Cabbage - yucks!

I am tempted to write today, after a long time. But I want to share this story. And write something.

These days, I am interning in Germany. Of all my hobbies and activities here, cooking is the one that I has received a boost - what with my Indian tummy yearning for Indian food every few days. But ugh! These developed countries. They have to sell everything in big portions (except those things that are quite expensive even in small ones :P) . Frozen spinach. Frozen cut vegetables. Huge cauliflowers. Gigantic cabbage.

So today's incident has to do with giant cabbage. I bought it in a moment of frenzy one day, when I was in the mood to buy stuff, as it turns out, to fill my fridge. After which I lapsed into eating bread with toppings for breakfast and dinner. So this cabbage had been lying in my fridge through at least one week of lethargy. Today was high time. It's time was coming near. I had to finish it. All at once.

Usually, when I am faced with such a situation, I am tempted to use the opportunity to feed someone and collect some compliments in return. But luck was not on my side today. My old roommate wasn't back yet, the new one hadn't turned up yet. Two other people turned down free food. Clearly, the universe was conspiring against me. But bravely, with a knife in hand, I decided to cut this hideous vegetable into small pieces. I had decided - I had to put an end to it today.

By the time I finished cutting, I had 3 pans full of raw cabbage. And no empty pans to cook. And none so big anyway to be able to cook it all together. I decided to cook as much as I could in 1 pan. And eat the rest raw with salad dressing. Bad idea. By the time salad was ready, I hated cabbage too much to eat it. And the cooked vegetable took so long that I decided to make some tomato-onion gravy in the meanwhile (I had unfinished tomato puree, whose time had come, too).

And now this is the status of my cabbage : cooked cabbage for pre-lunch for 3 people, to be eaten with bread by Germans(to dampen the spice :P). Cabbage salad for the dust-bin(I feel guilty for the wastage). And by products - tomato-onion gravy (I prepared too- much of it, as always), for the fridge, until its time comes...

But 1 thing is certain - I am done with cabbage for at least a month!

Web 2.0 drives me crazy!

A post I wrote almost an year back, but never posted, so here it is:

After an year long of no-blog-posts, here I am, interning again. And writing a blog, coz I have a lot to write right now.

I always end up writing blogs when I am interning. Because its the time when I am using the Web 2.0 tools to research on some topic. Its interesting, how I always get lots of ideas at this time of the year. In fact, the multitude of information overwhelms me. Each time I see something even remotely relevant to my topic, I think of getting a slight idea of it, but I end up getting a complete dip into it. I begin with some reference on some googled web page, which could eventually lead me to an awesome site that I find too hard to believe that it exists or a youtube video. The related videos would then lead me to wider horizons and I get lost.

We are in an information age where its difficult to keep track of all the information present, all the new things happening up to date. Isn't it an irony? The information tools came in to keep us up to date and now we are face to face with the reality that thanks to it, we CANNOT.

Each day I think of keeping in pace with the world, and each day I am defeated. Each day results in more todo tasks for the next day, less percentage of the todo tasks covered each day.

Earlier, a project would mean a lot of thinking. Today, a project means collection and compilation of all that has already been done, and then thinking. If you still stick to the more primitive way of beginning with thinking, you have totally lost the battle.

I am only beginning to realize why they say the IT industry is not gonna drown. With so much work that's left to do in India, that has been already done in the world, how can the Indian IT industry afford to rest?

To all you great thinkers...

Some of you probably like my blogs here.. But you have no idea how much time and determination it really takes me to get to writing one post.
To get over my block, I googled for a few tips and so now I plan to write on what I don't have to think much before I write. But owing to the simple fact that I already think too much, I just thought I'll write what I anyway thought. Never mind!

Its summer time and I am doing an intern. I was on my way back from office, reading 'The Google Story'. I dream of becoming an entrepreneur some day and hence, my dad leaves out no article on the subject unread or at least unreferenced, for my benefit, so that he can suggest it to me. I was in the setting that could lead to something historical.

But just take a look at what it has been leading to...

So 'The Google Story' was giving me valuable lessons of life.
The lesson that was resonating in my mind lately was that don't accept things the way they are if they are really worth a change.
My mind has since then been looking at things in a different perspective. Everything I look at seems imperfect and I really feel that its worth a change.

Soon enough, I realized that this world is too imperfect for me to be able to change all alone . I am putting here a few of my requirements of change.. so that you able thinkers and researchers (and whatever else you might want to be called to pay heed to my requests :P) can aid me in this mighty task of changing the world...

