A trip in Himalayas

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A list of cities on the trail


Gurgaon
New Delhi
Gaziabad
Meerut
Muzaffarnagar
Roorkee
Rajaji National Park
Dehradun
Haridwar
Rishikesh
Valley of flowers
Rudraprayag
Guptkashi
Sonprayag
Kedarnath
Gopeshwar
Joshimath
Badrinath
Keshavprayag
Nandadevi Biosphere reserve

http://project.cyberpunk.ru/

It is indeed a very interesting and informative website.

Do I know who are in my neighbor?

 

India shares its borders with 9 countries. I did a small survey to find out how many cities/regions we know in our neighboring countries.

SNo	India’s Neighbors	Capital	Number of Cities/Regions a Male of Age 55, could think of instantly	Number of Cities/Regions a Female of Age 55, could think of instantly	Number of Cities/Regions a Male of Age 25, could think of instantly	Number of Cities/Regions a Female of Age 25, could think of instantly	Number of Cities/Regions a Male of Age 30, could think of instantly	Number of Cities/Regions a Female of Age 30, could think of instantly
1	Afghanistan	Kabul	Kabul, Gandhar	Kabul	Kabul, Kandhar	-	Kabul, Kandhar	Chaklistan
2	Bangladesh	Dhaka	Dhaka, Chatgaon, Midnapur	Dhaka	Dhaka	Dhaka, Itajai	Dhaka	Dhaka
3	Bhutan	Thimpu	Thimpu	-	Thimpu	-	-	-
4	China	Beijing	Shanghai, Beijing	-	Shanghai, Beijing	-	Taiwan	HongKong
5	Maldives	Male	-	-	-	-	-	-
6	Myanmar	Naypyidaw (New), Yangon (Old)	Rangoon	-	Rangoon	-	-	-
7	Nepal	Kathmandu	Kathmandu, Biratnagar	Kathmandu	Kathmandu, Biratnagar	-	Kathmandu	Kathmandu
8	Pakistan	Islamabad	Islamabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Mustafabad, Peshawar, Lahore, Gilgit	Karachi, Sindh, Lahore, Islamabad	Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar	Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore	Rawalpindi, Lahore, Punjab	Karachi, Lahore, Delhi
9	Sri Lanka	Colombo	Jafna, Colombo	-	Colombo	Colombo	Colombo	-

*those marked in red are wrong answer choices.

This is a very small sample space to draw any conclusions, however, it is enough to trigger a few thoughts.

First, I called my parents to find how many cities they knew in our neighboring countries. I documented my findings. The second call was to one of my college friends, who is preparing for some management entrance exams. The next thought was to check with a girl in same age window as my friend. So, I called my friend to find out, how many cities she was aware of. She was not available at that time so I called one school friend. It was interesting and unexpected to find that her knowledge was far less than that of a male in same age bracket. So be sure of this pattern for male and female gender, I called my elder sister and a colleague senior to me. To get this table prepared, I talked to about 10 people and four out of ten either did not have time to participate or did not respond to the questions. All of them to whom I talked on this are graduates and working at respectable places.

Though the sample space is too small, I think we can have one conclusion that we are very ill informed about our neighbors whereas, at the same time we know a lot about America and Europe which tells that we not ill informed about the world, it is just our neighbors who we don’t care much about. One more interesting finding was that, because we don’t hear much about our neighbors, we tend to forget even the little knowledge that we learn over time.

The irony is that we and most of our neighbors are always in news and the world is worried about us, and we do not even know as little as that capital of one of our neighbors (Myanmar) has been changed for about 2.5 years.

This indeed is a very humiliating discovery as well as a very important learning for all of us.

G12 (AFP) / G12 (AEP)

We are a group of 12 guys called G12. We never named our group, it was others who started calling us by this name. We liked the name to the group and so we took it.

