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Playing Tag

2007-11-02T02:08:00.000-07:00

Something I found on Globu’s blog, and tried out on self. Neat!

To do the tag, you need to have all of your mp3s in the playlist. Then put it on shuffle.

Will I get far in life?

Song: D'ya know what I mean?

Artist: Oasis

Comment: Is that "D'ya know what I mean?" (wink wink nudge) ??

How do my friends see me?

Song: Thats the way it is

Artist: Celine Dion

Comment: Face value. No nonsense. Yeah. Right. Sounds like Shetty – “Oh! That way it is!”

Where will I get married?

Song: Jinhe hum bhoolna chaahe

Artist:

Comment: My old house in Banashankari? Or Airport Road?? Someplace baaaad!!

What is my best friend's theme song?

Song: Rang de Basanti

Artist:

Comment: (S)he is no longer my "best" friend. Not with this theme song!

What is the story of my life?

Song: Dil kya kare

Artist: Kishore Kumar

Comment: A love-struck Romeo. Crap!

What is/was high school like?

Song: Eclipse

Artist: Pink Floyd

Comment: Hahahaha! Eclipses all.

How can I get ahead in life?

Song: Dil aise na samajhna tu hai akela

Artist: Lucky Ali

Comment: Will free ride on others!!

What is the best thing about me?

Song: Blue Suede Shoes

Artist: Elvis

Comment: Really?? How quaint! Best I could expect.

How is today going to be?

Song: Chodd aaye hum

Artist: Hariharan

Comment: Fart. But where?

What is in store for this weekend?

Song: I'm too sexy

Artist: Right Said Fred

Comment: I wish!

What song describes my parents?

Song: Love will keep us alive

Artist: Eagles

Comment: Hmmmm...

...my grandparents?

Song: I can't help falling in love with you

Artist: Elvis

Comment: So true!

How is my life going?

Song: Rishtey

Artist: James

Comment: This is getting a little spooky. Brrr!

What song will they play at my funeral?

Song: Dil mein ek leher se

Artist: Ghulam Ali

Comment: Would be a life well lived if it really happens...

How does the world see me?

Song: Geet milan ki

Artist: Lata and Mukesh

Comment: Shoot. Two of my least fav singers. And stupid song as well. Damn.

Will I have a happy life?

Song: Englishman in New York

Artist: Sting

Comment: wrong person, wrong place, wrong time. more damn.

What do my friends really think of me?

Song: Jailhouse Rock

Artist: Elvis

Comment: Friends????? Bastaaaards!! Maybe it is "cool"...

Do people secretly lust after me?

Song: Tadap

Artist: Qazi

Comment: Hahahahaha!! Woooohoooo!

(This is a song by an idiot who wanted us to help him make an album. No one else would have heard it. And I have been never more thankful to have it on my comp!!)

How can I make myself happy?

Song: Faith

Artist: George Michael

Comment: Sigh!

What should I do with my life?

Song: Come Undone

Artist: Duran Duran

Comment: WTF??? Maybe it is to do with my zipper...

Will I ever have children?

Song: Mrs Robinson

Artist: Simon and Garfunkle

Comment: Hahahahaha...super super super. Or is that a surrogate mom???

What is some good advice?

Song: Intezar

Artist: Paap

Comment: You should have given me that advice yesterday!!

What is my signature dancing song?

Song: Dooba Dooba

Artist: Silk Route

Comment: Dancing as one dimensional, one legged as the song.

What do I think my current theme song is?

Song: Antha Arabi

Artist: Rahman

Comment: Don’t even know what it means! So, it must be right.

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?

Song: Tujhse Naaraaz Nahin

Artist: Suresh Wadkar

Comment: My sad face. Don’t rub it in!

What do I really want from life?

Song: Suprabhata

Artist: MS Subbalakshmi

Comment: Early mornings? Or divine intervention?

What should I do to help others?

Song: Ae zindagi gale lagaale

Artist: Suresh Wadkar

Comment: Ready to hug. If non-ugly, non-male, non-indeterminate. Let’s take it from there.

What should I do to help myself?

Song: Ironic

Artist: Alanis Morisette

Comment: Help and myself? Ironic...

What should I do to succeed in life?

Song: Yeh jo des hai tera

Artist:

Comment: 1 billion in India. And a business which targets 8 mn in UAE?

What is my one most important goal in life?

Song: Lyin Eyes

Artist: Eagles

Comment: Will be a change from lying through my teeth then!

What do I get the most pleasure from?

Song: Waitin for the sun

Artist: Doors

Comment: 'nuff said.

