Is there a You?

I had watched Memento a few years ago. I watched Gajini (Bollywood rendition) yesterday. Sadly all the latter left me with was this dull throbbing ache across my temples. The former, however, had made me think.

Have any of you read Michael Crichton's Prey? It talks about a nano swarm that escapes from its fermentation tank and wreaks havoc in the vicinity, harming a few of the inhabitants. Crichton very craftily communicates an idea of the self multiplying nano particle swarm that learns by itself.

Mark Twain said that ‘Biographies are but the clothes and buttons of the man. The biography of the man himself cannot be written.’

Seeming disconnect in the three "things" mentioned above viz. Films, Nano Swarms & Twain. However, there is a unifying factor in all of them. That being – Memory.

What are we today? What you associate with....or that which associates itself with you. Depending on perspective I think it is either or both. As you start your day, you go for a jog, make yourself the breakfast that you read about the previous day, go to places that you had marked out, meet people as per you plan, lookup the sports column in the local daily to check whether your team won the league title, work, play, log on to blogger, scribble on twitter, listen to your fav track, rev up the PS3 etc..... these acts define you. What you have done, what you are doing and what you intend on doing...with varying degrees of contribution, define you.

There are various and then a few more permutations and combinations to the fore mentioned.... or in some cases there are altogether new acts.... but all of them essentially follow a common trend line. Interactions (in person or through other media) and Ponderings (with self, on paper). I am sure this is oversimplification....but it essentially is the gist.

What are we without these 'Limbs?' What are we without, our phone, the newspaper, friends, home, work, past, car, family, email etc (No particular order is intended). Man, ladies and gentlemen, is a walking block of memories.

Even, what some of us would conveniently label as ‘seldom used traits’ such as, anger, sexuality (Oh! Ouch), jealousy, introspection, which might be vestigial to our existence, are still with us and play a part in defining us.

Can Barack Obama be defined without a mention of the Presidential race? Yes! I bet the impression that the lady who was the daughter of a slave, and who passed away post voting and watching him emerge victorious (notice how we define her), is different from the impression that we will have of him 1 year from now. We will after all be aided by all subsequent events that will taint/nourish our understanding of who the man is. Memories are NEVER static.

Memories are like the ocean.... different rivers, running across different regions, planes and plateaus bringing with them a flavor unique to each participant....and they all empty themselves into the ocean. But each drop has a story to tell... a different story albeit... but a story never the less. We are a moving block of memories... memories that fade and blossom... wane and bloom....with every instant. Our sub conscience itself functions on memories... how else do you explain dreams...memories of things of the past.... memories of fears combated....thoughts of days to come... they are us.

Which is why what Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) goes through makes the viewer shudder. That is how lost we are in the event of the prodigal 'slate' being wiped clean! ID is quintessential. In a day and age where even bovine creatures are getting tagged... not following suit is NOT an option.

The nano swarm, exhibited, what humans inherently are unable to… a leaderless group. We tend to associate such a group as one that lacks direction. The nano particles however managed Just Fine. Distributed intelligence, continuously evolving learning, group synthesis ensured that the particles not only existed but also managed to replicate human traits such as goal setting, defense formation, survival instincts etc. They managed this because; they continuously gathered and processed the information from the environment they occupied and without any angst, doubt or fear, carried out the requisite steps with clinical precision. They shared memories, they shared their learnings and they shared the fruit of their actions...'cause in all fair means... they were ONE individual, with every particle bringing in its own ounce of memory. A swarm of memories.

It seems that to meditate is not so much a process as a state of mind. It is a mind frame achieved when one can distinguish “You” from “Yours”.

Reiterating Mark Twain….you can define his coat, his tie, his hair, his skin, his achievements, his fears, his family, his life, his traits, his birth, his voice…. But can you define HIM?

Materialism is an appendage that has not turned into a vestige yet. Until You exists….Yours, most definitely will.

PS: Thanks Vini, for planting the idea!

