Perspective on life

The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is
tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What do you get at the end of
it? A death. What's that, a bonus?!? I think the life cycle is all
backwards. You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you go
live in an old age home. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go
collect your pension, then, when you start work, you get a gold watch
on your first day. You work forty years until you're young enough to
enjoy your retirement. You drink alcohol, you party, and you get ready
for High School. You go to primary school, you become a kid, you play,
you have no responsibilities, you become a little baby, you go back,
you spend your last 9 months floating with luxuries like central
heating, spa, room service on tap, then you finish off as an orgasm!!
Amen

The first (fort)night!

It's been a fortnight now. Two weeks gone like a whiff. Many more will go by this way. With the joys that they'll bring, like they have these past weeks. Bringing a smile onto my face every time I think of the day we met, the weeks we stayed together, the months of longing and belonging, and the years to come through which we'll be one soul.

We married this May 11th. Putting it all in perspective, it seems like a mixed bag. Some smooth rides - the main one being the absolute acceptance of our choice by our parents - and some strained blots, like the job-searches and the time we were settling down here in the US. But the one thing that stands out is the steadfast support we've shown each other during these times. You bet it'll be like this always!

The wedding itself wasn't too much of fanfare, like it is normally in India, with a horde of unknown relatives and friends who swarm the ceremonies, and the dulha-dulhan literally in tears in front of the Agni. Thank God for small mercies! Good sense prevailed and we married here. But the ceremonies and the party in the evening were hardly any different from how they'd be back home. Full scale, without the hundreds of people though. I'll post a link to the pictures sometime.

The aftermath has been quite interesting too. I've seen the transition of my bride from girl to woman and from daughter to dot-in-law. How she's smoothly slipped on the gown of familial responsibility and how her in-laws look upon her as the upholder of the family's traditions and values. At times it is fun to watch their discussions and at times it is interesting. Amidst all these, I sometimes feel I'm the only one yet to grow up. Not that I'm in any hurry!

A thought on Elections

Elections maintain the illusion of opposing parties exchanging ideas rather than political animals competing for power. Selling voting as the ultimate expression of citizenship serves two purposes: it legitimizes the process that keeps them in control and makes the public docile by enforcing the notion that we rule ourselves.

~Kara Hopkins (http://www.amconmag.com/2004_11_08/cover5.html)

jalebi

my cube-mate at work returned from a long vacation in india .. he brought with him the customary sweets - burfis, jalebis and the like .. one of my colleagues, an american, ate a jalebi in the morning and liked it .. he came back a while ago asking for the "yellow-orange, gelatinous, pretzel-like thingie" :)

Google and April 1st!

Anybody keen enough to observe wouldn't have missed the interesting products that Google comes up with every year on Fool's day. Here's a peek at a few of those. Apologies for having missed out a couple of years in between ..


First they came up with MentalPlex^TM in 2000.

MentalPlex^TM

Then came the Pigeon Ranking Technology^TM which got quite a bit of limelight!

PigeonRank^TM

Opened their first offices on the Moon in 2004.

Lunar Office

And today, the all new Google Gulp^TM!

Google Gulp^TM

Watch out next year!

The woods

The woods are lovely dark and deep
But I have many promises to keep
And lines to code before I sleep ..
And lines to code before I sle ....
And lines to code bef .......

Ohh forget it
Am not feeling like writing anything .. yaawn :O
Logout
Alt+f4
zzzz

the xalam to xalan!

heard of xalan.jar?? the java jar file u use alongwith xercesImpl.jar for xml parsing and other stuff .. ever wondered where the weird sounding name came from? here it is .. it originated from the "xalam" - a west african (senegal, to be precise) stringed instrument (http://www.geocities.com/jbenhill/xalam.html) .. just like other jargon in the java world, which includes the word "java" itself (some noteworthy others being apache, xerces, geronimo, jakarta, lenya, struts, batik and so on), this too has some good history behind it .. now why the javagurus choose such weirdo names is a mystery to me .. but it's nice to have some history behind such things .. it takes ur mind off the mundane (read 'coding and designing') and once in a while delve into west african jungles or martian soils!

Valentine!

Does this always happen? I mean, to everybody who’s in love and is desperately thinking of some sweet nothing to give to his loved one? Well, it’s happened to me, on more than one occasion. Last year same time and this year, now.

Okay, so is it going to be boring 1-800-FLOWERS? Or just go round the corner to QuickChek and pick up something that she’d like? Walk her hand in hand to the lakeside on Valentine’s morning and hand her a bunch of flaming red roses and a warm hug? I think the latter would be welcomed more on these wintry mornings! Alright alright .. What have we here?
- A box of Godiva chocolates with a bunch of red roses? Or ..
- A cuddly teddy and tulips-in-a-vase? Or ..
- Dinner and movie followed by a night of violent lovemaking? Or ..
- All the above?
God save me! Am I bad at these things! Or should I like a dumbass go and ask her what she likes most? Perhaps even give her these choices, just in case she’s one too. At this rate I’ll wake up on the fourteenth to a sweet little kiss and a bye-bye just like any other morning. Well, I’m not complaining about all these mornings. They’re as good as love gets, believe me! But, St.Valentine destined this day to be different, didn’t he?