My Roommate in college hostel was not a member of G12 and he was always confused about the nature of the bonding between the members. He admired it as well as doubted our group. Many times he tried to ask me about these doubts and wanted me to define the relationship. The best I have answered is a smile as I was not sure what words to use to define it. I believe that one could only feel friendship.

Today, the college is over. One of my friend got married and the other is getting married today. I was able to make it to the first marriage even when I was called on a very short notice. However, circumstances are not always favorable, as such I was not able to make it to the second marriage in our group. I dropped a mail to him and thought that I will call him today to explain the same. He called me first and thrashed me for not coming and not informing it, this late. It is then I realized that I should have informed him a bit more in advance. I was not alone to have done this mistake. There were two other members that did the same. I think we had a different perception and did not look into the seriousness of informing late. After all, we are not married or engaged to understand it that well, it is a problem as well as gift with bachelorhood that created the issue; in short we were not responsible enough.

I think the mistake is ours and the best part was that he called and he called to scold. I am indeed sorry buddy. Your call actually helped to define one aspect of the bond; the bond that I understand but I have been struggling to define all these years.

If we consider the first Marriage as a point in timeline, I can put the topic as G12 (After First Marriage or After End of Purity), hence the topic of the post ‘G12 (AFP) / G12 (AEP)’.

Sir! I am out in the open and will enjoy to answer every blow.

‘Oh! I feel sorry that your dreams to become a politician is shattered. I also know that you could not become one, nor this is the time and place.  So, please do not play politics here because I may not be great at politics but I am better than you, plus I am also a better risk taker’, these were the exact thoughts in his mind when he found what was going behind his back.

This was the second time when the same person tried to cross lines with him. He is sad that such people do exist, but also thoughtful if this was done unknowingly or willingly.  They needed to talk in both the cases, before they he decides either to draw lines or to draw swords. The irony was that he never wanted this kind of confrontation but at the same time he would gladly welcome a little change from normal.

The problem with some people is that they do not judge their opponent appropriately, in that case, they call upon themselves something they never imagined. His father used to tell a story of a mathematician. The mathematician had to cross a lake. There was sign board at the lake that said average depth of 3 feet. So the mathematician decided to cross the lake by walking as he was taller than 3 feet. He went and drowned in the lake. The problem was that the mathematician was monotonous in his approach. There was a trench in the river that was 10 feet deep. The sad part is that the mathematician did not apprehend the danger when he was walking in the parts that were shallower than 3 feet. He knew that just like the mathematician his opponent was totally unaware of any danger.

People like him only chose to fight when a fight is forced upon them, and when they chose to pitch in, they wage a war.

‘Lets see! I hope there be some fun in the fight if it becomes inevitable; I don’t know how the blow will come or when it will come the only thing I am sure is that I am out in the open and I will enjoy to answer every blow’, these were the thoughts in his mind before he went back to his place and started his daily work.

Only names change characters are the same

After working in IT service industry for several years, I have understood many things that are best understood when experienced.

One of my colleague who joined the company with me is seriously frustrated and is now planning to exit. His exit will be a loss for me not only as a headcount on work but also as a friend going away. He had full faith in the company’s administration, however, after recent changes in the administration he is shattered off his belief.

Below is one particular course of events that I suppose is one of the reasons of his disbelief in present system.

Scene I

One thing my supervisor told me was that a person is hired to fix things not just to report issues as issues are visible to anyone but the solution is what pays off. This is true. I took it as one of the most important lessons gained in my work experience. There are two things which I encounter I have to deal with, problems related to my work and problems in fixing these problems. As I understand my responsibilities, I am answerable to problems related to my work. For the second task, I have been provided a facilitator. So, if I have any issue which effects my work, I need to inform the Facilitator (Say Mr. F or Mr. f) for help. In my case, I have three such people, i.e., Mr. f1 and Mr. f2 and their supervisor Mr. F.