A day in the life...

2007-05-24T00:48:00.000-07:00

My thought stream when I was stuck with nothing to do for 4 straight hours, sitting on my butt (more on that painful subject later) and with silence and incompetence around me…

“What an armpit of a job! Thank god I don’t have to do this everyday!”

“Wonder what kind of face I make will make them give me one more free coffee.”

“Would they think I am weird if I go to the loo again?”

“I hate this!! I hate this!!”

“What would be a good job? Really? Something any guy would want to do?”

“Hmm…nice line of thought to keep busy…lets go…”

“Ok, first thing is it has to have glamour. Good money?…yeah…that would help. Formula 1 driver? Wow!! Now there’s a job. All the pit lane babes. The yachts. The gazillion dollars. Sounds nice!”

“Wait a minute. My butt is aching like crazy!! Formula 1? Drive 500 km a day? Under huge G-forces? Strapped to a seat which prevents you from adding a single molecule more into it? Hmm…not such a dream job, is it?”

Plus, as you may have noticed, there are not too many F-1 drivers around. Sensitive butts and lack of talent are reported to be the leading causes. In no particular order.

“So, there it goes. F1 is a no-no. what else? Minimal talent required. Looks shouldn’t matter. Not too much traveling. Lots of hot women around. No rules in the office. Hmmm…PORN STAR!!”

“Yes mate. This is it!! I have hit upon something which every guy would want to be. Even their mothers would not call the porn stars handsome. Although I have my own doubts as to whether the mother even accepts him as her son!”

“Yeah man…porn stars…what a life!! Of course, there would be office rules. But I can live with those rules. If you know what I mean. (wink wink. Nudge nudge)”

“Oh…oh. Here comes the problem. I hate shaving my face. Or anything else. It is irritating. And repetitive. And a porn star…you know…well…you get the drift. (wink wink. Nudge nudge)”

“Can you imagine…the guy is getting ready. And his date is already there to pick him up. She’s heard so much about him, and his you know what. Cant wait!! And this guy disappears into the shower. ‘Hold on honey! I’ll just have a quick shave and be right with you!’”

“And two hours later, he’s there! Burning all over!! Man…that sucks.”

“But that would not even be the worst part of the date. The girl is ready to even order a take away pizza and move on to the main theme. And the guy also wants to order take away pizza…and go to a view point, watch the city lights and hold hands, kiss her on the cheek, and tuck into bed early! Coz he doesn’t like to work at home!!”

“Ahhhhhh!! Sucks man. Poor guys.”

“Guess every job has its armpit moments. Got…to…pull…through. Need…some…coffee. Ahhhh!!”

“Ah! That’s a sympathetic look from the receptionist.”

“Yes! Yes!! Sure!! Make that tea this time! Thanks!!”

“Wow! It works! Conned her again. Simple pleasures! Maybe this job isn’t all that bad…”

New guard

2007-04-23T03:43:00.000-07:00

Seems to be a World Cup of goodbyes. Somehow, for me, personally, Lara leaves the biggest void. Yeah, McGrath has 1000 wickets, but somehow, cricket will not miss him. Maybe a biased, anti-OZ view. McGrath was never a crowd puller. He is the epitome of the "modern game". He is too goddamn safe!!
Lara was beauty personified. No batsman, barring Mark Waugh and Azza, had the ability to enjoy, delight, inspire awe and simultaneously frustrate millions of cricket lovers. Sadly, like the other great from his era - Sachin, the trophy cupboard is bare. Which goes to prove that individual brilliance goes only so far.
So, goodbye Glenn McGrath. Thou shalt not be missed. Go back to your farm.
Goodbye Brain Charles Lara! And thanks for all the fish!!
PS: If OZ do win this cup, it has to go down as the most boring WC ever. Contrary to my hopes below. :-(

No change in predictions

2007-03-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

One week into the WC-2007 and I have no changes to make in my predictions. The men in blue really disappointed. However, I think everyone is being pretty unfair on Bangladesh. They played some exceptional cricket! It is almost similar to Sri Lanka in 1996, when they came out of the blue and stunned everyone with some innovative and explosive batting.

And Dave Whatmore was coach of SL then. Now he is with B'desh. [PS: Now that is a REASON, not a COINCIDENCE. There is a DIFFERENCE between the two. @KG - :-)]

All around me I see people going ballistic about net run rates, and making 3MB excel sheets with scenarios!! (@KG - no offense. It was good time-pass). However, there is one minor point which almost everyone seems to have missed...and no, it is not that we have taken it for granted that India beats SL. There is no other option for India. However, everyone HAS taken it for granted that Sri Lanka beats B'desh. If B'desh do beat SL, they will go through as group toppers and SL v/s India is a straight knock out. Calculators and laptops, thou shalt not decide the fate of cricket!! I do wish that this situation does come true. I really do not like minor technicalities deciding who wins and who loses.