I’m sure two more days will pass and I still wouldn’t have decided what exactly to do. I’d rather sit back, listen to some light music, and relax. We’re still on the threshold of a life spread anew, king-size, just for us. Looking back on the times we jumped with joy, kissed with passion, and cried with trust. And looking fondly into the future, thinking – of forgotten footsteps by the seaside, of candle-lit dinners atop revolving restaurants, of misty morning walks with Bozo in tow, of across-the-country car drives, of graying hair and the woods, of Salsa and Merengue. All, of course, sitting on my bean-bag with her in my arms. Oh, St.Valentine! Where art thou?!

Musing in Bangkok

Sitting here at the airport in Bangkok waiting for my connecting flight, I can sense the worry and tension that has gripped the nation as it, alongwith several others, is grappling to contain the destruction that last week's tsunamis caused. Thailand has declared national mourning and it is not at all a good situation here. There is not an ounce of enjoyment or celebration in this otherwise joyous place, where, under normal circumstances, tens of thousands of tourists flock during this time of the year, escaping the severe cold of the north, to luxuriate on the beaches of Phuket or trek along the tough terrain of Cambodia.

I notice that even the Royal Orchids, Thailand's place of pride in the floral kingdom, are wilting away in the duty free shops as there are no buyers. Of course, it is not an occasion to gift someone a flower, says the keeper at King's Duty Free. On the contrary, I believe. This should be as much an occasion to gift someone a flower as any. Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating insensitiveness. That would be insane. I'm saying that this is the time when people, one and all, need support - moral and financial - more than any other time. So, why not cheer up someone's day with an orchid? And to top it, why not buy flowers if the shop is promising to donate a part of its earnings for relief work?! I buy some, and lay it at the lonely Christmas tree distastefully decorated on the third floor. And say a prayer.

'Distastefully decorated'. Hah! That reminds me of a bunch - a big bunch - of complaints I have against this airport. Including its layout, the services offered to commuters, and a host of other things. I'm glad there is some airport in Asia which is in league with our aamchi airports back home! But then, that's an entirely different story.

I still have four hours left. Wonder what I'll do. Maybe I'll call her up and wish her New Year's again. I just did. But just for the heck of it, I'll do it again. It feels so good talking to her, my inspiration and anchor in life. She's out there partying off to glory. And to top it, she's drunk... Trying to compete with me? Whattagirl!!

Should I get up and go from this table? I've almost finished my coffee and spent over an hour sitting here. That lady at the bar has given me quite a few glares. But who cares. Let her come and say something. I'll show my coffee cup. There's still a little left in it!!

To the spirit of Life!

I was watching American Beauty last night. Yeah, the same movie in which Kevin Spacey jerks off thinking about his daughter's friend!

On screen was Tobey Maguire showing a video to his girlfriend. He was explaining that it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. There was a little white polythene bag flying in the breeze.Tossing and turning. Making crisp sounds every time it hit the sidewalk. The wind bobbing it up and down and in spirals and in waves. It was a sight to watch! Such a free spirit flying with absolutely no care about the world! With the fallen autumn leaves around it rustling ever so gently with the breeze. The mellow grass on the pavement lovingly spread around like satin bed covers. There was a little puddle of water by the side, twinkling in the twilight. The evening light dancing in all directions as it reflected off its surface, making incoherent patterns, shimmering with a golden-yellow haze like a distant dream. The clip was in black and white, which enhanced the beauty of the scene.

What struck me most was the fact that it was these same forces of nature - wind and water - which, in a bizarre incident yesterday, took millions of people by surprise and killed over ten thousand along the southern and south-east Asian coasts. People taking morning walks on a crisp winter morning, people sleeping in slums abutting the Bay ofBengal, people relaxing on the shore in beachside resorts, fishermen out on a low-tide to earn their bread - it spared none. Within an hour,there was a deadly streak of devastation left behind at all these places. Everybody was caught unawares. They were reduced to helpless victims of a savage mood of nature. I mean, what is one expected to do if one fine morning, Mr.Ocean decides to wish you good morning at yourdoorstep!

Whatever the governments do, how-much-ever aid the international community provides, whatever news our BBC/CNN/NDTV teams telecast, will the gone come back? Will the people who were rudely hit by the tsunami ever regain a firm footing on life? Will man's quest to conquer the forces of nature ever be fulfilled? Will he ever be able to dictate terms to this omnipotent factor pervading everything? These are questions that leave an all-powerful human being dumbfounded.

