Day in Day out

All hail !!!! the Moor of Venice

2006-07-30T23:56:00.000-07:00

The Moor of venice .... Othello , brilliant movie ... Ajay Devgan as Othello is the silent presence in the movie and Saif Ali Khan ( Langda Thyagi ) as Iago is too brilliant for words... he carries the role so well that at sometimes you feel like throttling him but then thats what he is supposed to do. Kudos to Saif .. Vivek Oberoi has a passing presence in the film and Konkona Sen Sharma as Langda...'s wife portrays the village belle wedded to an outlaw perfectly. Bipasha is a passing presence and Kareena Kapoor has played desdemona well....

Naseeruddin Shah is the typical politician running things from Jail and one who works his caste votes and can get elected anytime...
My only lament was that some of the movie was in Bhojpuri and took some time for the average Tamil Brahmin to understand , but then there was Virdee and some repetitions of dialogues required....
The climax is heart rending and the movie is brilliant and the songs are just too good... a must watch for any shakespearean and movie critic... Langda... is what acting should be ...

My 0.02

Chennaizombie

How do you price a book?

2006-07-30T23:35:00.000-07:00

A great paradox .... how do you price a book ? while you have some books which quote at something like 95/- and some paperbacks which quote at 400 plus rupees.
I don't get it , a paperback is meant to make the book reachable to more people and more so from the fact that the hardbound edition has made some money and the paperback is either meant to recover whatever money is required and or increase subscription.

Some of the major contributors to this are ;
1. Author's royalty ( or sometimes a flat fee for the same )
2. Publisher's brand / premium
3. hardbound / paperback...

Here the noble thought of making the book accessible to a wider population is lost ... you have books by a few authors which are way to expensive to the average man and in some cases the academic population - the student is left out of the equation. I do agree libraries are there for this but there too with regard to works of fiction / non fiction become unreacheable to many.

I just saw some paperbacks of thomas friedman and krugman etc which have about 500 pages quoting at somewhere in the range of 400 rupees , I would rather call it a glorified hardbound rather than a paperback. This in turn leads many ( including me ) to either look for the book online or scrounge the various back streets of bangalore for the same at a fraction of the cost.
Books which are supposedly good but by an author not well known are allso priced similarly ... especially management books ( maybe I too should write a book!!! ) and then after investing a considerable sum on the same , find the book below standards leading more to the street sellers.
I do release that book publishers also have to cut trees and pay a lot of people starting from the typesetter to the copywriter... but then it becomes a question of who should sacrifice for the sake of literacy... the author ? the publisher ? the book seller ?....

Chennaizombie

Books and Life

2006-07-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

Getting pretty bored with life.... nothing to do other than stare at girls and feel bad later... but what the heck , thats me. I felt that I was the one feeling like that but seems like my friends are not pretty far either.
I have a friend in Singapore who does some research in Analog Electronics etc and is waiting for a chance to get out of Singapore.
Same could be said about my dear friend Kini who has got tired of the sand and the camels in Oman ( cause there's nothing ellse there!!!)
Virdee.... no idea , looks like he is trying to become a surd after so long and before he forgot what a surd was....
Mike... he too is settling down...
Arun Subs... as usual ... nothing new...
and me ... sinking deepped and deeper into books. A llong list of books to kill time...
Arundhati Roy - Algebra of Infinite Justice... anyone who is following the Narmada Bachao Andolan and the book which essentially is a collection of political essays by her please do read it and then you will know the politics behind dams , people rehabilitiation and greed. Beautifully written book and would almost convert you into a socialist / non capitalist. The writing is very similar to Amartya Sen and is lucid and very well written.
Another book is called "Born Confused" by a first time writer called "Tanuja Desai hidier" nice one , only thing is that the first 150 to 200 pages are boring and the book picks up after that.
now its back to Ernest hemmingway and "Farewell to Arms" - beautifully written as usually and yet to complete it.
If you are into non fiction - go through - "Midnight in the garden of good and evil" and "Bridges of Madison County" the latter would make anyone wish they were photographers as well.

And till I get something new to do ... like work should revive the blog and continue what I do now - stare at girls and read books!!!

Poor little bad guy

2006-03-10T22:37:00.000-08:00

I'm reminded of richie rich when I write this but would like to make an exception - never been rich so the term poor little rich guyu does not apply. To make a distinction - Bad guy.... sort of Oxymoron...
Was reading my friend Kini's blog on family - not literate enough in HTML to put the tag - its ritzkini.blogspot.com - kinds reminded me of my cousins... but then to narrate my story would be called plagiarism...

Kahaani mein twist - To start with - Tam Bram - not a care in the world - bought up in esteemed brahmin traditions - and would relate better to Thayir Saatham than Pizza - not that I complained - Thayir Saatham became a cannot live without food for me and again not complaining.

Now - Burgers - Alcohol - whoa - where did the Tam Bram go ? but again not that I complain!!!!

Leads me to a different track all together from where I started from - have to polish my blogging skills - coming back to family - Kini forgive me if some of it sounds familiar - but like in the movies - ' Naan Solvatthellam unmai , unmaiyai thavira vaer ethuvum illai'

A family of about 7 cousins and we all grew up about 5 minutes from each others homes - of course there was the age difference but still the windowpanes and shins breaking still applied. Other than that there was the friend circle where had our adventures and used to drive people wild with something or the other - and especially Diwali was a time of high alert for the entire Khandaan!!!
*wild is to be construed as something that kids do and not as adults , I would like to make that classification right away to avoid misconceptions!! Like how wild do yu think a Tam Bram can get - not much by any means of imagination

Also suddenly you realize your moral fibre and go calling on your cousins- Kini it happens - atleast your calling rates are cheaper!!! I ran out of money calling up from Seattle and now its come down that I am back in India.

Anyway I think I lost track of what I wanted to say - better compose it in a separate post and sen it out later- till then I have a business requirement to document and that unfortunately pays for my food and this does not!!

Chennaizombie

One Night @ the call center

2006-03-01T21:41:00.000-08:00

Amazing book by Chetan Bhagat. Some things are super cool but I am not too sure at the end if he was referring to 'God' as a factor which makes people buy his books by reading the paperback or merely refers to 'God' as your internal voice.

Also some of the people you can relate to but am not too sure if you have to be working at a call center to be able to relate to one of them.

This might sound too religious / altruistic but the book was kinda nice and makes you think about listening to yourself.... but does everyone else ? and how should one react to the inner voice?

Sort of book review and kinds bored at work and hence the blogs....

Chennaizombie

To BE or not to BE

2006-03-01T19:26:00.000-08:00

This is the question going on in the minds of scores of students in Chennai. But I would blame the AICTE for the same. How were these colleges allowed to participate in the counselling if they were not AICTE approved.

