The best part of the year!!

It’s finally here! Its December, it’s the time of joy and celebration!! It’s Christmas!!! The time when we thank for a great year we had and wish for even great year ahead!! Cookies, gifts and the lovely carols… it’s all lovely!! But what is the best part of this season?? For me... it’s always been Santa and the Gifts!! Yes, the plump, jolly, white-bearded loveable old man giving gifts to the kids!! Writing the wish list, putting it under the pillow and hoping that Santa picks it up and showers all of those lovely gifts on the Christmas day!! God Santa must be one Richie rich to get all those gifts (thank god grownups don’t write wish lists!! Else Santa would have to take huge loan to fulfill all of it!! ) .

And in week from now... it’s going to be a new year!! Another year to live our lives, another chance to be what we want to be, another great gift from God!! Brand NEW 365 days!! Another reason to celebrate life!! Come 31st and we all will be ready to embrace the New Year and bid good bye to 2009!! The year we lived out - the year we got it all. It’s been quite a year to say. From acute economical depression to “unexpected” 8% growth, we’ve seen it all. We had Rahman and Rasool Pookutty charming the world at one end and Leander Paes making us proud at the other end! We had Sachin smashing records after records and Vishwanathan Anand walking away to glory!! From average playing team to the top cricket team, we have seen success in all fields. India has grown from being a ‘Slumdog’ to being a “Millionaire”! WE are the Biggest Emerging markets of the world! When Uncle Sam (read US of A!) was hitting up bad and leaking up mad, we were right there steady and trotting just fine. I don’t say we never had any hiccups. But then who doesn’t have!! The greatest thing is that we’ve grown from what we were, learnt from what we’ve done wrong.

Personally, it’s been a terrific year!! From the Big Satyam Fiasco in January to a great appraisal in December, life has come a full circle. My first abroad trip and great time at work, finding some amazing friends at work - it has been massive fun!! One year of blogging (yes the first post has been on Oct 2008!) and some amazing Blog friends. I have been lucky to read some amazing blogs and fortunate to have some great comments for mine!! I’ve met some wonderful people made some amazing friends. What a year it has been! The love of friends and family has made me happy all through. Nieces and nephews being born and grand mom leaving for eternal peace, I’ve been through sorrow and bliss. I could not have asked for anything more!! What a year it has been!!! Thanks to all of you who’ve kept reading my posts and inspired me with some amazing posts of yours. Kudos to A.S for following her dream and making it - God Bless you my dear! Congrats to Diva for flying away to London. !! I hope that all of you had the best time of your life and wish you have even better in the coming year!!

Ring Out the Old,

Usher in the NEW,

See the world in a new way,

Live your life in a greater way,

Laugh and play all the way,

I wish you get whatever you say!!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Fantastic NEW YEAR!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!

Cheers
Rammy

Of Cold country, beautiful people and great fun!

Helu people!! Its been a while since i was out of the Blog world. and all for right reasons... I was having the time of my life!! I was at one of the happiest countries of the world - Denmark (Copenhagen).
So heres an account of my experience during my stay at Copenhagen. Beware though, it can be long and boring. The author is not responsible for your headache!!

It was that time of the year when i was planning about the probable places to visit for winter with my friends. November - December is generally the time i take a break from my mundane work and go out to a small trip with my friends. I thought this will be the same until my Manager informed me that i would be travelling to Copenhagen for a month on a project purpose. Having worked my back side off for two and half years this came to me as a happy surprise! My first travel abroad full paid by the company .. WOW!! I thought!!

The hoopla at home (arrey, beta pehli baar vilayat jaa rahan hai!! itna to hoga hi :P ) and the mad shopping spree accompanied by the viral fever gave me panic attacks!! I kept wondering if i could actually make it to the airport with all the fever and cough ( With all the h1n1 thing u never know !! ). But my dear mom took the best care and made me fit enough to travel. SO... there i was.. on the wee hours of November 2 , 2009 . On board The Lufthansa flight to Copenhagen - All set to rule the next few weeks of my life.

Copenhagen is a small, cozy and an amazing city. My first reaction coming out of the airport was a WOW !! They had Mercedes Taxis - I was awestruck!! I had to wait for 3 hours at the airport as i had to be picked up by a friend who was stuck at office. That gave me a great chance to see the entire Copenhagen airport.. So literally my city tour started with the tour around the airport, checking out all the outlets in the lobby, troubling the Information Helpdesk guys with tons of queries!

The city is a character in itself. Being a part of Europe it comes as no surprise to see the royal buildings and the aristocratic approach to life. The most intriguing part is the seamless amalgamation of heritage with the advanced world of today. One can see the the perfect synergy between old and the new. On one side you have the 18th century royal queens palace and there is the state of art Opera house a man made marvel standing right opposite to it. If you have the new age multi brand malls stretching across lanes, you also find the oldest amusement park TIVOLI right in the vicinity. Dont be amused if you see a sweet violin melody playing in the corner of the walking street and at the turn of the lane you suddenly encounter a loud metal music. They love to mix and match! Talk about having best of both the worlds... the Danes are great in that.


Copenhagen winters though are a little tricky, the sun never rises and it gets dark by 3 in the afternoon. There is wind and sometimes rain with the biting cold. But being a lover of cold weather i was living my life under sunless times!! The upside is that you dont feel overworked and tired. The downside though is at times it gets a little depressing with all the gloom and darkness around. But nevertheless, Its a great experience in itself. If you have the right clothes and good company, the cold will be a bliss too :) . The pace of life is as gentle as the people there. Nice and easy - you would never have to fret about anything. Denmark is said to be the happiest country in the world and you can see that there. You always see smiles around you. Whether or not you know the person, you get a warm smile when you see each other. Ask for help and you are sure to get clear, precise and perfect advice. The people there are such warm that i felt at home right from the day one at work.

