Vinutha , Quite Blogaholic!

On What My Nail Paint Speaks About Me

2011-12-19T03:51:00.001+05:30

Of late, I havent been writing or reading anything much. Oh yeah, creative indulgence is not happening these days.

The best excuse I can provide is that I didn't have any REAL & PERSONAL thing to write about. Now, here is one such incident that happened today which was quite a revelation for me about.... myself!

I was at GVK Mall when a long-lost school 'senior' [read bully-to-all] came up to me and said hello. Quite happy I was to see him after a long time! Some pleasantries and then those hyper- necessary 'how-do-you-do' questions. All this while I was making a desperate attempt to hold my carry bags properly. Suddenly, he looked at my hands [read nails] and gave a randomly ridiculous expression for which he was famous for in school. I was wondering what happened and looked in the same direction. Well, take a look at the conversation we have had :)

Friend: Are you Gothic?

Me: Whaattt?! [ I know I look a little sleep- deprived but what did you just say? ]

Friend: [with a tone that can intimidate Lady Gaga] I mean.. well.. your nails..the black nail paint.. black you see.. so I thought.. well, that is so Gothic.

Me: Black Nail Paint. Hence, Gothic? [I was drowning in a pool of self-pity]

For some heads up, the literal dictionary definition for gothic reads 'barbarous, crude way of or relating to a style of fiction that emphasizes the grotesque, mysterious, and desolate'.

grotesque? I am not!

mysterious? May be. Well, everyone is.

desolate? Are u kidding me?

At this point, I did not feel any need to defend myself because I was busy trying to accept that my nail paint did speak something about me.

My close friends would know that I am an avid lover of 'black'. This explains my obsession for black nail paint as well. According to me, anything in black never fails to impress :) After all, it is a color that signifies rebellion; boldness; attitude; deviation from conventional thinking and a lot more. Isn't the exquisitely sleek- looking bottle of nail polish, a thing of beauty in itself? Perhaps, John Keats wrote the poem 'A thing beauty is a joy forever' inspired by this. Okay, I'll tone it down now.

Coming back to the 'guy who called me gothic'. I did not quite appreciate the 'gothic' tag for sporting black nail paint :) But certainly, this evening I had one learning though. And the learning is:

1. Little things do speak for itself.

2. MEN observe it. Even bullies. Oh my Gawd!

Much to your and my relief, this is no girlie post. A little feminine, yes. Definitely not girlie. Glad to seal this post to a finish; fiercely defending the color black all the way. Not even sure if this made sense. Insomnia inspires you to do many things. This is one example :)

Before I sign off. What do you think I answered to his question?

Me: Yes! I am Gothic. So what? ;)

Jagriti Yatra, 2011

2011-11-01T22:17:00.000+05:30

Jagriti Yatra is an annual nation- wide train journey. With 400 other bright & inspired youth from various parts of the country, this is quite a thrill. The aim & objective of the TJY is to bring about a social change. More about being the change that we would like to see around us. I think this emphasis itself offers a great learning experience!

So, why am I so excited about it? I was just waiting for this question. The answer is, I got selected! I got selected to be a part of the Jagriti Yatra'11. Mega- journey as I call it :)

The first time I heard about it, I was awe- struck at the tremendous initiative taken up by the Jagriti Group.

Imagine receiving nearly 15,000 applications from people across the country & some from other countries as well.

Imagine screening & selecting only 400 out of these.

Imagine organizing travel for 15 days for these 400 participants from different countries.

Imagine getting the best role models onboard & striving towards giving the best possible exposure.

Imagine being a part of it!

This itself is a great example of a dynamic & exciting leadership!

I'll wake up at a different state & city everyday as we travel across the country while we learn & explore!

Watch this video [one of my favorites] made by a TJY alumnus & u'll get a flavor of the entire concept. Please visit www.jagritiyatra.com to know more.

I am looking definitely at this as a great opportunity & exposure. Travel time :)

I Wonder Why

2011-10-12T17:09:00.000+05:30

When I turned 18, my senior at college remarked- "Here end your 'confused' days, Vinutha. You will have more clarity soon!" Needless to say, I merely understood the language he used but not his tone. I used to be a slow-coach when it came to picking up sarcasm from people I least expected it from. But hey, now things have changed.. for good!

It has been 3 years ever since I heard that comment. And, I am still confused..but on a higher level. You would want to call it evolution may be & possibly humor me!

The other day, unable to drive myself in the 'two-roads-diverged-in-the-yellow-woods-syndrome', I decided to actually think it over & understand how I could derive more clarity in my life than expected normally.

I began thinking ( read wondering), how a few people had such good clarity about what they wanted out of their lives! There began an awe- inspiring slideshow of a few people in my mind who are quite Clear & Content with their lives.

After all, being 'clear in the mind' & 'content at heart' helps people achieve fabulously, I know! Take Steve Jobs for instance. Being quite content pushes you to stay hungry & hungry again.

Let me take you through my slide-show that features people I have met in a while.