Questions the AICTE has to answer:
1. How did they suddenly realize after 4 years that these colleges did not have AICTE approval ? - did the supreme being come in the AICTE CHairman's dreams and asked him to act on it?
2. How did they turn a blind eye to this for 4 years?
3. What about the students who have passed out of these 'DEEMED' universities for the past 4 years ? those who hold good jobs , those who have gone for higher studies?

Questions the college management should answer:
1. How did they get their feet into the counselling?
2. Parties involved - politicians , ministers .. the list I am sure will go on...

Questions the government should answer:
1. What was the education ministry doing - plucking berries? and sitting pretty?
2. The government being the same when deemed university status was given , the usual conspiracy theory of the previous government did this will not hold.
3. With elections expected soon - what are they going to do ?
4. Will there be any legislation against such offenders - both the AICTE and the college management?

Ultimately it is the students who stand to lose , the solution arrived at will most likely be a temporary one and also will not be a satisfactory one I am sure.

I agree that I too passed out of a 'Madras University' college about 4 years ago - thankfully I should say.
Hard time especially for the students in their final year.

Chennaizombie

All roads lead to ruin

2006-02-26T18:50:00.000-08:00

Roads .... where are they ? some claim that they will be done only after the elections , some claim that the roads were good before the rains... In Chennai my till date opinion was that it was better than Bangalore - but now I see arterial roads non existent and key roads leading out of the city nothing more than dirt tracks..

Especially the poonamalle high road and EVR Salai - one would need an SUV for driving there. Mercedes listening ? you could do a test drive here and that would make you a lot of customers. I personally do not mind offering my time for testing for free though. I do something good for the country now and then , let it be through testing the chennai roads!!

Other than that most roads are half full with parked vehicles and roadside vendors - I know election is approaching and you cannot make enemies with anyone but is it correct ?

I do not know if I would vote ( If I can come from Bangalore for the same...)
Virdee if you are listening , you could use my fundamental right anyway since the voters list is so screwed up.

Chennaizombie

People in Glass Houses should not throw stones

2006-02-26T18:45:00.000-08:00

HEHE QUITE TRUE .. Life in Saint Gobain is muck like a glass house but of course with 800 tonnes of glass being produced everyday in the same facility , I would love to have some stones....

Or the least I could do is throw my laptop into the furnace and claim that I cannot be of any use to this project and go back!!!! just kidding ... I would never do that to my laptop but the other half remains...

Bad timings - wake up at 5 in the morning and reach back at 9:30 in the night leaves time for nothing and that makes jack a dull boy and of course nothing to do but type away when someone else asks the questions and I am dutifully minuting the meeting @#@#%$@ which means that I am a glorified Stenographer. And to top it if no one thinks you are to be used in the project - reminds you of Stanley Ipkiss and the doormat phrase.

But thats what it is going to be for another 2 months and maybe this is not my cup of teas... oops coffee , I am in Chennai!!!

Chennaizombie

Thai manne vanakkam

2006-02-14T05:46:00.000-08:00

Back on Indian soil and it feels great. Good food , bird watching etc etc...

The Seattle Space Needle

2006-01-19T22:53:00.000-08:00

Finally got to visit the space needle.. Somewhat looks like a tall water tank but nice thing... considering it was built in 1962 or 67 .for more
The Space Needle

The Space Needle

Chennaizombie

BTW if you are wondering about the skies .. thats the way it is all trhough and it was a dry and bright day byb Seattle standards....

Radio and TV in the US

2006-01-08T22:14:00.000-08:00

I have been in Seattle for slightly more than 2 months and felt it was my stayright to comment on the TV shows and the Radio here ( well of course discounted for HOTEL TV and Free Radio Channels)
Radio : Its nothing other than Country and Hip Hop.
Country : Apart from some good ones , its always someone singing out an essay like...
" I woke up one day and went out... went to the grocers ..." Anyone could write a country song and get away with it. If you write it in India .. its also a country... why is it so American ??

Hip Hop : mumble some words together in a way than only a very few can understand and others wrack their brains to undertstand it and buy the music.. which means if you write songs in Swahili .. you are going to be a millionaire...!!!

And TV shows : other than reruns ( which is 90% of the time) you have soaps and non soaps... and there are also channels where people just shout out loud and are actually watched for it. Imagine a person doing nothing but shouting about companies and their stock and it is a primetime show.

Well thats all I have to say about TV and Radio ...

Chennaizombie

2006-01-08T22:06:00.000-08:00

Finally a way to move around Seattle ... Well actually this pic was taken at Mt.St.Helens which is an Active Volcano which has not erupted for about 25 years...
It erupted on the year I was born , maybe to proclaim my birth..

The GadgetMobile

Its a Standard Hyundai Accent and have done about 700 Miles on it so far without any problems... Hyundai ... You could use this as some free propaganda for your vehicle .. I will endorse it...

Chennaizombie

2006-01-08T22:04:00.000-08:00

How does a die hard Veggie Like me survive in the land of the Meat Eaters where Vegetarian means Salad and chicken is considered Vegetarian ?
Heres your answer...

The Master Chef

My own little cooking area with bare minimum to be able to have some fine dining ...( My definitions of Fine Dining ... I would like to add)

Well anyone travelling , do not fear , ask me how to survive

Chennaizombie

2006-01-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

The Gadget Guru:
Well stacked after a trip to Seattle also known as the place of gadgeteers ... have quite an inventory here :
iPod ( In the Case Logic...)
Laptop
PDA ( Palm Tungsten E)
and of course my Camera...

Gadget Guru

Well Loaded with all possible things .. an Inspector Gadget coming your way...

Chennaizombie

The Pike Place Fish Market

2006-01-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

One of the More prominent landmarks of Seattle and one of the oldest markets ... The Pike Place fish market , more known for the book FISH! . The picture here is that of the store that inspired the book.

The World Famous Pike Place Fish Market

Nice place where the guys in Orange call out to the customers and toss the fish/seafood around and something going on there all the time.

Chennaizombie

2006-01-02T00:11:00.000-08:00

Finally I was able to get a photo ontpo my blog ....

Me Myself and Myself....

Yaaaah , that's me at the fag end of the Argosy Cruise ... but now that I have figured out the way to post images ... A more colorful blog I have ( Yoda Style....)

Chennaizombie ...

Of football , Rugby and Soccer

2006-01-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

I never knew Football was different from Soccer till about a month ago. I atleast called it American Football.... but again it was assumed that American football was like Rugby with a lot of safety gear.
But then ... Enlightenment Happened....
Looks like American Football is so very different from Rugby in so many cases and no idea which is better or worse , I think it is more like comparing Apples and Oranges and that thoo when you come from a country which does not play Rugby or American football and calls soccer football. More like the Rest of europe...

But then the rose bowl is coming up and it looks like the equivalent of the Ashes and looks good , but as in all American sports , has a lot of fanfare and packaging to it.

Lets see , one more day to go and I will know what is meant by American football history.