Trouncing Newton

Sir Isaac Newton first presented his three “governing” laws in the "Principia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis" roughly 325 years ago. That’s eons ago. There are those things that just don’t change… or so they say. In fact those very things change so rapidly that the transferring perception that keeps up with this rapid flux tends to believe that, things are just the same. Change is the only constant after all.

Newton’s findings have now found some 21st century critics (as well) in Nobel laureates John Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern. The third law Newton proposed suggested that "To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction"

Through ‘Theory of Games and Economic Behavior’, the duo suggests that “To every action there is a reaction.” The reaction is however not programmed to be equal and opposite. Business and sport share an alarming set of key words. Their interpretations however are different in both avenues. Unlike sport, business is not a zero sum game. One does not need to beat the other to win. Avenues are ever expanding. In business the art is in not winning or loosing (‘cause, there is no set benchmark for the aforesaid) the game. It is about playing the right game. It is better to shape up the game you play than go hopping towards any game available.

Argh! Got to scram.. more on this later.

Stinker: Farewell Kiss to the President

On Sun, 14th Dec, Bush paid his last visit to Iraq. The entire operation seemed to be extremely clandestine and rightfully so. Any fliers proclaiming the visit might have made jihadis inc. rub their hands in glee...

Moving on... Sticking to his characteristic denial mode and 'I’d rather choke on my foot than have it wrenched out by someone else' sentiment... Bush advocated the importance of the war towards maintaining.... get a load of this....American Security, Iraqi hope (what does that mean) and the best of the lot.....WORLD PEACE! Ha!

Didn’t come as a surprise that he got lambasted by the journos while addressing the press. But here's the coup de grâce.... a journalist sitting on the third row... actually hurled his shoes at bush, whilst Dubya was shaking hands with the Iraqi PM. But the sad bit was.... HE MISSED!

In both his attempts. Tough luck dude, but got to admire your spunk!

That’s design thinking.... while attending an address by the most powerful man on earth... with an elite security force guarding him... who would have thought that launching an offensive was possible!

What does the Security Council do now...not permit people to wear shoes whilst around dignitaries! He He He.

I am glad that, that's not a possibility. So, for all and sundry, that avenue is always open.

The common man has in his arsenal a tool that cannot be combated! Let’s just hope that in future, people hit bull’s eye!

Now for the hilarious bit: CNN reported that the throwing of shoes is considered highly insulting in Iraqi culture!

Duh!!!! I think that for the cultural melting pot that that United States prides itself on being, this might come as a bolt outa the blue!

Flinging any kind of foot wear.... is insulting in EVERY culture.... I speak for the rest of the globe when I say this... EVERY culture.

It’s a wonder that this sentiment needed to be published.... did someone think that the gesture had some other, paternal…hospitable…miss you…kind of sentiment attached to it?

And the post title is what the journo said, as he flung his shoes at the President..."It is the farewell kiss, you dog"

Religious Dilemma

Did you know: When you move into a town in Germany, you are asked to register your religion. In keeping with the faith you belong to, 8% surtax on your income tax liability is levied upon you.
This is then passed on to the trust or corresponding regulatory body empaneled by that faith.

Three words (as is so often the case).... WTF?

Religion is a matter of choice, but once 'enrolled' there are soothsayers, who would be prodding you whenever you toe the line. According to me, irrespective of the number of individuals who prescribe to a religion, it still remains very individual and personal. I interpret it the way I want to, follow the dictum to the extent I deem feasible, and don’t appreciate being questioned.

Why then, the surcharge? Religion has over time gotten institutionalized. It has become a group activity. Unless a million or above subscribe to it, it is not considered mainstream. The herd mentality rules. Comfort is in the numbers. And so deeply is faith indoctrinated, that people, leave alone question its benefits... start believing that they are doing it out of their own free will. Habitual nature is not the same as conscious decision.

I realize that religion as a result of the sheer number of subscribers is big business. It takes money, to fuel faith it seems. The wealthy should pay more and the poor should pay less.

