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Saturday, November 22, 2008

Back

Its been a long time. What with the GRE, TOEFL, computer crash, university applications, a visiting cousin and pure laziness, I couldn't bring myself to update the blog.

But here I am and I hope I can keep up the blogging.

P.S. Priyanka is the hottest woman in Indian cinema today (courtesy Dostana).

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Short Films

We have nothing better to do on fridays (which is our project day) and so we decided to make movies on Jinju's camera. This is our first attempt. Do let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfUS6mONpZ8

Muhahahahaha

Monday, August 25, 2008

Sem 6 clear

We finally got our sem 6 results today. After a tantalizing wait (because most of us wanted to know if we cleared Power Electronics) I got a call from Vineet saying that results were out; this at 10.30 at night (bloody hell).

Sabdaman went to check out the results and told me I had passed and Debu told me I got 69%. Not bad considering that many people failed in Power Tronics. And I am at least consistent because I have made 3rd rank in class my private domain.

Thank God Chaukya got only 4 kts and in spite of his delibitating jaundice he will stay with us this year. Amazing performance by Debu who scored 64% (rounded off man) and is in the top 15 of the class. He thought he was going down. So also did JD who cleared 10 papers. The wounded Tamilian strikes. All the best to Pari.

Most people cleared so let the good times roll on.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion

Arsenal kicked off the 2008-09 season yesterday with an unconvincing 1-0 victory over newly promoted West Bromwich Albion. A 4th minute strike by debutant Samir Nasri was enough to see off the wolves as the gunners held on to their lead for the next 86 minutes.

Arsene Wenger was forced to play many players out of position due to injuries to his squad. The 21 year old old Denilson took on the mantle of holding midfielder with Nasri and Theo Walcott on his left and right with Emmanuel Eboue incongruously playing in the centre of midfield. Youngster Johan Djourou was given a start alongside Willam Gallas in the back as usual suspects Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy and Bakary Sagna completed the defence. Upfront were hitman Emmanuel Adebayor and surprisingly, Nicklas Bendtner.

Arsenal began the first half in hot form with some brilliant plays along the left flank thanks to overlapping runs by Clichy and Nasri and only 4 minutes into the half, their efforts bore fruit and Denilson latched on to a Clichy pass and just did enough to turn it in for Nasri who finished it like he had been playing with the team forever. A few minutes later Theo Walcott headed the ball off an Adebayor cross, only to be denied by Scott Carson. Not too long afterwards William Gallas thundered in a shot which was just instant away.

Just when the Arsenal fans were expecting a rout, the Wolves became sharper in defence and managed to kill off some good moves. Walcott looked unsettled and was unable to put his pace to any use. Eboue always looked short of ideas and Adebayor revealed a selfish streak as he refused to pass the ball to a better placed player and prefered to shoot wide.

The Wolves were impotent in the first half with only one good chance which was parried by Almunia. The second half saw them more lively as they threatened to score on more than one occasion. An Ishmael Miller shot was replused by Almunia who was helpless to stop the rebound by Paul Robinson, but it was cleared off the line by Djourou. Things did not favour either side as Robin Van Persie replaced Bendtner with Kolo Toure coming on for Walcott. The match ended in a well fought victory for the gunners and as for West Brom, there is really no shame in losing to Arsenal at their home ground after putting up a good fight. If they show this tenacity in all their games, even a top half finish cannot be ruled out.

As for Arsenal, it was clear they were missing the creativity of Cesc Fabregas. The fans would be relishing the prospect of seeing him and Nasri working in tandem. Denilson rose to the occasion and made a few good interceptions and generally held the ball well. It would be interesting to see how he holds up against the bigger clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea. At back, Djourou made a few errors but that came from a lack of confidence and he should shape up pretty well. Gallas led the lads well and it was a correct decision to let him retain the armband.

Theo Walcott has to get more creative and improve his dribbling. A case of stiff legs perhaps? Adebayor had better not let his ego get in his way and Bendtner needs to combine better with the Togolese. Van Persie is due for a bit of luck as far as injuries are concerned and will hopefully start scoring soon.

What one looks forward to is the return of Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Rosicky, Eduardo and the free flowing, mouth watering football that flows when this young (now also experienced?) and unlucky (but not for long hopefully!) side takes the field. Next up, its Fulham.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Brainless wisdom

Jack Nicholson, in a memorable scene from 'The Departed', tells a young Matt Damon, "When I was your age, they told me you could become cops or criminals. Today, what I'm saying is this - When you're facing a loaded gun........ what's the difference?"