Same to me, he is hired for finding solutions to problems related to his work and he has been told from Mr. F, Mr. f1 and Mr. f2 that he has been doing it well. He is thankful for this testimony from Mr. F, Mr. f1 and Mr. f2 and assume that they do not lie, he believes that he has performing above average. As obvious, he has encountered many problems to fix things related to his work. Now, comes the role of Mr. F1 and Mr. F2. Thankfully, Mr. f1 and Mr. f2 are always reachable. They have arranged many meetings and earnestly listened to issues. In most cases, he has tried to add his views of a plausible solution when reporting the issue. Again, Mr. f1 and Mr. f2, have been very benign to lend me listening ears. As far as the meetings are considered, he has been extremely satisfied. He knew that after the meetings we all are in perfect sync to the issue at hand.

Scene II

Many days have passed and he has not heard of anything about the solution from Mr. F1 or Mr. F2. Either, he has been habituated to handle the problem or learnt to ignore it, but the problem reported is present and as obvious visible to anyone. With time he has have several of those problems accumulated and wanting solution. This is now effecting his productivity extensively and things he is answerable to are not being answered well or getting answered with lot of pain. It is then he realizes that Mr. f1 and Mr. f2, either are incapable to answer the issue or they are deliberately not addressing it.

Scene III

I am out of my company’s office premises for some company’s work. He along with rest of my colleagues who are equally frustrated from Mr. F, Mr. f1 and Mr. f2's inability or unwillingness to address issues, get an invite from secretary to head of the F clan, for a meeting to listen to issues if any. Everyone got overwhelmly happy. They all accepted the meeting request and reached for the round table meeting. In the meeting they spoke freely and completely. They put before the head of the F clan, most of the issues that they thought was necessary.

Scene IV

Something happened as Mr. F was furious and Mr. f1 as well as Mr. f2 was perturbed. Mr. F called for a meeting. Everyone was invited. People who could not have made it due to some or the other reasons, were also instructed to come to the meeting.

Scene V

We all  are in a meeting room. Shouting, Shouting, Shouting. There were three things he could make out in the meeting.

1. Mr. F shouted that it was not the platform to speak,

2. When people told that there was no other platform, they need something if round table meetings are not for it, Mr. F promised that there will be some meetings to address the concerns,

3. Mr. F did not keep his promise.

Scene VI

It is today. His decisions are made. He is waiting for a right time and preparing himself for the exit.

I am very sad as this will be the second friend at work that I will be losing. And probably, I could be the next. The only reason that I do not have any grudge is because I assume this to be present anywhere.

Hence the title, only names change characters are the same.

Donations for promotion of Education

Today one of my friends came back after appearing for FMS entrance examination. The good thing about FMS is that they, unlike other MBA exams, make the question paper public after the exams are over. So, instead of telling me about the test, he handed over the question paper to me. This guy had been my roommate in past. So, unless something extra-ordinary happened to him, it was clear from the question paper that this had not been a good day for him. Not even a fair day. Still, in-order to testify the obvious, I asked him, that whether the test was good or bad. As expected he replied to me that it was not good. However, the next line he told me was not one I expected. I thought that he will tell me that the test did not go as per his expectations. On the contrary he told me that he expected the test to go bad before he has given the test as he did not prepare for it.

On an average about 50,000 applicants apply to FMS and out of those only about 75 get selected. The annual fee is only about INR 10000. However, the application form costs about INR 750. Thus the revenue per year from application fee is INR 37.5 million where as the revenue generated by program fee is INR 0.75 million. As such the revenue by course fee is just about 2% of the total revenue. The rest 98% is generated by candidates who do not make it to the college. Assuming, no other grants or revenue by research, almost all of the money is coming is from the candidates who were not selected.

Thus when a candidates fails to get into a college, we may think that he/she actually makes a contribution to the college. My friend did it knowingly. He applied to the college knowing that he will not make it. Plus, he made sure, that he does not end up in the college accidently, by not studying for it. I believe, that his act is an example of selfless donation made to for promotion of education and educational institutions. Those who graduate from the college owe to him and others for the contribution.

