December 31, 2008

Alvida 2008

I started off the year with this beautiful thought that my then boss had passed on to us: Sir Edmund Hillary on failing to conquer Everest twice said.. I will be back. As a mountain, you cannot grow. As a human being, I can!

2008 has been a good year for me. Took a couple of tough decisions, and realized that I need to take more of them if I had to get even close to where I want to be. February, in that sense was a tough month. To move out of ING that month was a difficult thing. I still miss the place and the team. But then, you cannot get everything together, can you? I wanted to chase the satisfaction of working for myself and I am happy I took that decision. Since then, the pace of life has been much more comfortable and manageable, albeit slow. Thankfully, the flow of moolahs has not shown the same trend. And so, I am happy. In fact, what excites me the most in my professional life is that there is so much more left to be done. That in itself is a good motivator.

Personal life has been steady. Still single and still happy! Still at peace. Relationships are a lot like salt, me thinks. You add it to your life on a need basis, like you add salt to add taste. You do not just get into relationship because you ought to do it. If you think this sounds obvious, then look around. A lot of them are in a relationship because they are supposed to be in one. So I have stayed away from relationships. Or to put it differently, nothing came my way and I did not chase any.

As a person, I choose to believe that I have matured. I have made a lot of mistakes this year, like in any other year. Yet, I do not feel quilty. Doing mistakes without feeling the guilt is a good way of learning, I have realized. One does not become wise with age, but with thoughts. I am satisfied that I have been able to give my thoughts a breeding ground. All through the year. This is the least I expect to keep doing for each living year of my life.

Looking back, there has been no extra-ordinarily happy moment or event in the year. Few events this year will go a long way in changing me and my emotions. I am happy that I could move through them in a manner I would have hoped to. Ironically, one of the most exciting and dreadful moments of the year came together!

A lot of my resolutions for the year have been left undone. Thanks to me remaining passive and lazy for a large part of the year. Yet no real regrets. Today is the first day of the rest of my life, and I can still achieve them. And I will.

I have not made any list of resolutions for 2009. There are a lot of ideas in my mind, but cannot term them resolutions. Ideas that are, in most cases, productive. Ideas that are not really associated with my profession. Ideas that basically will leave me a lot more peaceful and content when implemented. Well, that's the key. Execution. And that is going to be my theme for 2009. I will look to execute a whole lot of ideas.

Here's wishing you and your loved ones a very happy 2009. Keep smiling and stay healthy.

December 30, 2008

The signs of today's times

As they say, a picture speaks thousand words. Received these as forwards.. enjoy!






December 26, 2008

Ghajini

Saw this much awaited Aamir Khan movie today. Was left disappointed, to put it in short.

For a change, was disappointed even after having no great expectations. I personally did not think that the movie will work. However, I have been proven wrong going by the box office verdict. Well, even Rab ne bana di jodi is a huge hit. That movie is a piece of crap. Ghajini isn't that bad, yet very incomplete.

The crux of the movie is the character's short term memory loss. Actually, he remembers things only for 15 minutes. Isn't it short term memory retention rather than a short term loss? Anyway, the movie started well. I was happy that the director has worked on the details well. The alarm every 15 minutes, post it notes all around Aamir's house, etc. Yet, he missed the big 'detail'. The two phases of Aamir has been done reasonably well - the pre-memory loss and post it. But surprisingly, the transition between the two is completely missing. After being hit and losing memory, how did he remember the reason why he was the way he was! How did he work out on his body and why? Cannot get that angle and without that the movie falls apart completely, to my mind.

Ineffective climax adds to the disappointment. A group of 20 goons expect Aamir to get to them, yet tries to kill him using sticks and rods. Haven't they heard of guns? Oh yes, Aamir is the hero. He can't be kiled. Sorry, short term memory loss for me too.

With 3 hours alloted for the movie, it could have been much much better conceptually. Guess I was supposed to see the movie without my mind in place. Well, then my mistake.

Completely disappointed. Period.

December 19, 2008

What could this be?

I guess you might have received similar mails. I wonder who would be sending this and why? It cannot be system generated, can it be? I also wonder who could be replying to it and what happens then! If this is some kind of business model, then how does it work? Sounds like a good plot for a movie, but I surely do not want to be the experimenting character. I am pasting the latest of such mails I received, and pasting it verbatim.

HELLO

HOW ARE YOU TODAY, I HOPE YOU ARE FINE.I AM MOVED BYMY CONDITION TO WRITE YOU AND I AM HOPING THAT GOD WILL USE YOU TO HELPME.

