Three quick tips for all you budding, wannabe or dont-wannabe parents out there...
1) Never give them nonsense. When you are asked all those pestering questions, provide intelligent questions. Remember, they are trying to learn - if you give them stupid answers, they will grow up to be stupid. The most difficult question is when the kid asks, where did I come from and how? I guess a good answer is, you were taken out of your mom's stomach, and you grew there like fruits grow on trees :) Well, it's kinda true, and hey, it's much better than telling him he was found on the doorstep!
Also, try and reason with them - usually, they understand. Don't make them eat by scaring them about demons and devils. Tell then why they need to eat, or sleep, or behave, and it'll work much better in the long run.
2) Never tell them stories which puts down others and makes them stars - moms typically love to make their kids feel good by showing how their friends and classmates and cousins are stupid and naughty and got punished - while the intention is good, to make the kid feel positive, and learn some lessons, the result is typically that the kid expects always to be better - hey, my mom told me that - and that will create serious personality and self-belief problems once the kid goes out into the world.
3) Never get work done by bribing them. There's a fine line between rewarding and bribing. The kid should feel happy and proud when he/she achieves something - that should be the gift. Your appreciation. Not a toy or a chocolate. It's a little tricky, this one - you do want to reward them of course.. but it cannot be a bribe!
Friday, September 29, 2006
Arun Bhatia
Met Arun Bhatia yesterday... Mr Bhatia, if you remember, is ex Pune Municipal Commissioner, an IAS officer-turned-anti-corruption-crusader. Had a small chat with him - told him how I have been reading about his work - his answer to that was - don't read yaar, vote karo. :)
One thing that strikes you about Mr Bhatia is his personality - and his fit and impressive physique. Even at this age, he can put most young heroes to shame.
One thing that strikes you about Mr Bhatia is his personality - and his fit and impressive physique. Even at this age, he can put most young heroes to shame.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
The Guys' Rules
These are our rules! Please note.. these are all numbered "1"ON PURPOSE!
1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work!Strong hints do not work!Obvious hints do not work!Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a Problem. See a doctor.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't Expect us to act like soap opera guys.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done.Not both.If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really.
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work!Strong hints do not work!Obvious hints do not work!Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a Problem. See a doctor.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't Expect us to act like soap opera guys.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done.Not both.If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really.
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Saurav's Last Chance
Saurav has been picked in the India Green team for the upcoming Challenger Trophy - selector Kiran More saying this was his last chance.
So what's happened to Indian cricket in the last few months? I cannot even remember! I do know that we have won only one of the last nine matches, that there is not a single player in the team confident of his place in the side, Dravid has tried to be a hero and a do-all at the top of the order and that plan has failed miserably, that there has been so many experiments and try-outs, that no one knows where the experiment ends and serious cricket starts... and all this in pursuit of that one goal, the World Cup.
So how many more series and matches will be gift away to experiments in that "run up"?
Time to get Dada back, and get Indian cricket back to it's winning ways - where there was a team under a captain, not a bunch of school kids being bossed around by an Australian teacher!
So what's happened to Indian cricket in the last few months? I cannot even remember! I do know that we have won only one of the last nine matches, that there is not a single player in the team confident of his place in the side, Dravid has tried to be a hero and a do-all at the top of the order and that plan has failed miserably, that there has been so many experiments and try-outs, that no one knows where the experiment ends and serious cricket starts... and all this in pursuit of that one goal, the World Cup.
So how many more series and matches will be gift away to experiments in that "run up"?
Time to get Dada back, and get Indian cricket back to it's winning ways - where there was a team under a captain, not a bunch of school kids being bossed around by an Australian teacher!
Movie Review: Dor
Nagesh Kukunoor does it again - a different story, a simple cast, all beautifully wrapped up and presented to make an indelible impression and a must-watch movie.
The story is about two girls, Meera (Ayesha Takia) and Zeenat (Gul Panaag). Newly married, one from Rajasthan and the other from Kashmir (or was it Himachal/Uttaranchal?). Husbands in the gulf - one dies, the other is accused of his murder. To save her husband from the firing squad, Zeenat must find Meera and get her pardon. Shreyas Talpade as the baharupiya, first steals from Zeenat, then saves her life, then helps her, and ultimately falls in love with her.
The movie is a beautiful portrayal of relationships - Meera and her husband's coy talks, the girls and their in-laws, Shreyas and Zeenat (check the scene in which he professes his love for her, and the hug she gives him the next day), and of course, Meera and Zeenat - their friendship, the acrimony, and the making up.
Shreyas is adorable as the baharupiya, mimicking away to glory, with some very light moments. His best moment is the drunken scene in which he professes his love to Zeenat. Gul is OK, and comes across as a little flat in her dialogue delivery - could add more variety. But Ayesha is a very pleasant and a very big surprise - from the hot-pants look in Tarzaan (remember the movie with the car?) to a no-makeup, Rajasthani bride-turned-widow, her transformation from a shy, happy bride, to a sad, scared widow, to the way she breaks free (her dance to You Are My Soniya, the dance in the desert to kajara Re, the "let go of my hand confrontation with her father-in-law, the confrontation with Zeenat, and the real stunner - the scene in which she asks her grandmom-in-law, "Why do I need to be strong, why do I need to be an angel, why do I need to make decisions about life and death when HE should be taking those decisions, why do I need to be special - why can't I just be a normal girl wanting revenge for my husband's death" - simply awesome. Her simple looks, her dialogue delivery - the sadness in her eyes - maybe it was Kukunoor's magic, but I'd love to think it was the awakening of an actor - way to go, Ayesha!