Well done buddy! Hail philanthropy!

Production Support in IT companies based in India

I was Listening to song titled "Kandho se milte hain Kandhe" from a Bollywood movie "Lakshya" and realized the analogy in production support at night in IT companies based in India & soldiers going on war.

There is an outage call where a single Production support person is up against hundreds of Clients, Managers and other “Stake-holders” and then he decides the following “sathi maine dil me ab than liya hai; ya to ab karna hai ya ab marna hai”. The next line in the song is more important.“chahe angar barse ki bijali gire tu akela nahi hoga yara mere; koi muskil ho ya koi morcha sath har mod par honge sathi tere“. It is when a fellow team member pitches in to help.

War occurs when the highly paid diplomats and high profile politicians fail to come to a peaceful solution or they need more than what is possible by peaceful methods. War is inhumane and brutal. In war the soldiers actually die for a cause not very well understood to them. During the war soldiers are hailed as heroes and treated as great assets to the country. However, at the end of War, the soldiers who fought the war are forgotten. Rightly put are these lines in the song “jeet ki jo tasveer banane hum nikale hain; usme apne lahu se hame rang bharna hai“. Isn't this picture very similar to IT companies based in India who offer production support without proper employee care.

I salute to soldiers of all countries and I salute our Software Engineers giving support. Finally at the end of the “Client’s” day (EOCD) the support person gives the handoff to next shift. The best song describing the moment will be song titled "Hum laye hain kasti toofan se nikalke" from a Bollywood movie "Jagriti".

Terrible Mistake

Yesterday, I applied for XAT 2011 but did a terrible mistake on the application form.

I had been thinking since a long time to fill the form and send to XLRI. But due to some or the other reason it was getting postponed.

November 30, was the last day, so I could not have postponed more. I came back from office after a very long day at 2 AM at Nov 30th. I finally, Read the various notification and filled the form by 5 AM.

The form is filled in two phases. Step 1 was to fill a XAT form.  This is like a registration and after registration comes Step 2. This is choosing the course you want to study. XLRI offers BM (Business Management), GMP (Graduate Management Program) and HRM (Human Resource Management) with XAT exams.

For GMP, we need to have 5 years of experience.

I did a mistake. I chose GMP instead of BM and paid for it. I realized the mistake after I paid for GMP. I tried to find a way to correct the mistake. I think XAT does not expect applicants to chose wrong option as such there was no method available on website. The number provided on website was also of no help. So the only way was to send the application as it is and send a request mail to admissions department elaborating the story.

Below is the mail I sent.

“I was supposed to apply for BM instead of GMP. I realized the wrong selection after I did the payments for PA form.However, I was not allowed to change the option after that, nor was there any other method available on the website. I also tried to reach the telephone numbers (1800 102 1123  and 1800 103 1123) provided on website, but did not get a response. So, today being the last day, I have sent the form, to XAT office.

I only have 2.5 years of experience as such I am not eligible for GMP. The cost of application to BM is less than that for GMP. I do not want any refund, I just seek the change of option from GMP to BM. I am hoping, my application to GMP could be changed to BM.

Please help me get the options changed.”

It was indeed a very good lesson learnt. Last day rush are not very good.

I hope XAT will empathize with my situation and have the option changed.

Sorry kkand

(Double K in the title is a good luck charm as well as a reference to one character of the below story, wiz, KK)

It was indeed good to meet one of my old friends after over an year. Whenever, I come to my home town I visit my friends, who are there in town. Such meeting starts from two people and grows by calling the other people available to a common meeting place. This time we talked about an ancient story which is narrated below.

The Sorry "KKand".

Can you believe that someone could complain against on you for saying "Sorry".
This "KKand" involves following characters: AG, PK, KK, MAYA, SS, PCS, TEACHER1 and TEACHER2.