Saranath

One hell of a thinker & can engage anyone in a wonderful dialogue with effortless conviction. Now heres one person who has at least a hazy picture of what things look like for him in the next few years, months, weeks, days or even hours [ can you beat that? ] Besides, he has built that personality- empire for himself with a great amount of clarity. Again, Clear & Content..

Lopa Ray

One of my breakfast-buddies at office these days. First look- Intelligent, hardworking & extremely committed. She perhaps epitomizes Nike philosophy of 'Just Do It', working on whatever comes on her way & treats it with a clear vision. Do I even need to say, Clear & Content.!

Karthik

Frivolous, easy- going, hard-working & way too flattered with his sense of humor :) No matter what things seem like, he sports an attitude & is aware of what life has to offer to him. No harm in being realistic, nay? Once again, Clear & Content..

Harshil

Yet another colleague who loves doing what he does with no trail of confusion of any sort. Though he does blush occasionally, everything else about him is so motivating. An aspirer, smart- worker & does not fail to stay un-cluttered in his mind. Yes, Clear & Content..

Maneesha

Silent. Very hardworking. Silent. Dedicated & most importantly, positive. Silent again.. well please follow that pattern as it is the reality :) No matter what she has to take up, she is never treading the LOC [Line of Confusion] as I call it. Oh yeah, Clear & Content.

Vinutha, Thats Me

Eh..Drama? Always! Self- obsessed? Yes :) Hardworking? I dont want to fool myself. Clear? Good joke. Content? Oh my! Where are the rest of the adjectives gone?

Being clear in my mind is not even a scanty definition to the way I think. I am perennially confused with a great deal of over- analysis. Is it wrong to try thinking far when I know it will only breed more confusion? I somehow lost that algorithm in my thought- programming.

Clear & Content- Will I ever get there? Perhaps, that is why, I wonder why! What would you say? :)

Web Spectacle

2011-10-06T21:54:00.003+05:30

Marketing is my passion I must say because no other subject has intrigued me to this extent! I was talking to a few friends of mine at office over breakfast about 'marketing on the web'.

A few ads by Google for Chrome that are so thoughtfully crafted. Lady Gaga & Justin Bieber are such clever marketers. Successful, oh yes!

Mother Monster, Lady Gaga

Teen Sensation, Justin Bieber

What is that 'one' marketing lesson you would take away from these icons?

Tell me, I am all ears! ;)

You would'nt want to miss this!

2011-08-08T21:06:00.003+05:30

When God Made Men, He Was Kidding - 2

2011-06-12T12:36:00.004+05:30

Oh my! Off late I have had a lot of 'I-wanna-blog-too' moments, owing to the really long break I have taken. It has been a good one year, yes, ONE YEAR now. Well, with this post, I celebrate my own home-coming to the blogosphere ;)

Before you read this one, you would like to take a read at this post . Not that I think you would have forgotten, but it has been long enough for anyone to even remember there did exist a blog of mine ! The part 2 is incomplete without the part 1 like the twilight series. Oops, I cant stop branding myself or may be I cant get Edward out of my mind?

The Coffee Day incident seems a little silly to some; trivial to some; or may be, funny to some. But I have a different angle to look at it. I feel it is very true unless you want to ignore the truth & humor me :)

It is very simple. The catch phrase here is, read again, CATCH PHRASE! My good friend Malora Fernandes, a lady with a truly elite thought process told me this two- liner.

When Men make fun of Women, It is called Humor
When Women make fun of Men, It is called Feminism!

How true! I still remember when I was an audience at an event. One session of the event has a round where people where asked to speak on random, really random, topics. Each one in the hall had their turn. The topics thrown at most men were ranging from Marriage to Women. The young & the not-so-young had their own take. It seemed like everyone was laughing, bound to laugh in fact purely owing to the majority. They called it 'sarcastic humor'. You would'nt want to attract attention by sporting a straight face, would you?

And the laughter therapy went on for a while & needless to say, it was very entertaining. The climate in the hall was very refreshing. Suddenly, few women were chosen to speak. Land of equal opportunties, eh? Pardon me , if I sound like Shobha De ;) Topics for them ranged from Diamonds to Men. All of them were vocal & vivacious. They spoke their mind out, free & loud. This time it was their turn to go the slapstick way & poke fun at men with just as much FACTS as there was logic to it. The climate now did not seem frivolous any more. Most men had a tight, rather worried look on their face. A few looked as if they were going to start applauding once they would finish.And they did! Once the ladies finished their talk, they called it Feminism!

Being a part of the 'I-am-not-girl-not-a-woman-yet' gang, I began thinking about this perception among people about feminism. The concept of feminism is very simple. Holding men & women equal in their eyes. It could'nt get simpler than this.

I know I am tempting you to be a part of an ongoing debate, but this is no Men vs Women. I have grown up, come on, or may be I have given up ? ;) Now, what do you think about it? I was recently told - 'To be a better person, you should ask more & say less'. So I will play the graceful angel & let you have the last word :) Go on, say it!

