MLTR - live in concert

Yes, another item (a rock show) on my wish list has finally been struck off. That's right Michael Learns To Rock - a Danish Soft Rock band was back in Bangalore, India on the 20th of June, 2010 for the third time to promote their new album 'Eternity'. The show started with the first number being 'Wild women on the back door, followed by Sleeping child, Sweetest surprise (from the new album Eternity), Actor (their first biggest hit), Paint my love (got the loudest cheer), That's why you go away and finally ended with Someday somewhere. The band went off stage and on public demand-request came back to play 'Breaking my heart'. 


It's been a really long wait, with a  huge crowd missing but that didn't matter to me. I was there with my friends listening to one of the bands that I liked a lot, way back in school. Every moment of the evening was spent in nostalgia, humming and swaying to the tunes of MLTR.

Style Statement?!

Body Piercing, Tatoos, Hairgel, Spiked, Coloured Hair and more - what kind of a style statement are you trying to make when all and sundry do just the same?!

Feel Good Factor: Ego Search

Ego search is so apt a term for googling oneself. In addition to my various profile (linkedin, FB, twitter, etc) results which I don't consider a result of my effort, I do have a handful of articles to my credit online in addition to my two blogs (I recently started contributing to a third blog (group), will essentially be cross posting from my travel blog).

It sure feels good, though my blogs are not thrown out in the search because I do not use my real name on my blogs but that does not matter. To see ones name or nick name in print undoubtedly gets you high! :-)

On love and Obligation...

Oblige is to favor, love is to set free
Obligation and love never cross paths.
I love thee, thus say not 'to oblige'!

Professionalism...Ramble...

Do we(Indians) lack professionalism? Undoubtedly, YES.

It's a small world out there, so many of us know so many others in common. Does that mean we go about discussing someone else's professional and personal lives with people who are not connected? I am not referring to GOSSIP(which is humane and natural).

Scenario1: Common friends may be colleagues in the past, present or future. It is sad to find  A and B(who were colleagues in the past) discussing  X (B and X are now colleagues, while A and X were colleagues in the past but never did A, B and X work together). Cut X, some slack.

Scenario2: A placement agency who is essentially an intermediary between a potential employee and an employer, communicates (amounts to a complaint) to commonly known people(who have whatsoever, no role  in the process) about the candidate not accepting a position.

Oh c'mon, where's your so called 'Professionalism'?

Aren't the HR of an organisation exasperating enough for employees to handle and sustain? We need no more of your kind.

Work-life balance: Do we understand the meaning of this term? Majority of us spend, 9-10hrs a day at work in addition to a minimum of 3hrs a day commuting to and fro work(in a city like Bangalore, especially) in an environment that is no less than a jail. Firewall and other tools in place that do not let you access the internet or any other external sites. Yes, you are there to do your job, yet to be caned and tied up like a dog(how fair is that)?

Even worse, is the concept of vacation. An employee has the right to take vacation. He slogs his ass out and then has to wangle for approval of vacation from his superior.

To Stretch: does it imply efficiency, productivity? Efficiency - from no angle, in my dictionary.

Acknowledgement of Receipt: Why is it only a one way process? Why do organizations/corporates/institutions only collect but refuse to provide 'acknowledgement of receipt' to individuals? An example I can instantly recall:

When an employee leaves an organization he/she has to return the ID card, failing which a certain amount will be deducted during the 'Full & Final Settlement'. While this is acceptable, what supporting evidence does the employee have for having submitted the same? TRUST, eh? Sorry, does not work, NOT ACCEPTABLE. It's about a mere system as against trust in a certain individual. The person accepting the ID card would probably not be with the organisation tomorrow, how will trust help in such a situation? Why don't they get it? Simple logic, ain't it? Even worse, why do majority of us(employees) accept and not question the same? It is so bloody annoying, to fight such systems that function on DOUBLE STANDARDS.

