I'm off to India people..
Can't wait to see how India has changed. I am sure I will have a good amount of things to say after I'm back. Until then.. may the force be with you.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Friday, August 05, 2005
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Book-Tagged
After a prompt 'couple of days' as promised to Sougata, here I am with my responses -
Total Books I own- Let's see here.. counting all the books I have, subtracting those that I seem to have but I technically don't own, adding those of mine that my friends seem to have, but they technically don't own, adding those that I cannot seem to find, but I technically still own, I would say a few hundred. But if you pressed me for a more accurate number, I'd say about 300!
Last Book that I bought - The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity, written by Amartya Sen. Silicon India promises me that it is currently shipping, so we'll just have to take their word for it. I am looking forward to reading this one.. sounds very interesting. Here is an excerpt from the book review: "The Argumentative Indian brings together an illuminating selection of writings from Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen that outline the need to understand contemporary India in the light of its long argumentative tradition. The understanding and use of this rich argumentative tradition are critically important, Sen argues, for the success of India's democracy, the defence of its secular politics, the removal of inequalities related to class, caste, gender and community, and the pursuit of sub-continental peace. "
Last Book that I read - Winning written by Jack Welch. Liked the book. You should read it. This as well as his other book Straight from the Gut will become CEO manuals soon. I am also currently reading 'Freakonomics' by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. This is a really interesting one, if you don't have more important things like saving the world or something like that to do.
Books that mean a lot to me - Where do I even begin on this one..
Total Books I own- Let's see here.. counting all the books I have, subtracting those that I seem to have but I technically don't own, adding those of mine that my friends seem to have, but they technically don't own, adding those that I cannot seem to find, but I technically still own, I would say a few hundred. But if you pressed me for a more accurate number, I'd say about 300!
Last Book that I bought - The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity, written by Amartya Sen. Silicon India promises me that it is currently shipping, so we'll just have to take their word for it. I am looking forward to reading this one.. sounds very interesting. Here is an excerpt from the book review: "The Argumentative Indian brings together an illuminating selection of writings from Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen that outline the need to understand contemporary India in the light of its long argumentative tradition. The understanding and use of this rich argumentative tradition are critically important, Sen argues, for the success of India's democracy, the defence of its secular politics, the removal of inequalities related to class, caste, gender and community, and the pursuit of sub-continental peace. "
Last Book that I read - Winning written by Jack Welch. Liked the book. You should read it. This as well as his other book Straight from the Gut will become CEO manuals soon. I am also currently reading 'Freakonomics' by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. This is a really interesting one, if you don't have more important things like saving the world or something like that to do.
Books that mean a lot to me - Where do I even begin on this one..
- Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Perhaps my all time favorite book. Embodies my penchant for things that stand outside the ordinary, and resonates with some thoughts that have been echoed in this blog as well as Sougata's.. Never be Mediocre. Other books written by Richard Bach that mean a lot to me include - Illusions - The adventures of a Reluctant Messiah; and A Bridge Across Forever.
- Ishmael - An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit, written by Daniel Quinn. If you have not read this, you are missing out on some really very very original piece of thinking. A completely new angle on civilization and the evolution of man and his space in creation.
- The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
- The Way of the Peaceful Warrior - Dan Millman
- Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes - Who wouldn't like this one..
- Odyssey - Homer.
- Total Freedom - J. Krishnamurti
- So many of Bertrand Russell's books - too many to just name one or two here
- All of Calvin & Hobbes (That Bill Watterson was an amazing guy!!). Kids say the most profound things..
- All of the Dibert Books (Has an uncany resemlence to many at my work!)
- Snakes and Ladders by Gita Mehta - a nice set of short essays about India
And many many more.. I may continue to update this post for several days to come. Other than these, there are several business books, books on Egyptology, and the old classics (Shakespeare, Dickens, Bronte, Doyle...) and the fiction (Jeffery Archer, John Grisham, Micheal Crichton...)
This book tagging thing is indeed unfair. And one other thing.. since I am quite new to the blogging community, I don't really have many folks I can tag in turn. Any thoughts?