When God Made Men , He Was Kidding - 1

2010-05-16T21:27:00.004+05:30

This is a splendid re-assurance to all those who will expect to read a very preachy write-up about 'Feminism' that has been an ' eternally good ' debate topic over the years . NO ! I am not & nor have I ever been preachy .

Before I can pour out my views , just run through this conversation I over-heard [ unintentionally though ] at Coffee Day among a group of friends [ healthy percentage of both boys and girls ] . Their conversation slowly slipped off into the MEN vs WOMEN . Yours truly , here are their dialogues :

Boy 1 : Dude ! Look at that T Shirt quote on that person ! It read Men are from earth . Women are from earth . Deal with it .

Boy 2 : Classic ! So true . . Putting up with girls is hard ! Dude it is pure science . In fact rocket-science or may be even more complex !

[ And the boys begin laughing .. laughing loud enough to make all the others look at them in wry horror . The girls however were busy sipping-in their cold coffee , uninterrupted ]

Boy 3 : [The one who thought it was his moral responsibility to present his view point or else the world would end without it , you see ] Look ! The trouble is girls dont know what they really want themselves .. That's blunt man ..Blunt !

[ And the boys-brigade get enough reason to kick start their constipated laughter riot all over again . This time people around are already used to it. That includes me. Who says our society is not tolerant ? ]

Boy 1 : Girls are just confused creatures and nothing else . They are just that and we have to deal with it . [ And I could sense the aura around him as he threw up these lines . He felt as if he was a saviour and has attempted the most invincible , incredible task ever ]

[ And here our girls break their silence . Finally ! Probably they finished their mugs of coffee . Look how composed they are . They heard the whole conversation without feeling any need to jump and justify . Now , they slowly counter them ]

Girl 1 : Excuse me , Guys ! The T-shirt quote also means that even WOMEN need to put up with MEN. After all you are not FLAWLESS creatures . In fact we take in more crap from men and still hold on.

Girl 2 : Yeah ! What's with this girls-are-confused theory ??! We are just slow to give in and slower to give up . That is what accounts to our patience . Unlike guys ! They jump in and jump out like its nobody's business .

[ Probably there are only a very FEW exceptions to universal thumb rule . Well , I feel the need to intervene as I consider myself the much-needed moderator here in this blog post . I did not really do it there though ! Come on , I dont fancy being an uninvited speaker ]

Boy 1 : Cut the crap , alright ! Come on you are sounding like Feminists ! Dont expect us to listen to

all that , Ok !

Boy 2 : Exactly ! This is something that makes you sound like medieval feminist authors ....blah blah.. ...

The rest of the discussion is irrelevant to us . The boys changed the topic much to the girls' resistance and began discussing about matters that match their intellect the best . Yes ! Their latest girl-friend (s) . Peace !! Amen !! Relieved ?! But I am not !

This is where my thinking began . I cant wait but let you all know what I think is so wrong with the very perception of men about FEMINISM . That is coming up in the next post .

Do let me know what comes to your mind when you think about this trivial yet considerable discussion :) Waiting for your take !

Ode to One-sided Love

2010-05-13T08:42:00.005+05:30

In the goblet of feelings

I feel stirred .

With soulful strings

that tie me down to her.

Her eyes shine

in my gaze

that outline

the warmth I chase.

I choke with tears

with no shoulders to cry on !

I fight my heart

and struggle to move on !

I see ‘how‘

but I cant see ‘why’ .

Its only now

that I realize life .

Silly it is to feel

love and still cry !

For I ask ‘ Why’

and she asks ‘Why not’

It’s strange indeed

To let go …

Her light and her breeze

That forms my cosmos

I seek ! I ask !

Silence masters it all

I feel ! I swear !

There’s nothing like her after all !

I hold on to her with a ‘promise‘

Within me I hold eternal loyalty...

A 3-hour-40-minute appointment !

2010-04-01T09:45:00.008+05:30

Appointment with whom would be the question . No ! It was neither with a dentist nor a lawyer . It was an appointment with an author !

It took me 3 hours and 40 minutes to sail through a wonderful story narrated to me by Sandeep Sudhakaran through the pages of his book HAUNTING SILHOUETTES - A stroll down the memory lane . His first work of fiction !

Sandeep is my dear friend who is a software developer working for the automotive industry . I have known Sandeep as a very nice & cheerful guy with a great sense of self - belief .

I read his book with a lot of gusto and here I am to present it's review to my readers . Take a read :)

As you read the review I think I am going to sound like Shobha De , alright ?! ;)

It took me a pleasant read of 3 hours and 40 minutes precisely .. I would have taken less time but thanks to my lecturer who caught me red handed twice while reading it in the classoom ! This arrested my speed :P The book , it's pages and it's stories offer a captivating read .

The story opens with Shalini who tells us about her childhood , young days and how she met her husband Prabhat . She's in a very happy family until she discovers a poem written by her husband which she just could'nt decipher . It is mysterious ! As she explores the poem , come alive , a plethora of real -life characters which form the streaks of the story .

