Just got back from Kung Fu Panda.
Expect the unexpected from the person you least expect :D
Total entertainment!
Outside the cinema hall, I saw the poster of Roadside Romeo, another animation. Was in for a total surprise when I saw the preview. This is a Yash Raj + Walt Disney production looks really promising.
Saving the best for last... Madagascar - Escape to Africa. Though this preview was for less than 2 mins, it had everyone in splits all through.
Just can't wait to watch this movie :D
Attention! this is your captain speaking. I've got good news and bad news.
The good news is - We'll be landing immediately
The bad news is - We'll be crash landing :D
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Friday, August 08, 2008
When its time...
Off late, I've become a regular at www.livemint.com. Apart from usual news relating to business, the economy, market conditions etc. I find the career section by Jack and Suzy Welch to be very interesting.
Here's a recent article about Knowing when its time to leave your present place of work
Questions you need to ask yourself:
~ Do you look forward to going to work every morning?
Does the thought of going to work make you feel good or do your dread it every morning?
~ Do you enjoy spending time with your co-workers?
Considering the fact that you spend close to 12 hours with these people, this becomes a very relevant question. Co-workers can either motivate you or can get your frustrated to the core.
~ Does your company fulfill your personal mission?
Question rephrased as - Do you get to do things that challenge/excite you?
~ Can you picture yourself at your company in a year's time?
Where do you see yourself? Who reports to you? What are your responsibilities and are you happy with that?
Currently, my score on almost all of the above questions happens to be negative :(
Here's a recent article about Knowing when its time to leave your present place of work
Questions you need to ask yourself:
~ Do you look forward to going to work every morning?
Does the thought of going to work make you feel good or do your dread it every morning?
~ Do you enjoy spending time with your co-workers?
Considering the fact that you spend close to 12 hours with these people, this becomes a very relevant question. Co-workers can either motivate you or can get your frustrated to the core.
~ Does your company fulfill your personal mission?
Question rephrased as - Do you get to do things that challenge/excite you?
~ Can you picture yourself at your company in a year's time?
Where do you see yourself? Who reports to you? What are your responsibilities and are you happy with that?
Currently, my score on almost all of the above questions happens to be negative :(
Message from God
To:YOU
Date:TODAY
From:GOD
Subject:YOURSELF
Reference:LIFE
This is God. Today I will be handling All of your problems for you. I do Not need your help. So, have a nice day. I love you.
P.S. And, remember...
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.
If you find yourself stuck in traffic, don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work; think of the man who has been out of work for years.
Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.
Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.
Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.
Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.
Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!
Now, you have a nice day.
God.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Salzburg festival 2008
In the land of Mozart, every year during the months of July-August, there takes place the festival of music and drama.
The director of the Salzburg festival says that they have to plan 2, 3 sometimes 4 years in advance, so that they can have all the artists perform at the festival.
With such a perfect location and the best artists in the world... the festival must be an 'out of this world' experience!
Here's an interesting video link from the Credit Suisse newsletter.
The director of the Salzburg festival says that they have to plan 2, 3 sometimes 4 years in advance, so that they can have all the artists perform at the festival.
With such a perfect location and the best artists in the world... the festival must be an 'out of this world' experience!
Here's an interesting video link from the Credit Suisse newsletter.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Yanni voices
Just went to Yanni's official page and was shocked beyond belief at his new look. For a moment, I had to stare hard at the photo to confirm it actually was him.
"The human voice is the most expressive instrument known to man... it can evoke an enormous amount of emotion"
This is his new venture, taking his music to the next level with human voices and the featured voices are:
Chloe
Nathan Pacheco
Leslie Mills
Ender Thomas
What voices!!
"The human voice is the most expressive instrument known to man... it can evoke an enormous amount of emotion"This is his new venture, taking his music to the next level with human voices and the featured voices are:
Chloe
Nathan Pacheco
Leslie Mills
Ender Thomas
What voices!!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
crazy week - crazy me
You know how it is, when life goes completely berserk, things that you least expect are thrown up your path. Duck and avoid as best as you can - you may be lucky, you may not.
Those are the times when the slightest things/gestures/words make a world of difference.