I was sitting in a lecture where the teacher was trying to teach us Control Systems. Everything on the board appeared a blur as she harped on about 'Operating Points' and 'Gain Compensation' and other incomprehensible bullshit. I wished I was in the canteen or playing football or in my house or just about anywhere else because the more I thought about it, the more sure I was that I was wasting my time.

That reminded me of something my uncle told me once. he said, "You can be either a doctor or an engineer." When I sit in a classroom where the only thing I think about is getting the hell out, I ask myself, "What's the fucking difference?"

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Congrats Abhinav

Thank you very much Abhinav for making the country proud. Winning India's first individual Gold in the olympics is an honour every athlete would have craved, but you beat them to it. Your personal coach from Germany and a private shooting range would have no doubt made it simpler. No doubting your skill though or your ability to cope with pressure. It just makes me sad that most of our other athletes train under apalling conditions and simply lack the funds to garner more medals.

I hope you do the right thing by investing all the money, which the various state governments have announced for you, in building a world class sports facility in the country. You don't need the money. Make yourself the cornerstone for India's future olympic successes. Its the perfect time. I hope one day will arrive when we will not have to blink our eyes with surprise when it is announced that India has won a medal in the olympics. I hope I live to see that day........

P.S. :I wonder if I can win a gold for India too. The spirit of the games demands that any athlete who is good enough, can participate. (Unless he or she is charged with doping, like Monica Devi.)

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Inflation :-( or :-) ???

I read a piece on inflation today in the Times of India by Anand Soondas. He says India need not be worried about a 12% inflation rate where countries like Zimbabwe have had to issue a $100bn note which just about buys 2 loaves of bread. (Incidentally the Zimbabwean government has decided to convert the 100bn into a 10$ note). He goes on to give examples of hyperinflation faced my many countries, especially after World Wars, like the Weimar Republic, Yugoslavia and Hungary (where the government had to issue a 100 quintillion note, because prices were doubling every 15 hours).

He also raises a very interesting point when he says inflation can actually be good in some ways. he contends that because of inflation, people are less likely to celebrate. So the amount of noise at parties and indeed the number of parties decreases which leads to lesser noise pollution!!! He also talks about his neighbour who had 5 cars but had reduced them to 3 with only 1 for his 3 children because of increasing petrol prices. This, he says, has reduced pollution in his area.

While he could have been jesting, it is interesting to observe that this is indeed the case. But in a country where people are dying in the hundreds everyday, I doubt if the so called positive effects are even cared about. While I am against pollution, I would rather breathe in sulphur on a full stomach than sit in virginal air eating nothing.

Now if we could only find a way to limit inflation to idiots who waste fuel and electricity........

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Won a Quiz!!!

I went to the Bombay Quiz Club's open quiz on sunday, just to get an idea about the kind of questions asked in good quizzes. I reached the place in Santacruz well in time and one of the founders of the club took my name and used a randomization software to asign me a team.

There is a league system in place and there are 6 seeded players. 1 of them was Sumanth who was in my team. 8 teams were formed with people coming late geting added to teams at random. There were 5 people in my team including myself, Sumanth, Dhananjay and 2 other guys whose names I didn't catch. There were 49 questions with each correct answer getting 2 points and with infinite rebounds.

When I stepped into the room, I thought I would just be sitting there with my moth open and watch some awesome quizzers at work. But to my surprise, I actually knew some of the answers which others didn't. I was also able to work out some of the answers and was an asset to my team rather than a liability. At the end of the quiz we had the most points and I won my very first Quiz at BQC!!!

The quizzers there are way ahead of me butI guess with experience I will improve. I hope to make this a regular practice and will see if this win was just a fluke or whether I really know something.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Saving Power

I have been hearing for a long time that a black webpage consumes lesser power than a white one and so I have finally decided to change my blog template. Won't make a huge difference but every small step helps I believe and I ask everyone who reads this blog to consider doing the same. (Yes Sagaro I mean you. You get a lot of hits so help set an example.)



In order to save themselves from a huge electricity bill , my society has come up with a scheme which seems very effective and simple but I believe is an utter failure. According to the latest notice, to save power the society will switch off one lift in each wing between 2 pm and 5 pm and between 10 pm to 6 am everyday. Each wing has two lifts and this sounds like a really effective scheme to save the moolah. It also gives people an opportunity to brag at work about their earnest eforts to save the earth from global warming.