Chennaizombie

Fiddler on the Roof - The Movie

2006-01-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

Saw Fiddler on the roof ,
The movie was good , and the music score was excellent. On the story though ... I saw it more as a person , A father questioning his faith and also something like above all there is love and that is the decider. The scenes / parts where he decides for his daughters based on what they like instead of what the society expects his to do is very good and is the father supposed to be the fiddler on his roof trying to do what is good for his family and keeping them happy whatever it takes for him to keep them happy?

I saw it as more of interpreting one's faith than just a musical... Is this what it is meant to be ? I know its pretty late to ask this question but stilll...

Chennaizombie

2 posts in One Day!!!

2005-12-31T21:48:00.000-08:00

Must be a record for me .. Lots of catching up to do.. No post in 2 months... sad but true.. so expect more - My new year resolution is to write till I drop or atleast till my Laptop drops...

about Seattle :
Beautiful place and being my first visit abroad .. nice place to be but WRONG time. All that I have seen is clouds and Rain. Its been a while since I have seen the sun. I could call it the light at the end of the tunnel. Atleast till this project is over.
So I get to see the sun when I go back to Bangalore....
My resolution is to make sure that I visit Seattle in Spring / Summer... if that is possible..

About work :
Work I am doing here is exciting but again goes completely against what I am supposed to do as a Business Analyst but who cares a- as long as I like it I do not give a damn..
As Ashwin would put it .. BFIC.

About my close group :
Everyone is getting married - what is going to happen to Saturday Nights from now on ? At least I wont be contributing to UB or Shaw Wallace ( but now that they belong to one company it really does not matter)
So UB please do not get people married so that I can add to your bottomline... but hey as long as everyone is happy. I am happy that my friends are getting married , happy for themn that they are settling down...
And Others : Kini , Virdee , Ashwin... and the others - long live the bottle of trust (or atleast bottle of Vodka) - Kind of loose translation on the fellowship of the ring and from Meet the fockers...

And finishing in true David Gilmour style : Can't keep my eyes from the circling sky , Turn Time twisted , an Earth bound misfit , I.
Soory for the plagiarism - Kini , I know I ack owledged PF but not you...

Chennaizombie

A very loong time since I wrote

2005-12-31T21:39:00.001-08:00

Aaaaahh its been two monoths since I came to Seattle. Sleepless in Seattle very truly in the first 3 weeks , in fact dozed in a couple of meetings and then finally woke up!!!

Work is okay only that many people do not see the point immediately. One one hand I have someone who does not know what is being done but gives me my space to do what it takes and on the other I have this guy who does not know anything of what I am doing but decides to put his foot into MY mouth...

Bad Mistake which will pay rich dividends for me later!!! ( You can see me gloating already)
Other than that , Basically work and not too much of Play. Getting to know people and also calling up on long lost cousins and friends.
Got to talk to some of them after 3 years and it was nice catching up on what was happe ning over the phone. Especially due to this small VOIP software that gives free calls to anywhere in the US... There is a free meal or so atleast a free snack somewhere.
Catching on what is happening in India. Many strange things , we had terrorists attack on of the highest educational institution... why would they do that ? maybe they wanted in so desperately and they figured out that this is the only way into the IISc.
No Cricket and no games. No TV ( Hotel TV sucks big time...) and thankfully I am not that much a TV person. This makes me put myself harder at work - lucky for my company.
Days are spent between ABAP code , JavaScript code and my iPod. At sometimes I feel like a developer and not so much of a Business Analyst for what I was hired. Confusing questions - Am I doing what I want to do ? or am I not doing what I am EXPECTED to do. I atleast thought that both were the same for some time atleast. Probing questions and no answer in sight.

Its either the thinking cap or the sleeping cap for me .. adios...
Chennaizombie

Strategy and Action

2005-09-09T23:10:00.000-07:00

What is Strategy ? a lot of intelligent people talking on whats coming up ? seems to be the case .. lot of new things learnt and takeaways . Makes things look very interesting but at the same time dangerous in making you feel inadequate. In a industry of constant change and wavering focus - where does one find high ground ? and how high is it ? only time can tell.

chennaizombie.

Matrimonial Bliss!!!

2005-08-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

lot of nuptial bells around and people visiting finacees etc etc.
And suddenly they go out of the system after marriage. Happened with a couple of my friends though , both do not return calls and no one knows what each other is upto nowadays!!
One more very good friend ( Guy ) is to tie the knot and we have known each other over many rounds of Scotch , Vodka and you name it... and he has just visited his beau yesterday and come back from Ahmedabad - lets see what holds for our dear friend Sudeep and his marriage. Most likely we would raise a toast for the same!!!!
The circle of friends seems to diminish and our specie of bachelordom is under threat but it does not mean that people choose to be on this side because it is better. Only because we all know we would cross over some day or the other and have given it to fate since we cannot preempt fate ( not that we tried anyway!!)

Chennaizombie.

The Blogger Extension to Firefox

2005-08-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

Today I installed the blogger extension to Firefox and one click publishing has become much easier. All it requires is one click from the browser and you can directly publish. Amazing and makes life very easy.

Now since I ave enough keywords to attract google's attention - I can continue!!!!

Busy days and some people have complained that I write too much about alcohol. Not that I care anyway. Finally got my hands on GTA San Andreas ( Another Key word!!!) and got to play it yesterday. Amazing music score and other than that nothing much to say right now since I got killed in the first mission even before it started. The mouse control sucks bigtime though.

Lets see what else I can find in the game and this includes the fact that I have the hot coffee mod also!!!!

Chennaizombie

IITM , Chennai and Chennai's Bars / Permit Rooms

2005-08-01T01:43:00.000-07:00

IITM Rocks .... Went for the Alumni Meet and met all people who had taken time out from their schedules and turned up in Chennai for the department reunion , including Nair Saab who had come from Leh ( This is what I call committment!!!) and Senthil , who had just become a father to a baby boy the previous day evening.

Some people were notably missed though but not that we did care otherwise!!!
and after that some music and attempts at fusion music on the veena by some people made the day in IITM.
Then the funstarted!!! we thirsty souls went in search of a water hole a.k.a similar to Sivakumar singing 'Thanni Thotti Thedi Vanda' on the streets of Cathedral road and landed up in the savera - Bamboo Bar and the place decided to give us the Bamboo!!! B@#$%rds . Please no one go the the place , they unashamedely promote the much much higher priced lounge bar updtairs by having few seats inside and telling everyone that they are full!!!
Then it was back on the streets and no idea where to go on a nice balmy Sat Night. The the most Ironical thing . Virdee and ashwin call up from the UK and give us some very much required knowledge on the waterholes in Chennai. This is called multinationalism.
Then we head out to this place called Sakityan on Burkit road and the place called the 'DEN' they might have called it the circus since we found only some underage kids downing beer by the bottle!!!!
Then from the den we went to ' Hotel Peninsula' with its cocktail peninsula - which is very close to Ashwin's house ( Maybe some customer credits for Ashwin ??) and then we enter and the same scene - youngsters with beer!!! and Kini shouts 'F#$%' as soon as he enters as if he is the guy arund and everyone make way types!!!! and then he goes and pleads with the bartender... sir I have come all the way from Mumbai ,, please let me drink!!!!

heheh it was so funny and of course the 4th bar we had hit. then we and vipin went to the diesel bar which had space but was too expensive. Then we ultimately went back to Peninsula and drank to our hearts content till about 11:30 ' Long live Peninsula who served us well after the time limits and very good service also.