In case you have no clue what I'm talking about, good for you :)
I'm currently reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. This book recommended by one of my NY colleagues and I'm so glad she did. Just a few chapters into the book and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I cannot point out if it is the simplicity, the reality, the thought process or the word play that makes it such a joy to read. So typing out this post real quickly, so that I can get back to the book :)
Has has it ever happened to you - that you are in a negative mood - be it feeling low, depressed, frustrated, angry... whatever, then all of a sudden - something makes you feel just the opposite? It could be anything, in this case I'm talking about a hello tune on a friend's phone :) which currently is 'naan paadum' from the movie Duet. The first time that I heard his tune I asked him to cut the call and not to pick it up until I told him to. Just listening to the tune was so refreshing and happy. Through the week, whenever I felt I needed a break from my mundane thoughts, I'd call him up just to listen to the tune. This, I think is one of ARR's best albums. the combination of the saxophone and the keyboard is amazing. The way Kadri's sax pieces take you on an emotional ride depending on the situation in the movie is just mind blowing.
Ok so we've done book, music/movie and now to television ads. Watched this one a couple of times today and really liked it. I don't understand why Aamir is doing an SRK i.e. appearing in so many ads, but still this one's worth it.
Be born everyday:
Ending this post with a snippet from the book:
This is the part where the writer wants to learn Italian but is trying justify if its going to be of any use, learning a language just because you like it. In the end she says:
"Why must everything always have a practical application? I've been a diligent soldier for years - working, producing, never missing a dead-line, taking care of my credit record, voting, etc. Is this lifetime supposed to be only about duty?"
(I know someone would intervene to say - no its not, that's what I've been telling you all along...)
That's something to chew on ...
Happy weekend!
Those are the times when the slightest things/gestures/words make a world of difference.
In case you have no clue what I'm talking about, good for you :)
I'm currently reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. This book recommended by one of my NY colleagues and I'm so glad she did. Just a few chapters into the book and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I cannot point out if it is the simplicity, the reality, the thought process or the word play that makes it such a joy to read. So typing out this post real quickly, so that I can get back to the book :)
Has has it ever happened to you - that you are in a negative mood - be it feeling low, depressed, frustrated, angry... whatever, then all of a sudden - something makes you feel just the opposite? It could be anything, in this case I'm talking about a hello tune on a friend's phone :) which currently is 'naan paadum' from the movie Duet. The first time that I heard his tune I asked him to cut the call and not to pick it up until I told him to. Just listening to the tune was so refreshing and happy. Through the week, whenever I felt I needed a break from my mundane thoughts, I'd call him up just to listen to the tune. This, I think is one of ARR's best albums. the combination of the saxophone and the keyboard is amazing. The way Kadri's sax pieces take you on an emotional ride depending on the situation in the movie is just mind blowing.
Ok so we've done book, music/movie and now to television ads. Watched this one a couple of times today and really liked it. I don't understand why Aamir is doing an SRK i.e. appearing in so many ads, but still this one's worth it.
Be born everyday:
Ending this post with a snippet from the book:
This is the part where the writer wants to learn Italian but is trying justify if its going to be of any use, learning a language just because you like it. In the end she says:
"Why must everything always have a practical application? I've been a diligent soldier for years - working, producing, never missing a dead-line, taking care of my credit record, voting, etc. Is this lifetime supposed to be only about duty?"
(I know someone would intervene to say - no its not, that's what I've been telling you all along...)
That's something to chew on ...
Happy weekend!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
To blog or not to blog
That is definitely not the question.
Why I blog or what my blogs are about, that is the question.
I don't know about others, but for me, my blogs are my space - my space to think out loud, to put across points, to tell the world how I feel, to vent my frustrations, to cry out in joy, to whisper in sadness. Its my space - where I can express my feelings, my point of view, things that I strongly feel about - be it people, events, organisations, activities, music, movies, books or just plain nothing at all.
This is the place where I've made innumerable friends, learned from people (learned what to do and also what not to). It has taught me things I didn't know about myself. I can always come back to my blog and relive moments from the past (even if reliving means reading about) :)
This is my space. I hope I am able to keep it this way.
Tune for the day: Back together
Why I blog or what my blogs are about, that is the question.
I don't know about others, but for me, my blogs are my space - my space to think out loud, to put across points, to tell the world how I feel, to vent my frustrations, to cry out in joy, to whisper in sadness. Its my space - where I can express my feelings, my point of view, things that I strongly feel about - be it people, events, organisations, activities, music, movies, books or just plain nothing at all.
