This is another brilliant example of how some brainless Indians shed their common sense and individuality so often - thanks to the media that creates and promotes the western hype.
Granted the fact that certain places have sellable cultures/traditions that might be a pleasure to the eye, media will sell it. And by media I mean plain celluloid -> tv/cinema for Indians. Web/books/magazines don't count anywhere close.
That doesn't mean it is the right thing to do. Or if it should be done at all.
The success of ZNMD totally justifies the shameless, crazy (oh did I say brainless) attitude in the picture above. MBA students generally don't earn an iota of respect from me. And these folks have yet again demonstrated what brainless managers are about to enter the industry.
Wasting tomatoes? For fun? In a country where millions live without food? Where every culture teaches the importance and respect for food? Or let me translate this: Aping the Akhtars/Roshans/Kaifs/Deols just because they had recently artificially portrayed an age old crazy practice in Spain? Classy combination of ignorance and tomfoolery.
Just because its the west.
Liked ZNMD - no qualms. However, the same team (FA/AD/HR/KK), who introduced the fest to the otherwise ignorant Indians would be oh-so-not-willing to raise awareness and educate the youth about such stupid activity. And media will totally wash their hands off it. On the other hand, a leading national magazine had the following headline within hours of the recent attacks in New Delhi: "bollywood-condemns-delhi-blast". Seriously? Couldn't you offer more help by covering stories of innocent victims rendered helpless and broke by the sheer unnatural cause? I would have felt happier if one displaced/injured person could have been genuinely covered and connected to a mentor, if not a potential employer.
I shared this with few and they responded like: oh they should go donate tomatoes and then they will learn what it means.
Point taken, my modest suggestion is these fellows be put through a tomato farming class for a semester. And then some Spanish dude should totally but their entire stock for peanuts and do a Tomatina in front of them.
Learn to respect food and basic human labor. Simply, be human.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday at its best
I storm straight into the lunch room on a Monday morning (off course only to drop off my lunch bag into the fridge). As most of you don't know, folks in THE OFFICE are health freaks. So there is this person who got this one-freaking-gallon bottle of Orange Juice and shoved it in the fridge.
AND NEVER TOUCHED IT.
FOR MONTHS.
What made matters worse was an exceptionally long power outage over the weekend which provided the best conditions for the juice to ferment from acid to alcohol.
AND BURST OUT OF THE BOTTLE.
COMPLETELY THROWN ALL OVER THE FRIDGE.
SEEPING OUT ALL OVER THE FLOOR.
AND I FIND MYSELF STANDING IN THIS STICCCKKKY FLUID DISGUISED AS WATER ON A MONDAY MORNING.
HELLO? GOOD MORNING!
Well, the combination of the powercut and acidic/alcoholic stench was strong enough to convert the milk in a bottle to form yogurt.
And then I realized the power outage had messed with the VOIP server to pull down my desk phone for God knows how long.
AND my machine (that has many official dependents some across ponds) was shut down.
Well, big deal!
So we turn on the computer and after an eon or two as the machine loads up, I fire up the local EMail client.
The first mail of the week was a price drop alert on a personal air ticket I bought last week.
A FREAKISHLY LARGE THREE-DIGIT-DROP.
Well, well.
In the next few hours I hear an update from my dearest friend of 25 years about his trip to Chicago.
US VISA PETITION REJECTED.
Shouldn't really matter, I'll travel around to see him this year anyway. Except under a crunched itinerary. In Asia.
Meanwhile I had to make a few overseas calls from my cellphone seated in a locus of coordinates which do not happen to receive the least required signal strength for acceptable audio communication. Switching back and forth between phone and chat was fun.
A DECADE AGO.
Now it tasted like corporal punishment.
So what, the day continues.
Oh, L wrote to ask if there was an update from a S-V-Based-Billion$-Product-Company that we're in talks with. I wrote a negative response in reply and was about to hit send when it dawned on me that _poor_ guy from the said firm must have tried my desk number and ... well you know ... felt a *little* disappointed.
Send an email update with a new number.
And its _just_ 1545. Will keep adding as the fun continues.
AND NEVER TOUCHED IT.
FOR MONTHS.
What made matters worse was an exceptionally long power outage over the weekend which provided the best conditions for the juice to ferment from acid to alcohol.
AND BURST OUT OF THE BOTTLE.
COMPLETELY THROWN ALL OVER THE FRIDGE.
SEEPING OUT ALL OVER THE FLOOR.
AND I FIND MYSELF STANDING IN THIS STICCCKKKY FLUID DISGUISED AS WATER ON A MONDAY MORNING.
HELLO? GOOD MORNING!
Well, the combination of the powercut and acidic/alcoholic stench was strong enough to convert the milk in a bottle to form yogurt.
And then I realized the power outage had messed with the VOIP server to pull down my desk phone for God knows how long.
AND my machine (that has many official dependents some across ponds) was shut down.
Well, big deal!