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Lift Off!
There's something about watching the shuttle take off that sends my spirit soaring. It's exciting to watch 'Man', as insignificant as he is in the larger scheme of things, take a step to learn what is beyond.
I watched, in sheer amazement, the beautiful images of earth from a height of over 300 miles from a craft traveling at over 17,000 miles per hour. And I remember thinking to myself how exhilarating the astronauts must be feeling.. and how I would give an arm and a leg to experience that once in my life. Well, maybe not an arm and a leg..
It also brought back memories of the movie Contact (Jodie Foster, Mathew McConaughey) and the possibilities (even though they were fiction).
Sigh! I eagerly await the day that mankind can communicate with another civilization out there in space. Pioneer 10 is now about 6.6 billion miles from earth, well outside the solar system, and perhaps one day, we will hear back from another civilization.
But for today, I am just happy to see the indomitable human spirit in action.
I watched, in sheer amazement, the beautiful images of earth from a height of over 300 miles from a craft traveling at over 17,000 miles per hour. And I remember thinking to myself how exhilarating the astronauts must be feeling.. and how I would give an arm and a leg to experience that once in my life. Well, maybe not an arm and a leg..
It also brought back memories of the movie Contact (Jodie Foster, Mathew McConaughey) and the possibilities (even though they were fiction).
Sigh! I eagerly await the day that mankind can communicate with another civilization out there in space. Pioneer 10 is now about 6.6 billion miles from earth, well outside the solar system, and perhaps one day, we will hear back from another civilization.
But for today, I am just happy to see the indomitable human spirit in action.
Friday, July 22, 2005
IF
IF
-Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
Another of my favorite poems. Inspires me!
-Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
Another of my favorite poems. Inspires me!
Book-Tagged!
I've been book tagged... Sougata, thank you..
Needless to say that this is going to be a difficult exercise, given that there's just so many.. so permit me a couple of days and I'll get to it.
Needless to say that this is going to be a difficult exercise, given that there's just so many.. so permit me a couple of days and I'll get to it.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
The Road Less Traveled
The Road Less Traveled
by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Hmm.. I feel these days that I took a U turn and headed right back to the well trodden path. Maybe there is still time to turn back. Or maybe not. Only time will tell.
by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Hmm.. I feel these days that I took a U turn and headed right back to the well trodden path. Maybe there is still time to turn back. Or maybe not. Only time will tell.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Back.. But The World Has Not Changed Much
It was a good few days off and yours truly is back. I must say though, nothing much has really changed in the world in the meanwhile.
People are getting 'whacked' left, right and center. Politicians the world over are making strange bedfellows. Hurricane season has begun. Cable TV still costs way too much. My lawn still needs mowing...
Oh well.. Hopefully tomorrow..
People are getting 'whacked' left, right and center. Politicians the world over are making strange bedfellows. Hurricane season has begun. Cable TV still costs way too much. My lawn still needs mowing...
Oh well.. Hopefully tomorrow..
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Madness I Say.. Madness!
Socrates said that if people know what they should do, they will do it. But he underestimated people's ability to f*** up. Everyone knows what they should do.. how many actually do it?
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Quaere Verum
Sometimes nothing is what it seems, and as a corollary - sometimes what seems to be is really nothing. Hell, someone let me in on the truth.
I just started reading 'Freakonomics' and I should say that it is one interesting read, at least so far. It's almost lateral thinking really and gives several examples that illustrate the 'Butterfly Effect'
Right now though, I am beginning to believe that my state in life today has something to do with an old monk in Tibet who got run over by a Porsche while crossing the road.. I just can't figure out the connection yet. Time will tell.
In the meanwhile - Contemplate on this.. A parable from Daniel Quinn (Author of Ishmael)
The ship was sinking---and sinking fast. The captain told the passengers and crew, "We've got to get the lifeboats in the water right away."
But the crew said, "First we have to end capitalist oppression of the working class. Then we'll take care of the lifeboats."
Then the women said, "First we want equal pay for equal work. The lifeboats can wait."