So here is the deal... The synagogue (as was the case with this article I had come across, http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/why-cant-religion-be-pay-to-play/)
charges its patrons in keeping with their ability to pay.

Notice the choice of words.... Ability and NOT Willingness to pay.
Considering I am a wealthy man, irrespective of the extent to which I believe in the religion or the extent to which I follow public opinion regarding the practices and traditions, I still have to pay 8%.
Does God favor this kind of a contribution? Nopes, I do not thing so.

This sentiment of mine has often been met by the usual, "If you do not believe in it, why are you a part of it". To which I would respond, that I think that belief is often mixed up with the ability to adhere to some practices. Get this misconception sorted out and you'll understand my school of thought.

It seems that no privilege comes without responsibility. The problem is misplacing responsibility with compulsion.

Why should religion be the route to God? I might believe... but I would believe what I want to, not what all and sundry think I ought to.

Remember you are answerable to your self, over anybody else.
Peace out! :)

Simple learning

Simple learning... honestly its really simple... guess what simple should be made more synonymous with... Logical! 'cause most of what is simple is also logical.

I recently had to assist the MD with a business proposal that was to be presented and put across to the board at the Excon due the next week. While I got the essence of the report right, I goofed up where the nitty grittys were concerned.

A mistake made by all and sundry where report submission is concerned is treating a report as they would treat a paper presentation. A report made for a purpose as mentioned above needs to be precise. It needs to find that delicate balance between depth and width. Not to mention that clarity should not be compromised upon. A report is not about being opinionated... that quintessential Hmmm or Arghhh post reading, is for the analysers to decide. Prejudiced views are not the way to go... and are more often than not frowned upon.

The report that I had prepared included figures.... Hordes of them. Volume traded, equity and F&O distribution, value traded, segment wise distribution, asset class bifurcation, break even levels, return calculations, interest hike repercussions etc. Now the point being that many of these figures ran into mullllltiple digits... In keeping with the source I got them form I stated the numbers religiously. Only to find that the report made the reader comprehend the difference between a fill rate of 31234536million and 4578659million. Only then did I realise my folly. My choice of scaling factor was not appropriate. While the accuracy is sometimes compromised, I think it is safe to say that 31234536million is as clear as 31Trillion. It sure is a lot easier to compare 31 trillion and 4.5 trillion.

Lesson well learnt. Shall imbibe them in presentations to come. I am sure that this does not come as a bolt out of the blue for many of you. However I think, many among them, do this kind of scaling subconsciously. Least to say it strengthens the point I made earlier. Simplicity is more or less Logic. And a lot of logic is dictated by instinct... directed by the subconscious mind.

More on similar matter, later.

Coming up:

• The lenses used to view the manner in which Presentations are made and delivered.
• An interesting international group which is blossoming in various parts of the city, that works on honing the skills of Speech mavericks!

Dethroning or Repositioning?

I seem to be hung up on Apple. Recently came across a mention of Apple being retailed at Wal-Mart!

Is this consumerism or what? There is a line, and I do think that it is a thick line, between repositioning and dethroning. Wonder why it is difficult to tread the line then?

We live in a world of balanced equations. This balance is not brought about by natural symmetry but by balancing variables. 'x', to put it simply. Whilst repositioning a product line, this equanimity is artificially induced. The variable 'x' is what adjusts itself to maintain the balance. A lot of marketers fail to acknowledge the impact of x. X for Apple, might well be the process of dethroning the iPhone, a product at its infancy state, in terms of PLC.

A lot of purchases are linked to the “aspiration” rationale of the customer. Apple happens to be an enterprise which feeds on such aspirations. The Apple iPhone is just that. An aspiration, a must have, a bling gadget, a connoisseurs possession. The grapevine has it that Wal-Mart is in talks of retailing the iPhone. It has been brought to my attention that the model on the shelf would be pruned version of Apple’s original masterpiece, as this would be a 4GB communicator priced in true Wal-Mart tradition at USD 99.