Intimation of Regret: Why do majority of organizations not intimate a potential candidate if one is not selected(must one wait endlessly)? Doesn't basic courtesy demand so? Unfortunately, such is the case in an arranged marriage scenario, as well. A Tamil saying that reads "Mownam Samadham" which means "Silence amounts to acceptance" works conversely here.

Shifting from rambling about work culture in India to People, their attitudes and complications....

No one is perfect, me included. Fidelity, lifestyle, opinion, etc are choices to be made in this democratic land while courtesy, basic manners and culture is an expectation(not a choice) from most anyone when you visit and stay at someone's place. It's after all not your place or your best buddy's place. Carry essential stuff like toiletries and sufficient cash(ever heard of the word - 'self respect'?), spare your hosts(after this experience can't wait to watch 'Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge') the use of fowl language(at least consider their age, generation, background), stop making CONTRADICTING, BLANKET statements. Introspect, go get a life!

I can rant away about several such instances, but it's a big bad world and discussing such people, ain't worth your time or mine. Realization of people around and the self (introspection) seems to be creeping in. I believe the outcome, are several valuable lessons learnt(one being: Be your own best friend, expect nothing from anyone whatsoever) and with that I take a break from rambling (cribacious and critical that I am) for the temporary present.

An Ode to You

Felt good to know that there were others as well (fellow blogger: Kartik) who arose at unearthly hours(4.30a.m) and let their creative side take over. Here goes the creative me...

I took you for granted 
I let you down


I disappointed 
  nagged
  hurt
  annoyed
  upset              You  (so did you)
Yet, I can't stop loving thee(you).


I love, cherish every moment, Good, Bad and Ugly, that went by.
You are an eternal part of me, be it physical or abstract in form!


Love does not: Possess,
                       Scare,
                      Cease.                       


Oh mother nature!
Bestow upon us the strength to accept life,
                                              not get bitter,
                                              maintain mutual respect.


Men will come , Men will go
I will love (wish you the best) thee (you) until my last breath in every birth to come!

Tuk Tuk on CyberSpace

Yep this post entails yet again - Singara Chennai.

I've been wanting to blog post about the Autorickshaw Trauma in Madras, that is perennial and exists since time immemorial. While I save that post for later, here is something I came across.

An Auto driver from Madras also has his own space in the cyber world: Tuk - Tastic. No bigge, eh? Ah, well: rather interesting and innovative! Only wonder what his rates are: like any other Rick in Madras or does he actually turn the meter on?!

The Chennai Sangamam

A weird sense of happiness and belonging sets in each time I go back to the city I grew up in and I just can't stop loving every little thing about it. I have been away for a few years and chanced upon the Sangamam this last time I was visiting.

Scheduled during the harvest season, for the period January 10th-16th, 2010 this open festival is set in parks, streets and beaches. I did not catch a glimpse of Sivamani(not sure if he did perform this year) nor did I get to drink the Jil Jigar Dhanda(a Madurai speciality) but I did hog on Goli Bajje(Mysore Bonda) and witnessed D.K.Pattamal's grandaughter Nityasree perform at The Nageshwararao Park. 

A much needed break with a classical touch and feel that reminded you of your roots(where you come from and belong). What a rich heritage!

Verbal diarrhea is the worst possible disease after blind trust!

What is your Carbon Footprint?

Carbon Footprints and Global Trade, opening up of an economy go hand in hand. With all the research and scientists around did we not realize that in the process of making life simple using electronic goods and producing tetra packs amongst the several other carbon generating products that this would harm the climate and result in Global Warming?

All over the place, all you read is - Go Green, plant saplings, use earthern pots in place of refrigerators, opt for car pools, use cloth/jute bags instead of plastic, switch off your computer and other elctronic gadgets while not using them instead of putting them on the standby mode, reduce your refrigerator's temparture during winter, etc.

How many of us will stringently follow this? Where have we got ourselves and what will we really do about it?

Calculate your Carbon Footprint.