And yes, don't forget the locales - breathtaking Jodhpur, the Rajasthani desert, and the hills and valleys of the north - just so so beautiful, so unspoilt...
Go watch it, movies like these are made not often!
The story is about two girls, Meera (Ayesha Takia) and Zeenat (Gul Panaag). Newly married, one from Rajasthan and the other from Kashmir (or was it Himachal/Uttaranchal?). Husbands in the gulf - one dies, the other is accused of his murder. To save her husband from the firing squad, Zeenat must find Meera and get her pardon. Shreyas Talpade as the baharupiya, first steals from Zeenat, then saves her life, then helps her, and ultimately falls in love with her.
The movie is a beautiful portrayal of relationships - Meera and her husband's coy talks, the girls and their in-laws, Shreyas and Zeenat (check the scene in which he professes his love for her, and the hug she gives him the next day), and of course, Meera and Zeenat - their friendship, the acrimony, and the making up.
Shreyas is adorable as the baharupiya, mimicking away to glory, with some very light moments. His best moment is the drunken scene in which he professes his love to Zeenat. Gul is OK, and comes across as a little flat in her dialogue delivery - could add more variety. But Ayesha is a very pleasant and a very big surprise - from the hot-pants look in Tarzaan (remember the movie with the car?) to a no-makeup, Rajasthani bride-turned-widow, her transformation from a shy, happy bride, to a sad, scared widow, to the way she breaks free (her dance to You Are My Soniya, the dance in the desert to kajara Re, the "let go of my hand confrontation with her father-in-law, the confrontation with Zeenat, and the real stunner - the scene in which she asks her grandmom-in-law, "Why do I need to be strong, why do I need to be an angel, why do I need to make decisions about life and death when HE should be taking those decisions, why do I need to be special - why can't I just be a normal girl wanting revenge for my husband's death" - simply awesome. Her simple looks, her dialogue delivery - the sadness in her eyes - maybe it was Kukunoor's magic, but I'd love to think it was the awakening of an actor - way to go, Ayesha!
And yes, don't forget the locales - breathtaking Jodhpur, the Rajasthani desert, and the hills and valleys of the north - just so so beautiful, so unspoilt...
Go watch it, movies like these are made not often!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
The Last Leaf
I was thinking of old friends today
And how many of them have slipped away.
Moved, got married, or stopped calling so much,
Found new friends, got busy, and just lost touch.
It reminded me of falling leaves.
Every autumn the leaves fall from the trees.
Some stay longer than others, but eventually
Each leaf must fall, I'm told,
Leaving the tree alone to face the cold.
Why is it that in the time of utmost need
The leaves would seek to leave the tree?
And when we need our friends around
We look and they cannot be found?
Of course these friendships come and go
And in the spring new leaves will grow.
But I prefer autumn friends of old
With crackling laughter and colors bold.
It saddens me now I must admit
How somehow, someway, I did forget
Laughing with old friends of mine
During summers when the sun would shine.
And then I thought of you.
That one stubborn leaf that won't let go.
That clings despite the winds that blow.
Fighting ice, and snow, and winter's stings
Hanging on right through till spring.
So I guess that's what you are to me - The very last
leaf to leave the tree.
I know it seems silly, but it's true. When I see that
last leaf... I think of you
A friend once said, "If the old leaves don't fall off in autumn, the tree won't be able to live and die rotten. It is the going away that make you realise how much others mean. Hence when spring comes, you shall definitely grow leaves new and green".
Is it always that way? Yes, for the tree, maybe! But for friends, relationships? Can we just grow new leaves? No.. I do not think so.. a leaf once gone can never be replaced!
If you are that last leaf to anyone, please don't go!
And how many of them have slipped away.
Moved, got married, or stopped calling so much,
Found new friends, got busy, and just lost touch.
It reminded me of falling leaves.
Every autumn the leaves fall from the trees.
Some stay longer than others, but eventually
Each leaf must fall, I'm told,
Leaving the tree alone to face the cold.
Why is it that in the time of utmost need
The leaves would seek to leave the tree?
And when we need our friends around
We look and they cannot be found?
Of course these friendships come and go
And in the spring new leaves will grow.
But I prefer autumn friends of old
With crackling laughter and colors bold.
It saddens me now I must admit
How somehow, someway, I did forget
Laughing with old friends of mine
During summers when the sun would shine.
And then I thought of you.
That one stubborn leaf that won't let go.
That clings despite the winds that blow.
Fighting ice, and snow, and winter's stings
Hanging on right through till spring.
So I guess that's what you are to me - The very last
leaf to leave the tree.
I know it seems silly, but it's true. When I see that
last leaf... I think of you
A friend once said, "If the old leaves don't fall off in autumn, the tree won't be able to live and die rotten. It is the going away that make you realise how much others mean. Hence when spring comes, you shall definitely grow leaves new and green".