The racial minorities said, "First we need to end racial discrimination. Then seating in the lifeboats will be allotted fairly."
The captain said, "These are all important issues, but they won't matter a damn if we don't survive. We've got to lower the lifeboats right away!"
But the religionists said, "First we need to bring prayer back into the classroom. This is more important than lifeboats."
Then the pro-life contingent said, "First we must outlaw abortion. Fetuses have just as much right to be in those lifeboats as anyone else."
The right-to-choose contingent said, "First acknowledge our right to abortion, then we'll help with the lifeboats."
The socialists said, "First we must redistribute the wealth. Once that's done everyone will work equally hard at lowering the lifeboats."
The animal-rights activists said, "First we must end the use of animals in medical experiments. We can't let this be subordinated to lowering the lifeboats."
Finally the ship sank, and because none of the lifeboats had been lowered, everyone drowned.
The last thought of more than one of them was, "I never dreamed that solving humanity's problems would take so long---or that the ship would sink so SUDDENLY."
I just started reading 'Freakonomics' and I should say that it is one interesting read, at least so far. It's almost lateral thinking really and gives several examples that illustrate the 'Butterfly Effect'
Right now though, I am beginning to believe that my state in life today has something to do with an old monk in Tibet who got run over by a Porsche while crossing the road.. I just can't figure out the connection yet. Time will tell.
In the meanwhile - Contemplate on this.. A parable from Daniel Quinn (Author of Ishmael)
The ship was sinking---and sinking fast. The captain told the passengers and crew, "We've got to get the lifeboats in the water right away."
But the crew said, "First we have to end capitalist oppression of the working class. Then we'll take care of the lifeboats."
Then the women said, "First we want equal pay for equal work. The lifeboats can wait."
The racial minorities said, "First we need to end racial discrimination. Then seating in the lifeboats will be allotted fairly."
The captain said, "These are all important issues, but they won't matter a damn if we don't survive. We've got to lower the lifeboats right away!"
But the religionists said, "First we need to bring prayer back into the classroom. This is more important than lifeboats."
Then the pro-life contingent said, "First we must outlaw abortion. Fetuses have just as much right to be in those lifeboats as anyone else."
The right-to-choose contingent said, "First acknowledge our right to abortion, then we'll help with the lifeboats."
The socialists said, "First we must redistribute the wealth. Once that's done everyone will work equally hard at lowering the lifeboats."
The animal-rights activists said, "First we must end the use of animals in medical experiments. We can't let this be subordinated to lowering the lifeboats."
Finally the ship sank, and because none of the lifeboats had been lowered, everyone drowned.
The last thought of more than one of them was, "I never dreamed that solving humanity's problems would take so long---or that the ship would sink so SUDDENLY."
Friday, May 27, 2005
"No Thanks! World"
Why am I not amazed when I read things like this piece below:
From the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Series II, Volume 29, Minutes of meeting with Soviet Leaders, Moscow, 22 June 1955, page 231, here are the minutes of the conversation between Jawaharlal Nehru and Soviet Premier Marshal Bulganin, as quoted in Claude Arpi's Born in Sin: The Panchsheel Agreement (Mittal Publications, Delhi, 2004, ISBN 81-7099-974-X):
'Bulganin: While we are discussing the general international situation and reducing tension, we propose suggesting at a later stage India's inclusion as the sixth member of the Security Council.
Nehru: Perhaps Bulganin knows that some people in the USA have suggested that India should replace China in the Security Council. This is to create trouble between us and China. We are, of course, wholly opposed to it. Further, we are opposed to pushing ourselves forward to occupy certain positions because that may itself create difficulties and India might itself become a subject of controversy. If India is to be admitted to the Security Council it raises the question of the revision of the Charter of the UN. We feel that this should not be done till the question of China's admission and possibly of others is first solved. I feel that we should first concentrate on getting China admitted.'
Here we have the 'architect of India' sqandering away an opportunity to put India on a fast track to international identity building. What is it about our politicans that they feel the need to demonstrate an assinine sence of seudo-secularim / seudo-subservience?