Copenhagen has something to offer to everyone. If you are a history freak, this is heaven for you. Places like the national museum, Amalienborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle and Kronborg Castle can keep you mesmerized with their amazing history. Shopping seems a never ending process with Huge malls spread across the walking street. If you are a beer lover carlsberg brewery is a must visit! If you are a random traveler like me, you can walk almost half the city with ease!! trust me its fun!! If you are an amusement park goer, you have a history here.. The tivoli park is the oldest amusement park in the history of mankind ! ( they say, Walt Disney built Disneyland after visiting this ).

If you think its all work and no play there, you are terribly mistaken. Works starts at 8.30 in the morning Sharp and ontime everytime. Come hell down or heaven down there is no late turn in to work and the output is flawless. The concept of quality over quantity is highly valued there ( something that we should start believing too). Family is always the first and most important priority. In a world where competition is the only Buzz word, it was refreshing to see "collaboration" in full force there. Understanding each other abilities, accepting each others limits and achieving a common goal is the keyword there ( Again something we can learn, instead for the blame game we play).

The city is so lovely for one most important reason. It has least pollution levels.. all thanks to awareness about climate change and the increased cycling that people have taken up. It is wonderful to see each citizen trying their own bit to contribute to the common cause.

The greatest learning that i had from this trip was that it does not need rocket science to keep yourself and others happy!! All we need is an intent and effort!!

All in all .. they do not call it the HAPPIEST COUNTRY for no reason!! They say " Jab bhagvaan deta hai to cheppar phaad ke deta hai!". I never believed it till it happened to me. Damn!! i had the best time ever!!

P.S : I know i have not put up the pics like the coorg trip. I have put'em up in FB and am trying to post them on orkut too. So all of you can see them on FB. The Picasa though seems not liking the photos.. i cannot upload them!! will see if i can post some here ( there are too many to select from!).

All is all ... The time of my life!!

cheers!
rammy

Time To FLY!!!! YAY!!!

Hey Folks!!! i'm Off to DENMARK for a month on project purpose!! This week has been dramatic to all possible extents. First viral fever, then this offer, than again the fever stuck again!! But then as they say... All is well that ends well. For me this is the beginning. Start of an exciting phase of life. A new perspective towards work and yes MY FIRST ONSITE!! Could not have asked for more!! I hope i enjoy this trip!! will miss reading all the blogs. But will try the most to read all of them!!!

WISH ME LUCK FOLKS!!!

cheers
rammy

Let there be Light and Color!

Wish you all a Happy Happy Diwali friends!! Let us all have the best of times ahead. Let there be light,colors and Happiness all around :) .... Live Let live and Love your life!!

Hoping and wishing that all your wishes come true!

God Bless :)

cheers
rammy

When it rains - It pours!!

Now then what a week it’s been it’s the second tag and two new awards!! I was awarded and tagged by Neha...thanks a zillion Neha!

Here are my answers:

1.What is your current obsession ?
Playing Snooker – I’m hooked to the game right now !!

2. What are you wearing today?
Gray Tee and black shorts!

3. What’s for dinner?
The staple South Indian khaana. Rice, Sambar, Dal and Curd – Anyone ready for a Feast???

4. What’s the last thing you bought?
Half a dozen bananas (man they cost a bomb!!)

5. What are you listening to right now?
It’s my Life - Bon Jovi

6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
One of the most frank and outright bloggers. My current Favorite!

7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Swiss Alps – I just love the place

8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
Buttermilk and Mangoes – Loved it when my grand mom used to get them for me when I was a kid.

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Office – I left my driver’s License there!!

10. Which language do you want to learn?
Marathi.

11. What’s your favourite quote?
"I came I saw I conquered"


12. Who do you want to meet right now?
A friend called Rohit. Missing him!! ( Rohi if you are reading this ….. Miss u brother!)

13. What is your favourite colour?
White.

14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?
My worn out jeans and a white Tee.

15. What is your dream job?
Army Man.

16. What’s your favourite magazine?
Used to be “Readers Digest” sometime back. Now I don’t read any.

17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
I’d add another $400 to it and by a Laptop!

18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Everything that is associated with Rakhi Sawant!!

19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
Hmm…. Hmmm… Tough one!! Govinda?????????

20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
Short hair.

21. What are you going to do after this?
Sleep - Gotta rise early!

22. What are your favourite movies?
Lagaan, K3G,RDB, Chalti ka naam gaadi, gladiator, The Bourne series, The Matrix … Ah the list is endless!!
23. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?
Deo.

24. What inspires you?
Anything and everything around me. Right now it’s a friend who chose to follow his heart

25. Give us three styling tips that always work for you:
Be Yourself, Don’t worry about the what is “IN” , Wear what is comfort for you and you will look cool!


26. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
Close my eyes and pick one dress!
27. Coffee or tea?
Kaapi any day , any night or any afternoon!!

28. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
I sleep and listen to music.

29. What is the meaning of your name?
Ram – The God himself.

30. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
All the blogs listed on the right of my blog. They are the ones I love!!

31. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Butterscotch ice cream.

32. Favorite Season?
Winter.

33. If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
American sweet corn.


34. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
Be upfront and honest. Tell them you don’t want to get hurt or hurt others.

35. What are you afraid of the most?
Heights.
36. My question: What do feel of the Tag and how do you feel about the award?



Rules for those who are tagged:Respond and rework – answer these questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own, and add one more question to the list. Then tag eight or ten other new set of people.

I Tag :
Diva
AS
Gayathri
SG
Insignia

So peopol!! Get tagging!!
Thanks again Neha!!! My acceptance speech is on the way!!

cheers
rammy

My First Ever Blog Award!!!

Yippee!!!!! I got my first award on the blog!! Thanks to dear friend SG!! Honest Scrap - It was so sweet that he thought I’d fit such a wonderful award. In times when Honesty is becoming a long forgotten word, this award reminds us how wonderful it is!!





Okay Then I will write a detailed “Award acceptance speech” later. For now it’s the tag time.
Here are the rules.

“This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog’s content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant.”

“When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to the said person so everyone knows she/he is real. Choose a minimum of seven (7) blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have seven friends. Show the seven random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with Honest Weblog. Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. List at least ten (10) honest things about yourself. Then pass it on!”

