Sunday, April 30, 2006
Night
Its night.. its hot.. and its boring... what do you do?
Well, I decided to do something that I hadnt done for a long time.. go to my terrace.
Inspired move that turned out to be. Millions of mosquitoes buzzing around my ears.. and irritating my hands, and legs... and face...
But it was worth it.. got to see a stunning moon ... second moon I think it was..
Here.. you tell me...
And of course.. as i was being bitten.. and enjoying my photography.. I realised, you've never seen Wall Street by night! So here you are:
Well, I decided to do something that I hadnt done for a long time.. go to my terrace.
Inspired move that turned out to be. Millions of mosquitoes buzzing around my ears.. and irritating my hands, and legs... and face...
But it was worth it.. got to see a stunning moon ... second moon I think it was..
Here.. you tell me...
And of course.. as i was being bitten.. and enjoying my photography.. I realised, you've never seen Wall Street by night! So here you are:
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
What a Delay
You just have to see it to believe it!
The mail servers here, at work are sort of really screwed up these days. Nobody anticipated them to be so bad, however.
A friend of mine, just got a mail from an airline, giving him his flight details for a journey that occurred in January this year. Upon checking the time stamp of the mail, we quickly realised that it was not the fault of the airline. The mail was despatched well in time for the journey. It arrived in his inbox, however, today.
Thats a delay of 3 months!!!!
Dont believe me? Have a look yourself.
The Mail with the sent timestamp (1/25/2006)
The Inbox with the arrival timestamp (4/26/2006 - sent by goodtimes)
I wonder how the server even managed it. Could it be that the server, just forgot? Or maybe it was understaffed!
Seriosuly, makes you wonder if we are just bonded labour to these guys... with no personal lives. (Mind you, that flight was on official business!!)
The mail servers here, at work are sort of really screwed up these days. Nobody anticipated them to be so bad, however.
A friend of mine, just got a mail from an airline, giving him his flight details for a journey that occurred in January this year. Upon checking the time stamp of the mail, we quickly realised that it was not the fault of the airline. The mail was despatched well in time for the journey. It arrived in his inbox, however, today.
Thats a delay of 3 months!!!!
Dont believe me? Have a look yourself.
The Mail with the sent timestamp (1/25/2006)
The Inbox with the arrival timestamp (4/26/2006 - sent by goodtimes)
Seriosuly, makes you wonder if we are just bonded labour to these guys... with no personal lives. (Mind you, that flight was on official business!!)
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Kingfisher ATR?
Somehow I was always under the impression that Kingfisher airlines, the airline which boasted full service at true value, was going to consist of an all Airbus fleet. My beliefs came unfounded this evening, as I walked home.
Reaching Wall Street, I saw a Kingfisher ATR take off. It had just become airborne, which permitted me to be perfectly sure that I was not hallucinating, in spite of a full day at work :-)
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but didnt Kingfisher Airlines launch saying that its going to be an all Airbus fleet?
Reaching Wall Street, I saw a Kingfisher ATR take off. It had just become airborne, which permitted me to be perfectly sure that I was not hallucinating, in spite of a full day at work :-)
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but didnt Kingfisher Airlines launch saying that its going to be an all Airbus fleet?
A Kingfisher Airbus taxis back to the airport
Monday, April 24, 2006
P Has left the street
Unbenownst to half of Wall Street, one of the neighbourettes has now moved out. (By half of Wall Street, I mean this blogger, and his room-mates).
All we can say is, Where is our party?
Kidding... hope you have a great time wherever you are P, and best wishes for your married life!
All we can say is, Where is our party?
Kidding... hope you have a great time wherever you are P, and best wishes for your married life!
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Which Superhero am I?
My results:
I am Superman
Now what can I say about that?! :-)
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...
I am Superman
Now what can I say about that?! :-)
| Mild-mannered. Good. Strong. Love to help others.  |
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...