Yet, despite thousands of such catastrophes and millions of casualties every year, life just goes on. Rescue operations continue on the one hand while the Sensex breaks new records on the other. These things are here today, gone tomorrow. It goes to show the basic essence of life -continuation, endlessness. Call it reproduction, reformation, renaissance. It symbolizes the eternal reincarnation of the spirit that pervades all that is referred to as having Life.

Amen!

Yo! I'm back in the land of green hills and soft, servile women. Yes, you got it right. Korea! Well, this time I'm not glad I got away from the din of Bangalore. This place is going through its yearly drama of autumn-winter transition and it's taking its toll on me. I've already got my butt pricked by the doctor and have lost count of the number of pills I've swallowed.

But, as usual, it brings back a gloom in me. Didn't we get our independence alongside Korea in the mid-late '40s? I wish the Nehrus and Gandhis had borrowed something from these people. No wonder I don't feel like going back home. I wish I could fly away somewhere. Well, I will. In about a month. I have to go back to see my parents and bid adieu to the land that has nurtured me for these past 25 years. I have no feelings for it. Absolutely.

On second thoughts, it's not the country I don't have feelings for. It's the people. But, a country is made by its people, ain't so?

Understanding

The years of my youth, my sensual life --

how clearly I see their meaning now.

What needless repentances, how futile....

But I did not understand the meaning then.

In the dissolute life of my youth

the desires of my poetry were being formed,

the scope of my art was being plotted.

This is why my repentances were never stable.

And my resolutions to control myself, to change

lasted for two weeks at the very most.

~Constantine P. Cavafy (1918)

-------------

To the pretty dame who posted this note in my Inbox this morning!

...And site-seeing we did. The difference was that what we saw was not what we intended to.

My in-laws, minus the bride-to-be, were visiting us and we got out with full enthu to go to Chamundi Hill. Only to be greeted by a deluge of vehicles diverted onto this otherwise deserted road. All because of the Dasara festivities - the Jamboo Savari (elephant procession), which was happening after a gap of three years. Conservative estimates put the number of visitors during this season at over a million. Ain't that good for a normally sleeping town of a few lakh residents?! Chamundi Hill didn't happen finally ...

The sad part though is that the visitors, as usual and just like the rain Gods, are least bothered about maintaining the beauty of the city. A week later, when I visited Mysore, the city had gone back to its state of peaceful slumber, but this time it was in the midst of a pile of dirt - remnants of the festivities. The concerned are still cleaning up the city (cleaning up their act??).

Nevertheless, I'm still in love with this city. It is far behind it's elder sister Bangalore in terms of population, pollution, garbage, sewage, industrialization. And far ahead in terms of culture, values, people (and not population!). I sincerely hope that the Infys and Wipros do not come here (ain't I late?). I have nothing against them. But they invariably bring with them pseudo-development, urbanization, higher prices of everything from house rent to vegetables, and potholes on the roads. We'd rather live in our peaceful state of slumber than be woken up to a rude shock. The Nilekanis and Premjis, do you hear?

Alright, that was a long break I took. Maafi ho ..

But am I back with a bang! Still typing with one hand, but going strong. Ya, I broke my hand a few weeks ago, thanks to Namma Bengalooru and it's roads. One rainy day, one pothole, one puddle of water, and one thud! I'm at Mallya in the wink of an eye and am packaged off to Mysore for a bout of recovery and rejuvenation. Am grateful to mama for her bedside meals!

It's interesting that I did absolutely-absolute nothing these past 15 days at home. I guess that's what most people do when at home. Laze around and get pampered :-)

Mysore has become so beautiful all of a sudden. Well, it is beautiful always. But, with the onset of Navarathri, the place has started to show it's colourful side. The palace, the hill, the lakes and the streets have a festive mood about themselves and have a mesmerizing effect on the visitor! It is the perfect season for touring the place.

Memories

Till a few years ago I was a young lad unknowing of the ways of the world and the way they change a person's outlook. I ain't too old now, but I've seen some of it at least and I understand quite a bit.

I was reading some old mails this morning. Some 3-4 years old ones. From college/insead/sape. All from friends. Purrfect nostalgia! It's amazing how old memories and feelings linger on. But the strange thing is how the sweet ones, though they linger, can slide off with the slightest shake. They are like dewdrops on a blade of grass! But the ones that you really like to forget stay on for years to come. Pull 'em, prod 'em, shake 'em. They will not budge! Like cobwebs. Like leeches. Eeks! Ain't that strange?

Seoul - Take 2

Someone told me the other day that the younger generation of Koreans do not like the big-bro attitude of Uncle Sam (join the band!). The joke on the street is that the Korean President calls up the White House from his Blue House the moment he is elected, even before addressing his nation!