This is the place where I've made innumerable friends, learned from people (learned what to do and also what not to). It has taught me things I didn't know about myself. I can always come back to my blog and relive moments from the past (even if reliving means reading about) :)
This is my space. I hope I am able to keep it this way.
Tune for the day: Back together
What's with this attitude?
Aren't doctors meant to be life-savers? Aren't they regarded equal to God?
Background - Amma regularly goes to a school for the mentally retarded, to spend time with the children, keep them occupied with various activities including singing. There's this one kid who is 5 years old, who had a problem walking. She needed special shoes which she'd outgrown and amma wanted to help out. However, upon speaking to the kid's parents and looking at her reports (which were 4 years old), it was realised that it was the lower part of her body that had been affected at the time of birth and not her brain functionality. Since she was slow in learning, her parents being poor didn't get her checked up with any doctor, and got her admitted in this school.
Amma got P (my brother's friend) and R (amma's student) to try and help out this kid.
R is studying medicine, so just looking at the medical reports, she explained that it was the lower limbs that were affected, not the brain. In such cases special exercises would help strengthen the limbs and thus help her walk.
P took on the task of calling up a Neuro Surgeon, to confirm that the kid was not mentally ill and that she could be shifted to a regular school.
She explained to the doctor - this is a poor kid and we are trying to help the family. Would you please be able to take a look at the report and confirm that she is mentally fit.
The reaction of the doctor was this - I know how all you NGOs work. But tell me, when whole of Bangalore does not have water, what difference does it make to fix the problem only in your area?
Is this reaction acceptable? I was so furious when I heard this.
So today, the reports were taken to another doctor. Explaining that all that he was required to do was advise on what needs to be done and if the kid can be put in a regular school.
The reaction this time - oh.. well.. she should been treated early on
Yes, we know that. Nothing was done then, would exercises help now and what about putting her in a regular school, can that be done?
Oh - I don't know, for that you'll have to check her IQ
OK - do you know where that can be done? do you think an organisation like Mobility India would be able to help?
uh... ho... hum... may be
The end!
Here are people who are trying to help, trying in their own small way to make a difference and if this is the response...
My question: Would the reaction of the doctors be the same, if it were their own child?
Song for the day: Khuda jaane from Bachna ae haseenon.
Don't know why, but I really like the chorus... so the song's been playing in a loop.
and yes I like the Ahista Ahista song too for the guitar and the peppy rhythm/pace.
Background - Amma regularly goes to a school for the mentally retarded, to spend time with the children, keep them occupied with various activities including singing. There's this one kid who is 5 years old, who had a problem walking. She needed special shoes which she'd outgrown and amma wanted to help out. However, upon speaking to the kid's parents and looking at her reports (which were 4 years old), it was realised that it was the lower part of her body that had been affected at the time of birth and not her brain functionality. Since she was slow in learning, her parents being poor didn't get her checked up with any doctor, and got her admitted in this school.
Amma got P (my brother's friend) and R (amma's student) to try and help out this kid.
R is studying medicine, so just looking at the medical reports, she explained that it was the lower limbs that were affected, not the brain. In such cases special exercises would help strengthen the limbs and thus help her walk.
P took on the task of calling up a Neuro Surgeon, to confirm that the kid was not mentally ill and that she could be shifted to a regular school.
She explained to the doctor - this is a poor kid and we are trying to help the family. Would you please be able to take a look at the report and confirm that she is mentally fit.
The reaction of the doctor was this - I know how all you NGOs work. But tell me, when whole of Bangalore does not have water, what difference does it make to fix the problem only in your area?
Is this reaction acceptable? I was so furious when I heard this.
So today, the reports were taken to another doctor. Explaining that all that he was required to do was advise on what needs to be done and if the kid can be put in a regular school.
The reaction this time - oh.. well.. she should been treated early on
Yes, we know that. Nothing was done then, would exercises help now and what about putting her in a regular school, can that be done?
Oh - I don't know, for that you'll have to check her IQ
OK - do you know where that can be done? do you think an organisation like Mobility India would be able to help?
uh... ho... hum... may be
The end!
Here are people who are trying to help, trying in their own small way to make a difference and if this is the response...
My question: Would the reaction of the doctors be the same, if it were their own child?