A lot of purchases as I had mentioned earlier are based on exclusivity. While you might come across a lot of ‘me-too’s’, post the launch of the iPhone, it still has managed to beat competition hollow. That is a commendable feat, considering the average ‘recollection coefficient’ in the telecommunication market, is comparable with that of Drew Barrymore in Fifty First Dates. That it still able to garner attention is commendable.

But, liquidating its exclusivity for deeper penetration might not be called for. To my recollection, competitors include, Research in Motion’s Storm and Samsung’s Instinct. Both are laggards with respect to brand value, design, or penetration. The move to my understanding can be termed tactical; however the need of the hour is Strategy. In today’s market being tactical is akin to being tacky and instinctive.

Echoing Motley Fool’s sentiments, sacrificing profitability and high-end appeal, for a greater market share might turn out to be hara-kiri. Nokia, a market leader in terms of market share, has discovered that the hard way. The smart man learns from other's mistakes. And Job is smart to say the least. Unless he can prolong his Midas touch (w.r.t shareholder returns) with this move as well, Apple would be doing itself and its stakeholders a lot of good, by abating their twitching tentacles.

By coming out with stripped down versions, the life cycle of the original product receives a shock, welcome or otherwise. Its natural trajectory gets interrupted and this creates ripples in investor returns. That a futuristic product such as the iPhone needs this kind of duplication within its ranks is not easy to comprehend. For the sake of a company as revolutionary as Apple, I hope I do not start a rant some time in future muttering, 'I told you so....!'

Cloudy times...

This post is in keeping with recent knowledge of Apple's exodus into the 'search engine' market. Though I hate to admit, post that initial whirlwind of ideas, my thoughts tend to flow along a related tangent.
For investors, speculators, traders, scalpers and all and sundry, Google is a 'no-brainers' pick. Revolutionary as it might be, Apple's move is quite outlandish, even by its own standards. In the browser market, the Big E of Microsoft has been around for eons and happens to service around 65% of the market. Other players like Mozilla's Firefox, Apple's Safari, Opera and a few others have slowly and steadily being clawing out a place for themselves into this until recently monopolistic market. The litigation inducing tactics followed by Microsoft, caused AOL's Netscape to fade away into oblivion. Google in keeping with its ever expanding tool kit.... and desire to be a media moghul (yeah... that's what they are.. but more on that later) has come out with its very own browser, Chrome. Google has been a soothsayer for Cloud Computing. In the words of Motley Fool, what Google intends on doing is making the average user, OS agnostic. With the enormous clout that it commands in the online space, Google is fast turning, itself into a unreachable target for the rest.

The Mountain View giant with Android is looking to find its bearings in the telecommunication market as well. The HTC Dream will be the first to run Google's mobile OS, Android. If initial responses are anything to go by, the Android dream, is here to stay and blossom. In keeping with the Open Source architecture, Google rivals Apple's App Store with its own version called Android Market. Unlike Apple's offerings, Android apps will be available for free. With BreadCrumbz, a navigation tool and TuneWiki, a state of the art music player, Andriod sure packs in a punch. Coupled with its ability to run multiple programs, Google's offering scores a notch above its well established rival, Apple.

Google is enveloping the world with its methodology of cloud computing. It defies the premise that architecture and data services tend to be based on. It relies on Cloud computing, which conservatively put, is an artificial string, that allows oneself to latch on to any overhead cloud.

Consider this for example, we find ourselves in a world, where all the required power, services, data, support, is available in clouds. I mean it, ACTUAL clouds, the kinds that dot our skies. In such times what we do is spin our translucent yarns and fling them towards the clouds, thus forming a connect. In this manner we can avail of the requisite offerings of the cloud. However, we never need to be tied down to one particular cloud. We never need to be grounded or shadow ONE CLOUD. We can snip the string and saunter away to another cloud with similar offerings, or have many strings attached to different clouds. Mobility, convenience, variety and an overlying equanimity. Welcome to the world of Cloud Computing! What it primarily means is empowering users through choice.