This is an old story, and dates back to the last year of last century of the previous millennia.
There were three boy AG, PK and PCS. These were not the ordinary boys. They were as wise as wizards, as smart as prince and brave.

PCS was a dreamer and master of such mystical powers which empowered him to make fictitious characters.
MAYA was one such fictitious character made by PCS. However, as AG and PK where themselves so wise that they could see through the spell PCS could cast. However, at moments they used to get worried for PCS who took Maya so seriously that he would treat it as a real girl. AG and PK only wondered if PCS is craving for a girl so badly.

PK was a very talented boy. One funny thing about PK was that when he was nervous his lips used to sake. PK was more like a playboy in spirit, but just a bit shy to express his feelings to anyone. He had a visage of a saint but with every possible scenario dancing inside his head. I bet, had PK put his thoughts in action, I would have ended writing "KKand" like this daily and that too with different characters starring alongside PK.

AG was wisest of all three and along with many mystical powers, he possessed one power that he was afraid of, incase used against PK and PCS, was his power to woo girls. PK and PCS were attracted to KK and SS respectively. AG never wanted to exercise his powers against his friends.

This story (more appropriately "KKand") is a story of Sacrifice and Love of AG towards his friends, PK in particular.

For sake of PK, AG agreed to take part in PK’s plan. The idea was to act a villain in between PK and KK, so that KK comes closer to PK and move as far as possible from AG.

The idea was noble but the thing they were against was very powerful (Mystical powers of AG). Had it not been AG himself it would have been rather impossible to implement this plan. So, moved by PK's plea, AG escorted the three of them to TEACHER1.

TEACHER1 and TEACHER2 were basically two clan head, head of two distinct and prominent school of thoughts. AG. PK, PCS & SS were of TEACHER1 clan and KK & her friends were of TEACHER2 clan.

Disciples of TEACHER2 clan were money minded and studied conservative philosophy. Rumors were that TEACHER2 clan also practiced witchcraft and the many of the numerous assaults on AG, PK and PCS were planned there. Not all in TEACHER2 clan were bad souls, however, groomed in such an environment, they became corrupt and miss-guided. There have been a few exception to this way of living in TEACHER2 clan, an example was one girl whom people in the TEACHER2 clan referred to as JLD; she was an exception, and she was as pure in soul as beautiful. As AG thought, she was an observer to AG's act and AG was her admirer. It was a wonderful and unique relation that even AG was not able to contemplate and wondered if she could have defined it.

Where as, the methods of TEACHER1 clan were more modern and free minded. They were more novel as well as noble. The followers of TEACHER1 clan were always eager to help others. They were benign and thoughtful for all. TEACHER1 people were highly intellectual. Even with all these powers and abilities, they gave heed to decisions of heart and for common good.

These boys clear at there heart revealed the truth before their clan head, TEACHER1. TEACHER1 was a mighty person with great wit, yet humble, kind and thoughtful. He listened to the plight of PK's heart and the noble intent of AG. He was moved by the beautiful thought of his disciples. PK told how he felt about KK and pleaded to TEACHER1 for help. It was a tough call for TEACHER1 as his acts were about to put him in direct confrontation with TEACHER2. TEACHER1 never wanted that to happen as it would have been a catastrophic event. TEACHER1 against TEACHER2 will be two major clans against each other. This will eventually force other clans to line up to one of the sides. Which ever side won, there would be bloodshed and harm to innocent people. People who are not even aware of the cause will be hurt. Obviously the mighty will be responsible for all this, i.e., TEACHER1 and TEACHER2. But as by nature TEACHER2 clan is devious and will not give a second thought before triggering this clash. So it is TEACHER1 who needs to be responsible in taking a decision. If he does something in whim it will be foolish and he will be blamed because he is the guardian of good and not TEACHER2.