So we turn on the computer and after an eon or two as the machine loads up, I fire up the local EMail client.
The first mail of the week was a price drop alert on a personal air ticket I bought last week.
A FREAKISHLY LARGE THREE-DIGIT-DROP.
Well, well.
In the next few hours I hear an update from my dearest friend of 25 years about his trip to Chicago.
US VISA PETITION REJECTED.
Shouldn't really matter, I'll travel around to see him this year anyway. Except under a crunched itinerary. In Asia.
Meanwhile I had to make a few overseas calls from my cellphone seated in a locus of coordinates which do not happen to receive the least required signal strength for acceptable audio communication. Switching back and forth between phone and chat was fun.
A DECADE AGO.
Now it tasted like corporal punishment.
So what, the day continues.
Oh, L wrote to ask if there was an update from a S-V-Based-Billion$-Product-Company that we're in talks with. I wrote a negative response in reply and was about to hit send when it dawned on me that _poor_ guy from the said firm must have tried my desk number and ... well you know ... felt a *little* disappointed.
Send an email update with a new number.
And its _just_ 1545. Will keep adding as the fun continues.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Choices and Options
Exactly 365.25 days ago, I made a choice. It was not my only option. Strictly choice. To quit being an outcast and join the league.
A choice that doesn't lead to outstanding achievement awards. Neither any special peer/advisor recommendations or recognitions. I quit the path that could have possibly lead to the building of a very disruptively different yet fruitful future. It felt like shedding the last bit of parity that could have qualified me as a higher mortal in the eyes of few and hearts of many. Personally within, a huge majority of thoughts didn't only support but still continue to laud and bolster my choice till date. A decision in all honestly I will never regret.
M.A., F.F. and D.M.: really sorry for calling it quits. I was simply not 'that' type. Hope someday you will accumulate enough evidence to sport the same notion.
R.V., S.R: It could have been a great experience to be listed with you as 'partners in the crime', worldwide at least. It would have definitely meant much value to me than you guys. Trust me though, this wasn't meant to be. Few days in, it could most definitely have been a great disappointment for you guys. My body might have been around you guys, but my mind/soul would never have been. Mind could have raised an exception or two. The soul, never. It was nothing against WS. It was about me and I never wanted to be there as a matter of choice. As a matter of fact, it was my only option. To escape. To cut some ropes and keep myself tied to some others.
Looking back, it has been a year of very many highs. Not only I kept myself tied to the intended ropes, I looped into few other interesting ones. Interesting people, places and things - which by no means could have been a part of my life at WS. I am happy to report some changes in myself. Not thrilled because I know that is not my true limit. But the rubberbands, at times, are just happy while they are un-stretched. While I continue to respect and admire what you do and what I could have probably been a part of, I choose maintain my identity as a mango-man. A commoner who lives a rather dull life without much risks, meaning or "story". Glamor has now taken its worldly meaning in my life and is no longer associated with an internal bliss.
But do not try to paint a negative thought here. For I am very happy to have quit my option and make a choice. I has helped me accomplish rather mundane but satisfying achievements that I have been mocking to be something sub-standard for a large part of my conscious life. Trust me dear reader, there is nothing like a sense of achievement, after a decade. And for that matter, no achievement is a small one. It is always a big feat, at least for the one who made it - for the time being. Off course one could either choose to live in denial and hunt for larger sharks. But feeling good within WILL prepare you better for the next journey.
I noticed a big win today that I didn't openly celebrate. S made a huge leap that I would never have expected. Deep within, I feel a big win for myself. 6-10 in one day. Man, that was amazing. Sure gave me a very pleasant surprise. So much, even goosebumps. I cannot express the force and encouragement that the words generated to keep chipping through. My only wish is that this whole process should have happened way sooner. But being practical, it doesn't even matter. Way to go, S.
So yes, winning is important. Whoever said winning isn't important must've been quite a loser. But being a loser or a winner is not as important as identifying the battles you will choose to fight. Life doesn't offer the luxury of choosing all your battles. For the ones you can, please-pretty-please, follow your calling. With a few honorable exceptions, all the people I study, are desperate to succeed AND clueless what it means. Money-Power-Attention is the ultimately expected destination. But the quantification of these destinations is never carried out. Remember, it is not important whether you score a goal or not. What is really important is if football is what you really want to play? Sometimes, its parents, peers or poverty. Other times, sheer neglect and over confidence. And the guy who could have been a great golfer, ends up in the field. And from hereon, focuses on scoring goals. I always used to think it's not really important to score goals for this guy. Coz he was totally into the game for the wrong reasons. Pressure from peers and parents can never be a substitute to passion and potential. In my books, the physics never matched up. So why linger in the field and worry about scoring the next goal, failing at it and making/not-making a big fuss about it? Confused, eh? So was I at many points in my previous lives.