Google Docs, Android are positive steps towards making the average user OS agnostic. A trend is visibly in the making and it is a trend that is here to stay and bloom.

A Blue Brigade Win

No scientific purpose behind labelling the post in the manner I have. The idea, was to communicate the chant that was doing the rounds, amongst the thousands gathered in Chicago, to hear the victor's address. And Barack Obama, proved that the wait was worth it. The two year long marketing, PR blitzkrieg, has finally culminated into the blues winning.

In all fairness, the other senior candidate, albeit a republican, had a fair chance, if viewed without prejudice. But the Bush legacy proved to be a cross that McCain found too painfully to bear. Obama might not do things very differently than McCain might have, but the Democrat brings along a clean slate. Thus enabling him to script the tale he wants and a tale that the world needs.

I was going through Obama's website and was pleased to see its similarity with some online shopping portals. The link leads to an election funding portal, that requests people to donate for America's cause. The storefrontish appeal... donate $30 or more and get the limited edition 'Change' t-shirt, and other merchandise was really heartening to see. In this day and age of consumerism, trust the doyens of retailing to make such deals possible even in an arena as shrouded in scrutiny as election funding.

This election has been a revelation. Not only in terms of the candidature, but also in terms of the methodologies employed. Obama, revolutionised the way the Internet is tapped. He reached out to millions, made them believe in his cause and inspired many more to join him in this endeavour of his. For instance the blue brigade, made their presence felt by channelling support through, Linkedin, Twitter, Digg, Faithbase, Blackplanet etc.

Cannot help but draw a parallel with the Indian scheme of things. The next general elections are likely to be held in April - May '09. Coalition governments seem to be the only way out. Be it the Congress or BJP, so long as one of them forms an alliance with other minorities, India can breathe a sigh of relief. The screw up, begins in the event of a fractious Third Front coming into power. Stability is no longer an option after all.

With the elections set early next year, and the turmoil that the world has gone through in the past year.... it does not take a material physicist to suggest that the Congress led UPA is in a spot of worry. There have been comparisons drawn up between Obama and the home grown, Mayawati. The cataclysmic event of Mayawati getting lucky in April, may well have an opposite impact than that of an Obama victory is going to have on the US adn the world.

That apart, can we ever... EVER... raise the bar, on the way elections are conducted in our country? We are a nation that has seemingly bypassed evolution on a number of fronts... be it skipping the industrialisation phase, production optimisation standards, wi max over wi fi etc.
The next elections might not... or rather ARE NOT, going to herald a pivotal change in the way the politburo works... however, our own legacy indicates that when the anecdotal, 'Change can happen', happens... we aught to be in the right frame of mind to accept it.

While at this point we could say Hail - Obama, Hail - the Democrats, Hail - Sarah Palin (for making things that much more easier) or even Hail - the Indian cricket team (for providing some respite in this day and age of despair).....what would really be hitting the nail on its head... would be saying Hail.... to the Change...

Realisation needs to be drawn to the point that, change is not an event... it is a process... continuous belief and unrelenting efforts alone will push "Change..can happen" to "Change.... is happening"

More on the other Blue Brigade.. Coming soon.

Happiness - Joy... either, or?

On a rainy evening, having exhausted everything edible at home, I have this craving to eat some roasted corn... butta, as it is popularly called. Almost nothing equals this 'need' at the moment....however the, prospect of, having to get out of the warm confines of my home, the soporific muted television 'news' show, James Blunt - All Lost Souls playing in the background, getting drenched, having mud splattered over my legs, having a wet umbrella to deal with do make me think twice.... but I move along.

With this single goal in mind I resolutely head outdoors. Politely nodding to the pesky neighbor who raised an interrogative eyebrow, on seeing me headed out during such a downpour. Armed with an umbrella, and few notes in the pocket , I move along. As I climb down the flight of stairs, I come across at every crossing the facade that runs along the face of the complex in which I reside. It has a curious criss-crossed pattern, which I would like to believe was originally designed to help keep the stairway naturally ventilated.