/dev/null
In case you are wondering, /dev/null is a Linux (or more appropriately Unix) term. It is a special file that discards all data written to it, and provides no data to any process that reads from it. In Unix programmer jargon, it may also be called the bit bucket or black hole.
Now, to the more important point of why I am talking about a null device on Wall Street. Lately my posts seem to have centered away from Wall Street. I cant help it, nothing fun happens here anymore.
Back to /dev/null.
I have known this person, lets just call him DN (for /dev/null), for quite some time now. At first he seemed to be one of those ppl who are slightly off the ordinary. Thats OK. Good to be different.
As time passed, he slowly began to reveal his true qualities.
The desire to always want to be in a conversation is not only irritating most times, but also very rude. Especially if the conversation had nothing to do with you. Nonetheless, no matter how many times it is explained, the behavior continues.
The spirituality part we would all endure. One cant be intolerant of such things. We are all open minded people. Somehow, things changed, and he appears to be more of a fraud now.
If one is spiritual, and so devout in your following of the inscriptions, and takes a regular pilgrimage to cleanse ones sins from the past life, then why would u want a gun on you? The claim is that one must not kill, but then he also wants to "shoot a few people through the centre of their heads." And of course the gun is also for protection so that nobody kills you. But then he is so frustrated with life that he wants to die anyway! Contradictions....
DN also seems to be of the opinion that nobody is at the same level of conciosuness as him. We are all morons with nothing but the material world to pursue. He is at a different level altogether... another plane of consciousness. Although he thinks of us as equals... he cant relate to us as such. Then why trouble us and hang out with us all the time?
I know I have no right to judge a person. After all, who am I to do that. I am sure I have my own flaws.. but I hope that they are not as "bad."
Now, to the more important point of why I am talking about a null device on Wall Street. Lately my posts seem to have centered away from Wall Street. I cant help it, nothing fun happens here anymore.
Back to /dev/null.
I have known this person, lets just call him DN (for /dev/null), for quite some time now. At first he seemed to be one of those ppl who are slightly off the ordinary. Thats OK. Good to be different.
As time passed, he slowly began to reveal his true qualities.
- A strange fascination for corrupting any word.
- Generally making noises to and assigning them some meaning.
- Extremely strong desire to be spiritual.
The desire to always want to be in a conversation is not only irritating most times, but also very rude. Especially if the conversation had nothing to do with you. Nonetheless, no matter how many times it is explained, the behavior continues.
The spirituality part we would all endure. One cant be intolerant of such things. We are all open minded people. Somehow, things changed, and he appears to be more of a fraud now.
If one is spiritual, and so devout in your following of the inscriptions, and takes a regular pilgrimage to cleanse ones sins from the past life, then why would u want a gun on you? The claim is that one must not kill, but then he also wants to "shoot a few people through the centre of their heads." And of course the gun is also for protection so that nobody kills you. But then he is so frustrated with life that he wants to die anyway! Contradictions....
DN also seems to be of the opinion that nobody is at the same level of conciosuness as him. We are all morons with nothing but the material world to pursue. He is at a different level altogether... another plane of consciousness. Although he thinks of us as equals... he cant relate to us as such. Then why trouble us and hang out with us all the time?
I know I have no right to judge a person. After all, who am I to do that. I am sure I have my own flaws.. but I hope that they are not as "bad."
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The Collector's Collection
As per a request by Lazzybum, I shall now give a small write up about each of the movies mentioned in the post below.
Disclaimer: none of the plot descriptions are my own. I have used them from sites obtained by google :-)
Disclaimer: none of the plot descriptions are my own. I have used them from sites obtained by google :-)
- The Breakfast Club - John Hughes writes and directs this dramatic comedy about five Chicago high school kids that are from different circles and stations in life being forced to spend a Saturday together in detention. Before the day is over this group finds out that they have more in common than they thought and even some friendships are created.
- The Kid - Charlie Chaplin's study of a tramp teaming up with a street kid (the cute little Jackie Coogan) has a fine line to tread between humour and pathos, and true to what you would expect of his best work, does it superbly. The tramp always manages to wring the hearts of his viewers and adding a little boy to the mix was the finishing touch.