Well, so much for US presence in this country. The influence can be sensed if you visit the Northern parts of Seoul, particularly the areas aroung Itaewon across the Hangnam river, where there is a US army base, and where the prime red light district of Seoul is located. You can spot bands of soldiers (of course in casuals and off duty) drunk and partying in the streets into the wee hours of the morning. Also, you can sense the influence in every aspect of Seoul's life - roads, malls, bridges, amusement parks, gas stations, offices, cars .. you name it! Everything's like it is in the US. One is forced to wonder where are the shy, demure girls and self-respecting men proud of their culture gone?!

There's an OK-Mart for every K-Mart. There's McD's, KFCs and Pizza Huts all over the place. Why, there's even Bennigan's and Outback Steakhouse around the corner from my hotel! Now, that's something!! :) Yet, it is surprising how adamantly these people have refused to learn the English language. I haven't come across one Korean who has not been educated in the US but speaks fluent English. I wonder how they do commerce with the rest of the world without knowing their language! Maybe the way the Japanese do (I haven't understood them either). It's a mighty exercise, albeit funny, hailing a cab and showing the driver a printout of Korean script instructing him to take me to my hotel or to my office or to the nearby bus station! From Anyon-Haseyo to Komap-Sumnida (Hello and Thank you, apparently), it is interesting at times and highly irritating at times to hear the droning of a tongue you're not accustomed to. In the taxi for example, the FM incessantly keeps chattering off in the background, and I'm unable to communicate to the cabbie that he should switch it off! Pity!

Seoul

If there's one thing I've been most amused by Koreans is their habit of brushing their teeth day in and day out. An average Korean in Seoul brushes his teeth about 4 times a day - after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner and just before sleeping. No wonder most of them have eroded enamel much before their thirties.

It has been a fortnight since I landed in Seoul, and I'm yet to recover from the alienation. Though friendly, Koreans are inherently shy and will not talk to you unless you approach them. Demure, shy girls, lost in themselves. Confident looking men. And a humongous population of teenagers form the majority of Seoul's populace. Almost as advanced as any big American city, Seoul is the hub of South Korea's business and industrial activities. There aren't many natural resources in the country. But they seem to have made the most of what they have and today, after 56 years of being a Republic, they are among the leaders in the consumer electronics, semiconductor and automobile industry. Pretty impressive for a country which was under Japanese occupation for 35 years, partitioned from its northern brethren soon after WW2, invaded from the North 5 years later, and having endured the brunt of the US-USSR Cold War throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s. Much of the development is attributed to US support during this time, when mighty highways were built, infrastructure was overhauled and commerce and innovation were given high priority. But there's no denying the fact that the Koreans as as smart and hard-working when it comes to contributing to their motherland.

The Cable Guys!

A 7 year old boy died in my city last week. Got electrocuted by a cable tv wire. A million visits by so-called VIPs to the dead boy's house later, nothing seems to have happened. The cables still hang, the rains still wash away wires, and to top it the city is being held at ransom by a bunch of luncatics called cable-tv operators, and officials of the BCC-BMP-Bescom and MLAs.
 
One look at the following list and you'll understand what's happening:
 
1. The CM visits the boy's family and announces a cash compensation (Rs.1 lakh??), which they promptly refuse. Fires a couple of officers of Bescom and orders and enquiry from the Secretariat.

2. The Power Minister visits the spot. Fires a couple of more Bescom officers and orders another enquiry from his ministry.

3. The Bescom chief visits. Doesn't fire any of his officials, but announces yet another enquiry!
 
(What will be the outcome of these politically backed enquiries is anybody's guess.)
 
4. Bescom annouces that it will cut down all illegal cable wires that are using their electric poles. Incidentally, there are about 400 km of legal cables and 12000 km of illegal ones in this city! Were the Bescom engineers napping when these guys were laying the cables? Or were they feeding their pockets with kickbacks from the operators?
 
5. Bescom cuts down illegal cable wires arbitrarily overnight. In the process, it cuts down some legal ones also ;-) .. This enrages the cable guys who cut off all cable transmissions in the middle of the Asia Cup cricket tournament .. The people are held at ransom for no fault of theirs!
 
The enquiries are still happening .. The cable guys are still striking .. The power guys are still blaming them .. The politicians are still milking the issue for political mileage .. The citizens are still gaping in utter confusion .. And everyone is passing the buck!
 
Indeed I feel sorry for the boy .. But not as much as I feel for the plight the city has come to .. Think about the glory that Bangalore was to become - The next Singapore, huh?! Forget Singapore, we will be the next Bermuda Triangle at this rate .. With so many suckers around!

Ithaca

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.

~Constantine P. Cavafy (1911)