TEACHER1 took some time to assimilate PK’s plan. Then with a sigh gave a node. He knew it could go all wrong and only he could save everything if he moves correctly and swiftly.

There was a gathering of all the TEACHERs from various clans at a place called the council of Titans. It was a common council where common laws and methods were formulated to avoid conflicts. At times individuals that did the "Direction offense" were tried and punished.  Direction offence was an offense were the accused not only breaks a common law but even sets an example that such breaking of law was possible and correct. Crime of these type were punishable with the highest penalty and were tried in the council. To set an example, the council members did the execution of the punishment in public gatherings.

TEACHER2 was on her way to the council. It was then when her clan headquarters were least protected. As planned TEACHER1 went in the dreaded zone and looked for KK. He met KK and praised her. He was delighted by the youth of KK and was happy for PK. He blessed her thinking that if every thing goes well, soon KK will be a member of his clan. While he blessed KK, some of the trainee witches of TEACHER2 clan were watching him, they wanted him to stay as they have already sent a messenger to TEACHER2 and they waited in anticipation for the drama when the titans will clash. As soon as the message reached TEACHER2, she was on a run, but she was late when reached. TEACHER1 was already out of the scene and was moving to the council, as it was there where he had to enact the next episode in the brilliant plan and he had to act fast. He had to strike and get out clean, before TEACHER2 could understand everything and create a havoc. TEACHER1 explained the council that the course of event that just occurred were purely bilateral affair and could not be treated as a reason of dispute between the clans. This matter was between clan of TEACHER1 and TEACHER2 and they should take over it. He convinced that any further development on this issue will also be bilateral and should be dealt without the council's intervention. This way he also saved the innocent bloodshed and chaos that TEACHER2 could have created by inducing a bipolar shift in the council. TEACHER2 reached back to the council just to know that she was again too late to do anything. The swift action of TEACHER1 and brilliant planning made this possible without putting anyone in harm's way. Now it was all up to AG and his group to take the queue and reach to conclusion. Moreover, it was up to PK, as he will have to stand up for his dreams. AG can always help him and being a born fighter & leader, AG could have won this war for him, but this was not his war so it should not be his victory. He hoped that PK would be able to do what he was meant to do and most importantly when he was meant to do.

TEACHER2 was furious and wanted a revenge. She asked KK to lodge a complain in the council which KK could not do. She has seen the light in TEACHER1 and read the untold message from PK. She knew she will have a flight out of this clan and will be free to explore the heaven with PK. And above all she knew that AG was backing PK. She no more belonged to TEACHER2 clan. She just told TEACHER2 that there was not enough evidence to support the complaint. She did this to sooth TEACHER2 and buy some time till the magic happens.

KK, AG, PK used to stay nearby and took the same route back to home. They used to board a big iron machine called "Z7" provided by the council. Z7 was a unique piece of engineering, innovation and in many ways mystery or to say it was a piece of magic. No one knew the origin of Z7 except a giant hermit with long hairs. We used to think that Z7 was as old as him. Z7 was magical, as it could accommodate any number of people. Everyone wondered how it worked and till when will it continue to work.

KK lived in a far minaret named after an ancient beauty. AG, PK and PCS used to see in awe the height of the tower and wondered how someone could live there. The tower was so high that last floor where KK lived was in clouds. When PK used to say that KK is from heaven, he meant it literally.

PK was feeling sorry for KK, as she was still in dark; he wanted to say sorry to her, but could not. So, the leader, AG took lead and conveyed this to KK. This made KK confused and sad. She was confused as why couldn’t PK come and talk to her and sad because she never expected that PK would need help to convey his feelings to her. Indeed, talking help in the plan was justified but here it should have been PK who should have talked. It was common practice in TEACHER2 clan to take advice from witches. KK told all this to one of the TRAINEE witches. The TRAINEE witch counseled KK to complain against PK, which she could not, so the TRAINEE witch plotted against AG. KK was carried away and she complained to TEACHER2. This was not much of a complain. How could one be tried only to say sorry. However, TEACHER2 got a chance and came to punish AG. Thanks to TEACHER1 that she was not able to touch AG.

