Motorcycles that don't Fall

So I've been toying with this idea for a very long time now, definitely more than a year. And so I far I haven't done anything about it except for writing it down on a piece of paper. But then I saw this and thought that the least that I can do is to post this on my blog. Unfortunately youtube has disabled embedded video, so you'll have to go to youtube to watch the video.

See the video before you read any further.

All right! I hope that the motorcycle terminators got hold of your attention. More interestingly I hope that you were impressed by their maneuverability, how these motorcycles/terminators skillfully tackled the obstacles, that were being thrown at them, without losing their balance.

It may seems like an act of genius, although with out a doubt it is, but the science of falling while turning is very simple. When a motorcycle is turning there are two forces acting on it; the centripetal force and the centrifugal force. Centripetal force pulls the vehicle towards the inside of the circle and the centrifugal force pushes the vehicle outside. For a perfect turn these two forces should be balanced. In other words if centrifugal forces is higher then the vehicle will fall inside and if the centripetal force is higher the vehicle will fall outside.

I hope you haven't dozed off already. OK! if you are with me till now then let me continue. :)

The challenge is to make sure that every single time someone takes a turn, or in case of the terminator motorcycles dodging objects at 50mph, these forces remain balanced. Meaning that these forces remain equal an opposite to each other (remember Newton's 3rd Law of Motion?). Because this mismatch of the forces will make the motorcycle to lose its balance. And this usually happens so quickly that by the time the rider realizes that he's about to fall he actually falls.

So what are the factors that are governing these forces and affecting the fall? Well, there are 2 factors namely ; speed of the motorcycle and the radius of turn. That means to prevent a motorcycle from falling or to ensure that the forces acting on a motorcycle are balanced while turning all we need to do is tweak these two factors.

All we actually need are a couple sensing device and a couple of actuating devices that can perform the following functions:
a. A sensing device to measure the radius of turn (we already have that kind of device - it's called lean angle sensor - all FI bikes have it as a standard regulation but for a different reason.)
b. Speed sensor (all motorcycles have a speedometer)
c. An actuating device that will control the front wheel of the motorcycle. (meaning it will increase or decrease the radius of the turn by bypassing the rider and turning the front wheel based on requirement) - this thing needs to be invented
d. An actuating device that will control the speed of the vehicle (meaning it will increase or decrease the speed by bypassing the rider based on requirement)
e. And of course a small computer that would interpret and analyse the data sent by the sensors and direct the actuators to perform the action in micro-milli-seconds.

So how will this work? Well, I'll explain that later, the post has become too long already.

Red Chilly Powder

My First ffffuuuu comic. This is partially based on personal experience. Meaning only the second block is true. Enjoy!

The Homecoming Part 2

continuing from where I had left a few days back...

6. Church: Thanks to Arvind, Karisa and their friend Jessy, for a brief period of time, I had good fellowship in a small church. The service was almost similar in structure to which I was accustomed to back in India. The people were very friendly, the atmosphere in the church was very warm and cozy and I did make a few friends there but unfortunately I didn't attend the church regularly enough and when after a gap of about 6 months I went there they had moved from there location. They should have updated their website at-least but they didn't and so I lost them. Later I started attending another church but it was more of a rock club called Committed Japan with Bible on the menu. There Sunday service was held in a coffee shop called Kick-Back Cafe (Sounds rocking! doesn't it? No, it's not.)

7. Autumn: To me autumn is much more beautiful than spring or sakura (in Japanese). Unfortunately I don't have autumn pictures to share right now. My current residence (notice the usage of word 'residence' and not 'home') in Sailer Komatsugawa (Higashiojima Metro Station) is located very close to Arakawa river and Nakagawa water canal. Arakawa has a very famous (and by famous I mean - It's a tourist attraction during spring season) Sakura tree belt on its banks whereas Nakagawa has clusters of Autumn trees on its banks (not famous). The scenic beauty of the trees on the banks Nakagawa in Autumn is beyond comparison with the what Arakawa has on offer during spring.

I always firmly believe that memories are not about places, it's about people and the experiences that you get to share with them. For me, unfortunately, Japan has been more like a place where I got to spent 2 years of my life but didn't get to share the experience. Anyway, it'll be over soon.

The Homecoming Part 1

Very soon I'll be back in India and Japan will fade into the memories of the days gone by. Overall I can say that this has been a mixed bag. I've missed my family, my church and friends. And the work on most days wasn't exciting. But there have been some things that I've liked and some that I'll miss in when I am back in India.

1. The first one without a doubt is Shinkansen (or the Bullet Train) - It is an engineering marvel. Just the fact that you're sitting in a vehicle that's moving at 300kph on land is amazing. I had a great desire to sit in the cockpit and see how it feels when everything seems to be coming at you at that speed, well may be later. You can check out the video that I had recorded at Nishi Akashi (Kawasaki Headquarters). I am really sorry that when Arvind came to Tokyo I couldn't take him on a trip in Shinkansen.