- Gold Rush - Gold Rush is one example that Charlie Chaplin was the father of American comedy. Even though Chaplin loves to press political, economical, or social messages in his films, The Gold Rush remains true to its genre.
- Before Sunrise - Before Sunrise is a passionate and intelligent romance between a young American (Jesse) and a French student (Celine). A chance encounter on the train incites intrigue, and Jesse provocatively suggests that Celine postpones her return to France and embarks instead on a spontaneous expedition to Vienna. In the course of their 14-hour relationship, the two share in their love for the unrehearsed and their appreciation for the unexpected as they explore in a powerful meeting of hearts and minds.
- Before Sunset - Jesse, a writer from the US, and Celine, a Frenchwoman working for an environment protection organization, acquainted nine years ago on the train from Budapest to Vienna, meet again when Jesse arrives in Paris for a reading of his new book. As they have only a few hours until his plane leaves, they stroll through Paris, talking about their experiences, views and whether they still love each other, although Jesse is already married with a kid.
- Wonder Years - This 1988-1993 period dramedy takes place during the turbulent times of the late 1960s and 1970s. The show focuses on Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage), a young teenager living in a quiet middle-class suburb, and his family and friends. Throughout the series' 5-year run, Kevin deals with middle and high school, encounters puberty, has ups and downs with childhood sweetheart Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar), deals with annoying older brother Wayne, and hangs out with geeky-but-lovable Paul (Josh Saviano). The series is told from Kevin's point-of-view through the narration of Daniel Stern.
- Taxi Driver - A New York City taxi driver violently and brutally lashes out at the scum of society after encounters with several diverse individuals, including a beautiful campaign worker, an underage hooker, a murderous pimp, and a presidential candidate.
- O Brother Where Art Thou - Three stumblebum convicts escape to go on a quest for treasure and meet various characters while learning where their real fortune lies set in 1930s Deep South.
- The Bicycle Thief - Antonio Ricci, unemployed for over two years, is overjoyed when he's finally given a job putting up posters. There's a catch, though - he needs a bicycle as a requirement of the job, so he pawns the family linen to get a pawned bicycle back. He goes off to his first day's work, truly happy for the first time in years - and the title of the film gives away what happens next...
- Amelie - Amélie is a shy waitress in a Montmartre café. After returning a long-lost childhood treasure to a former occupant of her apartment, and seeing the effect it has on him, she decides to set out on a mission to make others happy and in the meantime pursues a quirky guy who collects discarded photo booth pictures.
- Forrest Gump - Needs no introduction, I hope.
- Life is Beautiful - Once again, this ought to be known by all!
- Cool Runnings - Based on the true story of the First Jamacian bobsled team trying to make it to the winter olympics.
- Meet Joe Black - Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins enter into a most unusual gentleman's agreement. Wealthy media tycoon William Parrish (Hopkins) leads a charmed existence until Death (Pitt) comes calling with an extraordinary proposition - he'll delay Bill's imminent demise in exchange for a tour of life. Innocent, enigmatic and often hilarious, Joe (Pitt) disrupts Bill's world of privilege and corporate intrigue. But when he falls for Bill's beautiful daughter (Claire Forlani), Joe threatens to change the rules. Now Bill must fight not for his future, but for those he loves in this bittersweet tale of life and death.
- As Good As it Gets - The trials and tribulations of a compulsive writer, Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson). After his homosexual neighbor (Greg Kinnear) is brutally beaten, he is entrusted to the care of the neighbor's dog, with a difficult relationship with a waitress (Helen Hunt) to add on top of that. What develops is a weekend trip/triangle between these three individuals, and together they learn the true meaning of "the sunny side of life".