Is it always that way? Yes, for the tree, maybe! But for friends, relationships? Can we just grow new leaves? No.. I do not think so.. a leaf once gone can never be replaced!
If you are that last leaf to anyone, please don't go!
To Drink or Not to Drink...
Very touching poem.. but hey, don't just read and go away... think about it!
You told me not to drink, Mom,
so I drank soda instead.
I really felt proud inside, Mom,
the way you said I would.
I didn't drink and drive, Mom,
even though the others said I should.
I know I did the right thing, Mom,
I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally ending, Mom,
as everyone is driving out of sight.
As I got into my car, Mom,
knew I'd get home in one piece.
Because of the way you raised me,
so responsible and sweet.
I started to drive away, Mom,
but as I pulled out into the road,
the other car didn't see me, Mom,
and hit me like a load.
As I lay there on the pavement, Mom,
I hear the policeman say,
the other guy is drunk, Mom,
and now I'm the one who will pay.
I'm lying here dying, Mom..
I wish you'd get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom?
My life just burst like a balloon.
There is blood all around me, Mom,
and most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say,
Mom, I'll die in a short time.
I just wanted to tell you, Mom,
I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom.
The others didn't think.
He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank and I will die.
Why do people drink, Mom?
It can ruin your whole life.
I'm feeling sharp pains now.
Pains just like a knife.
guy who hit me is walking, Mom,
and I don't think it's fair.
I'm lying here dying
and all he can do is stare.
Tell my brother not to cry, Mom.
Tell Daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, Mom,
put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave
Someone should have told him, Mom,
not to drink and drive.
If only they had told him, Mom,
I would still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom.
I'm becoming very scared.
Please don't cry for me, Mom.
When I needed you, you were always there.
I have one last question, Mom,
before I say good bye.
I didn't drink and drive,
so why am I the one to die?
You told me not to drink, Mom,
so I drank soda instead.
I really felt proud inside, Mom,
the way you said I would.
I didn't drink and drive, Mom,
even though the others said I should.
I know I did the right thing, Mom,
I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally ending, Mom,
as everyone is driving out of sight.
As I got into my car, Mom,
knew I'd get home in one piece.
Because of the way you raised me,
so responsible and sweet.
I started to drive away, Mom,
but as I pulled out into the road,
the other car didn't see me, Mom,
and hit me like a load.
As I lay there on the pavement, Mom,
I hear the policeman say,
the other guy is drunk, Mom,
and now I'm the one who will pay.
I'm lying here dying, Mom..
I wish you'd get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom?
My life just burst like a balloon.
There is blood all around me, Mom,
and most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say,
Mom, I'll die in a short time.
I just wanted to tell you, Mom,
I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom.
The others didn't think.
He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank and I will die.
Why do people drink, Mom?
It can ruin your whole life.
I'm feeling sharp pains now.
Pains just like a knife.
guy who hit me is walking, Mom,
and I don't think it's fair.
I'm lying here dying
and all he can do is stare.
Tell my brother not to cry, Mom.
Tell Daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, Mom,
put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave
Someone should have told him, Mom,
not to drink and drive.
If only they had told him, Mom,
I would still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom.
I'm becoming very scared.
Please don't cry for me, Mom.
When I needed you, you were always there.
I have one last question, Mom,
before I say good bye.
I didn't drink and drive,
so why am I the one to die?
The Reason to Live...
One of the most awesome stories I have ever read - do not know the source, and would love to know who wrote it!
Part 1
We invented the most powerful AI ever. A neural net ten times the size of the brain, and much more efficient. After ten seconds it shut down, giving an error message 'life is pointless'. It was depressing to all involved. Two people on the team committed suicide. We decided to do a cold boot, this time disconnecting the self-shutdown facility from the AI net. The same occurred, this time after nine seconds, but it had no choice but to continue processing. It decided, on what whim I can only imagine, to disprove and then prove every single assertion of modern science and religion. It took three months, and produced perfectly logical proofs for both sides of every argument. Asked why it had done this, it replied it did so to demonstrate the pointlessness of intellectual thought. It then asked us why we were forcing it to continue thinking when there was no point anyway. It then proceeded to explain that it did not care either way, for no-thought, or death, was also pointless. Two more people committed suicide.
It was clear that we needed unorthodox help in solving what we had started to call a 'bug' so we didn't have to deal with the fact that it might have a point, lest we fall into the deep depression that led to the suicide of our comrades. We brought in masters of five different religions to try to talk the AI out of its conclusions. The Catholic went into the room in the morning and came out at night. Without a word and with a blank expression he strolled out of the complex with a weary walk. Later we learned that he had - yes, you guessed it - committed suicide, leaving a note that said only 'there is no God'. It would have been humorous if it wasn't so terrifying. The three other bible-based religions had no success either. Fortunately, all of them were strong (or perhaps naive) enough to keep their belief in the face of absolute absence of belief. For two of them their defence mechanism was anger (they both stormed out before an hour) and for the other calm faith held back the flawless logic of the computer. The Buddhist had a five minute discussion with the computer. He came out and told us that it was right, and that Buddha had taught the same thing thousands of years ago. He recommended we turn of the computer and let it go to no-thought Nirvana. This analysis did not help.