Utter crap. Just how many people would use the lift during the non- peak hours? We would anyway require only 1 lift at those times. What I would like to see is only one lift operational during peak hours. I believe that people would be so irritated at losing valuable time waiting for the lift to come to their floor that they would prefer using the stairs and this would mean lesser usage of the lift. But people won't like this would they. Most of them are only too happy to pretend to care as the current eviro-friendly atmosphere demands being eco friendly. But I wonder how many would care to take the stairs down when they leave for work. Bloody hypocrites.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

And we keep running

After months of dithering I finally re re restart running. Its an amazing thing running. Its called a democratic sport. Have feet, will run. A slow jog, an energetic trot or a full sprint, it doesn't matter and neither do the reasons.

There came a time a few years ago when I got it into my head that I needed to get fit. I started swimming, I played various sports, I started going to the gym, I started yoga and I started running. I still play the occasional sport but slowly gave up the rest. I grew bored with the routine. But something, and I don't know what, brings me back to running. Whenever I sense a thickening of the waist, whenever I feel the need to be left alone, whenever I feel the need to think, I feel like running.

In most cultures, running is primarily viewed as a way to attain that perfect shape. Lardballs feeding at burger joints and a million other insufferable places view it as a great way to become a "stud". And why not? But to many other people running is more than that. Its about spirituality. Its about feeling one with nature, feeling one with the wind, the grass (ok maybe concrete), the earth and with oneself.

So I put on my shoes, do a few stretches and set out. I pick a destination which I can cover in 15 minutes or so. And I am off. The first few minutes feel great. The weather is perfect, cloudy with no rain. I reflect on various aspects of my life and people around me. My thoughts go to an advertisement featuring Thierry Henry in which he is running alone, just like I am and it feels cool. Just for the first few minutes.

Then the pain starts. It begins just below my ribcage and spreads to my calves and heels. I huff and puff like the steam engine to Matheran struggling up the slope. I check my watch and see that not even 9 minutes have elapsed. Its the inertia of the previous sedentary months I suppose. A voice keeps telling me "Dude 9 minutes are enough for the first day. Just stop. Tomorrow you can do more." But I refuse to listen. The destination is only 6 minutes away. All thoughts vanish from my head and only the white line, which would mean I have arrived, fills my eyes.

I labour on gamely despite 75 kilos of Rohit dragging me back. 12 minutes. So very close and I put on an extra burst of pace hoping it will help me forget the pain. The adrenaline surges as I stagger on. I know I can do it........... 14 minutes.......... I see the line. I have timed this run to perfection. As the seconds count down and the line approaches ever so close, I feel a sense of relief.

As I cross the line and slow down to a walk to prevent my muscles from seizing, my breathing begins to slow. The pain lessens. But my heart soars high. Higher than the clouds that obscure the sun. It is a feeling like no other. The sweet smell of success is intoxicating and makes me forget everything else. As I walk back, the sky darkens and it begins to drizzle. Rain falls on the thirsty earth triggering that sweet smell and drenching everything.

I walk home through the downpour a proud man.

Friday, July 04, 2008

Placed!!!!

I finally got placed in Siemens Ltd. today. After being rejected by TATA SED this was the company I was looking to. The company had some really strange criteria which ruled Salil and Amit out of the apti. I got through the aptitude test easily enough and it was time for the interview.

I had scored highest on the aptitude test and so i was asked to go in first. Three people were in the panel and one of them was the techie while one was the manager type. The third lady was the HR lady who did not ask anything but was observing me all along.

After some personal questions the techie started asking me about induction machines and soon had me in knots. After I lost my bearings, he was at least kind enough to give me hints and guide me back on track. After screwing me by asking me basic electrical engineering questions like phasors and stuff he finally let me go. Then management guy asked me some questions on future plans and which field I would like to work in. It seemed a terribly short time to me but I was in there for nearly half an hour. My interview ended at 3.15 and I had to wait till they were through with everyone. I spent my time telling people what I was asked and stuff and finally at 8.30 the results were announced.