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Pink
Pink it´s the new obsession
Pink it´s not even a question
Pink it´s the color of passion
`Cause today it just goes with the fashion
Pink it´s not even a question
Pink it´s the color of passion
`Cause today it just goes with the fashion
Why am i talking pink? Well, because, for the first time since I can remember, I saw a pink car. A pink Premier 118NE to be precise. It kind of caught me of guard! Still in shock!
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Here Comes The Rain Again
Here comes the rain again
Falling on my head like a memory
Falling on my head like a new emotion
I want to walk in the open wind
I want to talk like lovers do
I want to dive into your ocean
Is it raining with you
------------------------------------------
Rain, feel it on my finger tips
Hear it on my window pane
Your love's coming down like
Rain, wash away my sorrow
Take away my pain
Your love's coming down like rain
Falling on my head like a memory
Falling on my head like a new emotion
I want to walk in the open wind
I want to talk like lovers do
I want to dive into your ocean
Is it raining with you
------------------------------------------
Rain, feel it on my finger tips
Hear it on my window pane
Your love's coming down like
Rain, wash away my sorrow
Take away my pain
Your love's coming down like rain
Friday, April 14, 2006
Cine Spree
Recently been on a movie watching and acquiring spree. Have already seen/got movies such as
- The Breakfast Club
- The Kid
- Gold Rush
- Before Sunrise
- Before Sunset
- Episodes of Wonder Years
- Taxi Driver
- O Brother Where Art Thou
- The Bicycle Thieves
- Amelie
- Forrest Gump
- Life is Beautiful
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Bangalore Closes
Received word in the afternoon that a famous Kannada actor, Dr. Rajkumar, had passed away. This information, however, was prefaced and epilogued with warnings that one must be wary of Bangalore today and tomorrow.
Most of us from Northern parts of India were stunned. The man, a legend in his own right, I am sure, had passed away of natural causes. There was no reason, we thought for people to express their sorrow on the city. Their city.
Alas, we were wrong. Soon reports trickled in off riots in the city. Incidents of stone throwing were reported. Then we heard about buses being burnt. Roads were closed.
In no mood to work, considering the state of affairs in the city, my colleagues and I pushed off to the canteen to have some tea. Panicky people everywhere. All wondering what was happening. We even heard dialogues from people explaining the situation to their friends. One such gem was," Yaar, South India mein to aise hi hota hai!" (In South India, this is how it happens)
Back to our desks, and an email from our trusty HR awaits us. Buses leaving work have been indefinitely postponed. Apparently the security head at work had received word from the cops that all the crosses in the city were blocked. All traffic into the city had been stopped.
It seemed the office gates were open, so four of us (basically my colleagues at work) decided to venture out in the car. Headed out, and saw that company buses had started plying.
The journey was thankfully not very eventful. We did not see any of the violent protests that were talked about. A few ppl did, however, stop their vehicles to indulge in a public display of fighting by the road sides. And of course traffic bad, but then thats the Bangalore way, after all.
Reached home, and words of Bangalore being closed reached me. Turns out, as of now, that these words are true. Will check with higher ups tho. So that means no work tomorrow. We'l compensate for it I'm sure.
I still cant believe this is how this city functions. It touts itself as the new silicon valley, India's IT industry is practically headquartered here. Yet all these companies vacated their employees. True, they must be wary of our safety. Also true, the common public of Karnataka see us as the outsiders who stole and spoilt their city. And its not like anything good has happened here because of the IT industry. Traffic has gone up, pollution has gone up, tempartures have soared, and its become unliveable for the common public. But i digress.
An unscheduled long weekend is now upon us.. just wish this was not why it has bestowed upon us. What do we do?
Most of us from Northern parts of India were stunned. The man, a legend in his own right, I am sure, had passed away of natural causes. There was no reason, we thought for people to express their sorrow on the city. Their city.
Alas, we were wrong. Soon reports trickled in off riots in the city. Incidents of stone throwing were reported. Then we heard about buses being burnt. Roads were closed.