The entire book runs along strings of ego , emotions , suspense , love , tragedy , mystery , betrayal , friendship .

You need to read it to dive into the story and FEEL it literally . Among so many characters , you will identify yourself with atleast one character that holds a tale to tell ! I bet !!

The language Sandeep uses will convey the essence to you right on . His examples , way of sketching characters , their images , STYLE of writing made me visualise every details of the story frame by frame and scene by scene . I would love to wrap this one and give it a name ' Sandeep's Scintillating Story ' .

You could check out his blog to capture more ideas of this refreshing writer http://wheniwentout.blogspot.com/

Did I sound like Shobha De ?! Well , I give you the benefit of doubt ;) :)

Winning - A habit ?!

2010-02-22T12:52:00.013+05:30

I dont really mind if I am skipping this hour's class at college while uploading this post . I do so because my mind is too busy thinking! This feels better and more rewarding than listening to a marathon of 'case laws' and 'accounting principles' :P

How I bunked this class began with this idea coming up in my mind. I better elaborate upon it or else I might not be able to justify 'missing a class' [ though I think I am not really answerable to anyone :D ] Well , let me take off now .

I have listened to many grown-ups tell me the worn-out one - liner during contests and events , " Dont even think about winning , just participate . It is participation which counts '. I think this has seriously lost charm ! I claim to differ from this notion.

I humbly believe that participation is sacred and it leads to everything else but should not be the sole purpose of giving a fight. Those who think participation is the sole essence are either not competent from within or have lost it !

World icons ranging from Warren Buffet to Richard Branson are known to us because they have been winners ! Can you imagine all these spectacularly successful people getting into the play just because they want to play ?! They really want to win and that is what makes them a breed apart .

Mere participation is nobody's concern except those who dont do it. If our heart does not ache for winning and to top it with excellence [ without excellence , winning is not worth it :) ] then I think we are not running hard ! At the end of the day , it is a great fantastic feeling to composite the cream of the group.

Without that ' obsessive desire ' to win , I guess there is no fizz in life . It is our mind-set that needs to be altered NOW for the world out there is all bent on crushing competition. Nothing like winning. Nothing like it at all ! :)

Winning is a habit and so is losing ! It clearly tells us that we are what we chose to be .
By the way , does it make your mind screech in joy when it's said " And the winner is ... YOU !!! " ?! If you say a 'Yeah' , then welcome to the club :) ;)

Even Coffee Could Get Me High !

2010-01-09T15:19:00.005+05:30

'I write only when I'm moved to' says Anuradha Sengupta , the host of the show 'Beautiful People' on CNBC TV 18 . I also hold the same view !! Would that mean , I am really moved to write now ??! The conclusive answer would be- Yeah !!

Before I can begin , let me tell you about a fact that I am embarrassed about ! Well, I am a significant non - reader . Though I am tempted to replace the word 'non' with 'seldom' or 'not-so-often' , I choose not to do it ! The outline of truth would then be lost :)

I recently read 2 states by Chetan Bhagat ! Well, those fanatic readers out there would exclaim a bah ! bcuz the book was released many months back . I managed to read it only now with my sluggish appetite for reading :)

When I got my hands on the book , I turned the first pages with astronomical expectations of the author . Afterall he has made Indians read like never before !

The beginning of the book talks about IIM A , campus life , his wife and girls at IIM in general . The story then progresses to how the entire family of the boy had to fall in love with the family [ or even extended clan sometimes ] of his potential wife or the prospective bride !

The way he spins humour out of the situations and his liberal use of harmless sarcasm with words could make you laugh without reluctance about marriage in Indian scenario .

What I loved about the book was Chetan's ability to present reality to the readers mercilessly and hilariously by brushing off the rosy picture [ as presented by Bollywood most of the time ] .

One thing is clear that LOVE can be marketed to clear off the highest mark in the country!:P Perhaps it has the aphrodisiac strategic potential and that's the reason it captures the centre of every story and every plot :P

Chetan Bhagat has a way with people and no wonder he is such a master - narrator ! Cant really call it racy but it is good enough for a captivating read !

Not to forget , before you begin to wander between his lines , you could also pair up a mug of coffee !

Chetan and Caffeine with that crisp story could get you high , you never know !!

Confessions of the Resolved

2010-01-01T15:30:00.003+05:30

The phenomenon called New Year is highly intriguing ! It's a marketing hype, we know . It's a socio-psychological hype too !

As a child , I evolved into a programmed being to look UP to 'new year' as a flawless, new beginning . I dont think it is exaggeration if I say that most of us attempt to re-incarnate ourselves from the abysmal to the mighty.

I have had innumerable resolutions designed and planned with utmost gusto till date. Needless to say the plans that have materialised are not even close to my distant memory !

It is indeed futile and not-so-rational to vow solemnly for something for a period as long as a year when we are not sure about our moves for the very next moment.