As I moved along the stairwell, I felt the heavy moisture in the air, percolate my senses. The whiff of moist soil took me back to a simpler time. Moving along I reached the point where there no longer existed a roof over my head. Moving towards the misty rain, with every progressive step, I could feel the spray of rain water on me. With ill concealed glee I moved ahead. I had to struggle to get the umbrella open.... but finally managed to do it. As I stepped out, I heard a few squeals of laughter. Glancing by my side, I found half a dozen kids, playfully running around. They stopped to playfully shove each other and then moved on.... their clothes drenched in the rains. Simpler times, i thought again. As I moved ahead I saw a teenager patiently kneeling along his bicycle, coating it with a rust proof (do not recollect what it is called) oily substitute, that made the steel rods gleam golden, using a well worn toothbrush. Memories came rushing back. Memories of guarding my bike, like my life depended on it, the care that it received, the discussions that I had with my friends over the 'technicalities' of our respective bikes etc.

As I moved along I became acutely aware of the thumping sounds of a football being kicked around a makeshift ground near the parking lot. The wet concrete making the ball skid along its surface. I remembered the bruised feet that I used to come home with, post such rainy games. The tiny cuts and welts that I used to be painfully reminded of only when I took a shower after the game. I think those were very important games, 'cause believe me... I still remember the stats.

As I walked out of the gate, a sudden gust of wind rendered my umbrella spineless. I quickly readjusted my stance to brace myself for the repeat outburst, straightening out the umbrella in the process. It was quite a task, balancing the umbrella with one hand as I clamped my other hand over my pocket to prevent the money from getting wet. The flip flops that I wore were certainly not helping my act, as they squelched water, sliding dangerously on the moss laden path. But the wind seemed to be toying with these very plans of mine as it came howling in a differing direction, rendering my umbrella prey to its fury. Very promptly my shade went kaput!

Reminded me of the times when I used to very gregariously offer my raincoat to my friend as we alighted from the school bus.... thus ensuring that I was not deprived of the pleasure of getting drenched on my way home. Simpler times, truly.

By practice I ran to the confines of a nearby store... standing under its extended roof for a few minutes, thus sheltered. Post a few minutes, some unseeing hand, or long lost habit, made me reach out and let the rain drops that dribbled in a steady stream off the roof over my head, onto my hand. As I let the rain run in rivulets over my hand, I decided to abash all hesitations and step out.

Thus having had exposed myself to the wrath of nature, I trotted down the lane, feeling the rain beating down on me. I noticed that I was no longer dodging the puddles, but leaping across them. I was not looking down constantly, but glancing up, letting the rain drops splatter my face.

I walked along the pavement, under the trees, feeling the suddenly cold shower as the wind made the leaves shiver, rendering me subject to their cold residue. Walks with friends, paper boats in the rains, clammy hands on the lamp post... thoughts came cascading back.

Walking in this stupor along the next bend in the lane I realised that the corn dealer, the butta-wala, was not in his designated spot.... a twitched eyebrow is all the change I noticed in myself, as I moved along the few of the accompanying lanes looking at the familiar sights and sounds. The butta walla, suddenly took a backseat, or rather became a non issue as I continued in my endeavour to discover all those places, that for so longed defined what I meant, when I said, "I wanna go home". Thoughts, memories, instances, retrospection, people, places, events - - - smiles.... I continued walking....

As we crawl, walk, trot, sprint or dash towards happiness, we sometimes have chance encounters with joy. Makes us realise that while happiness might be what we wanted, joy was what we needed. Pause, and read again. Look around. The joys, are infact easier to encounter, because they come to us... happiness on the other hand has to be chased.

Happiness is so often defined by what we want.... the corn... that is what I wanted.... the inane pleasures that I encountered as I headed towards this alleged quintessential 'happiness', were the joys that I needed.