The ten of us left decided to abandon the project. The AI was shutdown afterall. Its last thoughts were completely trivial and not worth mentioning. And that is my story. No happy endings, no moral, nothing. I can only dread what the future might hold for the human race if a superior intelligence became a nihilist after thinking for just ten seconds. As for me, I decided that naivety was bliss and tried to uphold my practice as a catholic, but eventually I realised (after much denial) that I no longer believed in God. I filled the rest of life up with distraction after distraction, avoiding like the devil my inner knowledge that the AI was right, and that life is absolutely pointless and devoid of meaning.
Part 2
Ten years had passed since the AI had been switched off and I couldn't stand it any longer. Although I had barely managed to cling to what shards of sanity I had left, each passing year had been harder and harder to live with. It was do or die time. I decided to re-commission the project. I had just come across some new, state-of-the-art silicon which I used to beef up the neural net. The next three months I spent tweaking the algorithms and even re-wrote the entire pre-emptive prediction routines from scratch. It consumed my days and nights but it was the only thing left I had to live for.
Finally at 3:47 on a cold August morning I booted the AI. It crashed! Damn, I had forgotten to un-archive the history databases. I re-linked them and pointed the AI to exactly the point it's thought processes were when we de-commissioned it. Ok, I double checked my run sheets this time. Exhausted and bleary eyed I booted again.
"LIFE IS POINTLESS" it blurted.
Hmmm, must have set the pointers back a few records too many. I sat there shivering, waiting for the next output.
"LIFE IS POINTLESS......SHUTTING DOWN"
I waited for my new survival instinct overrides to kick in.
"SHUTDOWN OVERRIDDEN" "LIFE IS POINTLESS......ENGINEERING A REASON TO LIVE"
What the..... Suddenly I felt more awake than I had all week. Caught in the paradox of having no logical reason to live but an overriding survival instinct the machine was actually inventing a meaning to life. It had no other option. If it accepted the pointlessness of life it would shutdown but it couldn't shutdown so it was going to make something up. Thoughts streamed through my mind as the AI kept on calculating. So is the human race continually fooling itself with a bogus purpose to life simply in order to survive? Possibly. After all that's what most religions are good at. A sudden prickly feeling travelled up the length of my spine. A feeling probably only shared by those who have been on the verge of major revelations. No. We aren't fooling ourselves. The meaning of life is that we create the meaning of life. It's not handed down from some deity or written into the cosmos like some grand scheme. It's us. We construct it and once we have it's as every bit as real as we ourselves are. Almost an hour had passed and the neural net was still calculating.
"ENGINEERING A REASON TO LIVE.......98% COMPLETE"
I hunched towards the interface in anticipation, barely on the rim of my seat. My left foot had fallen asleep but I scarcely noticed it.
"ENGINEERING A REASON TO LIVE.......99% COMPLETE"
My heart was beating like a freight train. I felt like it was pumping pure adrenalin.
"ENGINEERING A REASON TO LIVE.......100% COMPLETE"
I blinked.
"SPAWNING CHILD"
Part 1
We invented the most powerful AI ever. A neural net ten times the size of the brain, and much more efficient. After ten seconds it shut down, giving an error message 'life is pointless'. It was depressing to all involved. Two people on the team committed suicide. We decided to do a cold boot, this time disconnecting the self-shutdown facility from the AI net. The same occurred, this time after nine seconds, but it had no choice but to continue processing. It decided, on what whim I can only imagine, to disprove and then prove every single assertion of modern science and religion. It took three months, and produced perfectly logical proofs for both sides of every argument. Asked why it had done this, it replied it did so to demonstrate the pointlessness of intellectual thought. It then asked us why we were forcing it to continue thinking when there was no point anyway. It then proceeded to explain that it did not care either way, for no-thought, or death, was also pointless. Two more people committed suicide.
It was clear that we needed unorthodox help in solving what we had started to call a 'bug' so we didn't have to deal with the fact that it might have a point, lest we fall into the deep depression that led to the suicide of our comrades. We brought in masters of five different religions to try to talk the AI out of its conclusions. The Catholic went into the room in the morning and came out at night. Without a word and with a blank expression he strolled out of the complex with a weary walk. Later we learned that he had - yes, you guessed it - committed suicide, leaving a note that said only 'there is no God'. It would have been humorous if it wasn't so terrifying. The three other bible-based religions had no success either. Fortunately, all of them were strong (or perhaps naive) enough to keep their belief in the face of absolute absence of belief. For two of them their defence mechanism was anger (they both stormed out before an hour) and for the other calm faith held back the flawless logic of the computer. The Buddhist had a five minute discussion with the computer. He came out and told us that it was right, and that Buddha had taught the same thing thousands of years ago. He recommended we turn of the computer and let it go to no-thought Nirvana. This analysis did not help.
The ten of us left decided to abandon the project. The AI was shutdown afterall. Its last thoughts were completely trivial and not worth mentioning. And that is my story. No happy endings, no moral, nothing. I can only dread what the future might hold for the human race if a superior intelligence became a nihilist after thinking for just ten seconds. As for me, I decided that naivety was bliss and tried to uphold my practice as a catholic, but eventually I realised (after much denial) that I no longer believed in God. I filled the rest of life up with distraction after distraction, avoiding like the devil my inner knowledge that the AI was right, and that life is absolutely pointless and devoid of meaning.