Amidst all this, the death of Bob Woolmer just goes to show how trivial the game is. It is not life. It is not death. (hope there is no conspiracy theory to Woolmer's passing. Then "it is not death" would be wrong!!).

So, when the Indian's lose to Sri lanka (as I think will happen), please do keep some perspective. Enjoy the game...this really is one of the more interesting world cups in recent history.

World Cup Predictions

2007-03-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

With 10 days to go for the WC, its time to stick my neck out. And cover my backside at the same time. (trying it out...and...DONT TRY THIS AT HOME).

Semi-final line-up - West Indies, South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka.

Final - South Africa, Sri Lanka (cant really be sure of this. They may meet in the semis itself)

Winner - Sri Lanka. (applause!!!)

Darkest horse - India (really unpredictable)

I do believe that this is going to be one of the best WCs of recent times. Almost all the teams have a good one-day outfit, and go into the WC in pretty good form. (with the possible exception of Pakistan)

Australia have shot themselves in the foot, and go in with quite a bit of self-doubt. The aura is gone, and everyone believes "If England can, so can we!!" However, they do have a really good one-day team, and if Gilly can fire, no reason why they should not do well.

SA are playing the best cricket of their existence. For once, they seem to have a semblance of class in the team. With batting extending till No. 10, they will always be difficult to beat. Their biggest weakness is the lack of a decent spinner, which will cost them dearly on the windies pitches. Especially if they are defending a target.

Windies are going to be a handful on home territory. However, their biggest weakness is the unpredictable nature of their seam attack. Chris Gayle is going to be one of the stars of the tournament. And with Lara opting to play a mentor's role in the middle of the innings, the batting is in fine fettle. The fielding is not up there, but I dont expect it to be a big handicap.

Sri Lanka, my favorites to lift the cup, go in having lost a one-day series. however, the loss was due to a poor bowling attack. With the return of 2 of the greatest one-day bowlers of all time, Vaas and Murali, they have every reason to be confident. However, a lot will depend on one of the back-up seamers - Malinga, Fernando and Maharoof - backing Vaas up in the first 10. They are going to be the most miserly team in the middle overs with Dilshan and Jayasurya. I expect these 2 to bowl close to 15 overs between them, if not more.

Pakistan go in being the worst prepared team, and under a huge black doping cloud. I dont expect them to do very well. The batting is in shambles save for the ever reliable Yousuf and Younis. Their all-rounders just don't make the cut and the bowling is mediocre at best.

India do have the capability to spring a surprise. Its the last world cup for the big 4 - Sachin, Sourav, Dravid and Kumble. If three of the four can fire, 1983 shall repeat. However, Kumble is a key man, having kept out the best spinner in the country - Ramesh Powar. Unfortunately, his recent performances have been patchy, and I dont expect him to play the important games. Its a big tragedy that Powar is not in the team. He is the best spinner in India by miles!! However, the selectors seem to have bracketed a medium pacer - Harbhajan - as an off spinner. Tragic. And a left arm spinner - Pathan - as a medium pacer. Sigh!! In spite of this, there is enough quality in the team to go all the way. Somehow, I dont think they will. Will be thrilled to be wrong.

England and New Zealand did well down-under. But their game just does not come together in the dusty Caribbean pitches. But I do expect them to pull off one upset each to keep (maybe India) out of the semis.

Let the action begin!!

Entreprenuership

2007-01-29T02:33:00.000-08:00

When I started this blog, I had promised myself that I shall NOT write about starting up. However, I could not help responding to this post by Rashmi Bansal. And it seemed like a nice easy copy-paste way to increase posts on my own blog!!

Reproduced below is the full text of my email response. Enjoy!!

Hi Rashmi,

Being a regular reader of Youth Curry, I could not resist responding to your post on your regular "Agony Aunt" column!! The theme of MBAs (esp IIMs) and entrepreneurship is a well discussed one, but has the habit of cropping up everywhere, including presidential addresses (remember APJ Abdul Kalam's speech about IITs and IIMs??).

Well, I am a IIML graduate. Passed out in March 2006. Currently, I am running 2 parallel ventures - IndigoEdge (a management consulting company - www.indigoedge.com) and UniAxess Healthcare (a foray into Medical Tourism - www.uniaxess.com - a WIP). We are a group of 5 classmates from IIML - 3 engineers, a medical doctor and a CA.