There have been years when I forgot my resolution that was declared pompously in january when the year crawled to a fag end in December .

Yes ! That's the reason I am game for an all new resolution-free new year as I move on to treat every day like a separate entity . This year , I am sure no March and no October will pass by leaving me disappointed !

Can I call each day a new beginning ?? Depth ! As I sense over the sediments of comfortable thinking :)

A Breed Apart !!

2009-12-12T21:37:00.017+05:30

Yours truly. I confess that I am another product of our conventional education system . Incidentally I have managed to leap out of school without being branded a 'nerd' and to my relief I have not stayed with low grades either.

Trust me ! I never felt intrigued at classes when the teacher tried her best to do so with her gloriously bygone concepts in physics and chemistry .Even the classic subjects never managed to arouse my curiosity . Literary subjects managed to just give me pleasant surprises .

Mathematics was never on my charts as I shared a strained relationship with it. It's below my esteem to talk about subjects that would bore me to death and show me the gates to hell !

In fact , let me face it ! Nothing caught my attention for too long though a few facts occasionally interested me. But there has been one idea or a quest I should say , that has held me haunted !

I tried my level best to figure out an answer for the question that lingered in my mind but it did not come easy . The moment I would boil down to a conclusion to offer explanation , my views would change and doubts would double !

Well .. The question is not very difficult but is not too easy either . I was trying to understand and appreciate the difference between an INTELLECTUAL & an INTELLIGENT . Both the words would come as flattering compliments at school but often their true meaning is not fully digested .

My experiments in the labs of my brain helps me figure out the difference to make a point that may not be right but is not wrong altogether .The dictionary says, in fact, that intelligence is the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge and intellect is an ability to think in depth.

I think intelligence is a form of faculty of thought ; something that is the raw aptitude of the person which forms the core of his mental abilities . Intellect is however the superior powers of the mind which is an extension to the basic thinking set up . I think it is more analytical , abstract and profound as compared to intelligence which is relative and individual based .

Being an academic scholar reflects intelligence where as the witty application of this knowledge amounts to intellect . When I am trying to imbibe something into me , I am being intelligent . When I am interpreting something , I am being intellectual .

When I showcase my ability to handle complex things , I am being intelligent . When I show my prowess in handling complicated things , I am being intellectual . I strongly feel both the terms are very related but draw a thin line of difference between them .

At the end of the day , It's gratifying to know that, both the words are impressive remarks that could be made on the worthy. These words are such corals of praise !

Most abstract questions do not really end with a concrete answer very soon , After all , an answer to a few questions gives me deep satisfaction that's worth a million ! I may not have given the right answer but yes ! I have asked the right question !

In pursuit of the answer to become a part of the Intelligentsia - the Thinkers , the Know-ers & the Do-ers !!
Intelligent or Intellectual ??!! :)

A Solemn Promise

2009-10-27T18:46:00.009+05:30

Her eyes shone

in my gaze

that had worn

the warmth I’d chase.

I see ‘how‘

but I cant see ‘why’ .

Its only now

that I realize life .

Its so silly to feel

love and still cry !

For I ask ‘ Why’

and she asks ‘Why not’ .

I seek ! I ask !

Silence masters it all

I swear indeed !

There’s nothing like her , after all !

I hold on to her with a ‘promise‘

Within me I hold eternal loyalty...

A Heavy-Duty Thought !

2009-10-17T19:35:00.005+05:30

It is so stunning yet so simple !
It is indeed magical yet mild !!
It takes the power of just a minute to understand this profound thing beacuse simple things are profound !!!

I am growing alarmingly curious and passionate about understanding the essence of ' conviction ' . Men of different multitudes might have different feelings associated with this word . My world and my thinking helps me understand this intense emotion as ' the extent to which I agree with myself'.

It is satirical to see that many a time we end up taking decisions ( personal or otherwise ) without being able to justify it to our own inner selves.
Yet , there could be times when we stand for ourselves ; know perfectly that we are right and end up getting rejected by the cold world outside ! Painful , Isnt it ???
But why should you and I care when we know that the sun can bear the testimony to what we did ?? Who cares what the others think for I am sure they would'nt know the soil that we stand on ...

Perhaps that is what inspired Socrates to die for his conviction ! For people may lament over his death , but they would never pity him ! To him death brought more glory than anything else did .

Whenever I find I am doing the right thing which is parting ways with what others think , I am helpless to be shaken in my pants !! I stir the depths of my soul and question myself a 100 times if I am doing the right thing... When my conviction tells me the 100th time too , that I am right , then I just go ahead..

Trying to be a martyr of thought !

Trying not to let my true conviction get laid dead in the grave !

Trying to chase my lethal strength and convincing energy !

And when I still find myself alone in the battle of defending my thought , I pacify myself saying that I have indeed been a winner in standing up for myself ...

And needless to say , The Winner Stands Alone !!!

Breathtakingly Beautiful !!