Song for the day: Khuda jaane from Bachna ae haseenon.
Don't know why, but I really like the chorus... so the song's been playing in a loop.
and yes I like the Ahista Ahista song too for the guitar and the peppy rhythm/pace.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
At the beginning
Sad version:
Is the music slowly dying away?
I know I've got my priorities wrong,
but am I turning into someone I abhor?
I've got to make some amendments
Time to get back to the beginning...
Happy version:
Donna Lewis and Richard Marx singing one of my all time fav songs
Chorus:
And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever,
wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Is the music slowly dying away?
I know I've got my priorities wrong,
but am I turning into someone I abhor?
I've got to make some amendments
Time to get back to the beginning...
Happy version:
Donna Lewis and Richard Marx singing one of my all time fav songs
Chorus:
And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever,
wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Sunday, June 22, 2008
mood, music, madness
Quote displayed on my blog the other day read "Music is what feelings sound like". Its so true, how we can relate to an album/a song depending on our mood.
The album that comes to my mind is "How to Name It" by Illayaraja. Arun had sent me a couple of songs long time back and R had given me the album. The way the first song begins... made me a fan of the maestro (until then, to me - Rahman was the only Indian composer).
To compose music like this way back in the 80s, is something!
Mad Mod Mood Fugue, the second song in the album is my song. The way the tune beautifully weaves ups, downs, pain, excitement and many more moods is what I can totally relate to.
Was cleaning the room yesterday when I found this CD. Played this song and could easily identify which part of the tune depicted my current state of mind :)
So, which is the song that you can relate to right now?
Now for something totally unrelated. I usually don't believe in emotional blackmail. If anyone tries that with me, I ask them to take a hike. Don't know what came over me... but I used one line a couple of days back. It was just a single line... didn't mean to hurt anyone, just wanted to make a point and make the point - I definitely did. The outcome is much more than expected... now I think its time for me to again say 'Take a hike' :D
Some things never change!
The album that comes to my mind is "How to Name It" by Illayaraja. Arun had sent me a couple of songs long time back and R had given me the album. The way the first song begins... made me a fan of the maestro (until then, to me - Rahman was the only Indian composer).
To compose music like this way back in the 80s, is something!
Mad Mod Mood Fugue, the second song in the album is my song. The way the tune beautifully weaves ups, downs, pain, excitement and many more moods is what I can totally relate to.
Was cleaning the room yesterday when I found this CD. Played this song and could easily identify which part of the tune depicted my current state of mind :)
So, which is the song that you can relate to right now?
Now for something totally unrelated. I usually don't believe in emotional blackmail. If anyone tries that with me, I ask them to take a hike. Don't know what came over me... but I used one line a couple of days back. It was just a single line... didn't mean to hurt anyone, just wanted to make a point and make the point - I definitely did. The outcome is much more than expected... now I think its time for me to again say 'Take a hike' :D
Some things never change!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Elevator Pitch
Imagine you are in the office elevator. A person from top management also gets in. You can either say hi and keep quiet or you could initiate a conversation. This could be your opportunity to sell yourself and make a lasting impression in that person's mind. This could turn out to be a stepping stone in your career path... but remember you have just about a minute or so to do that.
So... what is your Elevator Pitch?
This was the session I attended yesterday, which was really well thought out and executed. A whole lot of fun and a great learning experience. The session started out with a role play of what an elevator pitch should not be and then moved on to what a good elevator pitch is.
By the end of the session, each of the participants had written out their pitches and delivered it (though it still needs a lot of tailoring and alteration, at least this is a good start).
So, what is the purpose of an elevator pitch:
You may be good at what you do, but do other people (who have a stake in your career) know about it. This would be the good tool.
What should your elevator pitch be about:
It could either be about you as an individual or about your team/department.
Just like the news has a few headlines, have a couple of highlights about yourself/team/department always on the top of your mind. This should briefly state what you do and how it impacts the firm at a high level.
A pitch could also include present constraints/issues faced which that senior person may be able to help out with. Senior people are always willing to give their opinion/advice - so asking them for one would be a good idea - which may in turn be the point that helps them remember you/identify you with.
So, 3-4 highlights is what is required.
Points to keep in mind while preparing your pitch:
~ Your vision :
What do you see yourself doing, where do you want to reach, what do you want to achieve - keep this in mind
~ Unearth your brand:
What do people know about you. Is that the impression you want them to have? What change do you want in that - state it.