And then I chose. Chose to add my $0.02 in the field now that I am into the game -no matter why, for the time being. So even if I want to quit the stadium and join a club, I must do so gracefully. With honor, pride and a strong belief that if I scored that goal without passion, with passion I can with the world- given a chance to be in the Golf Club. Now I believe golf might just never happen. But heck what, at least I will make a good footballer out of myself. At least better than keeping off the lawns. So first off, make a good choice. And once you figure out you made a wrong one, instead of hitting that keyboard with a Ctrl+Z, hit ENTER. For now that you're in it: go ahead, win it.
I am not always proud of all the choices I made. But the few that turned out to be good, for myself or others, make me a happy man. Especially for others. The ones I like and love. Not strictly unconditionally, but with the least requirements though. ;)
A choice that doesn't lead to outstanding achievement awards. Neither any special peer/advisor recommendations or recognitions. I quit the path that could have possibly lead to the building of a very disruptively different yet fruitful future. It felt like shedding the last bit of parity that could have qualified me as a higher mortal in the eyes of few and hearts of many. Personally within, a huge majority of thoughts didn't only support but still continue to laud and bolster my choice till date. A decision in all honestly I will never regret.
M.A., F.F. and D.M.: really sorry for calling it quits. I was simply not 'that' type. Hope someday you will accumulate enough evidence to sport the same notion.
R.V., S.R: It could have been a great experience to be listed with you as 'partners in the crime', worldwide at least. It would have definitely meant much value to me than you guys. Trust me though, this wasn't meant to be. Few days in, it could most definitely have been a great disappointment for you guys. My body might have been around you guys, but my mind/soul would never have been. Mind could have raised an exception or two. The soul, never. It was nothing against WS. It was about me and I never wanted to be there as a matter of choice. As a matter of fact, it was my only option. To escape. To cut some ropes and keep myself tied to some others.
Looking back, it has been a year of very many highs. Not only I kept myself tied to the intended ropes, I looped into few other interesting ones. Interesting people, places and things - which by no means could have been a part of my life at WS. I am happy to report some changes in myself. Not thrilled because I know that is not my true limit. But the rubberbands, at times, are just happy while they are un-stretched. While I continue to respect and admire what you do and what I could have probably been a part of, I choose maintain my identity as a mango-man. A commoner who lives a rather dull life without much risks, meaning or "story". Glamor has now taken its worldly meaning in my life and is no longer associated with an internal bliss.
But do not try to paint a negative thought here. For I am very happy to have quit my option and make a choice. I has helped me accomplish rather mundane but satisfying achievements that I have been mocking to be something sub-standard for a large part of my conscious life. Trust me dear reader, there is nothing like a sense of achievement, after a decade. And for that matter, no achievement is a small one. It is always a big feat, at least for the one who made it - for the time being. Off course one could either choose to live in denial and hunt for larger sharks. But feeling good within WILL prepare you better for the next journey.
I noticed a big win today that I didn't openly celebrate. S made a huge leap that I would never have expected. Deep within, I feel a big win for myself. 6-10 in one day. Man, that was amazing. Sure gave me a very pleasant surprise. So much, even goosebumps. I cannot express the force and encouragement that the words generated to keep chipping through. My only wish is that this whole process should have happened way sooner. But being practical, it doesn't even matter. Way to go, S.
So yes, winning is important. Whoever said winning isn't important must've been quite a loser. But being a loser or a winner is not as important as identifying the battles you will choose to fight. Life doesn't offer the luxury of choosing all your battles. For the ones you can, please-pretty-please, follow your calling. With a few honorable exceptions, all the people I study, are desperate to succeed AND clueless what it means. Money-Power-Attention is the ultimately expected destination. But the quantification of these destinations is never carried out. Remember, it is not important whether you score a goal or not. What is really important is if football is what you really want to play? Sometimes, its parents, peers or poverty. Other times, sheer neglect and over confidence. And the guy who could have been a great golfer, ends up in the field. And from hereon, focuses on scoring goals. I always used to think it's not really important to score goals for this guy. Coz he was totally into the game for the wrong reasons. Pressure from peers and parents can never be a substitute to passion and potential. In my books, the physics never matched up. So why linger in the field and worry about scoring the next goal, failing at it and making/not-making a big fuss about it? Confused, eh? So was I at many points in my previous lives.
And then I chose. Chose to add my $0.02 in the field now that I am into the game -no matter why, for the time being. So even if I want to quit the stadium and join a club, I must do so gracefully. With honor, pride and a strong belief that if I scored that goal without passion, with passion I can with the world- given a chance to be in the Golf Club. Now I believe golf might just never happen. But heck what, at least I will make a good footballer out of myself. At least better than keeping off the lawns. So first off, make a good choice. And once you figure out you made a wrong one, instead of hitting that keyboard with a Ctrl+Z, hit ENTER. For now that you're in it: go ahead, win it.
I am not always proud of all the choices I made. But the few that turned out to be good, for myself or others, make me a happy man. Especially for others. The ones I like and love. Not strictly unconditionally, but with the least requirements though. ;)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
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