Well my take on the whole issue is quite exhaustive. Will try to keep a logical flow to it! One moment which is vivid in memory is when we were still contemplating "signing out". One of my colleagues approached a professor at IIML and asked him "What is the one question I have to answer for myself if I want to start off?". The response - "Do you have the guts?". Thats the bottom line. There are a million reasons for not starting-up. But, a positive answer to this one question is enough to overcome most of it.

Another oft repeating theme is - The Big Idea. At least, at the moment, I do not believe in it. At this stage in India, every idea is big. From a food delivery start-up to mobile gaming, everything is booming. And to be honest, not too many people have revolutionary ideas. But, people still make it big. It is all about idea execution rather than waiting for "gnanodaya"! In fact, we did not have an idea (let alone a Big idea) until after we signed out!!

So, does an MBA hinder entrepreneurship. Definitely yes. Because the excuse of financial security is much stronger after an MBA. I have heard atleast 10 guys say "I will make money and start-up in 5 years." Well, its not been 5 years, so it is not right to pass judgment. However, I AM a betting man, and I am betting that not a single start-up shall result.

However, the scenario should be different. I believe that the risk of starting up for an IIM MBA is much smaller. Yes, the pressure to "succeed" is higher. But, exit options are still very attractive. You can go back to a cushy 10 lakh job at the end of the day, if you decide that its not your cup of tea. Venture/ angel funds will listen to you, at the very least. An MBA also equips one to structure thoughts and give a overall perspective of business (esp about top and bottom line!!). And that should help, atleast initially. So, it just comes back to "Do I have the guts - to stick it out for a year or two?" Unfortunately, either people do not think along these lines, or the answer is just a "No."

Another aspect of starting up is the group. It is extremely difficult to start-up alone. You definitely need someone to celebrate with, to bitch with. Personally, I would not have dreamed of going at it alone. And I have been lucky in finding 4 others with whom I can work. Most people didn't give us 6 months in staying together. Well, its been 10 months and going strong. Touch wood!! Starting up alone also gives a big incentive to quit. especially in the early stages when nothing is happening.

So, end of the day - If you have the guts and a basic idea, go for it. Preferably find someone who also has the guts. And let the rest take a hike!

Cheers!
Sandeep.

PS: This letter will also appear as a post on www.edgingalong.blogspot.com. Thank you for inspiring a post (finally!) on my blog!!
PPS: Yes. Today is a a-typically slow day with looooads of time on my hands. :-)

--
Sandeep Ramesh.
Director.
Ph: +91-99800-23415

Hero worship

2007-01-11T08:32:00.000-08:00

I have few heroes outside of cricket. In fact, as I write this, I can't recall even one!! My very first one was Sanjay Manjrekar. Yes, I was very very young, naive and stupid. Not to imply that none of these qualities exist at present. (note the clever use of double negatives in the previous sentence :-D) But, the good thing was, he was such an average performer that no one really cared if he failed. He was not a "discussed" cricketer. I never once had to spring to the defense of my hero!!

But from there, it went downhill. My next hero was Azza. The greatness of the man is exemplified by the number of hearts he broke, and the cynicism that he brought into the mind of every cricket follower in India. He was God, he was the devil, he was the magician, he was the clown...all at the same time. And no one could just let him be. No one could forget. And even today, there is a deep set feeling of "he let me down" in the heart of every Azza fan. He gave us immense joy (one of the last of the kind), but we remember the pain.

Then came my biggest crush - Sachin. He was the idol. It was also a time when I was living cricket. He was everything I could not be. There is really not much to be said. He is greatness. But now, when I see his broken body unable to perform to 10% of his abilities, struggling to get away "Lord" Haris, it pains. It must be similar to what the worshippers of Kapil must have gone through. Because, one does not even feel like defending them...one is just not worthy of the task!!

Sadly though, I now realize that the hero-worship years are past. Cricket is just a game. There are no heroes. There is no pain. I cant believe myself when I applaud - "well bowled Asif"!! That's grown up. And it sucks...like everything about "grown up".

He's human too!!

2007-01-06T01:37:00.000-08:00

PG Wodehouse has been a favorite author for a long long time. I can never tire of the same - hearts split asunder-> Gallant Galahad -> imposter -> Empress kidnapped -> all ends well scenario. There is not really much in the story. It is all about how it is told.