Who the hell made such a big newspaper???
Isn't there anyone else around who simply hates the newspaper because its so inconvinient to read? May it be under a fan or in a car or a bus (or toilets? :P), I have come to believe that the newspaper, inspite of being something that you'd want to read anywhere, in its current form can be read comfortably only in an air conditioned room with a large table.
So I thought, I'm gonna make a magazine sized newspaper so that anyone can read it with convinience. But I realised publishing a newspaper requires more than a printing press and a paper cutter...
I considered selling my idea to 'The Times Of India' but I figured that even if they like my idea, they are not gonna pay me for it. So if its for free, why not let all of you think over it???

A token system for libraries...
I am really frustrated by the library system of leaving your books outside. Do these librarians have any idea how irritating a library full of millions of books is for a person who needs a particular book and has it just outside the library but only wants to have the pleasure of reading it inside?
So, I want a token system introduced in the library so that I sign in with the name of my book and when I come out, it can be checked.
If not this, I want an air conditioned reading room similar to the library with racks filled with dummy books and nice tables and most importantly, ample power plugs and lighting, so that it gives the same ambiance as the library.
If I were an IIT Bombay alumnus, I would pay for it and have it done. Any alumnus or about to be alumnus listening??? Or maybe an avid reader?

These are all I could think of at the moment and if you thought of more, don't forget to add it in my comments.
I could have all of these innovations to my own credit but as I see it, the urgency matters more.

Afterall, What's In A Name?

Eating etiquette

Remember the last time when you sat at the table with a group of high profile people and felt uneasy at the thought of table manners? Or were you on the other side, making someone like me uncomfortable by showing off your table manners?
If you do belong to the second category, then hey! mind you... I know manners that you probably don't know.
By now, you must have realised how much i'm fond of giving advice. So here's your guide to "eating etiquette in a group"

Note: the term group used henceforth refers to a group of ill mannered(mostly), hungry individuals that you might just happen to call your hostel mates."
!They maybe unbathed for several days.

Note for Note: do not get scared by the definition, its just the beginning.

Lesson no. 1 - How to be a gracious host:
If you happen to be the one to open the packets and offer the food to everyone, do not forget to help yourself to your part before you pass it over. The probability of getting your share decreases exponentially as the food passes through every trophic level. Moreover, you are progressively stared by hungrier eyes.

Lesson no. 2 - Concentrate and evaluate:
If you had been practising pranayam for a while, this is an excellent opportunity to exercise your skill. You must maintain utmost concentration on the food, keep a track of which new packet has just been opened, which group of people has a high food per capita index and which packet is beng shared among the maximum no. of thin people.

Lesson no. 3 - Beware!
Of fat people, very quiet people(they eat all the time), attention seekers(they divert your attention and grab your food), and people busy partying while others are eating everything up.

Lesson no. 4 - Incinerate your inhibitions:
Its time you pack all your inhibitions in a paper bag and put them to fire! just incinerate them. Thats because in this competitive world, survival of the fittest is the dictating law. So just be ready to fight, to procure your food by hook or by crook, by hand or by mouth, with or without spoon!
Oh and by the way, never mind other people's dirty hands, the only ones that go into your mouth are yours. Plus, they don't fall ill by using their hands, why would you?

Lesson no. 5 - Listen to your heart:
Listen to your heart because, there's no time to think. If you have had 4 slices of pizza already, and your heart wants another one, don't think, just grab it. It may not be there another moment.

After this, I can guarantee that you will feel content that whether or not you liked it, you made the best out of it. At no point of time did you lose the courage, zeal and enthusiasm for what was rightfully yours(your friends' is yours too)
Can you match it Mr. Table Manners?

It ws just another one of those days when yet another friend asked me "hey.. can u suggest me some thing really nice for so n so, so that it'd feel very very special...?"
Ofcourse, my magic did work.. but then i just thought, if so many people have to take my advice, i'd rather let you all know.. for your benefit!
So you have been waiting for this day to come.. you really wanna make this day special for him/her..But you are looking for that special idea.. that special thing that your special one has never witnessed before.

Trust me, great surprises do not always require a lot of money. All the effort that you put in is what counts. And no wonder, a well planned surprise like these would make the day really special.

And here my friend, here, you ARE gonna find it.