MY NAME IS RACHEL DOMINIC.DAUGHTER OF LATE MR.DOMINIC DIMDENG, FORMER SECRETARY OF DEFENCE REPUBLIC OF SUDAN WHO DIED IN PLANE CRASH.YOU CAN VERIFY THIS INFORMATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS MEDIA.

SOMETIME LAST YEAR,MY LATE FATHER HINTED ME ABOUT THE SUM OF TWENTY ONE MILLION UNTED STATES DOLLARS WHICH HE CONCELLED IN A TRUNK BOX AND SECRETLY DEPOSITED IN A SAFE DEPOSIT HOUSE HERE IN IVORY COAST AS FAMILY VALUABLE BELONG TO HIS FOREIGN PARTNER BUT THE IDENTITY OF THE PARTNER WAS NOT DISCLOSE ON THE DAY HE MADE THE DEPOSIT.I HAVE CONFIRMED THE DEPOSIT AND I AM NOW IN IVORY COAST.

I WANT YOU TO STAND AS MY LATE FATHER FOREIGN PARTNER AND CLAIM THE CONSIGNMENT AND i WILL JOIN YOU IN YOUR COUNTRYTO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION BECAUSE SINCE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER,IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CULTURE BECAUSE MY FATHER DID NOT HAVE AMALE CHILD TO SUCCEED HIM MY UNCLES HAVE CHASED ME OUT OF OUR FAMILY HOUSE AND DENIED ME ACCESS TO MY LATE FATHER'S ESTATES AND OTHER PROPERTIES FOR THE FACT THAT I AM A GIRL.

I HAVE NO OTHER PERSON TO TURN TO AND BECAUSE OF MY AGE (18 YEARS) I CANNOT RETRIEVE THE CONSIGNMENT ON MY OWN DUE TO THE CLAUSE THAT MY LATE FATHER PLACE ON THE CONSIGNMENT AND THE COMPANY WANT ME TO PRESENT THE PARTNER SO THEY CAN RELEASE THE CONSIGNMENT TO THE PERSON.

THEREFORE I AM RELYING ON YOU TO HELP ME.IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ASSIST ME TO CLAIM THE BOX OF THE MONEY AND INVEST IT FOR ME I WILL GIVE YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL MONEY.

COULD YOUP LEASE RESPOND SO THAT I CAN GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS?

THANKS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE.

YOURS FAITHFULLY
MISS RACHEL DOMINIC



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This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

The bait is the 15% money and the lonely 18-year old Miss Rachel!!! Hmmmmm :-)

December 18, 2008

My first ton!

Sachin completed his 41st in Tests few days back, and I complete my first today. My 100th blog post! Yippiee.. applause, applause.

When I started to blog, never thought I would be able to maintain this for so long. Not in terms of posts, but time. More than a year and half of blogging. I have surprised myself with this!

I had titled it 'Musings of a restles mind...'. Restlessness does not indicate stress and discomfort. It indicates thoughts, and lots of them. All at once, erratic, all over the place. I love thinking. Sometimes I think about what to think. I do not think about negativities. I do not think about regrets. Thinking makes a person talk less. And I want to talk less. Very less.

I surely owe it to all of you for this blog to remain active. Thanks to all for reading my random musings and reacting to it. Most posts are intended to please myself, yet it triggers some thoughts inside many. I find that part of blogging exciting.

Here's hoping for few more hundreds of posts over the next few decades! Didn't I tell you I think really big!! No? Ok, now I did.

Keep reading. Keep commenting. Keep thinking. Keep smiling. Keep loving. Keep praying. Keep inspiring. Keep learning. Keep sharing. Keep living.

December 15, 2008

Lost

I was a just-born and she was thirty-one,
though we were we, we were one.
I would cry out in Latin and she would respond in Greek,
I would learn nothing but she never got tired to teach.

I was surrounded by monsters eager to pull my cheek,
but they would vanish the moment I was wet and weep.
She would come running and hold me in her arms,
as if I had won the contest of the charms.

Now I was able to walk and chew,
Hey, I was two.
I and she could now understand each other,
I was her everything and she needed no other.

I would try to walk and fall down,
but knowing she was with me, the fear of getting hurt was now gone.
We still could not converse that effectively,
but she would understand my needs so easily.

I could now roam about free,
because now I have turned three.
I was ready to join a new world,
my academic life was now gonna mould.

She would dress me as best as a prince,
but when I would come back, she would need atleast an hour to rinse.
I was now able to talk,
I was a ferry and she was my dock.