2009-09-12T18:44:00.005+05:30

At college , being a Management student , I studied a dynamic subject called ' Organizational Behaviour '. Through out the semester , I could hear many think-tanks talking about the principle of ' Operant Conditioning '. The famed theory that adorns every question paper without any miss in the turn !

It is best understood with the much-abused example of TV Commercials and Ad's. I sometimes wonder if lecturers quote any other example at all ! They perhaps got conditioned to it :)

If we could have a break up of the words then this is what it would mean. Operant - some force operating on the target entity Ex . peer pressure influencing teenagers to switch to current trends in terms of dressing , outlook or even the " most happening slang " may be :). Conditioning - the slow yet strategic process of moulding the mind or habituating it to the change . It is nothing but ' Content Reinforcement ' .

I seem to be still stuck in the rut and so I will quote the same example too ! With Saif and Kareena popping up every now and then with their Airtel ad's , one cant help but remember them , their product , their endorsement and not to forget , their chemistry !!

This continuous process will operate on the minds of the viewer and hence he will be influenced positively [ hopefully ! ] This will tempt the buyer and propel him towards going-in for the product . Mission Accomplished !The marketing firm [ Airtel , in this example ] succeeds in enhancing and increasing the customer base .Well, that was a heads-up and mental - lubrication to decently brag about my accomplishment to flaunt another example in the next few lines.

Presenting to the World !
My new found example to explain Operant Conditioning . This comes with a marathon of thoughts ever since ' Twilight ' embraced the world both through the screen and through the pages of a book ! Trust me ! I claim reasonable resistance when it comes to staying a consistent non-reader but Alas ! Operant Conditioning chained me through it's principle !!

I never had any inclination towards reading Twilight and I thought I would sail through without reading it !! But No !! I was terribly wrong ! I grew inquisitive about the book with a thirst that only vampires could understand !! For a change , I find this story not at all syrupy !!

With a helpless cynical bent of mind , I bet my declaration to the world that very soon I am going to get my hands on this book ' Twilight '. Though I have not really read this book , I have a fairly thorough idea about the plot. Thanks to my die-hard twilight fan-friends for having bled my ears telling me everything about twilight !!!
So this one is for all my friends who have driven me into reading twilight !
The inviting feel of the book is , anyday , Breathtakingly Beautiful !!
Will be back with expert reviews once i read the book :):)

My Mind - My Private Literature

2009-08-26T20:37:00.006+05:30

Thanks to those haunting subjects in my class XII , I developed a taste for Literature . For this is a subject, that is indeed very appealing and harmless , as compared to those which needed ' elite of grey matter '!

The solace in the last bench allowed my mind to decode and translate the emotions behind the poetic brains . Whether I succeeded in attaining complete understanding should not be discussed ! I confess ... I am still a toddler in analysing the essence of the ' Finesse in Literature' but yes ! I claim a learner's license.

If we lend an eye for detail , we can very clearly understand the emotional mindset of the poet based on his writing. After all , 'Paper' is perhaps the shortest distance between the mind and the heart ! A pen is undoubtedly the shortest distance between the thought and the word ! Many poets had their own inimitable style in portraying their inner feelings though lines that made their feelings evident, but not obvious !
Hence the beauty lies in unravelling the mystery behind Poetry !!

My first crush was with the work of P B Shelley of the ' Ode To the West Wind ' fame... It is believed that Shelley was undergoing crisis when he rendered this work.He had a strained relationship , his health was deteriorating. In a situation like this , he writes a real master-piece. He goes on to express his feeling of agony and helplessness to the West Wind in these lines

" I fall on the thorns of life , I bleed
Oh ! lift me like a wave , a cloud or a leaf "

What a clear imagery !! Vivid and compelling.
He also makes yet another memorable remark in the last lines communicating with the West Wind like it would lend him breeze to wipe his tears away and consoles himself with hope and faith .

" Oh ! Trumpet of prophesy
If Winter comes first , can Spring be far behind ? "

Another veteran is undisputedly Pablo Neruda.In her poem 'Keeping Quiet' , she enunciates the need for sincere introspection and how life would suddenly emerge out of the intangible.

" Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive "

And Yes !! How can I forget John Keats and his ability to live his moods with language ! Divine is'nt it ? His sensual lines in A Thing of Beauty is a true delight !

And such too is the grandeur of the doom
We hve imagined for the mighty dead ;
all lovely tales we have heard or read ;
An endless fountain of immortal drink
Pouring unto us from heaven's brink .

Without Shakespeare , it would seem without an outline ; incomplete. I would feel breathless if I begin stating all his emerald-like-lines !
Not that I like the others less , But I like Shakespeare more !

No wonder , It is said , Literature is humanity in print ... It is an art of writing something that needs to be read twice !
Once for your mind and the second time for your heart !

" Where art' thou "
Looks like my heart is kind of lost !!
" Where heart' thou "
Will be back :) !!