~ Evaluate:
Your vision would change with time and so should your pitch. The change in pitch could also depend on your audience. So evaluate your pitch and make it as relevant as possible.
Other points:
~ Write out your pitch, perfect it.
~ Be natural. Don't make up stuff, hoping to impress. A pitch shouldn't sound artificial which would create a negative impact.
~ In case that person is pre-occupied or not in the right mood, don't force yourself upon them. Go with the flow.
~ Practice practice practice. You never know when you might need it.
Some related links from the net:
5 tips
Killer elevator pitch
Some other tips
So... what is your Elevator Pitch?
This was the session I attended yesterday, which was really well thought out and executed. A whole lot of fun and a great learning experience. The session started out with a role play of what an elevator pitch should not be and then moved on to what a good elevator pitch is.
By the end of the session, each of the participants had written out their pitches and delivered it (though it still needs a lot of tailoring and alteration, at least this is a good start).
So, what is the purpose of an elevator pitch:You may be good at what you do, but do other people (who have a stake in your career) know about it. This would be the good tool.
What should your elevator pitch be about:
It could either be about you as an individual or about your team/department.
Just like the news has a few headlines, have a couple of highlights about yourself/team/department always on the top of your mind. This should briefly state what you do and how it impacts the firm at a high level.
A pitch could also include present constraints/issues faced which that senior person may be able to help out with. Senior people are always willing to give their opinion/advice - so asking them for one would be a good idea - which may in turn be the point that helps them remember you/identify you with.
So, 3-4 highlights is what is required.
Points to keep in mind while preparing your pitch:
~ Your vision :
What do you see yourself doing, where do you want to reach, what do you want to achieve - keep this in mind
~ Unearth your brand:
What do people know about you. Is that the impression you want them to have? What change do you want in that - state it.
~ Evaluate:
Your vision would change with time and so should your pitch. The change in pitch could also depend on your audience. So evaluate your pitch and make it as relevant as possible.
Other points:
~ Write out your pitch, perfect it.
~ Be natural. Don't make up stuff, hoping to impress. A pitch shouldn't sound artificial which would create a negative impact.
~ In case that person is pre-occupied or not in the right mood, don't force yourself upon them. Go with the flow.
~ Practice practice practice. You never know when you might need it.
Some related links from the net:
5 tips
Killer elevator pitch
Some other tips
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
dumbass!!!
One of my close friend's getting engaged soon. He'd told me that he would send me the girl's pic but hadn't done so yet, so mailed him:
Subject : photo enga (where is the photo)
Message: I know its not the right time to call u... photo anuppu machi! (send the photo dude!)
Promptly comes the reply: Here you go!
I click on view image and the photo starts downloading. Must be a huge file I think to myself. First I see hillocks and then its trees at a distance.... wait - it almost looks like the Grand Canyon.
*Oh wow - this is not the traditional pic that I would expect a girl to share with her husband to be * I think to myself... I would have expected it to be a typical studio shot. Appears like its a pic taken from a forgein trip, she must have gone there for some project, I say to myself.
The picture is still loading and I see a guy in a white tee and jeans.
*Must be her friend/colleague* I say to myself and wait for the image to fully load
When it does, I'm shocked because there is no one else in the pic
*You must be kidding me*
*oh no wait... did I send the mail to the right guy??*
Its then that I realize that one extra 'h' in the name can create a whole lot of confusion
The best part is that its not the first time that I've mailed this guy thinking him to be my friend
That's why his name popped up when I started typing in the name and also why the reply was so prompt :D
I then reply to his mail saying - I'm so sorry... I keep doing this over and over again don't I !
"No problem" is all that he has to say.
I just cannot stop laughing. Feel like such a dumbass :)
Subject : photo enga (where is the photo)
Message: I know its not the right time to call u... photo anuppu machi! (send the photo dude!)
Promptly comes the reply: Here you go!
I click on view image and the photo starts downloading. Must be a huge file I think to myself. First I see hillocks and then its trees at a distance.... wait - it almost looks like the Grand Canyon.
*Oh wow - this is not the traditional pic that I would expect a girl to share with her husband to be * I think to myself... I would have expected it to be a typical studio shot. Appears like its a pic taken from a forgein trip, she must have gone there for some project, I say to myself.