Then we head back home ( Walk all the way) and then Abhishek who was too drunk realizes when it clears that he left his phone back in the place since he was sitting cross legged with a wierd posture that made Kini seem to be in a disadvantageous posture!!!!
Then finally they got the phone bck and we all slept or rather crashed and next day Abhi goes to Bangalore and is to go to Mumbai by train on Sun night and all trains are cancelled. Lets see what he does.

Well thats how Saturday was for us!!!

Arun

My views on Perfume.....

2005-07-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

I recently heard that Perfumes use 100% proof Vodka .. I was appalled since my mouth smelt different!!!!

Maybe they are using spurious stuff ? girls and other people who use perfumes ( I don't ) beware!!!!

And anyway I am of the opinion that perfume should not have alcohol , it is such a waste of resources that could be out to better use....

And that is what I have to say about that... ( Forrest Gump) and the OST of forrest gump by the Byrds which is a passage from the bible is my all time favorite ... anyone else ? ( Again.. to reiterate... I am Hindu ..) ( But not that religious anyway!!!)

Chennaizombie

here I am , this is me.....

2005-07-14T22:07:00.000-07:00

And completing the above lines from a Bryan adam's song .. There's somewhere else that I would rather be!!!
But ofcourse , the visa officials don't seem to hear the same!!! and stuck between a rock and a hard place I remain. But not complaining right now but am a tad away from doing it , lets see how the cookie crumbles ( from Bruce Almighty ) will be hopefully seeing ullam ketkumey ( A tam movie if it has'nt reached you yet..) this week and unfortunately the status of my social life ( if there was one does not warrant me weeping for having to spend time on Saturday in Office...) maybe they call people like me anti social elements since we do not have a social life to refer to ?? anyone ??
and for girls with similar problems of a lack of a social life thay can call them dainty social elements ??!!!

Up to my ways again I guess , let me stop right here before I get outrageous and go back to me Calvin and Hobbes... BTW I have all the C&H ever published in a nifty PDF about 1500 pages long and 120 MB big .. anyone inetrested ? I can lead you to the loot...

Chennaizombie

Long time no Write

2005-07-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

Actually been caught up in a spot ...
Have to maintain peace on all sides -- sound like one of the swamis..... and after seeing Sarkar .. makes me reminiscient of some character I saw .. do not remember his name. Well after a nice weekend .. had a drink or two and met up with friends and my friends are going to the UK .. after the bombing .. seems scary to visit...!!!
Also someone else also travelling and not that I have anything to do with it .. sometimes feel that I should also be going somewhere!!! my company listening ? anyway somethings happenign and lest see!!!
I love being cryptic since no one knows me as chennaizombie in office and even if they do know BFIC!!! and also nice to know that a very good friend of mine ( His words actually) proposed to a very good friend of his on Wednesday last week just before he was about to leave to London on a 6 month stint. Atleast he got it out of the way. Even though he denies it , I smell a rat!!!

Friend in Need is a Friend in Deed

2005-05-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

What do you do when a friend suddenly turns up out of the blue and says he is married ?
Pretty tough scenario since you know him as a close buddy and then WHAM! hits you out of the blue. One option would be to ignore it and proceed as if nothing happened but me being me , it cannot happen and what would be to happen if you are called by him and talk all except the thing that has been left out. sad but true but other that than discovered new things in my work line and am creating waves - of course on the beach where else can you get waves ( the water kind and not electromagnetic) also nice things happening to nice friends .... and the rest is all water under the bridge . Water .... people reading this who know me know what water I am talking about!!!

walk the bottle

2005-05-19T01:04:00.000-07:00

Work is a misery but you are forced to live through it ... anonymous ( Actually me but if it says anonymous maybe people would notice and attribute it to a 12th century chinese saying or something like that!!!)
Finally got my hands on a Jhonny Walker but alas work keeps me from walking.... and the agony of knowing that it exists adds fuel to the fire...
talk about fuel ....
And to know that I have sinned by not updating my blog is another .
okok feb 17th was not too far away .. Kini work comes first , it is after all the hands that feed the mouth ( you cannot feed anything else ....)
and with guys like Kini and virdee who needs to worry from not being up to date.
Also went for the Joe Satriani concert in the middle .. ended up with a stiff neck from headbanging too hard.
Also realized that Joe and god have 3 words and both mean the same right now for my musical leanings. A new appreciation for the guitar and also for the organizers who turned a blind eye when people started walking over to the 2000 rupee arena thus helping poor souls like me drown further in musical bliss. OKOK i sound like a literary classic but so was Joe's concert.

And to all those who considered work to be more important or could not make it for various reasons like " I have to clean my Loo " or " I have to CODE in PL/SQL " or " I HAVE TO ANSWER CALLS REGARDING PROJECTS" or " I AM A CALL CENTER EXECUTIVE AND CUSTOMERS ARE FIRST" please go take a hike and BFIC( for people unfamiliar - Big F#$% I CARE)

hehe this I am sure will rub some salt on some wounds .. and lets see what is the kind of replies I get but what is missed cannot be got back , god plays the guitar and those who cant listen ... may they reside in hell happily ever after .... ( Wanted to end like a fairy tale!!!)

Yours truly ,
A hard rock addict and recently converted Joe Satriani devotee

Blackbeard the pirate and his catholic leanings

2005-02-17T01:37:00.000-08:00

Amazing but true , it seems that the symbol of Blackbeard .. the Skull and Cross Bones is a Christian Symbol!!!!
It is said that a man was desperately in love with a girl and she died before they could marry. And our man in desperation dug up the girls grave and consumnated his manly act. and in those days it was a common thing to dig up old graves and bury new ones .. when this grave was dug up , they found a small skull between the girls legs.
Thus this symbol of a skull between two bones is considered as an Omen and was used by Blackbeard and his types...

Between the Devil and the Deep Sea

2005-02-17T00:57:00.000-08:00

Where would you like to be? If someone asked you this... what would you choose? tough predicament for anyone...
hehe pretty much my position and unable to take sides.... and do not want to either. Semm to have blown something out of proportion and lets see how things shape up.
And awaiting my fate and the shape of thinsg to come , I remain...