All these characters were blessed with long life, and all these lived to see the next millennium.

PK and KK have a longer story now, but they still are undecided.

PK went to South and came back with knowledge of life and living being.

PCS went to North in search of Truth. As AG and PK thought, it was love that PCS believed to be the only truth. North revealed the truth to him.

KK went to various places and gained the skill to control material.

AG went to many and different places and gained unprecedented knowledge of many things.

Bought a place on www.

Yesterday, I registered a domain name on www.

Day before yesterday, one of my friend told me about his website. The website’s name was on his name. I thought him to be lucky to get a domain name same as his name when his name was one of the most common names in my country. There were 3 of them in my high school class, only. I though that either he was too lucky or he just paid some extra for the domain name. Whatever the case be, it gave me some hope of finding a domain name similar to my name, if not same; after all there was only one more guy with my name in my school. If only the probability has to be considered, I stood more likely to find one provided he found one. The second good point was that it was cheaper than what I had always thought. In couple of hundred rupees you get the domain name for the entire year, and you could get to sustain it for about same amount for the subsequent years plus some service charges.

So I googled the websites that provide domain name registration and chose one of them to look if my name was already registered or not.To my awe, I got my full name available for dot com domain name. I booked it, and paid the bill. In 24 hours I got a confirmation that the domain name has been registered. So, finally I got one on www.

This is was indeed a good experience, it was analogous to buying a piece of land in real world. As we book a land, we get a fixed address. On www, now I have a place, next I need is to build the building. I think, that either I need two months of intensive learning to build it myself or I would hire someone to help me out. However, this is yet to be decided.

As of today, what I am zealous about is that I have a domain name that is equal to my full name. Whenever or whatever, I will put on there; at least, I am now sure that I do not need to compromise on domain name.

Microsoft giving it free

Microsoft Essentials and Microsoft Security Essentials.

The most amazing part of these tools is that they are Microsoft products and still are available for free; just that your OS should be a Genuine Windows OS.

I just tried Windows Live Writer. This is my second post using this tool. The first one was a simple test if this is working or not. It is indeed very handy to write using the tool. Editing is done on a “MS Word” like page, plus, you can have your theme set in the background so that you know how is it going to look when posted.

Another change I have done was Anti-Virus Software. Earlier I was using, a software provided by my company. Now I have switched to Microsoft Security Essentials. Lets see, how well it goes with it.

Thanks to Google/Mozilla/Wikkipedia/etc etc, who have changed the concept in the market and we who have already paid so much on software are now getting these “genuine” payment advantages.

I hate Love stories

Yesterday, I watched the movie, “I hate Love stories”.

The only thought that came to my mind was I hate the story.

There was a girl (Simeran) and a boy (Raj) in love with each other. Now, a character named ‘J’ comes and falls in love with the girl. The girl forgets Raj and goes with J. J is heartbroken but happy that Simeran is happy.

At the end of the movie, it tries to convey that there was a happy ending. However, what about Raj, who, I don’t think will actually be happy.

The moment Raj, let Simeran go was when he was still in love with her. Their relationship, though broken, had its good memories still alive in Raj’s mind. Slowly both good and bad memories will fade away. As no new memory will be added, Raj will just be left with the present, in which he is not with Simeran. People say that with time his hatred will also fade and as he will be married and grow old he will completely forget Simeran or will laugh at olden days.

Actually, Raj will forget everything with time, but whenever he will be reminder he will only recall hatred. The only reason he will not avenge is that the returns are not satisfactory as against the stakes. The part he might laugh will be the hollowness of their relationship which was broken by complete stranger J.

That is why being “Raj” is sad, but being “J” is great and “Simeran” is enjoys both the worlds.