Thanks a ton S.G for bestowing me with this wonderful award!

10 honest things about me!! Man this is one toughie!! Okay then let me give it a shot!!

1. I hate getting up early. I hate to even look at the clock/watch when I get up.

2. I can get angry at the drop of a hat (well it won’t even take that time!).

3. I am afraid of Heights!

4. I hate being with hypocrites.

5. I’ve got the most fickle head in this world. I can take decisions and change them with such ease that is exasperatingly surprising to others!

6. I never plan and write a blog post. I always write what hits my brain!!

7. I hate to be with people who put themselves first.

8. I am a big cricket freak. I almost bunked my class 10th math exam for the India – Aus test match!!

9. I cannot sleep without reading blogs everyday!!!! It’s become an obsession!

10. I am scared of DOGS!!

And now, the award is presented to: AS, Ekta, Gayathri, Diva and Neha too ( But she already has one!)

Awrite people! !! It’s your tag time!!

P.S : Neha, Thanks for your tag and the award . I will take up the tag in sometime!! ( Sorry for the delay!)

Cheers
rammy

A week of Guts, Courage and Redemption

The past week has been exciting on the sports front! Sachin scoring his 44th Ton, Leander winning his 10th grand slam , Kim Clijsters coming back with a Bang and our very own Sachin notching up another breathtaking Ton in ODI's! Couldn't have been better isn't it? There is one more thing to be considered here - a rather very monumental feat but gone unnoticed - The return of Dravid to ODI's! What do all these incidents have in common? What is it that all these sports persons have that make them such icons. What is that we can learn from them and their illustrious careers? Its the Courage to stand up when needed, the gumption to take on the onus and the immense sincerity to what they do in life that makes them what they are.

Its such a marvel to see how Sachin inspite of being in the sport for two decades now, he still has the same vigor and the same hunger as he had when he was a 16 year old kid. How many stalwarts have we seen who've redeemed themselves in the way Sachin has in all their career? With the expectations and the pressure he has been subjected to, its a marvel that he's always delivered when it counts. It is sheer dedication to sport that has made him the greatest batsman ever! Even with enormous achievements, he is still humble and so much modest! A great testimony to the fact that achievers dont speak for themselves, their achievements speak for them!

If sachin's story is about talent, flair and has an air of flamboyance, Rahul Sharad Dravid has a story of grit,grind and selflessness. Coming from the rich culture of karnataka, he fought his way into the Indian team through sheer talent,grit and determination. He had to prove his mettle at every step. From getting a break in ODI's to Capitalizing his position himself as an ODI "material" to getting rid of being a "slow" batsmen to becoming the "wall" of Indian middle order to taking up the reins of Indian team and then the ultimate test of his character - Getting out of the ODI team due to reasons that were rather silly - and now Reclaiming his due position after 2 years. His is the story of proving his detractors wrong again and again and again! All through his career we've never seen "him" talk about any question being asked on him. He rather let his "bat" talk and yeah he gave it back in the same way as he got it from people. He has been the ultimate phoenix of the Indian cricket. An indispensable cricketer and a through gentleman. Kudos to his grit for being an IDOL to many a youngsters !!

Before you blame me of being Male chauvinist, let me talk about the next super lady .. or rather super mom.! Kim Clijsters! Her comeback to professional tennis was in itself a huge news and a boost to so many women who might have sacrificed their careers for the sake of their families. Her win in the US open proved that age, time or anything for that matter cannot stop you from being what you want to become. Only and only if you decide that you are going to get it . Her story is a true testimony of the saying " If you decide to get something, the nature conspires to make it for you". Kudos to the woman who fought all odds and made it happen!!

And now, to our very own rock star of tennis world!! Leander "the rock star"Paes. What do i say about him. Ever since i remember anything about Indian tennis, i remember the super cool dude called Paes and his alter ego Mr Mahesh Bhupati. Both were equally good and were superb ( coz thats why they are in such a tussle!! - GOD! please let them settle the differences!!) . If hesh was was sedate and gritty, Paes was flamboyant, extrovert and In-your face! He has always been a trendsetter in all forms. Be it The pony he had, the head band fashion or the chest bumps he started with Mahesh.. he set the tone for things to come. The medal the the Olympics saw him capitulating to fame that was unheard of non-cricketing stars in India till then. Some great tournaments followed and some amazing years later came the sudden THUD - His brain ailment "neurocysticercosis, a parasitic brain infection". Just when every one thought his career was over, he came back with a bang at the end of the year - yet again proving that if one had the courage to fight nothing , nothing could stop him/her. Not even GOD himself! Then came the super memorable partnership with the ever loved "Martina Navratilova" and the grand slams followed! Now after so many years of delighting the tennis fans world over and Indians in particular he's come up with a Gem again! his 10th Grand Slam!! What else can one say about him except "Hats Off" !! way to Go Paes! Kudos!!

Its gives such great vibes to read and see these great people strive and achieve the pinnacle of success in their lives. It just pushes us to strive hard and achieve the best in life. I had a great rush of positive energy when i thought about all these things, so posted it here. It would be great if the positivity spreads around! After all world is just the way we want to see it! This is been a great week . Just saw Gayathri writing about the golden era of Door Darshan. Jubilation all around!! Hope to keep this positivity going on!! let the light prevail!


cheers
rammy

Story Contest....

Hey Folks!! Thanks a lot for loving the small fiction piece that i wrote last time! I liked all the reactions it got!! I wanted to write the next part, but i could not fit in any good story which could match up the mystery that is created. And when i was wondering what to do, Our beloved fellow blogger and friend Ekta gave me a super advice - she said start a story contest! Now I'd like any of you to please take this story forward ( or backward - coz its a potential flashback!). I'd love to see Your imaginations taking the course and coming up with some super fantastic ending. I thus am starting a Story Contest here for this story. Any one and every one is invited to take this up. I'm looking forward to some amazing works !!!