Of Stings and Swing

2005-02-16T01:48:00.000-08:00

Sting finally happened in Bangalore ... amazing experience especially with the sound and light.. People came in with bright lights and kept them near the backstage and the whole backstage was lit up in an eerie glow!! wow!! and the sound was out of the world !! heard sting lugged 17 tons of equipment along and it showed!!!
To top it we had tickets to the last row at 900/- and two couples who wanted to go together exchanged 1500/- tickets with us for our 900/- tickets!! can you imagine that?? long live those samaritans!!!
Excellent show and people everywhere were smoking!!! even after being frisked for cigarettes at the entry!!! there was a haze over the area!!! and to top it we could smell pot!!!
People managed to bring in small bottles of liquor and generally had a nice time !! not that I am complaining!!! Heard that some of the sponsors actually helped in getting the stuff in !!! shocking but such things usually happen anywhere!!!
The songs were lovely especially Message in a bottle , Englishman in New York and Send me Love. Sting could have left the Cheb Mami stuff in Desert Rose to instrumentals but all together the show was good. The percussionist seemed to be exhibiting all percussion instruments possible and made some unusual and exciting noises!!!
The concert started abruptly though and ended very well with the concert being rounded off by the all famous "every move you make " by Sting when he was part of the band Police!!!!
With all this I do not know what to say about Mark Knopfler and his crooning of Dire Straits Songs!!! Way to go Bangalore!!!
A

Here I am ...

2005-02-16T01:39:00.000-08:00

Loooooooooonnngggggg time no type ... fingers itching and lots to write about...
First achieved certification and gained official entry into the world of SAP as a datawarehousing consultant!!! yaayayaya
then nothing much happens .. like the calm after the storm!!! and then boom!!! like a bomb exploding work literally pours thru the roof and within a week poof!!! its all over and nothing to do again!!
Finally a project happens and work thankfully starts .. now I am the only one left on it and others have been pulled out!!! and to add my project manager is being pulled out!! where does that leave me? managing the project and implementing it single handedly!!! A pat on my back!! more like a bullet thru my back!!!
And to top it I am forever in the dilemna if I am to be technical or functional , like an Orange Seller also selling apples and selling both together!! The problem is when am I the orange seller and when am I the apple Seller!!!
Different roles and different perspectives to take!!!
A

Of Devils and Daemons

2005-01-27T05:04:00.000-08:00

Every day is fraught with tiffs and tussles.. here a tiff there a tiff , everywhere a tiff tiff and going by Iron Maiden , why have a phobia , when something's always there. succintly put and yet so powerful.
As for my reply blog to Virdee.... As for colors and choices , it is a well documented fact that men are less sensitive to color and everything else that has some shade other than brown or black on it.
For further information , alan and barbara pease will be of better help.
my 0.02

FIfteen men on a dead man's chest , Yo ho ho and a Bottle of rum

2004-11-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

Robert Louis Stevenson was maybe plagiarising when he lifted this phrase into his Treasure Island. But in doing so , he made it so famous and maybe the original author had not intended it this way. But what actually did he mean by "Fifteen Men" and Bottle of rum. The last line is Drink and the devil did the rest. So it is my guess that if you are a sailor , you would either die at sea ( Dead Man's Chest) or by drink or if all else fails , the devil would get you.
I would agree rum is a vile drink but sailor and death?? I would not think so.
Saw this piece of literature and decided to post my comments on the same.. seems interesting though... Drink and the devil...
Please voice your comments on the same.

Festival Blues .. and Hypocrisy

2004-11-07T23:42:00.000-08:00

Saw the big fight on Sunday Evening... about Festival Spending and the way people splurge.... Pretty distressing.. people mortgaging their valuables to buy gifts.... I would not call that a festival... More like spending to the limit on your card and then waiting scared stiff for the bill to come next month.
Who do you actually satisfy ? yourself ? Your wife ? Your Kids ? Your Relatives ? searching questions... but would you do it if you had to?
Festivals have become a branding exercise .. sickening to see million ads for "Pinning toh Winning" , "Dhoom Macha De".. why spend so much.. I would rather say if My brand was well known people would buy it. and the foremost question why do people need a festival to buy things other than Clothes and sweets. But Cars ? Parties ? I see no connection between Diwali and Parties and Gambling!!!!
The paper advertises the perfect gift as a Car..? Why would I gift a car to someone? and there is this dialogue saying that a gift of a Black Label is passe nowadays... I wonder why people splurge on gifts in the festival season?

Blog Mania

2004-11-04T23:51:00.000-08:00

Lot of interesting blogs
Looks like blogging is not for idle people , people do have work to do like me and also blog regularly.. way to go...
Can't believe I am breaking out of this irrepresible mould of heaviliy worded corporate blogs.. nice to see that , let the expressions flow now I would say.
Contemplating starting a cartoon strip soon .. should be able to showcase by sarcastic bend of mind!!!
Arun

Data Where house Masonry

2004-11-03T03:43:00.000-08:00

Being a mason for a Data Warehouse is not easy... Data be damned , bricks I guess are much easier .. atleast if you throw the brick at the computer , the problem goes away!!!!
To know what is required from oneself , seems more like self introspection rather than discovery , mebbe some day this will feature in Discovery channel , like the way they found the dead sea scrolls!!!
Data definition , its all in definition and the way it is said makes a lot of difference ... and more and more introspection leads to dangerous consequences like starting cartoon strips on people around you...
data cleansing : wish I could kill the data first then cleanse the room , easier that way.

As for the cartoon strips , lets see how people react to some , driven to despair , they seem the only solace ... but a dark side to it , what pleases me in tormenting others mentally is what perplexes me ... a psycho of the mental order? or is it creativity misdirected... until then I shall cnotinue my tormenting ways!!!!

If I were to Marry Microsoft Word

2004-11-03T03:36:00.000-08:00

Definitely a consideration considering I spend more time witm MS word than anyone or anything else right now..
A description of my life hance would be
Monday Dressing would be Times New Roman
Behaviour would be Justified
Conversation would be Spell CHecked.... (oops Sorry about that)
and many more .. boon or bane I would not know but this will continue till I guess we separate mutually and then my mistress would be Microsoft Excel... Half Sister ? shame on me!!!!
but of course Excel is the victorian cousin of word !!! too structured and lot of hidden features!!!

What would I not do for a glass of Vodka and Pink Floyd .. those days in IIT Madras ... life was beautiful till then .. but never know whats coming ... hope things change!!!!

Of crosswords and crossroads

2004-10-29T05:54:00.000-07:00

Methodology... There is order in this world and I will tell you how it is done... These have been my world for some time... Like spaceman Spiff , The world seems much ordered from a distance and then as we go down , no one knows what anyone else wants.. Pity!!!
The world is an imperfect place and it should not be modeled and let to its own machinations.
The corporate world however is filled with attempts at filling pages and pages of documents and calling them methodologies , sad I am also part of this time consuming but wasteful exercise.
Afterall processes and methodologies are defined after a project where project learnings are put together and not before one trying to tell ourselves what we will do.
It is more like planning a road before clearing the path. We will get lost and being guided by moonlight it remains to be seen where we are headed. With leprechauns who vanish and expect pots of gold at the end of the rainbow , lets see if the leprechaun pair help us or in usual fashion take us in circles and help us lose ourselves .....