J: Enjoyed his life, had many “girl friend”, partied with Simeran friends, and married Simeran.

Raj: Worked all his life, loved Simeran but she left him, still happy for Simeran.

Simeran: She pretends to be as good as Raj but she is more naughty than J is.

Orkut Deleted...Facebook Deactivated...

On July 13, 2010, I deleted my Orkut account and deactivated my Facebook account.
Deleting these was unique experience.

I think the emotional content in deleting a social networking account is analogous to death.
I joined Orkut in my second year of college degree, i.e. I was born in that world. I only had one person in my friend list, the one who invited me, just like a baby who only has her mother when born. Slowly, I understood this world and learnt its ways. As I grew up my acquaintances grew. More people came in my contact. As the first year passed, I had many friends in my friend list and many of them used to talk to me on a regular basis. I was young in this world. We used to send messages & scraps to each other. I became member of various communities and actively participated in them. I also started one new community. I and my friends used to search, meet and woo girls on Orkut. We used to write almost everything in praise and send them as each other’s testimonials. Sometimes we had fights, where we used to group together and fight on some issue. Young on Orkut looked like the entire Orkut was mine. I did everything and enjoyed every moment of my youth on Orkut. But the truth was that I was growing old and so was the Orkut society. People became conservative. The environment and culture was not the same now. The entire Orkut went into a new era. May be it was I who did not change, but everyone else moved into a new culture. It was then that I stepped in later half of my life on Orkut. I was calm, thoughtful and modest. My scraps and messages reflected witty thought. The testimonial I sent were genuine and I only accepted those that described me as myself. Anything more or anything less in the testimonial looked like a wrong statement. I now felt responsible for my statements, comments and testimonials. I was too experienced on the Orkut to indulge in anything unfair. Day by day, my activities on Orkut were reduced. I was less frequent to the communities I had joined in my youth. We had started a private community with only close friends. Whenever, I was on Orkut, I used to check for messages and comments on that group. Most of the times I logged in to check for updates only on this community. It is true that when you are old, you only have a few close friends were you feel young, and all of them were in that community. Wapping memories of past come to life as you interact with them at such places.

Suddenly something unexpected happened. I found that one of my dear friends was missing from Orkut. News came like a setback to all of us and all were worried. We later discovered that his account was deleted from Orkut. He had a trifle fight with someone and they voted them out of Orkut. We suspected if he was innocent in this issue but still the penalty he paid was much more than he deserved. His demise from Orkut made us realise the fragility of our own existence. Though he came back, but he was not the same. I tried to contemplate as why I felt that he was not the same, but I did not find a reason.

Then one day, I was out of the Orkut. I had my Orkut account deleted.

With loads of unfulfilled wishes and undone work, I exited Orkut. The experience of that moment was indeed overwhelmingly emotional. I knew, I will not be able to come back again but at the same time I knew I cannot stay more. My exit was inevitable. The moment the decision was taken, any possibility of overriding the fate was gone. It took me a while to delete the account. I visited my communities, read my testimonial, recalled those who left before me and visited the profile of friends and family. I checked my fan list. I checked the total number of visitor to me till date and the number on that day. Though, it was senseless, but I accepted all pending friend requests. I prepared myself for the exit. Then I deleted it. One of the few mistakes was that I missed to save a community, where I was owner. I wanted to go back and correct it, but I could not. This was a unique feeling. I knew that there was a problem and I badly wanted to correct it. But at the same time I felt that this is no longer my problem nor was it my world anymore. In the midst of issue, I felt insulated from any harm.

I want to convey this to all my Orkut friends, but I am not there. So I posted this on my blog.
Those Orkut users who are blogger may read it and in some cases tell this to others on Orkut. Isn’t this analogous to a spiritual person reading the feelings of dead? Here, the bogglers with Orkut account are the connection between these two worlds, I am the dead and Orkut users who miss me are ignorant beings in the world of Orkut.

J