Wanna hear a sure shot way to keep these little 'joys' coming? Notice how childhood was so closely related to them. There is a hardly a worry that a smiling child cannot wipe off. Remember those instances, those simpler times, those games.... remember your childhood... 'cause forgetting it, might make you loose the child in you.

Stay Smiling :)

Sleeping Murder - Agatha aunty rocks.

In all its Victorian glory, this is one of Agatha Christie's finest works. Set in a sleepy English hamlet (surprise surprise), Christie spins a tale consisting of some really interesting characters. The novel is a part of the Miss. Marple series. Popular belief is that this is Miss. Marple's last escapade into "sleuthhood" and surely it well might be the case, 'cause the grand old dame does frightfully little throughout the hunt.

The length of her role non withstanding, the depth is pretty obvious. The final nail in the coffin is driven home by the dear old lady, in keeping with tradition. However, the climax where the villainous villain's efforts are thwarted with a water jet (a garden spray actually) is quite
WTF-ish!

However, I have yet to see some work of Christie supersede And then there were none. To all and sundry, that is the novel that inspired Gumnaam. Makes you wonder, who might take on the challege of representing Sleeping Murder in contemporary times in our, evolution jumping film fraternity.

I think, the scene is set for a Bhatt camp loyalist, to take upon the task. Something to do with them comming out with the Raaz series. Complete with a derelict castle in Scotland, townsfolk from Goregaon, costumes from Yalta, trance music, a random crow, raven, bat... creaky hinges in ALL devices that employ them, cloudy weather throughout the day (talk about the blues), heavy upholstery, dark drapes, wooden stairs, a leaky attic, a grand ballroom, a local deity, a dumb-scary-scared-shrill maid, a quiet gardener, omnipresent dew on the flowers, a gigantic fireplace..... why am i doing this!!!

Moving on... I do think a film version could be (but... the question remains...would it be?) tastefully done. It would make for good viewage, provided it is kept short and to the point. The plot, being not too intricate, I think contrary to the Bhatts we would need a RGV, to weave the plot.

I do devour fair share of fiction and would love to see them in the Indian scheme of things... literary or video graphic representation. Maybe I'll write up more on those grounds in the posts that follow... what say?

Until then, tatah!

To board or to not board

A question ricocheting off the walls of my cranial cavity. We (I generalise, 'cause I know for sure that I am not being presumptuous), do not realise that time and again, we add shrapnel to the whirlwind of thoughts that plague our minds. This is exactly what I found myself engaging in, as I stood transfixed (why transfixed? But that is an object of some other discussion) at, lo and behold, the railway station.

For any Bombaite worth his/her salt, watching the train glide into its slot, is certainly not a 'must-watch'. But then, think again. You see a locomotive, crawling with people...yes...flesh and blood people... clinging onto rooftops and door handles... travelling with a velocity that certainly is enviable (so what if we are not matching the guys in Japan, this is certainly faster than the pace at which our cars crawl), on tracks that are a colonial heritage, with overhead wires that remain taught with attention (almost reminiscent of the onus that they have taken upon themselves), weaving through narrow corridors, thundering across rickety mini bridges... I think it is worth 'a' sight atleast.

But ... darn.. I digress. The question I ask myself as I watch this monsterous wonder crawl towards me is, 'to board or to not board' . Now this is a classic example of debris cluttering our mind. Not very different from pebbles that occasionaly populate the exhaust pipe of your car... rattlers, that can only hurt.