I still remember the child, whose shirt I had tore,
Hey buddy, I have turned four.
I now came home a little late,
nevertheless finding her waiting at the gate.
She would hug me and carry me in her arms,
it felt like flying through the farms.
We now did the homework together,
I would spoil the home and she used to work.

Years passed and now I was fifteen,
and with each year I would forget to lean.
I wouldn't care for what she said,
because now I had become mean.
She would ask me to study for a good future,
but I was busy in a different culture.
Now I had many shes in my life,
I dreamed of having one of them as my wife.

I changed a lot which she did not teach,
She would try to hug me but I was out of reach.
She still waited for me at the gate,
but I would look at her with utmost hate.
She would be awake till late in the night,
because I wasn't home, I was in a fight.
She had so much to scold, but she never did say,
hoping to find me better the next day.
Time went on and now I am grown,
lost in the world of my own.

I and she, between us have a river,
I have left her for my career.
When I was young, for me, she sacrificed her ambitions,
but I don't care, I now have my own mission.
I am not with her now, I am in a different city,
she is so old now but I don't even pity.

She needs me now but I am nowhere to find,
in the race for appraisal, I have become blind.
In a few years from now, I will be two,
there will be in my life someone new.
Then I'll forget even to bother,
I am her son and she my Mother.

I do not know the source of this piece..

December 11, 2008

Maharathi

It's the name of the movie I saw most recently. It's also the name of the blunder I last made. Got induced by a good star-cast that includes Naseerudin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Boman Irani, the movie missed out on something that is unfortunately very crucial - the script. A very shabby movie that gives no scope for even the furnitures to do their part of the role well. 2 hours wasted. Incidentally, I saw this movie with a Maharathi himself.. what say Romi. :)

I am not writing this post for reviewing the movie. I seldom give bad reviews for movies. One of the reasons why my movie reviews in this blog have been few and scattered. To be fair, I have seen horrible movies in the past. Can't remember all, but one of the worst I can is Good Boy, Bad Boy. If GBBY is a good movie, Maharathi could deserve at least a Filmfare if not the Oscar.

I am writing this to record something in my blog for years to come. The record of least number of people while watching a movie broke with this. It was 11 when I watched Shaurya (a good movie). I saw this amazing movie with 8 people.

Can we not claim compensation from the makers of a bad movie like we can from the manufacturers of an inferior product?

December 10, 2008

Me thinking...

...of writing a lot of stuff about finance, markets and related gyaan. Want to decide whether to write it on this blogpage itself or to create a new one for these stuff.

What do you think... any suggestions? Replies would be appreciated.

December 6, 2008

Magical words

A rich collector had three items with him: a gold ring, a gold nugget and a gold signet seal. When he was asleep, they argued all the time. The gold ring declared that it was better than the other two because it was made for the finger of a rich bride. The gold nugget said it was better than the other two because miners had risked their lives to find it. The gold signet said it was better than the other two because it had sealed the messages of a king.

They argued day and night, until the ring said, 'Let's ask God. He will decide which of us is the best.' The other two agreed, and so they approached the Almighty. Each made its claim for being superior. God listened carefully, and when they were done, he said 'I can't settle your dispute, I'm sorry'.

The gold signet seal grew angry. 'What do you mean, you can't settle it? You're God.'

'That's the problem', said God. 'I don't see a ring, a nugget and a seal. All I see is gold.'

An excerpt from 'Why is God Laughing?' written by Deepak Chopra.

December 3, 2008

Mumbai roars

Let me put this straight. Today might well be the day that marks the beginning of a new Mumbai. Going by what I witnessed at the Gateway of India today, it is apt to say that Mumbai roared like a tiger, though a wounded one at this point in time. A sea of people came to express their feelings relating to the terroris attacks. The could easily be thousands of people, if not even close to a lakh. Well, I have not seen so much people at one place before this. All with one common view: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE (borrowing from the Steve Austin's punchline).

There were all kind of groups. From people who silently expresses gratitude towards the martyrs and killed innocents to animated groups shouting anti-Pakistan slogans. There were many asking for a war to be declared, few wanting peace to emerge soon. People were pissed off with politicians more than terrorists. If I were a politician representing any part of this country and watching all this on television, I would definitely be one concerned guy. People went around pulling down all political hoardings down the streets. Putting up banners and placards with the choicest of taunts and abuses against terror and politicians, the people of Mumbai came out whole-heartedly to voice their concerns.