Happy story telling Folks!!!


cheers
rammy

Unlived life

He was on the terrace of the office building. He could sense the heavy breeze strong enough to trip him over the terrace. The weather was dull and gloomy, as if indicating a very bad omen. His misty eyes were masked by the slow drizzle in the air. The winds made a hazy sound as if singing a farewell song. His office was in the last and tallest building of the huge IT corridor of the city. Standing up there on top of the twentieth floor, he could have bird's eye view of the entire plush IT area. people roaming with cellphones buzzing, motor bikes zooming through and all the cabs waiting in line to pick up the associates. On a normal day, this would be just another evening break for the young Aakarsh. These details would not have even been noticed by him. But this was not just like any another day. His throbbing heart echoed in the pristine silence around him. His breath got heavier with each step he took towards the edge. With each stride he took to it, his brain started to freeze. With each step he took, each memory of his life was flashing in front of him. He was leaving behind a great life, a great career, an untold story. Streams of tears rushed through his lovely blue eyes as he reached the highest point on the roof. His body shivered as he stood there looking at the ground. A look down and any one would have felt the same. One more step and there would be not return.

Standing atop the mammoth tower with memories flashing at the speed of light, he stood there with eyes still and blank mind. Would he give it all up for nothing? Wouldn't he give a fight? Will he take the cruel step? Would that be the end of what could be a great life? Would he leave behind an Un-lived Life? He closed his eyes and a moment later, The Unthinkable Happened.

And again!

So after the first Tag from A.S . Now comes another one again from apni mumbaikar gaya3 .. So here go again!!

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4 – Each of the encounters has taught me something and shaped my perspective. ( Source: The greatness guide - Robin Sharma)

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can & catch air? – Yes Yes YES!! Got it!! :P ( anyone wants a proof i caught AIR!!)

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV? – The sad news of YSR's demise. May his soul R.I.P

4. Without looking, guess what time it is? – 11.40 AM

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time? – 11.30 AM (Damn!! i thought it would be 11.30!)

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?- Wind Blowing so hard that the curtains are tearing apart. And of course.. My mom nagging me to go to shower!!

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing? – At 10.00 PM yesterday nite.. to see how deserted the roads were ( the YSR demise effect)

8. Before you started this Q&As, what did you look at?- Reading Paper

9. What are you wearing?- u really wanna know! shorts and a T!! Ghar pe hu yaaar!! :P

10. When did you last laugh? – Just now when my friend told me his package and i replied him with my peanut package!! garibi door to hogi nahi. hasi mazaak mein dil to behal jaayega!! :P

11. What is on the walls of the room you are in? – Whitewashed ( about an year back!) and cracks on them! :P
12. Seen anything weird lately? – Yeah, a TDP (Telugu Desam Party) leader praising YSR as Great Leader and man of masses!! the same guy a week back had said . YSR is a devil who wants to see the blood of poor!! so much for POLITICS!!

13. What do you think of this quiz? Time pass karne kaa bahana mil gaya ( sorry gayathri!! this is a direct lift from ur answers!!)

14. What is the last film you saw? - The Good Shepherd ( yea yea..downloaded!!)

15. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?- I will acquire a casino. People come to win money, but loose heavy. So I WIN ALL OF IT!! :P i get more money!! :P

16. Tell me something about you that I dunno!- I keep planning my life , changing it, re-planning it and changing it almost every day!!

17. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?- I would eradicate child labour. Thats the biggest sin.

18. Do you like to Dance?- Ofcourse, But only when no one' watching!! coz i dance like "chandler" in F.R.I.E.N.D.S

19. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?- hehe this one i thought wen i was 18 !! ( see how far sighted i am!!) Its going to be "Anandini" (joyful) or "Disha" ( direction).

20. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?- This is easy. I'll name him Rm Jr!!:P na na.. seriously i like the name "kshitij" ( horizon) and

21. Would you ever consider living abroad? – Hmm... yes yes ..prolly in Switzerland.

22. What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates? – Aa gaya tu yahan pe.ab tak theek thi yeh jagah.. tu ise kharab mat kar!!

So here tag my blog friends!!
Diva
A.S
vikram
Ekta

alritoz!!

nice tag !! hope it was fun!!


cheers!!
rammy

My First Tag !!!

Okay Now... Here is My First ever tag!! Tagged by Apni Super Artist A.S Here it goes !!


The rules are thus…
RULE 1
You can only say Guilty or Innocent
RULE 2
You are not allowed to explain anything unless someone messages you and asks!
RULE 3
Copy and paste this into your notes, delete my answers, type in your answers and tag 20 of your friends to answer this.

Asked someone to marry you? Guilty

Ever kissed someone of the same sex? Innocent

Danced on a table in a bar? Innocent

Ever told a lie? Guilty

Had feelings for someone whom you can’t have back? Guilty

Kissed a picture? Guilty

Slept in until 5 PM? Guilty

Fallen asleep at work/school? Guilty

Held a snake? Innocent

Been suspended from school? Guilty

Worked at a fast food restaurant? Innocent

Stolen from a store? Guilty

Been fired from a job? Innocent

Done something you regret? Guilty

Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Guilty

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Innocent

Kissed in the rain? Guilty

Sat on a roof top? Guilty

Kissed someone you shouldn’t? Innocent

Sang in the shower? Guilty.

Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Guilty

Shaved your head? Guilty

Had a boxing membership? Innocent.

Made a girlfriend/boyfriend cry? Innocent

Been in a band? Guilty

Shot a gun? Innocent

Donated Blood? Guilty

Eaten alligator meat? Innocent

Eaten cheesecake? Guilty

Still love someone you shouldn’t? guilty

Have/had a tattoo? Innocent.

Liked someone, but will never tell who? guilty

Been too honest? guilty

Ruined a surprise? Innocent

Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you couldn’t walk afterwards? Guilty.

Erased someone in your friends list? guilty

Dressed in a woman’s clothes (if you’re a guy) or man’s clothes (if you’re a girl)? Innocent

Joined a pageant? Innocent

Been told that you’re handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said? Guilty

Had communication with your ex? Guilty

Got totally drunk on the night before exam? Innocent.