Couple of weeks back I picked up a gem - Sunset at Blandings, which is the last book written by the genius (at the age of 93!!!). It is incomplete, unrevised, full of holes and actually pretty boring. And I loved it!!

There is almost something of a research paper at the end of the book by Richard Usborne which describes the method to the madness (of PGW's writing). The countless drafts and re-drafts, the writer's block, the perseverance, the way good pages moved up the ladder (he used to paste the pages on a wall with the good ones at the top!). And it really does prove the theory about 10% inspiration and the rest perspiration. Sunset...does prove that he is after all, just human!!

Was/ Is it worth it?

2006-11-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

My unequivocal answer to this question is "Yes!". Regardless of the context.
Been asked this many times, in different contexts, but the answer is always the same!

Thanks Doc...

2006-10-30T23:52:00.000-08:00

...for helping me in Losing My Virginity. It kept me up all of last night!!

PS: This has nothing to do with the fact that my Bangalore Times fortune a couple of days back predicted a romantic or marriage proposal from a colleague.

Virgin? Far from it!!!

2006-10-22T02:47:00.000-07:00

This post was inspired by Richard Branson's autobiography. It's called Losing My Virginity (what else did you expect? And he did lose it very young!!) and is an awesome read. He has probably done more things than anyone else on this planet. That's a pretty wierd statement when I read it aloud...but I still stand by it!!

Virgin started off as a student magazine (creatively titled "Student") in a ramshakle house in England. And the two pillars on which it attracted a string of highly creative employees were - dope and "free love". You have to admit, it is as attractive as any job can get!! They started a mail-order record business and were brainstorming for a name. Someone suggested "Virgin, just 'coz there are not many around here!". And so the story goes...

Some parts of the book make you smile (starting Virgin Atlantic), some make you sympathetic (dyslexia), awestruck (the balloon expeditions) and some make you downright nauseous (wife swapping!!). And I went through the whole gamut of emotions through only half the book; until fate intervened.

This is an appeal to all my friends who stock books within my reach - please buy your copy of "Losing..." asap. And let a borrower and a lender be.

Thanks.

PS: One bad side-effect of reading the book is that you might feel like a total loser at the end of it.

Yeh Dil Maange More!

2006-09-26T11:58:00.000-07:00

The rain thunders down noisily on the skylight, a hot cup of coffee next to you, your favorite sofa, India playing cricket on the TV, the blanket feels nice and warm…

The smile of your first crush, and the memories of that foolishness…

The first job, first pay check, your first car…

Your wedding day, your daughters birth…

Your dad’s tears on your graduation, and your first drink with him after that…

Hanging out in the coffee shop, after the last exam you ever wrote…

Your grandad’s old house, bowling endlessly in his drive…

The first day of summer holidays…

What is life, but a series of fleeting, but fulfilled moments?

Mumbhai is the mean place...

2006-08-14T02:11:00.000-07:00

Let me get it off my chest immediately…I hate Mumbai. There, I’ve said it. No going back on that now!

My pet peeves against the city:

It is ugly – Really really ugly. No offence to the PYTs in Colaba and Bandra, I am only referring to the city. It seems like Asian Paints and all the other paint companies do zero business in this city. I don’t really blame the people, with real estate prices as they are in Mumbai, I am sure no one has any money left to paint the goddamn building!!
It is crowded – I don’t mind crowds. But, Mumbai is abnormal. The city smells of people. This is something I have never noticed in any other city. Even on the beach front, no smells from the sea. Sorry. Coz, there are about enough people to fill a few small countries. In about 100 square meters of land. And as you may have noticed, most people don’t smell all that good.
The weather – Just bad. Year round. Period.
Distances – You are at Place A. You need to go to Place B. Chances are that you will use 3 or more modes of transport, change 4 or more times and get lost at least a couple of times. Yeah, and you will also spend the small matter of 2 hours (if you want to do it on a shoestring) or 200 bucks. Choose your evil.

But all said and done, I have met more people who like Mumbai (freaks!!) than those who don’t (my soulmates). Which proves that the world is getting crazier by the minute.

PS: "Bangalore also sucks" is not a retort to this post.

PPS: No offence to anyone I know in Mumbai...you guys rock man! (don't wanna piss you guys off and miss out on free beer the next time I am there)

Back

2006-07-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

There was no reason to stop, no reason to be back. Don't know how long this bout of blogging will last.

I felt that as I enter unchartered territory in this phase of my life, documenting some stuff could become material for a best-seller later in life!! The inspiration came from a lady who started three companies which all failed. She is now a millionaire after writing a book called "The Art of Failure" (not sure about the name).