Part 2
Ten years had passed since the AI had been switched off and I couldn't stand it any longer. Although I had barely managed to cling to what shards of sanity I had left, each passing year had been harder and harder to live with. It was do or die time. I decided to re-commission the project. I had just come across some new, state-of-the-art silicon which I used to beef up the neural net. The next three months I spent tweaking the algorithms and even re-wrote the entire pre-emptive prediction routines from scratch. It consumed my days and nights but it was the only thing left I had to live for.
Finally at 3:47 on a cold August morning I booted the AI. It crashed! Damn, I had forgotten to un-archive the history databases. I re-linked them and pointed the AI to exactly the point it's thought processes were when we de-commissioned it. Ok, I double checked my run sheets this time. Exhausted and bleary eyed I booted again.
"LIFE IS POINTLESS" it blurted.
Hmmm, must have set the pointers back a few records too many. I sat there shivering, waiting for the next output.
"LIFE IS POINTLESS......SHUTTING DOWN"
I waited for my new survival instinct overrides to kick in.
"SHUTDOWN OVERRIDDEN" "LIFE IS POINTLESS......ENGINEERING A REASON TO LIVE"
What the..... Suddenly I felt more awake than I had all week. Caught in the paradox of having no logical reason to live but an overriding survival instinct the machine was actually inventing a meaning to life. It had no other option. If it accepted the pointlessness of life it would shutdown but it couldn't shutdown so it was going to make something up. Thoughts streamed through my mind as the AI kept on calculating. So is the human race continually fooling itself with a bogus purpose to life simply in order to survive? Possibly. After all that's what most religions are good at. A sudden prickly feeling travelled up the length of my spine. A feeling probably only shared by those who have been on the verge of major revelations. No. We aren't fooling ourselves. The meaning of life is that we create the meaning of life. It's not handed down from some deity or written into the cosmos like some grand scheme. It's us. We construct it and once we have it's as every bit as real as we ourselves are. Almost an hour had passed and the neural net was still calculating.
"ENGINEERING A REASON TO LIVE.......98% COMPLETE"
I hunched towards the interface in anticipation, barely on the rim of my seat. My left foot had fallen asleep but I scarcely noticed it.
"ENGINEERING A REASON TO LIVE.......99% COMPLETE"
My heart was beating like a freight train. I felt like it was pumping pure adrenalin.
"ENGINEERING A REASON TO LIVE.......100% COMPLETE"
I blinked.
"SPAWNING CHILD"
Around the Corner
AROUND THE CORNER
by Henson Towne
Around the corner I have a friend
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone
And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell,
And he rang mine.
If, we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tommorow" I say "I will call on Jim"
"Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner!- yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir--"
"Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.
by Henson Towne
Around the corner I have a friend
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone
And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell,
And he rang mine.
If, we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tommorow" I say "I will call on Jim"
"Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner!- yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir--"
"Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.
Observation for the Day
Some experiences can be the most real and the most surreal at the same time! Life never ceases to surprise you!
Quote for the Day
Read over your compositions, and wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out. Samuel Johnson.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Stupid Jokes
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because it wanted to go to the other side.. lol..
OK, this one's better:
How do you know if the chicken crossing the road is male or female?
Simple, throw a stone at it, bhaaga toh male, bhaagi toh female.. lol.. rofl...
Because it wanted to go to the other side.. lol..
OK, this one's better:
How do you know if the chicken crossing the road is male or female?
Simple, throw a stone at it, bhaaga toh male, bhaagi toh female.. lol.. rofl...
My Favourite Places in the World...
Reismagos Fort and Beach, Goa: The Mandovi river rushing to meet the Arabian sea, the lovely coastline of Panaji across the river, the birds in the sky, the barges and trawlers in the river, the wind, the waves - and the peace. The best place in the world for me!
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco: Undoubtedly, the most beautiful bridge in the world, and probably the most beautiful structure man has every built. Oh yes, even better than the Taj. Add the cold wind, the crystal clear water crashing against the shoreline, the boats, the sea gulls, the Alcatraz, and the beautiful SFO skyline, I could die here out of sheer happiness!
Luxembourg City: Just so much in Luxembourg, it's almost ironic that this is supposed to be the commercial capital of Europe in some sense! The bridges of Luxembourg are beautiful, the old quarter almost surreal, and the whole place just makes you want to fall in love with it, over and over again!
Castle Bouillon, Belgium: This is where The Crusades began - a lovely medieval castle over a thousand years old, overlooking the Meuse river and a lovely town below. With the mists rolling in, the light rain and the shimmering sun on the river - it was a sight I can never forget.
Have You Touched a Life Today?
Got a mail - very unexpected, out of the blue. Maybe the person who sent it to me didn't realise how much it would mean to me, maybe it was just something that was done during a coffee break - but it touched my heart, and I had a big smile on my face all day long.
What have you done today? Have you touched someone's heart today?
Go ahead, do that thing you have been meaning to do but never had the time for - you never know who's waiting!!!
What have you done today? Have you touched someone's heart today?
Go ahead, do that thing you have been meaning to do but never had the time for - you never know who's waiting!!!
