I used to write good posts in my blog;

Then I began caring for others’ opinion

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I am in a city that supposedly is the most metropolitan non metro.

I am from a city that is most non metropolitan among metros (supposedly).

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I like my work; especially the part where I get my salary credited.

p.s. seriously that is intended as a joke

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World makes sense only to two people – the insane and the infants

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My hubby calls such small meaningless notes vignettes ; I suspect he is wrong!!

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Read a piece of literature that was extremely touching – of genre known as flash fiction

“For sale- Baby shoes, never worn”

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There are things that I am proud of- but not blogging so long is definitely not on the list. I am not commenting on whether it was lack of time, idea or willingness.

Anyway, I have been reading other blogs- good sensible ones, funny ones and definitely interesting ones. Let us forgive the bad ones and forget them – for we do not where we belong.

So, not to meander, here goes what I gather, makes a good post.

Story- There should be a point to what you write. It may not be funny, it may not be full of big words, it may not be something that everyone would want to know about, but “It should have a reason to be written as a  post that others should read”. Please no rantings about how unjust the world is, or something like that! (Even that could be written with a point)

Learning #1 This blog from time to time has pointless posts.

How the story is told – I am not saying that blogging is for the “Doyens of the literary world” (Who uses the word doyen anyway, except magazines and newspapers to describe an old filmstar/singer/dancer/someone whom they dont know what to call”!!!)  However, do not write as if you are writing  grocery list. Put some thought into how words are arranged, how good language can make it look smarter and more eye catching, and basically how spelling and grammar match.

When the story telling stops - Yes, you have got that topic to write about that whole world would want to know. Great! But there is only so much that the topic can be interesting. Review of the latest movie that you watched first day first show? – Wow. But dont give me the screenplay, buddy!

Now, if you have read till the end, good,let me know where this blog ranks!

Disclaimer: As the title claims, I am no expert and do not claim that this post is serious guidance to aspiring bloggers..

Still groggy with the morning blues, I picked up a hot steamy cup of coffee. The steam in the coffee seemed to convey a message. I watched.

First it looked like a heart. Romance….I wondered. Then it shaped as X. I assumed it meant “wrong answer”.

Then it looked like a flight about to take off. Airport!! X again.

Then there the damnd flight  was there again and it was taking off and moving at the same time. Runway!! There was a smiley

Then I wondered if heart is linked to runway in anyway. Then it showed a ring, and then quickly a heart..

Marriage? X

Engagement?  X-(

Lovers? X

Bride? Runway bride? Runaway bride? The steam smiled and disappeared Poof!

I stared into the “once upon a time hot” coffee..

Damn! Early morning dumb charades with the coffee was so pathetic .Worst part is the coffee goes cold ..before you can do the acting..

P.S. I woke up for the third day at 6 and came to office at 10 after keeping up till 1 the previous night and having worked my a$$ off till 9 pm.. I decided it was time to blog or I will go mad.

This is the sad effect..

P.P.S. Actually there is no excuse for such posts

We think that life in general, and especially education, is full of lessons to learn. I am learning it is more important to look for lessons to unlearn.

In my case, for example, I learned 1+1=2 first. Then I found ways of proving 1=2(But there is a catch).

I learned that India is one country first. Then I realised that, for most of us, it doesn’t matter, our streets, cities and states, castes and religions bind us better than the weak thread called nation does.

I studied in school first that man is a social animal. Then I have come to accept that man is just animal.

First I was told that we should be positive always. Later I saw that a healthy dose of cynicism helps.

First I thought that the answer to the question, “Who am I” was my name and parents name and address. Then I realised that it is a question that is not so simple to answer.

First I thought that when someone is angry with you, you give way to them because they are powerful. Then I decided that when someone is angry with you, you give way to them because they are weak.

I used to think that most of your knowledge comes from books. Then I corrected myself that books are full of others’ life lessons. But your own lessons are self learnt and come in the form of life.

