The fiasco surrounding the American Idol finale
Yuppie! We’ve got a male American Idol this time. And he sings soul! So this should be the breaking news of the day, right? Wrong. Apparently it’s a quote by the show’s host – Ryan Seacrest, which has pissed off a lot of people. In the finale, he made a comment on the exuberant number of votes – 63 million +, “more than any president in the history of our country has received”. I was surfing through the blogsphere tonight, and it really has caused some sort of stir!
Blog gurus are commenting on this exceedingly high number of votes. They are worried. The young generation is voting vigorously for a cheap idol show, but wearing a ‘can’t-care-less’ attitude on the matters of political voting. Some are raising voices to use AI-like fundahs of sms-ing, and phone calls in the political voting process as well. “Got to make this look interesting to them”. Give me a break!
I mean, what’s going on? Why are we all even bothered about this? First of all, let’s get Ryan out of the show. This man is getting sillier every day. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Matured enough to cast a vote, mate? Looks unlikely. ‘Cause then you would have known that one can cast as many votes as he/she likes for an AI contestant, but in an electoral process, one gets just a single byte of the cherry. Done that? Ok, now all those who are losing their nights sleep over the future status quo of Democracy - just forget the matter and enjoy the show. And probably go for a vacation. You guys need a break. Wonder why? ‘Cause you are missing an even bigger point – one needs to be 18+ to be able to cast a vote, but a large section people who vote for AI like shows are below that age.
The juice is coming back into the tank!
Over the last couple of days I have realized the healing power of busyness. Hectic as my days were, they helped my nerves to calm down, and get over some of the depressions that were building inside my system. The reason behind my busy schedule was to get past the countless file works and signatures, in order to get a clearance. And all’s not finished yet! Apparently I’m still to get clearance from 4 more departments, and all this after running frantically behind the faculties for three days at a stretch. But, I’m not complaining. They are keeping me preoccupied – away from more gloomy matters. There are merely half a dozen of my close friends remaining at hostel – all are to leave base camp before 31st of this month.
However there are a couple of things that are keeping us excited though. Of late, there’s been a surge of latest DVD movies in hostel, and we are going to spend the last few days of our stay in hostel by making copies of at least 50 DVDs. Films like Harry Potter 4, Rang De Basanti, Crash, etc will finally be captured in my collection of DVDs :-D
I shall end today’s post by sharing a couple of news with the world. The first one deals with Science, um, no, Scientists – they have worked out that it is the egg that came first, not the chicken! Yeah, what great research work to spend tax payers’ money into! People, now it’s the duty of u n me to make this achievement look meaningful. So, first of all convince yourself that the world has become so naïve these days that scientists have ran out of more serious research topics, then compel ur mind to feel grateful to them.
The second news deals with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. They have finally become biological parents! Yeeehaaaaw! Dunno bout others, but I’m breathing a sigh of relief. The news everyday regarding the fuss around Jolie’s pregnancy was really irksome. Hollywood this year has become a burning ad for fertility. People are going craaaaazzzzzzzzzzy to see their favorite stars finally becoming ‘mature’ enough to be parents. Celebrities like Britney Spears is having each act of her motherhood being judged (I won’t be surprised if soon there is a new analysis about the correctness of how she breast-feeds her baby!). Know what? Sometimes it really feels like we are living in a naïve world after all.
End of a journey, beginning of another ….
The word ‘numb’ can be used to describe an array of feelings. Numb is the word that I shall use to describe what I am feeling right now. It’s like I am on drugs. ‘Bewildered’ is another word that can also be used. It’s like I’m this animal who have just been taken out of his wild habitat and placed in a zoo. For 4 years, 1461 days, 35064 hours, 2103840 minutes and 126230400 of the best moments of my life, my Engineering College and my friends were the only elements that whole world revolved around. And suddenly they seize to exist! Within a matter of days, all of us have been robbed of our togetherness. Memories, lots of sweet, cherishable and proud memories are the only ‘remains of the day’. The vans that one day brought us to this college are today taking us away from here, this time for ever.
Never knew that my pals love me so much though. Man, will I miss them! It is getting increasingly difficult to keep a check on my emotions as each day someone is turning up with red eyes and biding adieu. Will this bonding among us remain this strong in future, too? Only time knows the answer. As of know, the only thing that I know is that I feel numb. I don’t know how to react; I don’t know how to live a life without my college, without my friends. It will take some time for me to accept the inevitability of the fact. Till then, I shall continue to feel numb.
An emotional rollercoaster called life
Oh boy, it’s been a loooooong break. My last post was on last Friday. It’s been 7 days since then! As regular readers of my posts can probably understand, the reason behind this long sabbatical of mine was the splurge of ‘activities’ that sprang up in front of me after the semester got over. There were so many commitments pending for me that I hardly had the time to get a hair-cut.