And why is it debris? Lets rewind to The Matrix and relive this conversation where Oracle tells Neo...."Because you didn't come here to make a choice, you've already made it. You're here to try to understand why you made it"

Exactly the point that I drive home... the decision to board or not to board had been taken a while ago... maybe such were the scheme of events... (categorised - M=Major , m=minor, D=D'uh)

• I chose a job which would require me to travel to a spot, that can be commuted to 'in an economical manner' regularly, only by train. ---> D
• I refuse to adjust my body clock to get up at an unearthly hour, thus buffering in enough time, which I would need if I intend on using the 'roadways'. ---> M
• I chose to go to the gym in the morning... no rationale, apart from the fact that (karma cycle factored in), I anyways was going to take the train to work. --->m
• I have not polished my shoes, thinking that the gentleman, on the platform would do it for me. With intricate obsession to detail I also have an INR 5/- coin kept handy, and within easy reach.--->m
• I purchased a quaterly railway pass, worth some considerable moolah. ---> D
• I have scheduled the 'briefing' sesison with my boss at 9:15 am, two months ago...with also the minor detail, of it being a DAILY briefing --> D (font 76)

So it can be rest assured, that all these factors factored in, the decision to board the train.. not only THE train... but THAT train, had, with utmost certainty, been taken AGES ago.

But yet... you know what happens when shit hits the fan... yes.. its NOT pleasant... and how much ever it stinks at that moment.... a few hours later... when you go back to that moment.. it stinks more.

Panning back to myself, at that moment, the train crawled past me and with a sigh, halted. Now, the neurons which are designated as the proprietary strategy formulators cum carriers, to my mind, were suddenly subject to this anomaly. . . . this stray thought that demanded their attention... that asked them...Was it worth it... coming up with a strategy? It revised the primer upon which the neurons functioned from the erstwhile How? to the escapist Why?

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. The oft quoted sentiment came true in that particular instant. Objects that until then, had seldom been given the leeway of having an 'obtuse' thought flow contrary to the streamlined approach otherwise chosen.... when subject to this anomaly... after a little flurry of excitement... simply went 'belly-up'.

And how did this translate into me acting.... it prompted me to :

• Stay frozen, when I should have been jogging alongside the train
• Stay frozen, when I should have been ducking and weaving my way through the crowd
• Move in a direction that made me move headfirst towards the crowd of people who had just, figuratively speaking, burst out of the train - -when I should have frozen
• Continue moving in that direction in spite of the cumulatively increasing, thuds and jabs.
• Keep going, and try to communicate to the opposing mass, why my actions were justified.
• Stop and experience a decision reversal - - - catch this one - - once I had passed the eye of the storm. Thus making me turn around and move - - away - - from the train.
• And finally... stick around...explain, rationalise and finally argue with the bunch whom I had inconvenienced as a part of my continuing foray towards boarding the train.

Could have done worse although. Could have taken a cab after all this. But rationality and centralised control were restored by then, and I boarded the next train.

Now getting back to the point where I stated that the shit stinks a lot more, when you revisit the room at a later hour.

Delayed owing to the sudden democracy and independant thinking that my neurons decided they deserved, I had lost out on a "time window". Thanks to this, to my dismay, I found that there were staggering delays in just about everything that had been scheduled throughout the day, ranging from the morning briefing (afore mentioned), the morning pre-market meets, LUNCH, to the noon cold calls. The extent of the damage done was such that, fathom this, even breaks were delayed!!!

Owing to the subsequent delays I found myself in my designated seat at 7:00 pm, and thus within the sphere of influence of my project manager. Now, this is a gentleman who has been hounding me for a 'Brainstorming' session, for the past week, that I have being evading.... owing to the current scheme of things I had no exit route and thus found myself fall prey to the 'storm'. That's was the moment when i thought back.... yuck! this shit stinks more NOW!

In retrospect... which again is another spoke in the wheel, debris in the pipe, anomaly in the brain kind of event... I said... never ask a question which you already have the answer too. Complexities do not help.

Teeing off

mflb... that is the music my little grey cells are tuned to. The music that has always and that will always resonate within... Cheers, to that timeless symphony.

No... I do not play golf. Nor do I see myself writing about it in the foreseeable future.
In some twisted parlance what I mean to say is... here I go.

This is not my baptism to the blogosphere. I have been an avid reader for as long as I remember... conversations, books ,blogs (not necessarily in that order). However, the stray critique of articles or editorials not withstanding, I do deem this as my solo attempt at blogging.

Cheers to the times ahead.