Be it a friend's farewell, your anniversary, valentine's day, parents anniversary, ANYTHING, these ideas can be put to good use.

General gift ideas:

1. Make a movie

Don't all of us like being STARS?
Well, making a powerpoint presentation or windows moviemaker movie of photos, collage, videos and other stuff is an awesome gift for someone special.
Do not forget to add apt music to it, it adds a lot of glamour to it. And there are applications like picassa (can be downloaded for free. just google for it) which are great for editing or adding effects to your videos.
Adding old, black and white pictures and contrasting them with new ones is a nice thing to do. The easiest way of converting your old pictures to digital form is clicking a picture of it from your digital camera, though scanning is an option too.

2. Count the years

Say its a birthday, you can have a small gift marking each birthday. This one is really fun because you actually relive all the years that you have lived!

And yes, do not forget to have the gifts spread out over the day. Basically, opening all the gifts should be total fun for the person. So add all your creativity and make it really cool.

3. Radio/ CD/ cassette

Now this one's for someone REALLY special. Record an audio CD in your voice, interspersed with songs(maybe sung by you if u if u can sing, or trick this special person into singing and record it! n ofcourse you can play music from albums).
You can make it in Radio format too, and make it sound like its a radio programme. You can even have innovative funny ads (or extremely romantic!).

This is something that will require a lot of time and creativity. But its the perfect gift to give to your girlfriend/boyfriend, parents on their 50th anniversary, or an old friend you are giving a farewell to.

4. A diary/ letter

You can always fill a diary with a your words, provided you have enough to say.
Actually, this one's good for a couple, when given by a third person. Make each one person fill the diary for the other and do not let them know that they'll be getting it too!
But if you cannot fill a diary, a hand written letter in these days means a lot. just make it special with a poem or a rose and it'd work wonders!

5. Calender

Get along a few great pictures and design a calender for you special one!
You can mark out all your friends' birthdays(if its for a friend) or mark out all the special days you've had together( like the day you proposed, the day you met, etc. if it's for date special someone).. Get it printed on nice glossy paper and get it bound, and trust me, this one's a really memorable one! It stays right in front of their eyes, and the additional advantage is they don't forget special days!

6. Self autographed Goody mug

All you need for this is a plain coffee mug. It's gonna be autographed by you!
Fill the mug with small gifts, stuff like jewellery for your girlfriend, keyring, chocolates, and the best part( i love this one) - fresh rose petals! You can also put in small slips of paper with small, memorable things written on them, rolled and tied with threads. Make them in different colours. This one makes the person who's opening it feel really special.

7. Signed T-shirt

This one has been around for quite long, but still, it is a lot of fun.. Get a plain T-shirt, and get it signed by all your friends. It works as a great farewell gift from a group, but can be given on birthdays too.

8. Sketch

These days, there are machines from which you can sketch people, and there are people who can sketch people. Gifting your special one his/her sketch is a really nice thing to do. You can also give a sketch to your parents on their anniversary, they'll be touched.

9. Poster

You can make a collage of pictures of friends, old and new moments and get it framed. Serves the purpose very well and is treasured always.

10.Get a card signed by friends

Well, cards are a tradition and that's because they do work wonders. And you can make it even more wonderful by getting it signed by all the people this person knows. you can contact people who are not around and ask them to send pictures of messages handwritten by them. You just have to get it printed and paste it, and there you go, you have "handwritten"wishes from people near and far!

And watch out, keeping the secret in this case is the greatest task!

This is it. I hope these ideas make a lot of special days even more special and memorable. Cheers!
And hope, i'll be remembered atleast once at the party..(or maybe "the special dinner").. I may not be able to find time for attending all your parties, but i really don't mind an invitation. :)
And ofcourse, you can always treat me later.. rite???

Moving on

dis is my first blog.. so i set thinking bout what to write.. n it ws dis very day dat i ws faced wid the ordeal of clearing my old stuff so that the recently renewed home is not junked as d cruder version was... u know its really difficult to give up ur old things dat u have so many memories attached to... one thing reminds u of some extremely embarassing moment of ur childhood.. some ur achievements.. some radiate inspiration n still oders serve as the tym machine as u r transported to the past.. d same old frnz... d same routine...

So i decided to do away wid dem, very diplomatically... u c...

I dedicate dis post to all my old stuff.. my old frnz.. my old days.. everything...