I am extremely proud that I was a part of the crowd and stood there holding banners and placards with my friends. This was one of the most magnificent moments of my life. I am truly proud to be a Mumbaikar, an Indian among the many thousands who stood with me asking for answers and solutions.

Where does this lead to? I do not know about others. But me and my friends are again going to be there at the Gateway of India on December 17 and December 26 if nothing concrete is done till then by the government. What we expect is, at least:
1. Bringing to books all those localites who helped the terrorists in their notorious acts.
2. Giving a clear ultimatum to Pakistan to come out clean or go all out to destroy terror camps within the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) if they refuse to co-operate.
3. Clear and transaparent measures to be taken to ramp up security forces across the country as soon as possible.
4. And finally, all politicians kindly shut their mouths and ACT to restore our confidence. We do not want to hear your nonsense. We do not want political catfights on issues relating to our security.

Friends, please be there again on December 17 if you are not convinced of what is being done. We have got the momentum, a great start. Let's keep this going till we reach the end. We cannot leave these politicians by themselves. We have committed a blunder by choosing them to their current posts. Let us erase our mistakes by forcing them to act. They won't otherwise.

Friends, the time to ACT is NOW. Or else we risk yet another 26/11.

December 2, 2008

Tracking 'Silence Quotient'

Ladies and gentlemen, I have formulated a new concept known as the Silence Quotient. Applause Applause..

In one of my earlier posts, I had written that silence is golden and I want to feel it. This was a result of a lot of things going inside me, a result of few introspections, a result of analsying the 'noise' around me. I have not taken any deliberate measures to achieve this, yet wanted to see how I have fared. In some way, trying to measure 'passive performance' on this front. To be sure, I wanted a quantified measure of how much I have spoken over the last one year. How could I do it?

Actually, over the last two months, two of my friends and well-wishers who knows me very well happened to mention that I seem to be in a shell. So that is a qualitative assessment of how things have been. But I wanted to measure it.

I looked into my last 12 months' mobile bills to get some sense of how I am faring. And the results are positive! :) Here's the summary of the analysis:


The orange line shows the minutes I have spoken on outgoing calls and the green line, the number of smses I have sent out. The dip in both the lines must either mean I have become a stingy mobile user or I am ACTUALLY talking and interacting less. Right?

Now, I must confess that I am really happy about the findings. I have indeed lost the zest to just talk about nothing-at-all with people. I avoid conversations which is all about rhetorics and general in nature. I can sense that the noise around is lesser. Please do not misunderstand that I am avoiding people or not taking calls. In fact, the above chart does not reflect anything about incoming calls. But that too has come down. I am indeed enroute external silence, by actually talking less!

There is a lot to be done regarding internal silence now. That will happen too, very soon. My Silence Quotient is definitely on the rise and hopefully will become optimum soon.

I must admit that during trainings/lectures, I obviously talk a lot but that's unavoidable. Other than that what I can avoid, I have been trying to.

And finally, talking less does not mean that you are feeling odd or out of the friends' circle or left out or something. My personal observation has been that the two does not have any great correlation. I have been feeling lighter, mentally. (Wish I could say that about my physical self!)

P.S.: If you are wondering how am I getting the time to do all this, where do you think the time saved on talking is going into? :)

December 1, 2008

December 3

It's yet another Wednesday, but this time the plan is to counter-threaten the elements who have managed to threaten us in the past. I am sure every one has received either a mail or a sms regarding the coming together for the fight against terrorism on December 3, 6pm at the Gateway of India, easily the most distinct iconic symbol of Mumbai. We have had terror attacks in the past and there have been a handful of people who have come together to light few candles in memory of the killed. However, this kind of a large scale movement is probably the first of its kinds and hopefully will be the start of a new era of civilian movement.

I do not know what will be the impact of the movement, I do not know how many people would turn up, I do not know whether we can individually do anything but I would surely be a part of the crowd to voice my dissent against the way things happen in this city, this country.. my city & country.

Mumbai is already back on its feet and things apparently look normal. But I can be sure that it is not, and things are not going to be normal again for a long time. And that is how it should be. Reactions to an extremely abnormal situation cannot be any longer normal. The country surely is looking for faces among the crowd and leaders among the bunch of ministerial jokers who can lead the way for the nation. Few resignations here, some cabinet shuffles there could all be just useless if not followed through properly.


All these things would turn out to be hollow rhetorics without anything backing it. Will we see that set of actions? What will I be doing for that? When? Many questions that each one of us should be asking ourselves.