In no mood to work, considering the state of affairs in the city, my colleagues and I pushed off to the canteen to have some tea. Panicky people everywhere. All wondering what was happening. We even heard dialogues from people explaining the situation to their friends. One such gem was," Yaar, South India mein to aise hi hota hai!" (In South India, this is how it happens)
Back to our desks, and an email from our trusty HR awaits us. Buses leaving work have been indefinitely postponed. Apparently the security head at work had received word from the cops that all the crosses in the city were blocked. All traffic into the city had been stopped.
It seemed the office gates were open, so four of us (basically my colleagues at work) decided to venture out in the car. Headed out, and saw that company buses had started plying.
The journey was thankfully not very eventful. We did not see any of the violent protests that were talked about. A few ppl did, however, stop their vehicles to indulge in a public display of fighting by the road sides. And of course traffic bad, but then thats the Bangalore way, after all.
Reached home, and words of Bangalore being closed reached me. Turns out, as of now, that these words are true. Will check with higher ups tho. So that means no work tomorrow. We'l compensate for it I'm sure.
I still cant believe this is how this city functions. It touts itself as the new silicon valley, India's IT industry is practically headquartered here. Yet all these companies vacated their employees. True, they must be wary of our safety. Also true, the common public of Karnataka see us as the outsiders who stole and spoilt their city. And its not like anything good has happened here because of the IT industry. Traffic has gone up, pollution has gone up, tempartures have soared, and its become unliveable for the common public. But i digress.
An unscheduled long weekend is now upon us.. just wish this was not why it has bestowed upon us. What do we do?
"South India mein to aise hi hota hai!"
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Gathering of Strangers
Thats what it started out as.
Sunday evening a bunch of us, unknown to each other, yet linked with a common thread decided to meet up. Call it a meet'n'greet if you will. So after 5 pm, at Koshys, you would have seen about 15-20 ppl huddled around 3 small tables, animatedly talking.
And what a bunch of ppl they are!
Below is a rough and extremely sketchy bit of what we were up to.
1600 hrs.
Get a call from one over enthusiastic chap who has already reached the venue in the hope that someone else would be there as well. I tell him I'm still relaxing at home, and will reach only after 1700 hrs, going by the kind of response a similar gathering at bbay got.
1705 hrs.
Reach the venue. Meet one guy and 2 girls standing outside the place waiting for someone. Being a sardar, I tend to be easily noticeable. Seeing me, they came up to me and asked if I was me (by name of course, silly!). Together the 4 of us walk into the place, and the enthusiastic caller is sitting at a small table for 4 with another one of the gang.
We get the tables arranged, adding another table to this, and the 6 of us sit down.
A round of intros start.
1730 hrs
More ppl enter... More intros.
Something to drink arrives.
We realise that our common thread involves a lot of acronyms. They start flying across the table.
the list just went on.
1800 hrs.
More ppl... more intros...
Seems we had ppl from all ages! Freshers to ppl who've been working for 4 years. Software professionals. Students. All there.
There seemed to be a parallel reunion happening as well, some ppl knew each other across the table.
1830 hrs.
Ppl decided to head home with promises of meeting again soon...
Thats when the mobile number swapping happened.
16 ppl, each exchanging numbers with each other leads to a very big combination equation. You do the math!
1900 hrs.
Everyone goes their separate ways home. Get a drop home from one of the gang. Thanks for that. :-)
All in all a great time. I know we started out as strangers, but am sure i can say we came away as friends.
P.S. As per request, the nature and reason of the gathering has been omitted.
Sunday evening a bunch of us, unknown to each other, yet linked with a common thread decided to meet up. Call it a meet'n'greet if you will. So after 5 pm, at Koshys, you would have seen about 15-20 ppl huddled around 3 small tables, animatedly talking.
And what a bunch of ppl they are!
Below is a rough and extremely sketchy bit of what we were up to.
1600 hrs.
Get a call from one over enthusiastic chap who has already reached the venue in the hope that someone else would be there as well. I tell him I'm still relaxing at home, and will reach only after 1700 hrs, going by the kind of response a similar gathering at bbay got.