Note: if u r my old friend, read on, u'll find sumthing dat u cn recall.. if u r my new frnd, u'll be finding lots bout me.. if u're neither of these, i tell u, its interesting!

1. The guy on d horse

so d pic of dis boy on a horse dat u c.. guess what it is.. Its cross stitch done on a fabric.. cn u believe it?? yeah i made this beautiful thing.. This sewing n d like stuff got to me when i ws in like 7th std..(it lasted an yr)v had a class called SUPW(Some Useful Period Wasted) where we were taught things like dese... d teacher actly made a few guyz do croatia!! well.. i luved doin it n i wud do it on my way back home in d bus. n dat gave me the title of "dadi amma" in d bus!!!

bt newayz, i luv it.. its sad i can't think of any use for it...

2. The Car Trump Cards

Ok, so these cards on the right are the best ones in d lot... trump card used to be our once favourite bus game... i got dese as return gift at my friend's birthday party... We played it with WWF, cricket, i think dere ws another set on vehicles too...

I am at once reminded of the bus, my old friends( i remember nupur jain specially here) as we would make a song out of "rmin 6000 clash clash clash".. he he

n if we did get of dese cards, we wud at once strt smiling.. coz dis one ws gonna win!

3. The dusty not- working casio

Well, this one came just after i came to bombay, in 1st std... Dad brought it as a present.. i ws real fascinated with this one... strtd learning music with it 2.. (bt d teacher said i must have a harmonium.. i gave up learning soon.. n i regret dat.. c how dis is pulling me into telling u another story: i used to have a very sweet voice till 6th-7th std... after dat some dietary constituent caused my voice quality to grow really bad n dere it is.. my voice is really bad now... my voice is one thing i desperately want back.now back to the "synthesizer")
dis also introduced me to rechargeable batteries(can't recall where d chrger is.. i'm glad i threw it away much before maybe)n then of course d sounds of different instruments all nito one.. i learnt d saregama n happy birthday on it.. alas my piano carrier did not stretch long n i stopped playing dis thing... (actly it chose to stop)

The video game

I got dis one in std 5th.. it ws a reward for my first rank( or maybe d scholarship xm.. whatever)

Dere was a time when cuming home was immediately followed by disrupting mom's TV serial and emptying the contents of this box out on the television rack.. me n di fighting to be d first player...

I ws particularly fond of my 42 in 1 games cassete.. n my favourite games used to be d not so popular games like the bomber man or arabian... i remember how i wud myself sway in directions with the remote in hand as if i myself was a joystick.. i really did not need one( i served as one so well!!) n den i recall how it wud soon b night from day n mom's screams cud not be heard even if d music was turned off(concentration!!) Since d video game, d only games i have ever been into a lot was alladin( i finished all d 12 stages)..so d video game i like an era to me.. i wud have luved to keep it thinking i'll be able to make it work sumday n show it to d generations to cum.. bt i just realised hu'll be interested in sumthing dat's considered obsolete.. so i guess, i'll have to stop clinging to it.. bt what i simply can't do is sell it for d price of trash( i doubt even dat :()

The Hard Disk

This, what u see is a 1 GB hard disk.. imagine!! 1 GB!!! I was amazed when dad told me it was this 1 GB hard disk that we used in our fisrt comp(it was called 486). A few of its specialties were

1. If the mouse did not work, d comp had to be restarted.. dis is what happened most of the tym.

2. It had no speakers.

3. I still have all its data in a single CD!

4. Inspite of all this, I enjoyed using it.. coz it ws second hand.. n every fooling around session I would discover yet another thing that i wolud feel blesses to have inherited.. he he... It ws like digging in the search of treasure...in a 1 GB hard disk!!

Amazing dat i still have it even after my second PC has been repaired thrice! Its tym to bid goodbye...

My CUTE Dress

Dis dress is going nowhere... Thankfully, i do not have to part wid dis one...Logically dere's hardly any space it occupies.. :)

Its a master piece product of one of my tantrums at a shop to get a dress of my choice... It was vehemently opposed by mom n dad n was not taken unless a tear show had been staged... n now finally, my fav. dress has become my mom's fav. dress... n for once i can say "c, I TOLD u its gorgeous!!". My mom has kept dis one for her grand children... :)

Well, i've got a lot more things to bid gud bye to.. bt maybe later... Please leave a comment on my blog.. my things would feel nice( with all the attention dey get) and dey'll bless u for making them feel gud!! I luv u all things!!!