Got totally angry that you cried so hard? Guilty


hehe!!! Okay Whom do i Tag?? Well any one whoever wants to take it! But specifically
(1) DIVA
(2) Insignia
(3) Gayathri
(4) ekta .

happy tagging!! :)

cheers!!
rammy

To Hell and back!!

Alright... I've been out of the Blog world for quite some time .. Well a month and 5 days to be Precise!! Its been a torrid 1 long month at my end. The most stressful, most infuriating, a hell lot of depressing times in long time. The last 30 days have made me go from bad to worse and jet back to normalcy. Its been a time when i've seen myself crumbling down to pieces and then gathering them in a hope to mend them into the right shape. A process that I'm trying to do NOW. I have seen some great support come by in these tough times.. Some great friends helping me come to terms with reality. Some solely discarding me and my precarious situation. Its been a time when i've had some of the most important learning's of my life! So My friends on the Blog world..Here's my Musings after a rough time in Life!

(1)Its just not good enough to be Good and kind to others - You've got to be kind and good to Yourself too.

(2) If something's not to be for you - It never will be there for you No matter how much you struggle for it.

(3) Its never easy to LET GO of anything/anyone close to you. But its the MOST important thing You have to do if you want to get on with Life.

(4) Nothing in life is worth the pain it causes

(5) The most significant factor of being happy in life is - Taking the Decision to be HAPPY.
No one But you alone can decide to be happy. No matter what the situation is , No matter how people perceive you, No matter how things work for you, if You decide not to get upset NO ONE can make you Upset!

(6) Trying too hard to make others happy some times leaves greatest of Pain to you.


Well. Some rants they were !! Aint it?? Some ( or may is say all) of these things might not suit your ideology. In fact I still have a great ambiguity in believing these things that i have gone through. But the reason i have put them here is coz I've genuinely felt the aforementioned pain and troubles in the last few weeks. I may be plain paranoid or May be Not! I'm still in the process of getting off the roll back mechanism.

I dunno why I've blurted out my angst here.. May be i wanted an exhaust for my frustration or may be i just wanted to cry it loud or may be because I dont have a clue. If you ever have gone through the same crap ever - Welcome to the club friend!!


Peace!
rammy

Left Behind

Lost in time and memories left behind,
The time spent with is only in my mind,
Leaving far and beyond going miles apart this time,
My heart sobs when I think of you every time.

Never cared about what they said,
I was always there by your side,
In times of good and in times of bad,
Crying your tears and taking your pain,
After I gave you all you left me broken.

Loved you greater than anything else,
Your lovely face and bluish eyes,
Your innocence and the childish smile,
A little mischief sometimes and yet so sweet,
Oh!! How much I loved them,
How much I miss them is all I know,
Now that I’ve lost you to the greater skies,
I only wish you’ve reached the safe shores.

Time will not come back and nor will you,
I know I need to get used sans you,
But every time I see me – I remember you,
A lifetime to live with just memories of you.

Ice Ice baby!!!

Okay now!! call it boredom or weekend bonanza .. i saw two flicks this weekend!! the first was Hangover(for which i have bragged already!!) and the other was "Ice Age 3 - Dawn of the Dinosaurs". So lemme tell you my views about this one!


If you think you cannot love a "Villan" of a movie - thinks again!! Coz you are surely going to fall in love with the one in this movie. Actually you will fall in love with all the characters in this movie. The tiny squirrel, the elephants and the Dinosaurs!!! U'll love them all!! The animations are so close to real that you are left awed by the genius of the graphic designers!! The story is gripping for kids and adults alike and is edge of the seat stuff. The attention to details and the care taken to make them look as real as possible is absolute commendable! This is not a " Kool for Kids" kind of flik. This in fact reflects on various fundamental morals our society is built in. Like the "courage" the animals show to bring their friend back, the "standing by the right thing" attitude female elephant shows when the male backs out while searching or the "strong will and determination" the lion shows while chasing the dinosaur in the climax ( the lion is low on confidence and moral till then). The " ability to stand against wrong" that the " captain Buck" shows in fighting the dino!! These traits that are fast becoming extinct in our society are rightly glorified. Hope the parents help kids in recognizing and realizing these qualities apart from having a merry time! All in all a great Family Entertainer in True sense!! ( AH Finally a genuine FAMILY ENTERTAINER!!)

My Take: Ice Age melts your heart away - GO FOR IT!!! :)


cheers!
rammy

Hang on to "The Hangover"

Hello buddies!! thanks a ton for those comments on the previous post! So here i come with another one!! But this time the review is awesome!

There are very few movies that make you giggle all through their entire running time, leave you wanting for more and leave you happy and full of energy after watching. "The Hangover" is one such movie! Great is simply how i put this movie. The movie is about a bachelors party given by 3 best friends to their pal who's getting married. The party is at Las Vegas! the city where anything is possible! It shows how they are doped and end up in all sorts of troubles! In their words, It just show how F***** up their party was!! The group after a heavy dose of drugs mixed in Tequila end up tottered in their hotel suit the next day and wake up to a complete mess. To add to the drama, 3 of them realize that their friend, the GROOM himself is MISSING and they dont remember a thing about previous night!!!! Essentially, the movie deals with the these 3 friends trying to find the groom and realizing the mess they have gotten into the last night!

Each character is so well written and enacted. Bradley Cooper( as Phil Wenneck) is the "COOL DUDE" of the group who is fed up of his school teacher job, his wife,his son and in general his life - a man wanting to have some wild time in his pal's bachelors party. Ed Helms (as Stu Price) plays a subservient boyfriend who is controlled by his live in girlfriend of 3 years ( she beats him supposedly!!! :P)! the groom Justin Bartha who goes missing and almost misses his own wedding. The most important and funniest guy is Zach Galifianakis (as Alan Garner) the fat,mad and lunatic brother in law of the groom!. There is extreme mad ruckus created when these guys do most improbable things getting under the influence of dope. The one where Stu gets married to a stripper, and gives his ancestral ring to her - and worst of all realizes this the next day is extremely superb! Alan's confused state of mind and dumbness is the most funniest and endearing at the same time!!