First I thought that tests are after you learn your lessons. Then I came to know that lessons after you take your tests.

First I believed that what I am is because of who I am with. Then I also realised that who I am with is also because of what I have decided to be.

First I felt that freedom means having no rules. Then I was to learn that from structure comes freedom and what binds you will liberate you.

First I believed that degree is to enable you get a job. Later I knew that college has lessons other than the books and results other than the job.

First I thought that all the lessons I have learnt so far has filled me with wisdom. Now I am learning that I am to empty my cup if I have to learn something that all.

GMail is too personal to share

I got this statement from a friend when talking about sharing mail password with her brother, and implicitly stated in several conversations with friends. That is where this post began.

I am a total Google fan, well for most of the Apps.. Of course dear wordpress, you rock the blogging space..(blogger heading towards obsolence) and gmail, google search are the top preferences..

This friend who stated the title statement was sharing her other email accounts password to her brother, but apparently she couldn’t do so for gmail. Not that there is anything personal/confidential about it-she says.

May be or may be not. The point is that somehow GMail seems to be a more trusted mailing account and why not? Have you checked your yahoo mail account recently? Closest in any kind of competition to gmail, they are not0 half as cool looking as gmail. In spite of their preview right below the in box…

But then Google really began as search engine and they rule there..inspite of Bing ..yea..more probably due to brand affinity but I really tried to see if bing is better..couldnt find a reason..

And then google became this mammoth company that had to do everything and thought that it would probably be super successful everywhere..Well, many of the apps rock!! photos for example,google reader may be.. and how can i forget gtalk.. Though the voice and video chat applications seem shaky to me..

Then there are the promises in the future – GWave.. I am really expecting it to rock the world..for its way of thinking..

But then please someone explain why Orkut seems pathetic  as it becomes a clone of facebook (a bad one at that) and Chrome OS which is probably a halfheartedly begun fight against Microsoft Windows..Well atleast for common folk, Windows is to OS as is Google to search..

I didnt find too impressed by Google chrome browser either, Mozilla seemingly have finessed the art, remains my favorite..

What I find Google doing is trying to be everywhere. Good! But it should come out of innovative thoughts that sooooooo mark Google…Not just as a copy cat effort to be where others are..

Now Google and Apple are crossing swords.. I am not sure who will win.. Apple with Jobs dependency for innovative thinking or Google with its ‘leap then dont look’ policy..

However I remain a determined Google enthusiast. I hope Google doesnt make me eat my words by any foolhardiness..

P.S. As always, any opinion here is mine and mine only..

This is a topic I have been arguing both sides of. I am clearly aware of the two sides and I have been to a great extent balanced and fair about what I consider as my opinion in this matter.

This is about the so called Northie- Southie divide. One of my acquaintances in the social networking sites posted a message that goes something like this ” My name is not spelled A  B S HU, S U BA, S H U BA.. I am spelled S H U BA. SOmething that southies cant understand”

I get very pissed off when someone misspells me purposefully and annoyed if it is by chance. I leave no opportunity to correct them . Yet I do not attribute race/ region/ colour as a reason for their mistake. Why would I? or Why would anyone do that?

This is not a personal attack against the person. I have no judgement on why (s)he decided to generalise and put a colour to this based on region.

But I see it in pan Indian crowds. Many people think whatever issues they have with North, West, East and South Indian people, in short with people of other regions, is because of the regional differences and not personal differences.

Everything goes like ” you Southies always this ; You Northies are always that.. “

I am neutral. I neither deny nor agree to any of this. But my question is – does it matter if Southies/Northies/ Gujjus/Maharashtrians/etc.. as a whole bunch are tuned in a particular manner, (whether that is a true generalisation or not is another thing altogether) ?