But more than that, it was the emotional rollercoaster I was going through that prevented me from writing anything. The final exam on Network Security didn’t go as well as I had expected, but I didn’t care bout it as much. The night that followed was something that I would remember fondly for ever. Me and other boarders of hostel were given farewell – we all were very moved. The whiskeys and vodkas played their part as well, and everybody drank more than, um, ‘normal’. Our group had 6-7 members gulping down 3 ltrs of whiskey!! Obvious to say, none of us were either in the mood, or having the ability to do anything purposeful for the next day. I heard the drinking continued next day as well. God bless their lives and their livers, I fled to the safety of my home :-)
The nostalgia, the sadness generated by that night, coupled with the alcohol left me numb for the next 2 days. All through these two days I wondered about the life that would be without my College, my friends, the ‘mastis’ at hostel, the canteen ‘addas’, the faculties, the ‘pan-bidi-tea’ shops, the labs, the semesters – the list is endless. For the first time I realized how much these things have become a part of my existence, my life. And that made me realize how much I loved them!
Anyway, the vivas and project presentations are yet to be submitted, so the exam’s not over! The very fact that I’m back posting on my blog is a good indication that I have gained control of my emotions. They will empower me again, but I’ll make sure that it happens only after the semester gats officially over. Till then, let’s ROCK on whatever of the college life that remains!
The Last Rites ….
Feelings of nostalgia, gratefulness and sadness are runnin’ high within me as the ‘moment’ draws nearer with every passing second. Today was (hopefully!) the penultimate written test for my graduation. Come Monday and it’ll all be coming to an end, the final written exam, the day for which I dreamed of while gettin’ admitted in my college.
The day shall mark the coming of age of a person who, ever since tasting the first blood of computer (BASIC) back in his school days, has been like full of reverence and admiration for this branch of excellence called Computer Science.
The exams so far are goin on quite satisfactorily, especially if one takes into account the dismal preparation I undertook for them ;-D. On Monday, there’s this paper on Network Security, I love this paper – so hopefully the journey will be endin on a happy note :-).
What a day!!
In my last post I feared that before the weekend, I would not be able to post anything in this blog. But a series of events and news compelled me to make arrangements so as to post this.
Update on my Semester Exams
People, I’m glad to announce that the exam went on smoothly!! Last day was a whirlwind affair for me. Talk about covering up the entire syllabus in one-and-half days! Cramming was the order of the day and luckily, the questions set in the exam were very stereotype – just had to vomit out stuffs. Hopefully a good grade would be achieved. I must admit though, that yesterday I wished I had not neglected this subject. I found the topics highly interesting, and they influenced me in several ways. More on this on later posts….
Nicole Kidman still has a crush on Tommy boy!
When I was in high school, the Tom Cruise – Nicole Kidman affair seemed very interesting to me. The pair looked cute, made 4 each other, and somehow showed how two entertainment personalities in the peak of their career can still be together. Their breakup in 2001 broke the hearts of millions of their fans, including me. And 2day, there’s this news on papers that Nicole still has a soft corner for her! Ideally, this should make me feel glad, but it isn’t. For me it again highlights the whimsical nature of the Hollywood stars. If she still loves him, why did they break-up for Heaven’s sake? Well, one may argue that the internal problems must have been too complex for the pair to continue together. But, Kidman isn’t doing anything to make her present any simpler. Spare a thought for Keith Urban!! Is it one of those infamous publicity stunts? Kidman has a film (FUR) waiting to get released and her comment today should get her back amongst the chatters of entertainment and gossip shows. For publicity or not, Kidman should have been more thoughtful on her quotes. Tom Cruise is trying to start his life afresh – once having opted to denounce sex, he is now the biological father of a daughter and if the media is right, will get married soon. Their relationship is now over for goods, and they must walk their separate paths.
Can’t hardly wait for reactions from Keith and the TomKats though :-D.
It’s Bono’s birthday today!
How could I miss an opportunity to express my excitement on Bono’s birthday? The band U2 has been going strong three decades and if the prize-sweep at this year’s Grammy’s is considered, they look good to rule the Rock scenes for decades in the future! Many Happy Returns Of The Day, Bono!
The Politics of Reservation
The Indian political scenario has been abuzz lately on matters regarding the reservation issues. Union minister Arjun Singh’s declaration that the Govt. intends to reserve seats for the backward communities in IITs and IIMs and also stated that the Govt wishes to implement the same in private sector jobs.
The logic of the decision is really baffling. People who support the move say that IIMs and IITs are private sector jobs are playing a crucial role nowadays in country’s developments (more happening?) and this law will allow the backward classes to play a direct part of our Nation’s developments, and thereby instill a sense of pride in their Nationality. I must admit that this excuse is beyond my acceptability. What they are effectively saying is that the Govt. must bribe certain classes to make them feel proud to be Indian!