The picture is still loading and I see a guy in a white tee and jeans.
*Must be her friend/colleague* I say to myself and wait for the image to fully load
When it does, I'm shocked because there is no one else in the pic
*You must be kidding me*
*oh no wait... did I send the mail to the right guy??*
Its then that I realize that one extra 'h' in the name can create a whole lot of confusion
The best part is that its not the first time that I've mailed this guy thinking him to be my friend
That's why his name popped up when I started typing in the name and also why the reply was so prompt :D
I then reply to his mail saying - I'm so sorry... I keep doing this over and over again don't I !
"No problem" is all that he has to say.
I just cannot stop laughing. Feel like such a dumbass :)
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Jazz for a change
I'm not too much of a jazz person. Was watching The Talented Mr. Ripley yesterday (a great movie by the way) when I heard this song. Matt Damon's done a good job performing this song in the movie, but nothing can beat Frank Sinatra's voice :)
My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you're my favourite work of art
Is your figure less than greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is valentines day
My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you're my favourite work of art
Is your figure less than greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?
But don't change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is valentines day
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Who will you meet on the other side?
@ People in NY - have you checked this out yet?
Teletroscope - the concept
The blog
On another note - thanks to Techbangalore I got to know about PicLens which is an new tool for viewing photos on the web. One click download and you enter into an amazing world of photography. Its a whole new experience.
Teletroscope - the conceptThe blog
On another note - thanks to Techbangalore I got to know about PicLens which is an new tool for viewing photos on the web. One click download and you enter into an amazing world of photography. Its a whole new experience.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The last couple of weeks
"Blame not laziness for the lack of (blog) updates, blame instead time - or rather the lack of it"
Who ever said this, must be really wise :)
The last few weeks have been like a marathon race. Day after day, with no count of hours - not too sure where it is all heading. 'It' in this case, being life.
So here's 'what was' and 'what is'... from the last few weeks:
Kenny G concert:
Two musicians whom I consider Gods of music - Yanni and Kenny G. I would do (almost) anything see them perform live.
When I heard that Kenny G was performing in Bangalore, my first reaction was woo-hoo! Only then did I see that the tickets were priced at 2K and 3K. It was really hard to convince any my friends to join me, considering the ticket price and also that the concert was on a Monday evening. After not too much thinking, I decided that I was going no matter what, just had to find some company. As a last resort I had to force my brother to come along... I even had to buy him a ticket :)
Venue - UB City: For those of you who are not too familiar with the Bangalore skyline (If I can call it that) UB city is an office/shopping space which has one of its buildings shaped like the Empire State building. Google should be able to provide some images.
Sponsor - Blackdog - I didn't know until recently that this was a brand of whiskey. Everyone at the concert was offered complimentary drinks. Whiskey with Mango juice/Apple juice were weird combos I thought. But when its free, it just doesn't matter... now does it?
The music - The concert started with Kenny playing while he walked amongst the crowds. In Mumbai, I heard he walked right from the last row up to the stage, but the Bangalore venue was not equipped for this sort of free movement. The play list for the evening included many of the popular songs Havana, This moment, Songbird to name a few. He also played a few pieces from his new album Rhythm & Romance, an album with a Latino flavor, he said
Kenny also gave a demo on how he plays really long notes. The technique he explained was to inhale and exhale simultaneously. That of course would take a lot of practice. He demonstarted this by placing the mike near his nose, where we could hear him take in short breaths while he continuously blew into his sax.
Its was a lovely evening, enchanting music, amazing lighting and acoustic effects... totally worth it!
ACT to make a difference - Ashwini Charitable Trust
"Story time for children" was the project that I signed up for as a part of community work this year. Me being me, love any activity that involves children. Only after initial visit to the trust, did we realize that the 'children' here were between age groups 4 and 19. We broke up the children into 4 groups based on their age and planned out age-specific activities. Another group had already organised fun and cultural activities for these kids, so we thought we'd make it a day of learning. The topics ranged from stories/songs, environmental awareness, greatness of India... to resume writing/career counseling for the elder kids.
One of the charts that I prepared
I have interacted with children from various other trusts, but these children were a just a class apart. They were outgoing, not shy, good in English and their confidence factor was the highlight.