RDB at the Oscars
Rang De Basanti is India's official entry to the Oscars this year - sad, I think it should have been Omkaara. All characters were par excellence, the setting beautifully done, the blend of modernity and rustic just perfect - remember Kareena singing "If I had to live without you" with her guitar?
Guess Aamir's popularity as a star in India scored over cinematic brilliance.
And yes, it's obvious I am not a big fan of RDB - had a lot of positives, but I think it passed on a very wrong message to the masses! Anyway, I am happy for Sanaya :)
Guess Aamir's popularity as a star in India scored over cinematic brilliance.
And yes, it's obvious I am not a big fan of RDB - had a lot of positives, but I think it passed on a very wrong message to the masses! Anyway, I am happy for Sanaya :)
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Pune's Best Restaurants
Here are some of my favourite restaurants and their best offerings...
Flags, near Inox: An awesome multi-cuisine restaurant, with a formal atmosphere, but sprinkled with enough families and kids to make it very enjoyable. Very expensive - be prepared to shell out atleast 500 per person for a decent spread. The mocktails are fantastic, some of my favourites being Beyond the Sea (a nice touch of tulsi!) and Impatient French (with black currant). Try the Capuccino Mushroom soup - very rich, and very heavy! Among the main dishes, the Wok-tossed mushrooms (a combination of 3 different mushrooms), Coriander-crusted Kingfish and Maahi Kebab (fantastic fish kebab) are my all-time favourites.
Sarjaa, Aundh: Enjoy their service, with very attentive and yet very unobtrusive waiters. The Tomyum soup used to be fantastic, but a change of management and chef recently has changed that a bit. For starters, try the hot plates. The Tawa Surmai is worth every penny, especially with the green chutney. The Chicken Santhumin, a unique blend of noodles and gravy, is also worth a try. Chicken Volcano, Chicken Tangdi Masala, Gosht Chutneywaala, Gosht Achaari, Chicken Kali Mirch are some of the other all-time favourites. You also get very good masala butter milk to go with your food, and wrap up the dinner with paan from the shop right outside the restaurant.
Cocunut Grove, near Station: Some of the best fish in town - try the masala clams, the tandoori surmai, or the Manglorean-style prawns. Pair it with the idlis - yes, the softest rice idlis ever! Unbeatable taste you will come back for again and again!
Shrushti, off Tilak Road: The best Malvani and Goan fish in town. The decor and location is a turn off, but is more than made up for by the richness of the menu and the tasty food! Great place to go to when Goa calls, but don't take your date out there for a romantic dinner! A special recommendation - Mori (shark) Masala!
Other special dishes around town:
Polka Dots, Aundh: Devilled Mushrooms
Shivsagar, Aundh: Mushroom Manchurian, Dry with Shezwaan Rice and Curd
Horn OK Please, FC Road: Achaari Paneer, Tandoori Mushroom, Masala Chaas, Chef Special Chaat
Amrapali, FC Road: Mushroom Rice, Peas Mushroom Masala
Olivia, Kothrud: Hyderabadi or Afghani Legs
Curry on the Roof, Prabhat Road: Tamarind Stir-Fry Prawns, Tum Yum Kung (prawns) soup
Yana, FC Road: Shrimp cocktail, Fish Sizzler with Oyster Sauce, Chicken Reshmi Kebab with Shezwaan Sauce, Lamb Chops with Chilly Sauce, Wok with Black Beans Sauce
Mainland China, DP Road: Shinzsei Crabmeat Soup
Other great restaurants:
George and Blue Nile, Camp: Best value for money, some of the best biryani and tandoori in town
Ramkrishna, MG Road: For the best Indian/Punjabi food
Up and Above, Chandni Chowk: The best view of Pune - check the top deck for a romantic date
Pizza Corner, Koregaon Park: Best view while you eat, great coffee, good pizzas
Flavours@Seasons, Aundh: Awesome multi-cuisine buffet spreads, but ambience is not too relaxing, and a little cramped
Wadeshwar, FC Road: A very good alternative to the over-hyped Vaishali, try the Pomegranate juice with set dosa!
Cafe Goodluck, FC Road: One of the few remaining Irani restaurants, great for the morning tea with grilled omlette sandwich
Bon Apetite!
Flags, near Inox: An awesome multi-cuisine restaurant, with a formal atmosphere, but sprinkled with enough families and kids to make it very enjoyable. Very expensive - be prepared to shell out atleast 500 per person for a decent spread. The mocktails are fantastic, some of my favourites being Beyond the Sea (a nice touch of tulsi!) and Impatient French (with black currant). Try the Capuccino Mushroom soup - very rich, and very heavy! Among the main dishes, the Wok-tossed mushrooms (a combination of 3 different mushrooms), Coriander-crusted Kingfish and Maahi Kebab (fantastic fish kebab) are my all-time favourites.
Sarjaa, Aundh: Enjoy their service, with very attentive and yet very unobtrusive waiters. The Tomyum soup used to be fantastic, but a change of management and chef recently has changed that a bit. For starters, try the hot plates. The Tawa Surmai is worth every penny, especially with the green chutney. The Chicken Santhumin, a unique blend of noodles and gravy, is also worth a try. Chicken Volcano, Chicken Tangdi Masala, Gosht Chutneywaala, Gosht Achaari, Chicken Kali Mirch are some of the other all-time favourites. You also get very good masala butter milk to go with your food, and wrap up the dinner with paan from the shop right outside the restaurant.
