagues on television with my friends at my friend's (Akshay) place.Of course it includes snacks.
3) Hitting 2 consecutive sixes (or 3 in an over) to abhi(jit), straight over his head, once again on my favourite gaudevi ground.
4) Pulling some impossible cricket matches by hitting some good run in last ball of a last over.
5) Ahh ! here it comes, eating mom-made sabudana kichdi by laying down on sofa during live cricket one-day international on TV. (make it a day-night match)

And the list goes on...



Tuesday, August 03, 2004

Characters

World is full of characters and by that I don't mean any offense to anybody. It's just that their interests amuses me. For e.g. I have few friends who know "which batsman scored how many runs in which match" in cricket world. But when it comes to actual play they back off. Some know abt every geographical place in the world but when it comes to driving: NO please!!!

Some guys spend their whole free time in finding cheaper deals on the internet while some others in chatting....
Such guys don't "waste / use" their energy in physical activities.

I guess these guys are the product of today's electronic world which has been 'so far' successful in minimizing the human intervention in each of the daily activities.

I bet u have some of these characters as friends !!!!