Yes, The River Knows

Please believe me
If you don't need me
I'm going, but I need a little time
I promised I would drown myself in mysticated wine

--Jim Morrison

Fool Hardy

For years I have dreamt of acquiring the ability to manipulate people around me. The concept was so appealing, intriguing and most importantly, challenging. Time and practice has led me to this point where I can confidently declare that I have almost become a successful manipulator.

The road wasn't an easy one. For starters, the idea is also repulsive due to its negative connotation. After a lot of self-coersion I managed to pull myself out of this moral dilemma. Next arised the problem of being conscious about the game. You see, most manipulators have natural flair in this art. They don't have to be attentive about their thoughts and plays. This is where it took me time; to always keep this aim on top of all other feelings. Soon it became like a game of football. Legs didn't have to ask brain what to do, they run and kick at the sight of the football. I didn't have to think of what I am doing. It started coming naturally to me. In fact, sometimes it takes a good deal of time to even realize why did I say (or do) something against my wish.

Lastly, the biggest hurdle was manipulating without being untrue. To be articulate is pretty tough, as most of us in this real world must already be knowing. Sometimes you end up conveying the wrong information, at other times the right information but at the wrong time. The scale at which manipulation-game is played keeps becoming more complex and elaborate. Finally it reaches a magnitude where it can't be handled anymore and in one way or other the house tumbles down. The problem is not with the house tumbling down, it's when its set on fire and the fire spreads. Yup! That's where it hurts if you (myself in this case) is good at heart.

This entry wasn't intended to be made on the art of manipulation or to establish how good (or bad) a manipulator I have become. I just happened to write the above paragraphs without meaning to do so...

What set me wondering was whether one can manipulate onself or not. In fact, is self-manipulation any different from a determined step towards accomplishing any pre-defined task? Maybe not. I am least bothered with it. What troubles me is the fact that I can't manipulate myself. I can't change the way I think and don't think. Afterall change is tough to incorporate, even the kind that is condemned isn't easy to bring.

Yup, it was wisely said by someone: it's easy to fool others but not yourself.
But, you can't fool others if you're fooling yourself. Yes, this is where I am currently.

A Realization

I find dumb people deplorable.

PS: I know it's not a nice thing but can't help it.

Climax @ TenSex

If ToI is good at doing anything other than filling its pages with colourful pics of hot busty women, it's to turn up with extremely punny headlines (like the title of this post). Evident from it, the much talked about sensex touched the historic 10,000 figure. Relevance of sensex is still unclear to me. All I could answer to my interviewer at House of Code when asked 'What do you know about Sensex'? was that it's probably an acronym for sensitivity index. I am guessing by the result (i.e. not selected, lucky for me) that I must have been wrong there. Well, I never bothered to verify that as it's an answer I'll always feel glad about.

Anyway, so this catchy headline managed to motivate me into digging a few links and finding more about stocks and stock markets. The whole concept amazed me so much that I have decided to become a stock broker. Maybe not so early in my career but probably after working in an i-bank for 10-15 years, when I have loads of cash in my bank (and hopefully would also have found my Chandler by then).

Speaking of Chandler, Bamboo and Varun are the topic contenders. Who shall it be?

App Day (+ V-Day)

Got up early morning. Went Purushottam's room, half-awake half-asleep. Found him checking on Google Earth the distance between Boston and Baltimore. You know why?
:D :D :D

Happy Valentine's Day. The day finally holds some relevance in my life.

Update:- Valentine's Day definitely not my day.

Success?

Life is not worth if one cannot inspire others to do amazing things.

The Gang

Have you ever found yourself staring at a pic for 10 minutes at a stretch? I know of one that has kept me occupied for a good time in the last 2 days.



Was taken when Purushottam, Shweta and Varun were leaving for Europe in summers. Bamboo unfortunately missed out as he was the photographer. When I become rich, I shall pay Bamboo a hefty sum for taking this snap. Except Pritam (and Shaggy) most of the gang is in it, making it unique. Makes me nostalgic, already.

Standing behind: Purushottam and Shweta (supposed to get married)
Sitting behind: People I don't know.
Sitting (or rather kneeled down, from left to right): Akshay (our Mummy), myself (dazed by the hottie standing behind Bamboo), Onkar & Varun (the hot couple), Karthik (in white t-shirt, looking as hot as ever), Dasa (black beauty with a perfect grin) and Dixi (my "best" friend).

Freebird

They know it all. They have it all figured out. Dammit!

If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be travelling on, now,
'Cause there's too many places I've got to see.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
'Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.

Bye, bye, its been a sweet love.
Though this feeling I can't change.
But please don't take it badly,
'Cause Lord knows I'm to blame.
But, if I stayed here with you girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you'll never change.
And this bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.
Lord help me, I can't change.

--Lynyrd Skynyrd

Ticket to US

... and the "best man", Pritam, gets the latest one: to UIUC. So atleast he's off to the States. I wonder what path destiny has chosen for him; would make one hell of a story. :)

My First Rock Concert!

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival Mumbai provided me my first experience at a concert (of any sort) outside IIT. Low excitement level for it was making me feeling slightly guilty... afterall a rock concert is about enthu and all, specially when it is your first and two of the best Indian rock bands are performing in it. As we hurried to the Azad Maidan anticipating a huge crowd and space constraints, we were forced to squint our eyes to find the concert arena in Azad Maidan. Not that Azad Maidan is thaaaaat big, instead the concert was that small and very strategically placed in a khopcha.

Afraid that we might find it tough to get inside, gauging from the loooong queues for Livewire every year, Purushottam and I scurried to the front entrance only to find a meagre crowd (if one could call that a crowd) of 20 people. The height was when while letting us in an organizer was heard yelling - "aaraam se jao.. sabko aage baithne kii jageh milegi." (WTF!!!)

Zero kicked start the evening with their originals and pretty much kept to their own songs with a few deviants, but I (and Shaggy) found their act rather disappointing. All expectations of a rocking evening rested with Parikrama and their first song (Highway to Hell, AC-DC) was anything but a teaser of what was in store for the next 80 minutes, which climaxed with their original acoustic song Open Skies and the ever rocking Smoke On the Water.

A decent bit of head banging, swaying and occasional plunges in the mosh-hole is what a rock show is about. Thankfully, despite the dismal crowd and dim ambience we were offered all these elements - for free! :)

Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Accidentally deleted the old blog.
That's why all testings should be done on dummy systems and not actual ones.

Good in a way. Time for a fresh start. Lots of things have changed, now even blog. So should I now.

Welcome everyone.