Psyche in Nike

2009-08-10T18:59:00.007+05:30

For some unexplored reasons , I once got literally lost in the wilderness of Google. I was browsing tirelessly ( like i would get paid for it !!! ) to find out more about the firm that flaunts the " Just Do It " fame .
Yes ! I am talking about Nike . Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight founded Nike in 1954 which became Nike , Inc in 1978 .

Personally , I am a fan of the ' flamboyant blend of mythology of different genres ' ! I was really impressed with the brand name Nike once I learnt the word it is derived from.

In Greek mythology it means " The Winged Goddess of Victory" belonging to the Zeus cult ..Nike is the personification of triumph and she has been portrayed by some many artists through Classical Art.

Nike is always depicted with wings in the statues to show that victory is fleeting !!! What a resemblance ! The logo of the brand Nike portrays conviction with the ancient Greek depiction... The goddess is also the deity of speed in victory ... Probably this is the reason why the brand Nike has the tag-line Just Do It !!
I really liked the idea of linking a shrewd brand name to that of a mythological character ..

Only if celestial Zeus could be my lavish Producer , I would definitely direct a Documentary Film about both the Nike legends !

But the question is , will Zeus come down and produce it in this materialistic world or will he spearhead the Greek Pantheon and wage another Titan War ??!!! Whatever option he would choose I would just shrug and tell him -JUST DO IT !!!!

And Yes !! Before I sign off , let me tell you. Both Nike and Psyche are Greek words !! Now is that not a thorough Just-Do-It !!!???

Can Confucius Crack CAT ?

2009-08-06T10:30:00.010+05:30

Like anyone else I am another over-ambitious aspirant of CAT . I am sure this is the force that drives everyone into the realm of insanity !! Recently I was trying to question the need to make the language section in a CAT paper so seemigly invincible !!!

While the trainers justify it by calling it the ' bare pre-requisite ' to master communication to be a global player , I have my own doubts . I always thought communication was all about reaching out to people !

As a normal student who has not lost the fidelity of one's thoughts to the atrocious verbosity of CAT exams , I once exclaimed to my friend one afternoon.

I just said - " Hey ! I think I am going to have a common winky nap !!! "
But now , I would say the same thing in a language that wil leave her recovering from the tormenting shock !!
I would say - " Dame , I am being pretentious to say i might have a ubiquitous sleepless siesta !! "

Off late , to me it has begun sounding like slapstick comedy !!!
But like every cloud has a silver lining , CAT is doing it's bit in promoting business in this paperless society and so it is giving a lot of limelight to
Oxford and Websters.!! Whatever be it , I am still enjoying every moment of
the perpetual , pompous carnival of the grandeur in the never-before English language !!!

March - Martyr Month

2009-07-20T14:04:00.004+05:30

U r a CBSE survivor if

1. U can understand what Yum n Eezed is...

2. If u were threatened to study in 10th n 12th..

3. If u never knew what a credit WAS.

4. If 70% was an awesome thing for u...

5. If you can do math WITHOUT using a calculator...

6. If u never slept before the month of march in 10th n 12th..

7. If you could start mugging at any time of the day

8. If you spent the whole night praying when the results for either 10th or 12th
were being declared

9. If you spent hours in class discussing what to do with your hall tickets after
the exams were over.

10 If you went to tuitions for maths, physics, chemistry, bio/computer
science/accounts, how to cope with exams, how to do well in exams, what to
eat during exams...tuitions for everything under the sun.

11 If you had 6 letter hall ticket numbers

12 If u have encountered the play "unexpected" thrice from 8th thru 12th standard.

13 If u laugh when dumb Arabs (who have not done CBSE) ask doubts in HCF n LCM...

14 If u failed all year long and passed in the end that promoted you.

15 If mathematics was short formed as MathS or MaX and not math.

16 If you like the word Marks rather than credits.

17 If u asked for a LOG book in between your maths exam.

18 If u went to college and the professor was dumbfounded when u called him Sir and asked for his permission to go to the loo..

19 If you considered grade 11 a year long vacation!!

20 When u called your friend 30 times day and all you asked 30 times was "what are
you studying?"

21- If you started getting coaching in grade 11 before your grades 10 results were
out.

22 If you call grade 11 and 12 as +1 and +2 and prefer using word class rather
than grade.

23 Studying for an entire exam..over the phone!!!

24 When u start going to temple for praying, on regular basis from January till the end of May!!

25 WHEN the topper of the school ends up with a 60% and the guy who doesnt even know the spelling of percent ends up with a 91%!!!

26 When on ur first day of grade 10th or 12th..the teacher starts talking about boards even before telling her name!

27 When you have about 10 inviligilators for 1 exam hall!!

28 When the pre-boards are harder than the actual Boards!!

29 When we get "holidays" for studying instead of enjoying =(

30 In grades 10th & 12th, everytime u went for a party trying to get away from studies...all u got asked was, " how are your studies going?"

31 If you had uncles and aunties giving you phonecalls almost everyday in march, about how the family name is in your hands...