After all, we are dealing with individuals.  What help is a negative bias towards a person, when you are trying to collaborate? At least I feel it doesn’t help at all.  We all have our own rich heritage, culture and lineage to be proud of. And of course, we have to be proud of what we are and where we come from. When you take it to the level of thought that goes “Only my culture is so rich and superior. The other culture has nothing good to admire about and is full of ridiculousness”, you are probably pushing it too far to be called rational.

I have felt that lesser our preconceived notions on how things are going to be, better it is to work  in that situation. You have gone to another city to work/study/tour.. How can we pre-decide “all south indians speak accented english? all north indians are dominating and noisy” and still think we will make friends with the other side?

I think it is time we realise we are all humans after all; later comes the Indo- Pak, North-South,Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Christian-etc divides. It is rather sad to see that as civilisation progresses, we still regress on trivial matters as region of birth.

P.S. I have generalised at times and I felt like an idiot later reflecting on that. Just an honest acceptance of human weakness.

Several things are happening in the outer world.

Market is rallying in the wake of general election results, Congress getting re-elected with out the necessity of the “Left” support. Vindication of Left seems to have brought joy to the corporates who look at it as a chance to grow uninhibited for five years. When market rallies thus, everything else will begin to appear trivial.

Let us still hope for over all growth and global revival of economies.

LTTE has been defeated and the war of 25 years has come to an end. Of course, I appreciate that there will be lesser bloodshed and mindless killing in the beautiful country but as an external neutral observer, I wonder if something can be done to ensure that the peaceful co existence of Tamils and Srilankans will be ensured. Let it not become a barbaric survival of the winner.

I just found out that the new parliament has 226 MPs less than 50 years of age but  also 150 new MPs have criminal record, 72 of them having “serious” criminal record. Point to ponder..

Meanwhile, Chiru’s defeat has caused a fan to commit suicide. Let us pray that the followers of Left and other defeated parties stay in their senses and keep their valuable lives with them. No person is worth laying down your life for in these days. Especially not for an election defeat. Sad..

Praying that market’s wishes come true and world  keeps being a happy place..and that in this recessionist times, let the job market begin its rally please..

And among other good things to be happy for – Kuwait votes for women MPs for the first time. Progress is made in such small steps.

BTW…this is my 100th post in wordpress…Hurray!

I lost most of my widgets..in theme experimentation..

The summers of Chennai are infamous and this year it was taking its toll on all our bodies and minds. Now suddenly there is rain. The sky is gargling with noisy thunders. I am here next to my lappie..Listening to songs and the thunders..The sound of rain fall is playing background to “Woh Chali Woh Chali..”

Heaven on earth!

I always write rain posts. Somehow rain seems to bring in a fresh whiff of writing bug in me.  There was first the smell of first rain on earth and that is maddeningly exotic. Then it is down to the regular pitter patter. My neighbour called in to check if I am scared. Somehow I am not. Instead I am writing rain posts like I used to in Pune..

Pune rains used to be more noisy and more like a father’s scolding.. surrounded with slaps, claps and steady list of reasons “why you should not be so careless”… Then it leaves you on your own where you dont know if the anger remains or not..if you can open your room door so fiercely slammed by Dad… You open and see him still glaring at you.. scolding still the steam runs out..

Chennai rains are motherly at its fiercest. They come steadily. First with a force of anger that is so characteristically of mom, who screams at you for coming home late. Then there is a sulking mumbling intermittent with occasional loud reprimand..till slowly the mumbling also becomes muted and there is just fresh air and her love…

Anyway.. It is rain..

“I’m singing in the rain, just singing in the rain; What a wonderful feeling, I’m happy again.”

There is dairymilk in hand.. There is media player on the system and there is the music of Gods outside…

Hmmm… Ciao frenz..more sensible posts will follow…

My vote...Lok Sabha 2009

I proudly declare that I voted. Ashamed as I am that this is the first time in my 25 years of life with three elections gone by, I atleast exercised my option when I could. (Rest of the time I was not in Chennai)

It is a powerful feeling….I was grinning for five minutes.

HAVE YOU VOTED?

Photo update soon…