The IIMs, IITs and Software companies (yeah, that’s what’s implied as ‘private’ companies) are the job generating machines of today’s India. So, what the Govt. is actually trying to do is to make allocations for the plethora of jobs being generated here. “Making allocations” is the actual intention, not ensuring social growth. If they Govt. honestly wants to ensure that the backward communities feel pride in being Indian, they better start chalking-out and implementing plans at the grass-root levels. Every aware Indian knows what we are missing there, so I will not go into the intricacies of that matter and end the topic on what made me write on this topic.
Well, yesterday Ratan Tata was receiving the Maharashtra Bhushan award when certain youths started demonstrating against him opposing the reservations in the private sector. Apparently, Tata feels that this plan of reserving 49.5 percent seats in central educational institutions will have a “disintegrating impact” on India. The very facts that the protests were being made by youths themselves is what disappointed me to the core. On one hand we have thousands of students, of all social classes and communities uniting to oppose the law, and on the other hand, we have this. Won’t we Indians ever have a uniform, united stand on any matter? The future alone holds the answer for what ‘developments’ (if we can call them so) will happen regarding this. The best we as students can do is to continue our oppositions and hope sanity prevails.
It's a grim situation ....
Well the final semesters are goin on at full swing. As usual, I find myself in a hopeless situation.... Tommorrow theres this exam on Industrial Management and I am yet to finish a single module !!!!!!!!#%*^~#{!!!!!!!!!!!!
It feels like the workload I'm goin to put myself 2day and 2mmorrow is goin to transform me in2 this....<------ Yeah, it will b a tragic end for person who wished someday to transform the world into a better place, via his Blogs ;o But dont worry, I'LL BE BACK ! (not b4 da weekends, btw)....
12:19 AM 5/9/2006 - IST
The Prelude
Okay, so I started off the tracks by saying the eternal "Hello, World!" phrase. This phrase, made popular primarily by Dennis Ritchie and Brian Kernighan, the inventors of the C programming language, is widely used by programmers all over to make their first foray into a new Language/API. If displayed correctly, it signals to the programmer that he's got the basics right; the program is getting compiled and executing correctly. So likewise, when I saw my first post containing this phrase on my blog in the intended address, I got sure that everything is indeed working correctly, and then God put a smile on my face!
Now it's time to introduce myself. Who am I? Why am I entering this bandwagon of Blogging? - All these and more questions are hopefully going to b well explained in this post.
Before writing this post, I was wondering about how to introduce myself. I sought the advice of some fellow bloggers, and they prescribed me to just paint a picture and keep it short. I'll just say a few things 'bout myself and leave it unto you to decide me as a person.
* I spent my childhood in a small rural village of India
* I have lived in five different places, and each time I left a neighborhood another big void got created inside me
* I have big numbers on my eyes, myopic, i.e.
* Can't live without Music, Internet and Movies
* Since school days had a huge craving for Computers
* For financial reasons owned one of myself less than 3 years ago
* Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Engineering
* My sources of strength: God – I am a Hindu by birth, but also seek guidance from preaching of Gautama Buddha; My Parents; and My Friends - all of them are not in my age group, and there aren't many, but there's one thing amongst us, we are all highly committed to each other's well being.
'Introduction' part over, it's time to explain what am I doing here :-) Now even as I fiercely keep typing these lines, it’s a question that I continue to ask myself. It's a tough question to answer. It's partly because of a strong desire to create an outlet for all my emotions, thoughts and views. But then I could maintain a diary, isn’t it? Why make a blog out of it? I must admit here that I was deeply influenced by Rahul Bose and his blogs at "intentBlog". Before 'experiencing' that blog, I was not sure how a blog can become useful for a society, ''it's a mere toy for people wanting to show-off" - I used to think.
I think differently now. Blogging for me is a tool that gives a whole new dimension to the "freedom of expression". As far as I'm concerned, it is an outlet of my emotions yes, but it is also a place where I get to share my life with like-minded people. And all that without any inhibitions or prohibitions, without even worrying about whether I'm being politically correct! Yes, it's time to finally set the records straight. I earnestly request any and all who will read my blog to comment on my posts, as that will help me become a better person with better outlook towards life, and hopefully make this blog more interesting!
What is this blog going to be about? Well, this blog is all about sharing my views and my experiences regarding people closely linked to me. As the title suggests, the journey through the corridors of life springs up one surprise after another, and more often than not, they leaves us perplexed. It's your window to my world, you can hate me, you can adore me, but whatever u do, do give yourself a moment to ponder upon these posts.
Bon Voyage, anyone?
Sunday, May 07, 2006[4:26:16 PM - IST]
Hello World!! - it's a line that's familiar to anyone who is even remotely acquainted with computer programming. Being a Computer programmer,I start up my blog with this line only. ....