They said they selected 15 people totally from Electrical , electronics and mechanical combined. I started to get a bad feeling about it when they started announcing the names of people selected from trical. When they were through with 5 names and my name was still not announced I started to think I would have to come back the next day for Reliance when they announced the name of Rooomesh Bhandari. I got up from my seat only to sit down again. But then they announced my name and then Ganapati's and we were suddenly employees of Siemens.

Vineet has also got placed and in doing so we have created a record of sorts. We live in the same building, went to the same class in junior college, went to the same IIT classes, joined the same branch in SPCE and now we would be working in the same company. Weird isn't it?

So now that i have been placed I can relax and stop going to colege in damn formals. The things make me sick. Hopefully Salil, Kedar, AG and so on get placed in Reliance tomorrow. Here's wishing them all the best.

P.S. Debu, Kd and Deeps got placed in L&T so party from them.

Friday, June 27, 2008

A Prisoner of Inspiration

One book I wanted to read for a long time was Jeffrey Archer's newest release - A Prisoner of Birth. It has been ages since an Archer book has really impressed me and I thought this would be a welcome change from the drivel I had been reading for some time. From the description on the back cover itself, I could guess that the book had been heavily inspired by "The Count of Monte Cristo", an Alexandre Dumas classic and one of my favourite books.

The story is simple. Danny Cartwright is falsely accused and convicted of the murder of his best friend and brother in law to be Bernie Wilson. The testimonies of four men - an aristocrat, a lawyer, a well known actor and the youngest partner in a well known firm, are instrumental in ensuring his incarceration in the high security Belmarsh Prison, from where no one has ever escaped. These four men are the ones responsible for the murder but only Danny knows that. The typically prejudiced jury ends up believing the four rich men instead of the commoner Cartwright.

A much grieved Danny begins his sentence in a cell shared by Sir Nicholas Moncrieff and his crony Tom. Nick who is a Scottish aristocrat begins to educate Danny who is an apotheosis of the bourgeoisie. A fast learner, Danny excels and in no time he becomes soft spoken and cultured like his mentor. His thirst for revenge rages as strong as ever as his girlfriend Beth, who is pregnant with their child, carries on an arduous struggle in the courts for his freedom.

Under extraordinary circumstances, Danny slips out of prison in search of revenge and also the fabled Moncrieff fortune, which Nick bequeaths to Danny before his untimely demise. The usual tomfoolery follows with Danny eventually proving his innocence after a protracted legal battle.

What amazes me more than the story is the manner in which Archer has contemporarized an age old classic. One can almost see Archer turning the pages of his copy of Dumas' great work as he seeks to find a plausible parallel between the characters of the classic and his own effort.

Danny Cartwright is what Edmond Dantes would be in the 21st century, a garage mechanic and a coarse lowbrow. Nicholas is a very suave Abbe Faria. The four bad guys are caricatures of the four villains Danglars, Cadderouse, Villefort and Fernand. Belmarsh however, does not sound as formidable as its equivalent the Chateau d'If. But the funniest analogy is that between the treasure of Monte Cristo and the Moncrieff Fortune. Before I discovered that Moncrieff is indeed a surname, I believed it to be an unholy amalgamation of Monte, Cristo and Jeffrey. Dark humour indeed.

Does the book live up to its hype? Certainly not. It is definitely not a masterpiece as it has been almost entirely sourced from a magnificent work of literature. Full marks to Archer for finding ways to get the hero out of sticky situations though. If more people would read the original work, they would discover there is nothing new in this book. But for those who have not, it is entertaining enough. After all Archer will make a fortune out of this one.

A 6 on 10 for this one and I hope to God Jeffrey does not start reading the three musketeers after this.

Friday, June 06, 2008

Mew P over !!!!

Microprocessors and Systems was expected to be a really tough paper but it was surprisingly easy. I wrote more in this paper than I have written in the entire exam. 2 to go then I'm a 4th year. Damn....

Industrial Economics and Management beckons.........

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Addicted

It is the wrong time to get addicted to something, but I just cannot stop reading stuff on www.onemanga.com. Check out the one called Death Note.

And I keep reading this stuff after the most horrible paper of my 6 semesters on a dial-up connection which gives me an incredibly fast surfing speed of 45 kbps.