I can go on describe the entire movie, but dun wanna ruin your suspense!!The beauty of the movie is that it never lets you off the hook all athrough. You will never want if to get over!! If you are waiting for a flick which you can go out with you buddies and have a mad laugh riot - Check this movie.. I am sure you will be grinning from ear to ear after the movie!!

My take: Hang on to the Hangover - You wont regret it!!!

P.S: All you boys out there.. This is one bachelors party you would wanna have!! :P :P!! LOL !!

Cheers!!
rammy

Kambakkht "Movie" Ishq!!!

What would you do on a lazy Sunday evening?? Go for a movie...enjoy and comeback. Well i thought so too until i saw this SHIT called Kambakkht Ishq!!! This has to be one of the most Pathetic flicks of recent times!!

I wondered why a lead actor of a movie would say " DO not apply Logic in the movie!" (Akshay said it!). I realized the utter truth after the 2 something hours of torture!! Forget about logic, the makers did not even care to apply common sense/brains while making the movie! I fail to understand why our film makers make movies of such pathetic quality!they were projecting it to be the Indian version of Mr and Mrs Smith. Holy shit!! why in the earth would some one make such a costly ( 60 crs movie!!) dud??? and that too in the time of recession??/

The movie has absolutely no point.. the first half is too loud, sleazy and cheap. Akshay has stooped down to the lowest levels in the movie by physically abusing women, using the most derogatory terms to women (He uses the word "Bitch" at the drop of the hat!!). There are several scenes in the movie where the lead characters loath each other with the most lewd remarks that made me feel like crap!!! Which civilized human would like watching a man "fart" in a woman's face???? Women could not have been treated any more cheap in a movie than this. Akshay's supposed "comedy" is loud,cheap and repetitive! He by no means deserves all that hype he generates( all his movies starting hey baby - chandini crap to china shit !! are all bullshit!). Kareena who has an amazing screen presence and a great repertoire of films like omkara, jab we met and chameli is wasted in movies like this ( also stuff like tashan!) She has definitely blotted her resume with this sleazy one. The rest of the cast is the most useless you can see. Aftab proved again that he is good for nothing actor and amrita tried to revive her career by shedding off her clothes.. but alas nothin seems to be working for the gurl!! Women in general are treated pathetically in the movie! Sajid Nadiadwala must understand that skin show and sexist stuff wont let a movie run!!

The second half is "supposedly" emotional and all the more useless! The whole realization of the protagonists is a huge joke!!! Javed Jaffery again is wasted.. !! The only thing thats worth any wee bit watch is the guest appearances of Sylvester Stallone and densie Richards.. But she too is wasted romancing the sick hero ( WHY Denise WHY!! How could you do it!! how could you be a part of such gross stuff after being the Bond Girl!!). And now one of the biggest mistakes of the movie - ANU "the LOSER" malik!!! Every time there was a song, it made me cry in anguish! He cannot make even one single gud tune. In my view he better stick to those idiotic TV reality shit!!I feel people who make these movies should be chased away from the bollywood!!

The movie was slotted in the "romantic comedy" genre. Forget the romance.. It surely made a comedy of Indian movies across the world! I wasted 3 hours of my life in that piece of crap. If i had anything to say to the makers... its gonna be "GIVE MY MONEY BACK!!!!! and GET SOME LIFE".

They should put this sign before the movies starts Statuary Warning: " Watching this movie is injurious to health" damn these guys!!

So all you friends, PLEASE DONT SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

The day that never comes!

Hey folks! this is one of the most recent creations from the Gods of Rock "Metallica" hope you like it. The song lyrics were have been made to tackle the subject of forgiveness and resentment. The traits that so much missing in today's pragmatic world!! Wanted to share this across with the blog buddies here .. so the video and the lyrics are right there .. :) Njoy! \w/ \w/




Born to push you around,
Better just stay down.
You pull away,
He hits the flesh,
You hit the ground.

Mouth so full of lies,
Tend to black your eyes.
Just keep them closed,
Keep praying,
Just keep waiting.

Waiting for the one!
The day that never comes!
When you stand up and feel the warmth!
But the sunshine never comes!

No the sun shine never comes.

Push you cross that line,
Just stay down this time.
Hide in yourself,
Crawl in yourself,
You'll have your time.

God I'll make them pay,
Take it back one day.
I'll end this day,
I'll splatter color on this gray.

Waiting for the one!
The day that never comes!
When you stand up and feel the warmth!
But the sunshine never comes!

Love is a four letter word!
And never spoken here!

Love is a four letter word!
Here in this prison!
I suffer this no longer!
I'll put an end to,
This I swear!
This I swear!
The sun will shine!
This I swear!
This I swear!
This I SWEAR!!!

Two years, some fun and a lot of Adventure!!!

Yes Yes Yes!I've done it..Its the time that i always thought since the last few months.
Now, if you are wondering what i am excited about, Its my Second Service Anniversary!!! Yes, its been two years since i passed out of college and two years i got into the job. Two years - The time just flew by. I still feel like the fresher out from college and puzzled in the big corporate world. These two years have been no less than an adventure in itself. I have seen some sky rocketing highs and crest fallen lows as well. The day i started off in the job fresh out from college, little did i had any idea about what will go through in this time span. I still have vivid memories of the first day at work. A huge training classroom, high funda lectures and one confused soul sitting at the back ( yea.. was,am and will be a back bencher!!). The greatest pleasure of earning the first paycheck , and now looking back and finding a 0 saving after 2 years!! :P all of it is surreal! The fun times in the training period and then the real picture at "Real Time" work were two of a kind experience. I always felt that the IT field is the most easiest of the places to work in, considering the fact that products released with bugs are acceptable only this field! But no, the time at work proved me wrong and i thank heavens for it! This time has helped me evolve myself into a professional and has made me learn the most important lesson in life - " Achieving excellence in all walks of life".These two years have been instrumental in making me realize that there is nothing that one cant learn and that Learning is the only thing that will be constantly be with US. I have met some amazing people in these two years and had learning from them that is priceless. I made some amazing friends through these two years and am grateful for it. All in all its time that i will relish for the rest of time - A time that made a college kid into a Professional!!