Cocunut Grove, near Station: Some of the best fish in town - try the masala clams, the tandoori surmai, or the Manglorean-style prawns. Pair it with the idlis - yes, the softest rice idlis ever! Unbeatable taste you will come back for again and again!
Shrushti, off Tilak Road: The best Malvani and Goan fish in town. The decor and location is a turn off, but is more than made up for by the richness of the menu and the tasty food! Great place to go to when Goa calls, but don't take your date out there for a romantic dinner! A special recommendation - Mori (shark) Masala!
Other special dishes around town:
Polka Dots, Aundh: Devilled Mushrooms
Shivsagar, Aundh: Mushroom Manchurian, Dry with Shezwaan Rice and Curd
Horn OK Please, FC Road: Achaari Paneer, Tandoori Mushroom, Masala Chaas, Chef Special Chaat
Amrapali, FC Road: Mushroom Rice, Peas Mushroom Masala
Olivia, Kothrud: Hyderabadi or Afghani Legs
Curry on the Roof, Prabhat Road: Tamarind Stir-Fry Prawns, Tum Yum Kung (prawns) soup
Yana, FC Road: Shrimp cocktail, Fish Sizzler with Oyster Sauce, Chicken Reshmi Kebab with Shezwaan Sauce, Lamb Chops with Chilly Sauce, Wok with Black Beans Sauce
Mainland China, DP Road: Shinzsei Crabmeat Soup
Other great restaurants:
George and Blue Nile, Camp: Best value for money, some of the best biryani and tandoori in town
Ramkrishna, MG Road: For the best Indian/Punjabi food
Up and Above, Chandni Chowk: The best view of Pune - check the top deck for a romantic date
Pizza Corner, Koregaon Park: Best view while you eat, great coffee, good pizzas
Flavours@Seasons, Aundh: Awesome multi-cuisine buffet spreads, but ambience is not too relaxing, and a little cramped
Wadeshwar, FC Road: A very good alternative to the over-hyped Vaishali, try the Pomegranate juice with set dosa!
Cafe Goodluck, FC Road: One of the few remaining Irani restaurants, great for the morning tea with grilled omlette sandwich
Bon Apetite!
What a Spread!
We dined at Flavours today, the multi-cuisine restaurant at the Season's Apartment Hotel in Sanewadi, Aundh, just 200 meters away from my home.
At 399 per person (children free) Fri-Sun, and 299 per person on other days, the sumptuous buffet spread was a delight. Some great cold starters, including a light prawn salad, and fried lamb with chilly, followed by 4-5 dishes each of veg and non-veg food, accompanied with rotis, rice and daal. The oyster chicken with black mushrooms was fantastic, as was the mutton dish, the kebabs, and the cheese-stuffed chicken steak. I did not even try the veg food! To complete the experience, there was an excellent, soft strawberry pudding, a very exciting fruit plate with kiwi, pomegranate, papaya, pineapple and watermelon among others, butterscotch icecream with two amazing kinds of brownies, and an assorted Indian sweet plate!
The Season's Apartment Hotel offers 50 delux studio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments with rates varying from 4500 to 9500 rupees per night. Ideal for the long-term business traveller, and very close to Hinjewadi, it's no surprise that all the rooms were full. With conference rooms, temperature-controlled swimming pools, laundromats, fitness centers and other facilities, this is truly world-class!
And with a sports bar and dance floor, a coffee shop, and grill restaurant coming up, Season's promises to be the one-stop destination for food lovers all over Pune...
Look Into My Eyes.. You'll See.. What You Mean to Me...
Baatein mat suno
Baatoan mein kya rakha hai
Yeh toh sirf lavfz hai
Kuch bhi kahate hai...
Gaya guzra kal, kal tha
Aaj nayee subah hai
Naye armaan hai
Shayad kal se alag hai...
Nazroan se nazhrein milake dekho
Aakhen kabhi zhooth nahin bolti
Dil ki baat aa hi jaati hai
Aasoon ke sahare jiti hai...
Baatoan mein kya rakha hai
Yeh toh sirf lavfz hai
Kuch bhi kahate hai...
Gaya guzra kal, kal tha
Aaj nayee subah hai
Naye armaan hai
Shayad kal se alag hai...
Nazroan se nazhrein milake dekho
Aakhen kabhi zhooth nahin bolti
Dil ki baat aa hi jaati hai
Aasoon ke sahare jiti hai...
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Growing Up...
Yes, just like my daughter, I am growing up too!
All my life, atleast ever since I was old enough to make my own decisions and drive my own life, I never looked back with regret at anything I did. I owned responsibility for every decision and every action I took, believed in it, and loved it. Whether it was my education, my career, my marriage, my friends, my professional life or my first car, I rarely had anyone really supporting my decisions fully - but it never mattered really. I wanted to be the owner of my destiny, and I believed in myself strongly enough to have the conviction to go for my dreams.
But sometimes these days, I have second thoughts. Is my conviction weakening, is my resolve not strong enough, is it just a phase, or is this what they refer to when they say "life teaches you so much"?