Someone please suggest a good broadband service which I can switch over to.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Exams upon me again

These things never seem to end. I have my first paper in just over 3 hours. Power Transmission is a real pain. This time I dont even want to try. And at 3 pm, I will be dozing. Freedom on 16th June. MU exam is actually getting over pretty soon this time :-)

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Anything for football

We were playing 5 on 5 football the other day in college. Saju's hand caught Debu in the face and he got a nosebleed. Chakks went to help him out (and impress a girl showing how caring he is for a friend) while we just waited kicking the ball around aimlessly. We were waiting for Debu to recover and come back but he was taking a lot of time. So I told people to start playing 4 on 4.

At this point, KD looks at me coldly and says : "Saala koi mar jayega toh bhi tu bolega chalo 3 on 3 khlete hain."

Now I ask you, Who wouldn't???

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Gill Gayaa

Something which should have been done 15 years ago just happened.

REJOICE REJOICE, K.P.S. GILL HAS BEEN SACKED

Indian Hockey is dead, long live Indian hockey.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Time

I have become addicted to this Pink Floyd song, not least due to the profound lyrics

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain.
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.

So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.

Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time.
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say.

Succinctly describes my life right now.

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Sad but true

A 47 year old man was covicted today for repeatedly raping his minor househould help over a period of three years. The victim was just 10 years old when she was employed.
He started raping her within a month of her starting work there. He was caught when the girl became pregnant.

A 47 year old man making a 13 year old girl pregnant. How a person can even think of assaulting a girl who can almost be his granddaughter is the question that rages on in my mind.

But that is not the saddest part.

That place is reserved for the punishment he has received. 4 (yes 4) years rigourous imprisonment and a huge fine of (hold your breath) Rs. 1000.

That's all he pays for ruining the life of a little girl forever. Someone who will probably be ostracized for the rest of her life by her 'morally correct' neighbours. This girl could be anyone's younger sister. Yet four years of HIS life is all that he loses.

A 10 year old child faced with a life which would make even the most indefatigable spirit shiver.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Boycott

A really funny thought just occured to me. What if the Indian Government calls for a huge press conference and with all the world's media looking on vociferously announces that India will be boycotting the Beijing olympics, because we believe that the atrocities being committed in Tibet are clear human rights violations.

With the hockey team not qualifying, it makes absolutely no difference why we should go. It seems to be a clear waste of money sending athletes (and officials) to China only to screw up in the heats of most of the events. What do we have to show for all those years of participating in the Olympics? A handful of Bronzes and Silvers. Now that we have a good excuse, we might as well retire with some ............er....... dignity?

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The Plan

My friend calls me up the other day and asks me "Rohit tell me how will I tell my parents about my boyfriend if and when I get one?"
I asked her why she was so worried about that part of things when she has yet to take the basic step of getting a boyfriend, and she told me she does not want to waste time thinking about it later.

So I told her my plan, which goes like this:
1. Get a boyfriend.
2. Cut your hair really short. (You can even go bald for effect).
3. Dress up like a guy and talk increasingly about wanting to move to Canada because of the
liberal atmosphere there.
4. participate in all the gay rallies held in the city.
5. Keep telling your parents how much nicer girls are compared to guys.
6. Tell your sister to complain to your parents about how scared she is to share the same bed.
7. Finally tell your mom you are lesbian.
8. When your mom is fainting, go up to her and tell her, that you can change your beliefs to make
her happy.
9. At a strategic moment, show her your boyfriend's pic and ask her if this guy will do?
10. At this point, your mom will be too happy to say no.
11. Happy days are here!!!

She hung up on me.

The next time we met, she slapped me and told me what an idiot I was to make fun of her situation. She refused to even contemplate putting such a plan into action, to which I reminded her of the old adage of a beggar lacking the luxury of choice.

A week later, I see the new Virgin Mobile ad on TV. Now all of a sudden, according to her, the plan seems to be a piece of cake. Too bad though, she saw the ad along with her parents.......

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Help me please

Hey guys the Electrical Engineering Department of my college is coming out with a magazine for the first time. Its a technical magazine and I am the head of the magazine committee. I need to think of a name for the magazine.

So if anyone out there can think up of a cool name which will not make my HOD frown, please let me know. Come on fellow bloggers, think!!!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Dudu Come Back

After Martin Taylor's horror tackle yesterday which broke Eduardo D'Silva's leg, one wonders if Taylor can sleep at night. But then again, one is purely thinking from the point of view of an Arsenal Fan. A review of the tackle makes it painfully obvious that he had no intention of breaking Dudu's leg, he just went for the ball. Anyway, hard luck to both men.