The Ashwini Charitable Trust takes care of not only the monetary requirements of the kids but also provides the guidance required for the overall development of the kids until they get employed.
The kids at the trust are first generation literates, with mothers work as house maids and their fathers are unskilled laborers. There were two or three girls who were doing their B.Com from St Joseph's College. The way the children are molded by the trust, they do not find it very difficult to mingle with other children and the best part is that one of these girls has consistently topped her class in college :)
Collage on pollution
Drawing competition
It was a great learning experience, spending the day with the children. Once a year doesn't make too much sense. Already on my life's to-do list... let's see what more can be done.
Surprise visitor:
Stranger from a distant planet,
Mars - so it may seem
No time to meet during the day,
T'was not a part of the scheme
Zoom over for coffee,
vrooom and call it a walk
Glad, we got a chance to meet,
Though not enough time to talk :)
The evening weather:
The weather in the evenings has been fantastic over the last couple of days. After the scorching heat during the day, the evening showers considerably bring down the temperature.
Considering the fact that one is locked up indoors the entire day, going out and enjoying the lovely evening breeze by way of a short walk (or a longer one, if time permits) or just some time spent on the terrace listening to music - I understand, can do wonders :)
On the work front:
No comments except for @$%#&
Let me use a quote that I read recently and liked a lot, to end this post.
Who ever said this, must be really wise :)
The last few weeks have been like a marathon race. Day after day, with no count of hours - not too sure where it is all heading. 'It' in this case, being life.
So here's 'what was' and 'what is'... from the last few weeks:
Kenny G concert:
Two musicians whom I consider Gods of music - Yanni and Kenny G. I would do (almost) anything see them perform live.
When I heard that Kenny G was performing in Bangalore, my first reaction was woo-hoo! Only then did I see that the tickets were priced at 2K and 3K. It was really hard to convince any my friends to join me, considering the ticket price and also that the concert was on a Monday evening. After not too much thinking, I decided that I was going no matter what, just had to find some company. As a last resort I had to force my brother to come along... I even had to buy him a ticket :)
Venue - UB City: For those of you who are not too familiar with the Bangalore skyline (If I can call it that) UB city is an office/shopping space which has one of its buildings shaped like the Empire State building. Google should be able to provide some images.
Sponsor - Blackdog - I didn't know until recently that this was a brand of whiskey. Everyone at the concert was offered complimentary drinks. Whiskey with Mango juice/Apple juice were weird combos I thought. But when its free, it just doesn't matter... now does it?The music - The concert started with Kenny playing while he walked amongst the crowds. In Mumbai, I heard he walked right from the last row up to the stage, but the Bangalore venue was not equipped for this sort of free movement. The play list for the evening included many of the popular songs Havana, This moment, Songbird to name a few. He also played a few pieces from his new album Rhythm & Romance, an album with a Latino flavor, he said
Kenny also gave a demo on how he plays really long notes. The technique he explained was to inhale and exhale simultaneously. That of course would take a lot of practice. He demonstarted this by placing the mike near his nose, where we could hear him take in short breaths while he continuously blew into his sax.
Its was a lovely evening, enchanting music, amazing lighting and acoustic effects... totally worth it!
ACT to make a difference - Ashwini Charitable Trust
"Story time for children" was the project that I signed up for as a part of community work this year. Me being me, love any activity that involves children. Only after initial visit to the trust, did we realize that the 'children' here were between age groups 4 and 19. We broke up the children into 4 groups based on their age and planned out age-specific activities. Another group had already organised fun and cultural activities for these kids, so we thought we'd make it a day of learning. The topics ranged from stories/songs, environmental awareness, greatness of India... to resume writing/career counseling for the elder kids.
One of the charts that I preparedThe Ashwini Charitable Trust takes care of not only the monetary requirements of the kids but also provides the guidance required for the overall development of the kids until they get employed.
The kids at the trust are first generation literates, with mothers work as house maids and their fathers are unskilled laborers. There were two or three girls who were doing their B.Com from St Joseph's College. The way the children are molded by the trust, they do not find it very difficult to mingle with other children and the best part is that one of these girls has consistently topped her class in college :)
Collage on pollution
Drawing competitionSurprise visitor:
Stranger from a distant planet,
Mars - so it may seem
No time to meet during the day,
T'was not a part of the scheme
Zoom over for coffee,
vrooom and call it a walk
Glad, we got a chance to meet,
Though not enough time to talk :)
The evening weather:
The weather in the evenings has been fantastic over the last couple of days. After the scorching heat during the day, the evening showers considerably bring down the temperature.