Let's take my professional life - I have spent 8.5 years at Persistent - enjoyed being here, learnt a lot, got a lot of responsibilities and respect, and a lot of freedom. Yes, a lot of money too. But am I doing right by hanging around so long? People seem surprised when I tell them that this is my first job - earlier, I used to proudly tell them how it's just a reflection of how good Persistent is. Today, I wonder - do they smirk at me and think I am a fool for not going out there and doing better? I have job offers from some of the best software companies in the world - offering me a 2X hike, a job for my wife, and school admission for my kid! And yet, I am not taking it up - something in me wants to continue working for "my company". For "my team". But does my company and my team care for me to be here? Would anyone miss me at all if I leave?
And friends. All I wanted out of life was to have those 5 people who will cry for me when I die. From 20 to 30, I thought I had met some of those - I put in everything into those friendships. Sometimes at a cost far too much for me (or my family) to accept - but I did. Because I knew I was right. After all, wasn't life about doing something for someone, helping them, making them feel better, being there. But now when I look back, I have begun to ask myself - did they care enough? Did they need you? Did they want you to be there? And the cost - was it worth it after all?
When I look back at the last few years, I realise my biggest failure has been my inability to conform to society's rules of engagement. People hate frankness and forthrightness - they like hypocrites. People hate when you have friends - they love when you have enemies. They hate love, they love hatred. You will so so often see people who bitch behind each other's backs being "best friends" for life - and yet, that one friend who meant so so much to you, who discussed each and every deepest secret with you, one day will turn against you and walk out, sometimes without even offering a reason! Teammates you groomed for months to take over from you one day, will walk out on you telling you how they learnt so much from you, but would rather not work with you any more, because they think it stifles their growth!
I am changing - sometimes, when I look back at life, I wonder what has happened to "me" of the late nineties and early 2000. Something has changed for sure! I ask questions now. To myself. I doubt people's intentions. When I go for a movie with a friend, I tend to want to split 50-50. When I send mail, I wonder who else is going to snoop on it. When I talk to my boss, I tend to carry proof with me.
And as I write this blog, I am beginning to wonder.. who will read this, what will they think, and should I be changing something in here so that I can manipulate my family and friends and colleagues better through this blog?
Damn! I have grown up!
All my life, atleast ever since I was old enough to make my own decisions and drive my own life, I never looked back with regret at anything I did. I owned responsibility for every decision and every action I took, believed in it, and loved it. Whether it was my education, my career, my marriage, my friends, my professional life or my first car, I rarely had anyone really supporting my decisions fully - but it never mattered really. I wanted to be the owner of my destiny, and I believed in myself strongly enough to have the conviction to go for my dreams.
But sometimes these days, I have second thoughts. Is my conviction weakening, is my resolve not strong enough, is it just a phase, or is this what they refer to when they say "life teaches you so much"?
Let's take my professional life - I have spent 8.5 years at Persistent - enjoyed being here, learnt a lot, got a lot of responsibilities and respect, and a lot of freedom. Yes, a lot of money too. But am I doing right by hanging around so long? People seem surprised when I tell them that this is my first job - earlier, I used to proudly tell them how it's just a reflection of how good Persistent is. Today, I wonder - do they smirk at me and think I am a fool for not going out there and doing better? I have job offers from some of the best software companies in the world - offering me a 2X hike, a job for my wife, and school admission for my kid! And yet, I am not taking it up - something in me wants to continue working for "my company". For "my team". But does my company and my team care for me to be here? Would anyone miss me at all if I leave?
And friends. All I wanted out of life was to have those 5 people who will cry for me when I die. From 20 to 30, I thought I had met some of those - I put in everything into those friendships. Sometimes at a cost far too much for me (or my family) to accept - but I did. Because I knew I was right. After all, wasn't life about doing something for someone, helping them, making them feel better, being there. But now when I look back, I have begun to ask myself - did they care enough? Did they need you? Did they want you to be there? And the cost - was it worth it after all?
When I look back at the last few years, I realise my biggest failure has been my inability to conform to society's rules of engagement. People hate frankness and forthrightness - they like hypocrites. People hate when you have friends - they love when you have enemies. They hate love, they love hatred. You will so so often see people who bitch behind each other's backs being "best friends" for life - and yet, that one friend who meant so so much to you, who discussed each and every deepest secret with you, one day will turn against you and walk out, sometimes without even offering a reason! Teammates you groomed for months to take over from you one day, will walk out on you telling you how they learnt so much from you, but would rather not work with you any more, because they think it stifles their growth!
I am changing - sometimes, when I look back at life, I wonder what has happened to "me" of the late nineties and early 2000. Something has changed for sure! I ask questions now. To myself. I doubt people's intentions. When I go for a movie with a friend, I tend to want to split 50-50. When I send mail, I wonder who else is going to snoop on it. When I talk to my boss, I tend to carry proof with me.
And as I write this blog, I am beginning to wonder.. who will read this, what will they think, and should I be changing something in here so that I can manipulate my family and friends and colleagues better through this blog?
Damn! I have grown up!
What Are You Looking For?
Look out not for proof that things are going wrong - you will generally end up proving yourself right! Look out for the positives, however, and you will realise, they far outweigh the negatives...
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