We've come a long way alright.. from the days of Chanakya, the creator of political science, to Lalu Prasad Yadav, the creator of political insanity.
If I had a penny for every gaff our politicians made, I wouldn't be writing this blog.. I'd probably be somewhere enjoying a residual income enough to retire several generations.
Regarding India's stand on the ongoing 'discussion' of permanant UN Security Council membership, I think I strongly agree with Rajiv Srinivasan's article in Rediff.( http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/may/18rajeev.htm )
From the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Series II, Volume 29, Minutes of meeting with Soviet Leaders, Moscow, 22 June 1955, page 231, here are the minutes of the conversation between Jawaharlal Nehru and Soviet Premier Marshal Bulganin, as quoted in Claude Arpi's Born in Sin: The Panchsheel Agreement (Mittal Publications, Delhi, 2004, ISBN 81-7099-974-X):
'Bulganin: While we are discussing the general international situation and reducing tension, we propose suggesting at a later stage India's inclusion as the sixth member of the Security Council.
Nehru: Perhaps Bulganin knows that some people in the USA have suggested that India should replace China in the Security Council. This is to create trouble between us and China. We are, of course, wholly opposed to it. Further, we are opposed to pushing ourselves forward to occupy certain positions because that may itself create difficulties and India might itself become a subject of controversy. If India is to be admitted to the Security Council it raises the question of the revision of the Charter of the UN. We feel that this should not be done till the question of China's admission and possibly of others is first solved. I feel that we should first concentrate on getting China admitted.'
Here we have the 'architect of India' sqandering away an opportunity to put India on a fast track to international identity building. What is it about our politicans that they feel the need to demonstrate an assinine sence of seudo-secularim / seudo-subservience?
We've come a long way alright.. from the days of Chanakya, the creator of political science, to Lalu Prasad Yadav, the creator of political insanity.
If I had a penny for every gaff our politicians made, I wouldn't be writing this blog.. I'd probably be somewhere enjoying a residual income enough to retire several generations.
Regarding India's stand on the ongoing 'discussion' of permanant UN Security Council membership, I think I strongly agree with Rajiv Srinivasan's article in Rediff.( http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/may/18rajeev.htm )
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Seems like just yesterday
Why May 24th? you may ask.. A seemingly innocuous moment today reminded me of old friends. One in particular who had been very close - let's call him Mr.S. Just as I was using what has now become the de facto standard in searching through this universe, yes you guessed it - Google, I happened to come across a blog written by my friend. And here we are.. My avatar as a blogger was born.
Seems fairly wierd to type out my thoughts into cyberspace, but I'm going to do so in the hope that generations from now, a highly advanced being may use my ramblings to decipher how man was in pre-historic times. So you humanity have been warned.
Coming back to the topic - it seems like only yesterday that Mr. S and I played our video games, spoke of profound thoughts and spent our summer holidays doing things that normal teenagers do. Our lives went their separate ways 18 years ago.. managed to intersect briefly about 9 years ago.. and then took its own paths until now. There seems to be a pattern here, but we'll save that for later. So cheers Mr. S.. I'm thrilled at the prospect of re-acquainting with a long lost friend..
Until later - May the force be with you!
Seems fairly wierd to type out my thoughts into cyberspace, but I'm going to do so in the hope that generations from now, a highly advanced being may use my ramblings to decipher how man was in pre-historic times. So you humanity have been warned.
Coming back to the topic - it seems like only yesterday that Mr. S and I played our video games, spoke of profound thoughts and spent our summer holidays doing things that normal teenagers do. Our lives went their separate ways 18 years ago.. managed to intersect briefly about 9 years ago.. and then took its own paths until now. There seems to be a pattern here, but we'll save that for later. So cheers Mr. S.. I'm thrilled at the prospect of re-acquainting with a long lost friend..
Until later - May the force be with you!
Welcome to my instance on earth
This is the way I see it.. circadian rhythms.. '24 hour patterns' of life.. We are driven by this 24 hours that make up our experience..
Welcome to mine.
Welcome to mine.
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