32 You know you're a CBSE survivor, when you get into college, you have difficulty using a calculator, and INSIST on doing every calculation from 40578934 x 4535455 to permutations and combinations MANUALLY, instead of just using the goddamn function on the scientific calculator.... The very same calculator your parent bought you, while muttering: IN MY DAY, WE DID ALL THIS IN OUR HEAD!

33. When u forget to take a shower and the physics derivations keep on rollin in ur dreamz..

This was in a Facebook group titled CBSE !!! Being an avid CBSE survivor i really could not resist the temptation of sharing this with my readers....

Yeah !! CBSE is a joy both sweet and bitter !!!

My Angle of looking at Life

2009-07-15T10:24:00.006+05:30

Whenever I feel, the sky is thrusting on me ,

I just say - "why only me "

Whenever I feel ,the goblet of fury is scaring me ,

I just say - "why only me"

Whenever I feel, the earth is widening before me ,

I just say - " why only me "

Whenever I feel , remorse is killing me ,

I just say - "why only me"

Whenever I feel , the past is haunting me ,

I just say - " why only me "

Whenever I feel , time is mecilessly seizing me ,

I just say - " why only me "

Whenever I feel, toil is chaining me

I just say - "why only me "

Whenever I feel , emotions are blinding me ,

I just say - " why only me "

Why only me ???

The question echoes in an empty world .....

A Big Encore !!!

2009-07-04T11:36:00.002+05:30

Why is it that some people seem to have it all?? They are not the tall-tale wanna-bes but instead they are are so sure of what they do and what they want!
One such a person whom i have always admired is perhaps Mini Menon !! None other than the immaculate anchor for the most sought-after business channels...
A critic once acclaimed that - " When Mini speaks , the world will listen to her " !! I was nearly obsessed with her style of speaking , her very sharp and her more-than-great business acumen !
I went on to the life-saving google and tried to know as much as possible about her like my life depended on it! I learnt that she has graduated in Mass communication and holds honours in English Literature .
No wonder ! I once had a tie up with an organisation who asked me lend them my Feminist poetry . I had to quote real-life examples in the gist so that i could describe an ideal DYNAMIC woman... I kept hunting out for shrewd women in different professions being the kind of women-centered person I am.. my list was swinging from the Corporate Lawyer Zia Mody to the Business tycoon Renuka Ramnath... Somehow after spending many many days to zero-in on one person i bumped against Mini Menon.. I felt she had it ALL... That was the click !! I submitted my gist and it was really well-received..!! Eversince Mini Menon has become synonymous to dynamic to me.. She's definitely a marvel ... an inimitable marvel !! Is anyone listening??!!

2009-07-03T16:48:00.004+05:30

We Talk Through Our Eyes

2009-07-03T16:41:00.005+05:30

Look at the eyes there !! What do you think about them ? Are they astonishing ? Beautiful? Ravishing ? Interesting ? Yes they deserve all these sought - after adjectives beacause i call them EPOXY .

Recently I happened to get my hands on a book by Leil Lowndes where she writes extensively about 'body language'.To my surprise I found that things that otherwise people do not notice actually make a lot of impact in their mind about what we are.. It could be literally anything ! The way we smile , the way we frown , the way we shrug , the way we say 'Ouch' when we are hurt , the way we shake hands , the way we walk .....

But among all these gestures the greatest highlight in anybody's Body Talk is the power of their Eyes... Well ! This does not necessarily mean that the eyes should always wear a pitch-black eye definer , heavy- hung mascara over the lashes , shimmering eye-liner over the eye-lids , designer glasses to bring in oomph nor the smoky eyes of celebrities... It is not really required to highlight them in communication !!! What an irony but yes it is true...

Leil Lowndes talks about EPOXY EYES . It is a gentler yet effective way of showing people that you are a SOMEBODY in hardly ant time. Helen of Troy could sink ships within her epoxy eyes !! Davy Crockett could stare down a bear ! While this could be a sheer exagerration to people of the rational and scientific era like us but Yes !! It definitely talks volumes about the strenght of your eye-contact and your self-esteem.. It is a technique where you flaunt a 'delicate stare' at everything you glance... But take care.. It has an aphrodisiac effect as well.. The way you look at people into their eyes with enough charisma proves you a Dynamic Somebody in just moments.

I am really trying to master this 'art of delicate staring' ( as i would call it ) ... Look at the influence Leil has had on me.. I think i will upload another post after i become an empress of this art. This was just to declare my passion to get those Epoxy Eyes !!!!

Ahh ! I am really 'eye'ing it !!

When I Went On To Write A Poem........

2009-05-20T13:22:00.004+05:30

"Give me a theme" - I cried
" And i will do my part "
"Tis not a theme" - the world replied
"you require a heart"

"Give me a sight" - I cried
"And I will do my part"
"Tis not a sight" - the world replied
"you need the gentle art"

"Give me a thought" - I cried
"And i will do my part"
"Tis not a thought"-the world replied
"you need to twist the fact"

And now I know that in poetry
both emotion and fire is balanced !