As the wind blows

2004-10-27T03:28:00.000-07:00

The wind may be a breeze or a gale but all we do is bother as to how the windmill is to be turned to make the most of the wind. How I wish it was we knew how the wind would blow and we could turn the windmill in that direction at an earlier stage.

Change is constant but it should not become the only thing other that bringing about a business view. Tectonic shifts happening on a daily basis , feel like stuck permanently in a quake , maybe I could have been a quaker...

Looks like things are getting a wee bit firm and more like the rat running around in the milk till it curdled , if it stopped , it would drown...

Canoodling with IT

2004-10-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

Weird term , canoodling... not to be used with IT but seems to force me to do it. Life is like one of a seance.. present to unseen customers and unknown formats....
Boxes and lines it is .. reminds me of a crate loader at the docks.... Even the container terminals know only boxes and lines!!!
Cricket seems a better option , all you need is a tennis elbow and you can still get paid... and the team thinks of the entire event as a picnic on the grass!
IT is a different monster altogether.. it requires a lot of gas.. and gas is what we deliver.. and to top it.. we give documents and be done with it....
As I always say.. lets see what things forbear and bring......

Box my ears

2004-10-05T06:19:00.001-07:00

If I had anything to say , I would say it in Multicolored boxes and lines , the meaning of which will be fixed soon. Its been a misery of standards and definitions over the last 4 days and add to that the agony of explaining the business end of things , you have a nighmare.
And to top that the top level view shifts... god save me from this and I do not know what I am getting into.
Helicopter views are nice as long as the helicopter stays in one place!!!!
Then comes the part of explaining things to people who are out of sync and a 4 day job is to be explained over an hour to another person who has no clue on what is being thrown at them , pity them , reminds me of the russians getting butchered in Enemy at the gates... but my aresnal does not include tanks and bombs and my armor is quite weak.
As for sniping lots of opportunities , lets see if vassily zaitsev lives to tell another day.

Arun the corporate guru

2004-10-02T03:11:00.000-07:00

Developing a corporate data model isn't easy and in most cases not possible. Corporate is one of the most misused words in company jargon. Corporate must mean corrupt I guess , similarities are endless.
As for work life .. it deserves a slow death and finally culminates in becoming a cubicle rat with the computer in front as the only means of existence.
To add bidding for stuff online was cool but with that being monitored.. who's counting and who let them count?
Things seem to be simmering right now and will explode for sure but whether the explosion can be contained or lets do firefighting after th explosion is what is to be seen, and who is going to set it off is anybody's guess.
Meanwhile doing mundanethings and occupying myself with negligent activities done in the name of developing sales is what my life has become. Wish I has a crystal ball , and a hat of peacock feathers . Crystal ball to see the future , the hat to make me look the part.

Baying for blood

2004-09-28T22:39:00.000-07:00

Hehe bid for an Item on EBay and fortunately or Unfortunately won it...!!!
Lets see if I get the thingamajig that I bid for.. and to add , things are getting hot under the skin..
Things seem promising but at the same time they seem threatening as well. Promises seem like mirages and realization is dependent not only on us but a host of other events. Guess no one can predict what the future holds for us.

Arun and the Soothsayer

2004-09-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Loosely modelled on the title .."Asterix and the soothsayer" .. I guess I suck at this.
One feels ike a kid when given a piece of clay and think of building a cathedral out of it. Well... A cathedral can be built but can I is the question. Reminds of Michelangelo... and also of so many others that failed..
Fuzzy has a new definition in my world now and it is getting increasingly populated with data models and entities. One fine day it might lead me to lead an independent entity world and feel that God is ERWin... jus kidding
Things do look tough and especially sp when you are stringarmed inot doing things you do not want to do and listening to things that you know are pointless.
One week of torture on point of views was enough and others got scared. Luckly my patience held out...
Also now the new problem of doing things I cannot do or should I say not allowed to do is quite painful with no side taking up positions that I can side with...
Things going at breakneck speed and sometimes feel like doing a lot but things will be like this...
Hopefully things should turn out the way they should be and we get what we are supposed to.
till then .. looking forward to the next day when I can be rid of nags and doubts and do work in peace al day... Dream sure I did.

Be seated please..

2004-09-13T05:23:00.000-07:00

If only I could do that.. Everyday I find myself in different places.. a better perspective some would say but I disagree... Things seems fluid with lots of things happening over which I have no control.
Between tutorials and training my day is divided into chunks of introspection , retrospection and all kinds of spection...
What do I do.. find a place to sit since I am supposed to do something important and after that...? well find something to do .. funny but true.
Basically I twiddle thumbs after finding a seat. I think my policy from now on will be to not come at all and be seated at home... anyway I have a seat and also have nothing to do.. same situation..
Things might turn out ugly with a lot to do but as it always blusters you never know whats in store...
Apart from Hurricane Ivan and Kuznetsov... some name that rhymes with supernova but not that she is superb... nothing else is changing the world.. The world still remains a work of Still Life by any celebrated artist. If anyone wants still life models please tell me where to apply. This definitely beats waking up at 5:45 to go through the motions of working your butt off to reduce weight...

Why do Balloon Enthusiasts Need Consulants

2004-09-05T12:31:00.001-07:00

Consultants know the deal to spew out hot air in such large quantities that a balloon enthusiast would love. Maybe Charles Lindbergh had on with him when he completed his trip around the world?
Then why did branson fail? He knows hot air like his mouth and are made for each other...? But of course there is the responsibility that people hear what he says and he has to make good on what he says... But nothing like that for me.. Preparing 'visionary' documents and point of views 5 to 10 years ahead is like apple pie to me..
When u know u wont be heard of seen or appreciated .. Things lose their importance and purpose.

Life goes on meandering and taking its own course and time to confront my worst fears is looming and whether it will leave me weak and imbecile or strong I cannot say but time can tell and I have nothing to do but wait!!!

Various decisions need to be made and I do not know if I can make them or am allowed to . It might be an assumption that some people think that I am capable of acting on my own!!! Plotting my next move , I wait...

Dr Do Little!!!!

2004-09-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

As such I do little and the doctor orders rest for a day!!!!
God save the flu from me I might actually find something to do with the flu to escape boredom rather than compiling high level "Visionary" documents for men at the 'top' They must be shortsighted at the top I guess.
Bed rest for a day and feel knocked out without a fight is not funny but juggling office email , and assignments along with the same is not a joke...
Deliverables coming up and gotta get cracking. Have to see what other visionaries have come up with and finish what is supposedly 'expected of me' and get well soon also I suppose. Prepare for a training session too!! god save me . When it rains it pours.. guess lifes like that... gotta read more of reader's digest...
It seems like 'do little' has a lot to do.. cumulative of days of boredom passed through!!!??? maybe yes , maybe not...