1705 hrs.
Reach the venue. Meet one guy and 2 girls standing outside the place waiting for someone. Being a sardar, I tend to be easily noticeable. Seeing me, they came up to me and asked if I was me (by name of course, silly!). Together the 4 of us walk into the place, and the enthusiastic caller is sitting at a small table for 4 with another one of the gang.
We get the tables arranged, adding another table to this, and the 6 of us sit down.
A round of intros start.
1730 hrs
More ppl enter... More intros.
Something to drink arrives.
We realise that our common thread involves a lot of acronyms. They start flying across the table.
IN
ISTM
INI
ECE
LTI
SCS
ETC
MISM
SE
ISTM
INI
ECE
LTI
SCS
ETC
MISM
SE
the list just went on.
1800 hrs.
More ppl... more intros...
Seems we had ppl from all ages! Freshers to ppl who've been working for 4 years. Software professionals. Students. All there.
There seemed to be a parallel reunion happening as well, some ppl knew each other across the table.
1830 hrs.
Ppl decided to head home with promises of meeting again soon...
Thats when the mobile number swapping happened.
16 ppl, each exchanging numbers with each other leads to a very big combination equation. You do the math!
1900 hrs.
Everyone goes their separate ways home. Get a drop home from one of the gang. Thanks for that. :-)
All in all a great time. I know we started out as strangers, but am sure i can say we came away as friends.
P.S. As per request, the nature and reason of the gathering has been omitted.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Return to Silence
Well, I'm back at Wall Street. And the situation here almost resembles the one in New York. Silent, and nothing in spectacular. Nothing of the sort of Dalal Street.
Let me explain.
In my week since I returned, I have been unable to meet'n'greet anyone. Met my roomies, of course, but that's about it.
Let me explain.
In my week since I returned, I have been unable to meet'n'greet anyone. Met my roomies, of course, but that's about it.
So I scream from the top of my lungs
What's goin' on
And I say hey....
And I say hey what's goin' on
And I say hey....
I said hey what's goin' on
Wonder what's up with everyone. Someone say hi!
What's goin' on
And I say hey....
And I say hey what's goin' on
And I say hey....
I said hey what's goin' on
Wonder what's up with everyone. Someone say hi!
Sunday, April 02, 2006
The Mumbai Paanwalla
Their network is unprecedented. Wherever you go, you find at least five paanwallas (tobacco shops) around. This is the kind of reach that corporates vie for. And they sure are versatile.
One would normally assume that these shops would contain only the usual goods, viz cigarettes, paan, tobacco etc..
But they also have some of the other needs of usual mumbaikars. Like revenue stamps. :-)
Thats right!
Revenue stamps.
Had to run around the city this morning. And for some reason i needed revenue stamps. "On a sunday?," I thought. But then I was told that i'l get it with the neighboring paan shop!
Not only did he know which paanwalla will have it, but he gave me directions to that shop that will have it! The chain continued, and eventually i found a paan shop with some revenue stamps!
Stunning. With this kind of coverage, it's tough to beat them. I mean think about it.
Five paan shops near every post office. (on average) So it adds to the convenience of the denizens. Plus they are open on sundays!
Now thats amchi mumbai for you!!
One would normally assume that these shops would contain only the usual goods, viz cigarettes, paan, tobacco etc..
But they also have some of the other needs of usual mumbaikars. Like revenue stamps. :-)
Thats right!
Revenue stamps.
Had to run around the city this morning. And for some reason i needed revenue stamps. "On a sunday?," I thought. But then I was told that i'l get it with the neighboring paan shop!
Not only did he know which paanwalla will have it, but he gave me directions to that shop that will have it! The chain continued, and eventually i found a paan shop with some revenue stamps!
Stunning. With this kind of coverage, it's tough to beat them. I mean think about it.
Five paan shops near every post office. (on average) So it adds to the convenience of the denizens. Plus they are open on sundays!
Now thats amchi mumbai for you!!