The mental strain of such a horrific injury is much more than the physical strain and I hope that Dudu comes out of this spot as a stronger person. Arsene Wenger has thankfully withdrawn his statements as it would have only led to bad blood among the teams. Come on lads, we need to win the league for Eduardo!!! Godspeed.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

A month of many things

Went on the IEEE trip to Mussorie, Rishikesh and Haridwar.

Saw the snow capped Himalayan peaks, albeit from a distance.

Had a snowball fight, without seeing snow fall.

Jammed to the beats of a daphli.

Experienced the inexplicable beauty of the Ganga in the best way possible, by camping on her shores.

Ragged a bunch of Second Years.

Enjoyed a three hour river rafting extravaganza.

Experienced 2 degree cold for the first time in my life.

Made a bunch of new friends.

Bought a brand new bass guitar.

Won the band competition at KEM college the very next day.

Watched Iron Maiden perform live from the third row, and made eye contact with Bruce Dickinson along with Jinju.

Won Crime Scene Investigation in my college.

Sprained my ankle in football practice yesterday, so I cant move now.

Spent the month in the best possible way.

Icing on the cake, I got my passport!!!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Exams Ending

My long, drawn out exams, which began on the 7th of December, are finally coming to an end today. In little over 2 hours, I will be writing my last paper.

It is like a long race, and I have turned the last corner and am on the straight. The checkered flag is waving and all I have to do is cross the finish line. Bring it on losers.

Control Systems seems to be easy but I hope I dont slip up because this is the one of the only subjects where I can score.

The exam ends at 5.30 and I will be leaving for the Rishikesh, Haridwar trip tonight at 9.30. No net for a week, but then again, no exams till May. :-D

With all this hysteria over Bhajji's suspension and worrying news about the 1 lakh car being launched, I would like to stay away from the news for a while and enjoy what little natural beauty remains. Ratan Tata is making a really big mistake and any opposition to the Nano car is welcome.

Until next week then, Tata.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Maths 5 in 11 hours

Have a paper to give in less than 11 hours. So typically I have come online for some good tp.

Maths 5 is one of the shittiest subjects I have studied. The problem is that all the previous maths papers, the syllabus had some implication on electrical engineering. But Maths 5 is filled with discrete structures and statistics, stuff which I really hate to do and of no use to us I believe.

And this would have been my last paper but for the MU idiots.

Control Systems on the 14th. the exam gets over at 5.30 and I have to catch the Golden Temple Express the same night from Bombay Central at 9.30.

The trip is still on \m/ \m/ and its about the only thing keeping me going.

Good night then and wish me luck.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Out of my teens

Happy Birthday to me.

Finally I have come out of my teens. As I advised everyone who turned 20 this year, its time I started taking more responsibility for my actions and set a better example to others. (Ya Right!!!)

Happy Birthday also to Michael Schumacher whose brilliant driving will always be the standard every other driver will try to live up to.

Happy Birthday to J.R.R. Tolkein whose magnificent works The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have inspired and will continue to inspire millions of writers for a long time still.

I am proud to share my birthday with these gentlemen though I hardly had any say in that matter.

Thank you mom and dad for the beautiful book-shelf that you gifted me. A gift beyond all else.

Thank you Pari for the delightful mug - may my daily cuppa be served in it for a long time.

Thank you Vineet, Salil and co. for the wonderful surprise cake in the canteen.

And finally a big thanks to everyone who called or messaged or scrapped me a happy birthday, I really appreciate it.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Happy New Year

The New Year arrives bringing with it a melange of emotions - joy that there are newer horizons to conquer, sorrow that some things are over, delirium because Arsenal are on top, frustration that the net is failing me and so this post is delayed by a day.

2007 brought many things to my life. I will look back upon it with nostalgia because in spite of the fact that many things went wrong, there was a silver lining to it. It will remain forever the year which changed my perspective on life and the way I was living it.

A beautiful friendship was broken, perhaps never to be ressurected. But because of that, I at least learnt crucial lessons on how to treat people. Some friends were being neglected and I have them gained back. And a wonderful new one has been found - thanks for all the support P.

This year gives me hope. There are several things I have done that I cannot change and several other things people have done to me which again I cannot help. So I have decided to begin 2008 on a forgiving note, I officially wipe the slate clean. I have forgotten everything. I hope others can do the same.

As the song goes .................. Let it be.

And my exams are still going on. They will end on the 14th. :-(