May god BI with you

2004-09-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

BI ( Business Intelligence) thats wat I am supposed to be know all about. Know all... that is also what BI is all about.. both trying to achieve the same end??
Inbetween coughs , sputters and a messed up phone connection I try to find meaning of what I have to do, am doing and supposed to do.
Lot of things pop up but someone , somewhere has a lot of clarifications to make and it seems like it is going to be sooner that I thought...
And inviting feedbacks to my blogs sees like a dreaded thing but lets see how things turn out including my day to day life which has become meaningless and the only drive to the day is to go back home and then it becomes a morose countdown to the end of the week. I feel like Robinson Crusoe trying to get something done in a deserted island where everyone 'appears ' busy and paints glorious pictures of living a 24X7 life . Wonder where theses facade of lies will stop and people will realize that nothing is being done...

Chenaizombie

The Tooth Fairy cometh

2004-09-01T00:59:00.000-07:00

They say you get money when you lose a tooth. I have my pay credited.. but pray what have I done to deserve this. Make one feel that it is not truly earned and blow it off. I think this tendency exists in everyone and makes them spend more that what they should because they feel they are not worth this much?? Interesting thought better left to economists and psychologists!!!
As usual of things to come and of things to do I remain... What comes no on will know and wil know only when it is upon them and sits on their neck and demands action!!!!! You know who to call.....
So going back to the usual suspects... Pink Floyd and u know what I remain pushing my realms of tolerance to realms unknown to myself...!!!

Ahem! of purposes and Insights

2004-09-01T00:54:00.000-07:00

Defining Mission and Vision of anything is best left t a consultant ( Not me!!!) I am reminded of Tarot cards and Ouija Boards when thinking of Vision...
Only a Visionary can define a vision... A visionary.. One who can see far ahead.. Makes him/her a candidate for Short sightedness!!!!
Presentations to make on upcoming trends.. Some sick paranoid chaps building systems to complicate life and we help them complicate it further with all the mangled codes written and incomprehensible inefficient data models created!!!
Seems funny when this effect stacks up and finally another system is thought of to replace this one.. One with more sub clauses and iterjections!!! So where does all this lead to One may ask...
Nowhere would be the answer people will continue to use the system they are comfortable using and no amount of cajoling will make them change. Only thing that can be done is to keep the exterior same... change the innards and DO NOT REFLECT THE VERSION NUMBER ON THE SCREEN!!!
ChennaiZombie

Private reporting for duty sir! - Sorry nothing much to do anyway

2004-08-30T00:46:00.000-07:00

Heheh reporting to duty at 10 seems late but with nothing much to do U cannot complain... It does seem like it is getting on your nerves but with nerves of steel who needs to bother... except when those nerves start to rust from inaction.....
Things do seem to be coming up but at points I find the going uneasy and ill defined.. What structure it needs to be given is yet to be reavealed... Sometimes my role in this seems like an oracle trying to decipher things meant to be seen by the truly possesed and make shapes ut of nothing...
And as always Monday morning Blues and Data Models ahve come to roost for sure guess.
Until I meet any more interesting entities , thats all from me today!!! I think it is finally getting to me of being extremely work oriented or is it the new credit card I am going to get for the sake of a free bag!!!! Dirty shameful me!

Who said Normal is boring?

2004-08-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

Normalization ... takes me a while to become normal after a bout of data modeling. Guess the feelings are mutual.. trying to learn for a while and teaching the same back in a shorter time frame... draining I would say... But that seems like the shape of things to come. Fuzzy definitions and a fuzzy data model. Looks like punching in the dark. But we are not supposed to hold any punches... guess what that means...???
Also recieve a lot of punches too , guess a lot of ppl are punching in the dark as well. Now some light emerges and a slight idea of ahwt we are supposed to do.. tough to think about it now and reflect on what has happened over the past 3 months...
If thins are the way they are gonna be.. Normal is definitely boring as best....

Entitied Life

2004-08-26T02:57:00.000-07:00

All the worlds an Entity and all of us are attributes!!!!! Makes life that much easier in describing the world. Just Imagine.. A data model of the world...? Wait....... What have I become , three days of Data modelling and I have become a philosopher...!!! Seems easy... What lies in store I do not know , and things do excite me and not knowing what to do I remain....

Working by the seat of your pants....

2004-08-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

A computer is a valuable resource including this one which has stood by me for 3 months, of course scouring the net... which is the definition of my work... Jobless..
In search of a Job Definition I have travelled the far and wide reaches of this place... I am left wondering .. What is it that makes me not have anything to do? I guess I have to keep wondering.
As long as I do not get to have anything to do .. Limits of frustration are breached and I am surprised at my own levels of creativity in finding methods to irritate and bug others. Not to mention the deviously wicked ways to target people. I guess me taking these extreme measures are not very far off. Whwn you hear about the guy who hits people with a dart gun menat for sedating wild animals in Office... You know where to look. Not to mention the use of 15 Ich Mortars in Office to shoot my mails to the person concerned instead of relying on Outlook ...

In search of more devious things , I remain.

ChennaiZombie

When it rains , it pours

2004-08-18T02:35:00.000-07:00

Like they said , when there was a drought in a sub saharan region , they were "blesses" with a flash flood which took away even the last vestiges of what was there.
Wish things would happen in a more co ordinated way and be a pleasant time. but as they say , The dry season gives way to spring when there is too much happening and then maybe summer of stabilization.
The sad part is me having to relate my life to that of a bear. No work for months and then suddenly heaps of it. Reminds be of Baloo the bear of Jungle book - " A bear in Necessity , be a bear in Necessity"!!!!
To put ones foot down and demand things to happen is soon hapening. Maybe this is what is called "ON" demand.
In light of things to come and work to do , I rest my case.
Arun Varadarajan

Waiting for my mountain

2004-08-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

Heheh Another Day for me in Paradise!!! So said Phil COllins... But I would not vouch it... Seems like the ultimate reference to people resources being put to rest and people functioning?? Pun intended but in the frame of mind knowing that not many would come acposs this blog in the sea of similar feelings ... I write.

Mindless work and less mind at work too!!! what a coincidence and gives a kind of feeling that there is nothing in the world to do and no mountaind to conquer . This becomes hard to swallow when you have been taken in as a mountain climber and then you are told that you can oly see the mountains for some time. Sad but true.. The mountaineer feels out of place among the mountain goats who have something to climb and they seem to climb when they want to and all the mountaineer has to do is tend to them!!!

Mountaineer or herdsman I wonder! The end of the day spells the end of looking at the mountains and wondering on the statement.." If abu does not go to the mountain... the Mountain comes to Abu..." Seems so true for many. Waiting for My mountain...