Oh yea... i'm loving it!

cheers
rammy

Whats with this AGE??

Yes, Whats it with the Age? Did i say age..? Yeah i did and why not, that is pretty much whats been over the news papers and the media these days. Is Mohammad Ajmal Amīr Kasāb (if thats his REAL name) a minor? should he be tried in the juvenile court or the normal court? I've been reading views, hearing arguments and they are freaky!
Ask yourself people - Does it really matter what F***** age that mincing murderer is? Why is the judiciary fretting over the issue, Why has it become the biggest "dharam sankat" of all time? Call me barbaric( i dont give a damn abt it-REALLY) but me feels-"HANG THAT PIECE OF CRAP" - and yes With full conviction,with no regrets.
Ever since he was caught in the ugly shoot out in mumbai, the media went berserk calling him a pak national and how he must be prosecuted, how the case should be moved fast, how justice to all those numerous innocent INDIANS who were dead should be done. Now the time has arrived when we can show those creeps out there that "You Mess Us- You Are Dead Men/Women" signal. Isn't this the time that people far and wide get the message that Indian junta is fed up being patient and that they can give these hellboys a helluva time? Isn't this the time we do justice to those slain martyrs of our army- Men who laid their lives to save us from those venomous infiltrators?

Its but fair to imagine that the judicial system will be fast and sharp in closing this trial. Ok- what have we got?
(a)First a great circus about the potential "Defense"( Did we read it rite? defending a terrorist? - Holy shit!)
(b) the lady who was appointed as the lawyer is FIRED!! and some one new takes over- Superb just what we wanted right!
(c) Finally- After months of interrogation( Yes they say he was !) they come out into the court and the accused in questions accuses the police of "extracting" confessions with "Force"! - VERY GOOD!
(d)The tamasha goes to a supreme level when the bugger claims to be a minor and our honorable judge initiates an investigation into the issue - Postpones the hearing!! WOW fantastic! what happened to all the math there?? arent Indians supposed to be super fast in that??
(e)It is proved that he's MAJOR (ah!atleast this judgment was quick) and the trial rolls on. In due course, the bastard writes letter through his lawyer to the magistrate demanding some things as under : Perfume spray, flavored toothpaste, Urdoo Newspaper and permission to walk in the adjacent varandah alongside his barack!!!oooow!!! aur kuch chahiye janab cot, fridge and some beer for the summer heat?????

It feels such insane on the part of our babu and netas for letting this tamasha go on in this way. Are we not being magnanimously lenient and absurd in letting a crystal clear issue go out of hand? Ever since i remember, India has always been soft on these hardcore criminals. Dint the rajiv gandhi killer nalini get a clemency - did she deserve it?How strong were we when kandahar happened and we had to part with the most dreaded masood azhar?

I do not understand what the govt/court is waiting for? Clues, or clauses, evidence is it??? Holy hell we have bloody confessions here !! look at some for most exploding evidence/confessions.

(1)Ajmal is from Faridkot in Pakistan and had received arms training in Pakistan. (2)Ammunition, a satellite phone and a layout plan of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus was recovered from him.
(3)He has provided many clues to the investigation agencies and has reportedly described how they arrived at Mumbai from Karachi via Porbandar.
(4)He has reportedly said that he and other terrorists had received revolvers, AK-47s, ammunition and dried fruit, from their coordinator.
(5)Ajmal reportedly told the police that they wanted to replicate the Marriott hotel attack in Islamabad, and reduce the Taj Hotel to rubble, replicating the September 11 attacks in India.
(6)Kasab also told Indian police that the terrorists targeted Nariman House, where the Chabad center was located, because it was frequented by Israelis, who were targeted to "avenge atrocities on on Palestinians.
(7)Pakistani authorities repeatedly said there was no evidence of such a person in Pakistan. But reporters have visited the village near Depalpur, in Okara district, and identified the parents as named by Mumbai police. Villagers have confirmed that he indeed lived there.
(8)It is reported that Ajmal Amir told the police that he and his associate, Ismail Khan, were the ones who shot Anti-Terror Squad chief Hemant Karkare, encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar and Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte.
(9)According to the police, Ajmal Amir entered the Taj posing as a student from Mauritius and had stored explosives in one of the hotel's rooms.
(10)His definition of Jihad "Come, kill and die after a killing spree.
(11)After creating enough havoc wanted to go back to Pakistan,"

(12)"We were told that our big brother India is so rich and we are dying of poverty and hunger. My father sells dahi wada on a stall in Lahore and we did not even get enough food to eat from his earnings. I was promised that once they knew that I was successful in my operation, they would give Rs 150,000, to my family)," said Qasab.

(13)He shocked police through his readiness to switch loyalties now that he was apprehended. "If you give me regular meals and money I will do the same for you that I did for them," he said.

Arent they enough to state and prove that he's guilty? Does he still stand a chance for fair trial? Is it FAIR on our part?

What are afraid of here? The daddy US and its Big bunnies? The so-called First world?? International PRESSURE? Oh!C'mon now would this case be the same if it was run in those countries - The first world ones??? Havent we seen how Saddam was tried in so called Iraqi court full of US and UN (or i say US here too!) folks ruling the roost? Why was the world so mum when Afghanistan was attacked by US?

What in the heaven's sake are we waiting for? Another plane hijack and a subsequent "Meek" surrender of Azmal??? Wake up People - Its high time now that the system reposes faith and hope in aam junta's lives.