Considering the fact that one is locked up indoors the entire day, going out and enjoying the lovely evening breeze by way of a short walk (or a longer one, if time permits) or just some time spent on the terrace listening to music - I understand, can do wonders :)
On the work front:
No comments except for @$%#&
Let me use a quote that I read recently and liked a lot, to end this post.
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own, you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go"
so... time to start thinking and deciding now. Happy Weekend!
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own, you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go"
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Break the Rules
Another late night at the office. Hoping for a smooth drive back home without much traffic? Surprise Surprise! Who would think of a possible of a traffic jam at a non-peak hour?
Traffic jams are here to stay 24 X 7. Weekend mornings are not so bad you may say, but weekend evenings do make up any shortfall whatsoever.
The Bangalore Traffic Scene:
~ Traffic Signals - GREEN is all I see
I've noticed that a Traffic signal + Policeman combination works in most cases but a traffic signal alone has no value.
When at a road junction you stop for the Red signal don't be shocked by the blaring honks of vehicles behind you, some motorists even go to the extent of abusing you for their delay. If educated folks with their dog tags (I mean company ID cards) don't realise the significance of traffic signals, who will?
~ Road Blocks - Who cares?
Place barriers at specific points in order avoid traffic jams and sure enough by the next morning, the barriers would have moved such that vehicles can trickle through. There again is it going to be Barriers + Policeman combination to the rescue? Why do motorists insist on following rules only when there is someone to monitor and control them? Is it really that difficult?
If it were just a matter of being delayed to work or getting back home we would be fine. What is scary is, when an ambulance is stuck in a traffic jam. This is something I see almost every other day. There is no place for anyone to move, the ambulance siren is wailing desperately. Think about the person who needs to reach the hospital on time. A delay here would cost the person their life. This may be 'some'one today and this could (God forbid) be 'you' tomorrow.
A little discipline would go a long way in sorting out these traffic woes.
What we need to do is THINK - REALISE & CHANGE
Traffic jams are here to stay 24 X 7. Weekend mornings are not so bad you may say, but weekend evenings do make up any shortfall whatsoever.
The Bangalore Traffic Scene:
~ Traffic Signals - GREEN is all I see
I've noticed that a Traffic signal + Policeman combination works in most cases but a traffic signal alone has no value.
When at a road junction you stop for the Red signal don't be shocked by the blaring honks of vehicles behind you, some motorists even go to the extent of abusing you for their delay. If educated folks with their dog tags (I mean company ID cards) don't realise the significance of traffic signals, who will?
~ Road Blocks - Who cares?
Place barriers at specific points in order avoid traffic jams and sure enough by the next morning, the barriers would have moved such that vehicles can trickle through. There again is it going to be Barriers + Policeman combination to the rescue? Why do motorists insist on following rules only when there is someone to monitor and control them? Is it really that difficult?
If it were just a matter of being delayed to work or getting back home we would be fine. What is scary is, when an ambulance is stuck in a traffic jam. This is something I see almost every other day. There is no place for anyone to move, the ambulance siren is wailing desperately. Think about the person who needs to reach the hospital on time. A delay here would cost the person their life. This may be 'some'one today and this could (God forbid) be 'you' tomorrow.
A little discipline would go a long way in sorting out these traffic woes.
What we need to do is THINK - REALISE & CHANGE
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Mad world
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world mad world
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world ... mad world
Enlarging your world
Mad world
This is such a sad song.... yet so lovely, keep wanting to listen to it over and over again. What a voice! - Gary Jules
The song features in the movie Donnie Darko - which I have heard so much about but am yet to watch.
Other movies on my 'to watch' list are:
~ Into the Wild
~ Thank you for smoking
~ High and Low
~ Red Beard
Watched:
~ Babel - Sad, Scary, hard hitting. [Do not watch when you are feeling low/depressed]
~ Before Sunset - very sweet! may be I should've watched Before Sunrise first... anyway! :)
~ The Prestige - Brilliant is not the word for it. a must watch and definitely more than once!
any interesting movies that I'm missing out on? Do let me know
Thursday, April 17, 2008
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