Whenever you hear a cry on the slopes of the IT mountain that is to be passed you will find me somewhere stuck and trying to decide which way is mine , without a light and without a pick and others non existent I remain. Like when Alice asked.
Which road should I take...??
Rabbit: That depends on where you want to go..
Alice : I do not know where I have to go...
Rabbit: Then it does not matter which road you take...

The mailman cometh!!!

2004-08-05T04:25:00.000-07:00

Outlook will have a fit when I come tomorrow to do what i did today. If it had a choice it would have hung itself rather than just send mails every second minute....
A fine thing it is Mail... but for it the world would stand still and I would die of boredom.
Kind of intrigues me seeing all the guys doing nothing across states and this proves that the joblesness bug is not limited to four walls.
Also new things learnt and new things done. Banking mystified and tensions put to rest. Work to do at home and boning up to be done in anticipation of things to come.
This sounds like a lot to do but actually it is just doing what I have been doing for the past 2 months stated in full.
Dunno why , happen to witness a lot of pshycological examinations theses days , maybe it is common to Bangalore. Crazy population I would say and generally feeling bored so that exercise becomes an outlet for pent up energy.
Lets see what the crystal ball holds for me...

Reminded of pink floyd every other moment.
And when the ground breaks open , Many years too soon
And there's no room upon the hill.
And when your head explodes with Dark forebodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.

The warehouse keeper rules!!!!!

2004-08-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

Warehouses and marts .. thats what I am supposed to be all about. Kind os obscures your job description. Varying shades of job desc.. from very tough to nothing much... do not know which side to take!!!
As for siding ... have to get aligned with products and three letter acronyms seem floating everywhere!! I know only one very trusted 4 letter word though and am pretty happy using it!!
As I put in time everyday and look forward to something to do , dunno whether I am doing what I want to do and am reduced to evaluate my options and build on my knowledge of things to be done and things that are coming up!!!!

My time or someone else's???

2004-07-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

It suddenly seems that we are meant for other people to pass their time.. You realize you have become a cvreature who is there to hear every word you say and contribute nothing much... Surprising to note that I am being paid to do this!!!
Listen to some ridiculosity and generally pass time till you are wanted for something that YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO.
Then comes the part where you have some responsibilities and are usefully contributing rather than conduct god forsaken programs and generally appear busy when you are not doing something and call it Knowledge Management!!! HAH
Lets see how more your life can degenerate into this meaningless void that we have been drafted to fill in and to top it there is even a designation for this post.
Everyone calls it a Honeymoon period when you can have things your way... Only thing missing is a babe to screw!!!! Just frustrating times and this in anticipation of even more frustrating times ahead where you are at the mercy of your project manager rather than your concience, training sessions for passing time and ofcourse meaningless banter...

Till I find a purpose in this job , I remain
Arun

Things Looking up .. For the better???

2004-07-28T17:35:00.000-07:00

Finally , ray of light at the end of the tunnel. Something happening. It is like those crystal balls where u have no idea of something to happen but know that something is happening. Twinge of remorse at having to leave occupied positions but it has to happen sometime.. Also the satisfaction that things are moving and also that it will be for sometime to come and not for a few weeks is gratifying.
Looking forwards to things to come I remain and hopeful of a career in what I like.
Also a lot of introspection happening these days and also to add the amount of advise being given and that too to people I expected would be giving advise to me!!!
Nice to seem important at some times and it gives a surrealistic feeling of confidence which I may add is disarming.
Also the fact that from this point on it is only me and my skills that can take me where i have to and I have to find my skills yet and that sends me some mixed signals.
Arun

Ruminations after a good lunch!!!!

2004-07-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

A kings lunch later... one would only want to rest like a king, But alas!! have to get back to what I usually do... Nothing!!!!.
Seems kinda funny to say that you cannot sleep or look drowsy but you must also do nothing or have nothing to do.. paradoxical situation.
Observations:
Observed a mini accident where both injured parties wanted to go their own ways but unfortunately the situation was compunded by a third man who thought he was helping.. Seemed more like the guy wanted to make a fast buck. Such things happen and such people are called middlemen..
We are also not too good either all our lives we strive to make money due to the capabilities we possess ... essentially tlking skills.. seems stupid to say that we have been recruited to talk to the client since no one in the company has these skills ? They cannot communicate...??? sign language perhaps. Maybe liek you give them a piece of code and they would seemc content to sit over it an ponder.
The clients too are to blame never actually specifying what they want and we become the convienient scapegoats...
Hehehe life degenerates into meaningless banter and word games to keep you awake...
Makes me remember Pink Floyd...
And wheh the cloud breaks , thunder in your ear...
You shout and no one seems to hear...

Seems Roger waters knew my fate early on and I might rightly call myself a lunatic...
Arun

My daily chore!!!!

2004-07-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

Putting in my time before the computer has become an unavoidable exercise. Life right now seems split between interminable mail checks , Reading blogs and of course the proverbial cup of tea....
Its funny sometimes when U watch others do the same thing as you and still not complain that there is nothing to do. Guess it has finally gone over their heads and it has become an accepted fact they have nothing to do and are waiting for something.
Reminds me of poeple waiting at the railway station waiting for trains with luggage. They have nothing to do and cannot leave their place for fear of losing their luggage. Just wait and watch others as to what they are upto and if possible read some books...
Another analogy would be people in Day trains who cannot sleep nor can they bide thier time fruitfully.. Just sit around do nothing.

All this makes me feel priviledged ... atleast I have mail to resort to!!! And of course the cup of tea....

Clouded Horizon

2004-07-27T04:28:00.000-07:00

Days pass without mention of anything to do but stare at a screen trying to pass time from the interminable 9.30 to 5.30. Redefining the 9 to 5 job I would say!!!!. Looking forward to some things happening and at the same time hope some things will happen but do not seem to.
Life draws to an interminable event not differing day to day and there is nothing new that you can do everyday to spice up your life.
There is nothing that you can tell others that..." You know what I did today" there are no challenges and in the hope of challenges to cvome you remain!!!!
Is this what we have conscripted for? is this what life will be in times to come. It is not unjustified to expect somethings you know are going to happen to happen sooner and secretly wish that it would not for some time to come.....

So far life remains as a still life portrait

2004-05-02T16:42:00.000-07:00

Wy do we all need to work so hard when some ppl can have it easy? mustifies me with the propensity forhard work that I seem to have. Seems mindless to others but the very fact that I enjoy doing it scares me? what have I become , the fun loving guy to the work loving guy?? what is to come is what scares me even further...

2004-04-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

Night after night... Why do we have to do work for something we do not want to be part of?

It seems frustrating to lie about something not done and yet claiming accolades for lies and more lies.
Why do this at all ? why cant we say what we want?
Pretty upsetting to know that the person across the table is buying whatever u tell him but u know what u r doing is false and how will u tell him?
A network of lies??? is this what we are for? lies and more lies to cover them up. When the organization's moves are based on evidence gathered what does thew carefully concerted lies mean ? they do pay fr the same.

Where is this all leading to?

In the twilight zone , I remain