And Yes! here i missed those White T-shirts and placard holding "HUMAN RIGHTS" "Activists" crying "hate the sin - not the sinner" "Be fair to ALL" signs all along.To them i say Yeah! tell me that when your mom/dad/child is one of those who died. If not go to Sri lanka where civilians are murdered -try saving them! Else SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND F**** YOURSELVS! Dont mess here!
I do not believe in the "This is the System and That is how the judicial in India is" gyan either.Dont give me the" If we do the same what they did - Whats the difference??" line - I say you've gotto be mean when needed. If you tell me " India always is Non-violent and peace seeking nation" I say HELL YEA! . And yea Dont you even dare to gimme the " Eye-for-Eye leaves the world blind" shit again. I do not care as long as my people are safe. I want my dad to get back from work safe EVERYDAY! i want my people to live the full life that is given to them. ant my people to die anymore. And yes if you say "You cant stop terrorists just by killing them" i say Oh yeah I CAN SCARE THE S*** OUT OF THEM! We are resilient just by force not by choice!
No Son of a Gun decides my death with a bullet

Yes! I want things quick and fast!!! before another maniac strikes, lets show them what happens when patience dies and when you rub the INDIANS on the wrong side.

I do not intend to hurt anybodies feelings here.Just my views! and yeah NO REGRETS AND NO APOLOGIES! PERIOD

peace
rammy

Gyan!!!!

There was a "Paper/Article writing" contest at my workplace some time back . The topic was "Managing Diversity At Work Place". Out of sheer boredom and some enthu from my peers, yours truly also scribbled some piece of work. So here i am presenting you all the article ( thesis -rather, Its bloody long!) i had written.

Disclaimer: The Post is not written under any sane circumstances, and thus can tend to be come extremely long and torturous! reader's discretion is encouraged! The author is not responsible for any after-effects of reading this post!

Global Diversity Conference-Lessons from Corporate

Challenges in Managing Diversity:

With the advent of globalization and genesis of aggressive competition in the world today, the need to stay fit and stride ahead has become an unrelenting quest. Be it an individual or an organization, only the FITTEST will survive. An organization might have umpteen number of resources, but the most important of them all is the “Human Resource”. The make or break of a company rests on the efficiency of the workforce in it. Attracting, retaining, and effectively using people are increasingly the top priorities of leaders in all kinds of organizations, from high-tech firms to universities, from government agencies to heavy manufacturing firms.

People no longer live and work in an insular marketplace; they are now part of a worldwide economy with competition coming from nearly every sphere and continent. For this reason, every organization needs diversity to become more creative and open to change. Maximizing and capitalizing on workplace diversity has become an important issue for management today.

Diversity is generally defined as acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing, and celebrating differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, and public assistance status.

In organizations comprising of huge number of people, diversity exists in every form. And as a result, challenges would exist in managing a such a diverse work population. Managing diversity is more than simply acknowledging differences in people. It involves recognizing the value of differences, combating discrimination, and promoting inclusiveness.

For any organization to achieve excellence, coherence of individual aspirations of employees and organizational goal is of paramount importance. Aligning these two forces is the most important challenge. It is upto each individual to respect the principle vision of the organization and build his/her career aligning with the organizational aim. Some challenges faced in managing diversity in an organization are:

· Communication

· Recognition

· Respect & Acknowledgement

Communication: Working in teams with great diversities in terms of age, gender, intellectual ability, geographical location, I have observed that one of the most difficult challenges faced by folks in the group is Communication. All of us need to understand that in a bunch of people working together, the chances of two or more people being on the same page at all times is seldom possible. Any assumptions on our part might convey exactly opposite of what we intend to say. Hence, it is imperative to convey the information as clear as possible and represent it in the most easily understandable way.

Recognition: Not every one in a diverse team are blessed with a same intellectual ability. It is the duty of every team member to recognize the fact that every one has their own time to gets a hang of the things. Also, it is a know fact that every individual has a certain qualities which make him stand apart from the rest of the crowd. It is very important for a team to understnd and recognize various talents and areas of excellence in their peers. A well knit team which understands the strong holds and vulnerabilities of its members always wins the battle.

Respect & Acknowledgement: Irrespective of the qualification, experience and position, every human being deserves and expects certain degree of respect from peers family and everyone around him. It is of extreme importance that every member of the team is treated with respect – regardless of the amount of experience or the skill sets he/she has. Infact respecting the other individual is a basic human courtesy. Every action big or small if acknowledged only inspires the team and its members and thereby increases productivity. A workplace where each one respects the other and acknowledges their achievments thrives with energy and enthusiasm.

Managing Multi-Cultural and Virtual Teams:

In huge organisations that carry out exhaustive deliverables, multicultural teams have become the norm. Diversity in teams can foster innovation and increase productivity. Effective diverse teams happen by design, not by accident; There can be several factors that dictate the probability of success in a culturally diverse and discreetly spread virtual teams:

· Be sensitive to time zones.

· Flexibility is the key: Make your coworkers feel you are not judging them by religion or race, but by what they are AS HUMAN BEINGS!

· Develop understanding for different cultures and values: Respect various cultures.

· Arguing gets you nowhere but being able to convince others does.

· Develop your interpersonal skills: so you can communicate with your team members from others cultures more effectively.

· Never-ever tell people their views are 'wrong': Be a little diplomatic when you disagree.

· Win friends :Remember, friendship and respect are common to all cultures.

· Inspiration is vital: Be inspired and keep others inspired.

· Don’t let personality or ego clashes ruin your work environment.

Cultural Assumptions and Practical Outcomes:

Wrong assumptions lead to poor cross-cultural communication. They slow down our progress and can even jeopardize our success.There are a few assumptions that pop up often.

· Lack Of Effort in understanding the stakeholders.

· False Perceptions

· Cultural Generalizations

· Assumptions can also pop up due to accepted cultural generalizations.

· We usually acquire these generalizations from our environment.

So, how can you avoid falling into the trap?

• First, refrain from reacting emotionally
• Then, get curious
• Turn to the client or market
• Ask questions

Leveraging Differences:

Customer focus – matching internal employee diversity to population diversity can provide performance benefits which enhance awareness of consumer needs

Business process – recruiting diverse talent will help inject new ideas and challenge the organisational mindsets and ways of doing things that can hinder change and organisational progress.

Innovation – the flexibility, creativity and ability to innovate are enhanced by the diverse groups (constructive conflict supports ‘out of the box’ thinking).

Learning – employers have more choice from a greater skills base, improved employee satisfaction, reduced internal disputes, greater workplace harmony, improved retention and more effective and fairer promotion of talent.