2. Mt. Fuji Trek - I took about 15 hrs to climb on top of Mt. Fuji last summer. From the foot to the peak Mt. Fuji is about 3700 mts. And I started trekking from Station 5, which is about 2300 mts. I know, I took too long to reach the top but the crater of a volcano is one of the coolest things to see. Japanese don't climb Fuji to see the crater rather they climb Fuji to see the sunrise at 3700 mts. For me, it wasn't great.
(Regret - I wish I could've seen some lava flowing or at least some toxic smoke coming out of the crater.)

3. Sushi and Wasabi- Yup the lethal combination of raw fish and the stingiest spice of the world. If you haven't eaten Sushi till now, take my word you've really missed something. And Sushi bars are amazing, I mean for all those of you who know and have heard about JIT systems or The Toyota Way, a Sushi Bar is the epitome of all the principles that are being taught in the institutions and are being practiced by organisations all over the globe.

4. Fireworks - If you ignore the journey to and the return back from the place where these firework festivals take place and a million people who come to the show, the fireworks are are a treat to the eye. You can check out the link and see a few pics of the fireworks but it's no where close to what I'm talking about.

5. Konami - Swimming and gyming were the reasons I had joined the club but I've made some really good Japanese friends there. Most people think that Japanese are introvert people and mind there own business. Yes, that's true but what's also true is that these people are really loving, friendly and helpful. I won't say they are funny because I don't get their sense of humor.

It's a bit late now, rest later...

Capitalism

I think that Labour unions are like cancer to the industries. Honda Motors and scooters India (HMSI) has been a 'victim' (notice the inverted commas - I'll come to this later) such labour unrest where the productivity of the factory has been severely hampered, which affects sales, which affects profits and which ultimately affects the salaries. And I think these unions are basically fighting for the increase in salaries. A simple relation that the unions have failed to understand. My complete sympathies for the management.

But this is just one side of the coin. What about the labour side? Frankly, I don't know the real issues that the labour unions of HMSI are facing. And actually this post is not about the labour issue of HMSI. It's about the company in which I am working. I won't disclose the name of my company but by the HMSI example one can fairly guess that I too am in a related industry (but I'm not working in another OEM).

My company made severe cost cuts in the name of recession in the beginning of this financial year. Stripping away the basic necessities such as Air conditioning in office space, stationary, allowance for mobile phones, transport in case someone had to make an official visit. Every new hiring now requires approval from the the M.D. Which has basically compelled the managers to force their employees to stay late night. Sometimes the employees are working for the entire night, then they go back home in the morning, freshen up and return to work (without overtime). Some of these cost cuts were not focused on actually cutting the expenses normally incurred by the company but were more or less cheap tricks to take out money from the employee's pocket. Apart from cost cuts, the company also introduced monetary penalties on its employees for delay in meeting a deadline.

Now somebody might say that it's justified keeping in mind that our focus should be on greater things, that we need to keep on going and survive this critical period and later things will return to normal. But wait till I tell more.

The marketing team of my company was in tremendous pressure from the management to get better prices from the OEMs. Since the volumes were 'supposedly' going down and the profits were decreasing. The marketing team worked hard and got better prices. Soon after that the raw material prices came tumbling down. As you might remember the crude oil prices that were over $150 per barrel same time last year are now around $50 per barrel. Almost the same thing has happened with all the other raw material prices globally. So now we have a situation where we are selling the goods at a higher price whereas our raw material costs are down by over 30%.

It's still justified, don't you think, considering that the volumes are down and the fixed costs are the same. Yes it is justified.

But, how about the fact that the volumes are much better. Maruti, Tata, Honda, Hero Honda, Bajaj, Yamaha and many other OEMs have in fact registered significant growth over the previous year in India in-spite of the on going recession.

There were some increments in the company recently at operator level and junior staff level. But they are like peanuts when you see the overall scenario. Management says that there will be no further increments. Reason - What if the recession comes back?

So basically at the end of this year all the hardwork, sweat, talent of passionate employees will get converted into serious money and will will go in one man's pocket. Coming back to the part where I had said that HMSI is a victim. Now if I consider a similar story in HMSI also, can I really say that HMSI is a victim?

Like, I mean, You know...

I read somewhere that Geniuses don't repeat what they say while others repeat what they say several times mostly by rephrasing their sentences without adding any new information in the process. If an ordinary guy, like me, has to explain something he or she will be repeating and rephrasing his sentences and conveying the information that he or she has already conveyed.

Anyway, I decided to conscientiously observe myself and others in order to verify whether or not this is correct. And believe it or not, it's true. All of us (including myself) use phrases such as - Like, I mean, You know etc. as starting or connecting phrases. I don't know why we do this, but we do. I also decided to see if this is because of the influence of contemporary cinema or television, but it isn't. The dialogues in movies and TV shows convey whatever they have to very crisply. I guess they have to, otherwise people will walk out of the hall or switch to another channel on TV.

I mean, I read somewhere that Geniuses don't repeat what they say while others repeat what they say several times... :)

Change of Plan

So it seem that the Lord indeed works in mysterious ways. Here I was all set to move to Hamamatsu in a few days. All of a sudden my organization changed its plans to open its new office. I decided that there is no point in staying in Japan anymore and now I'll be moving to India very soon. Honestly speaking I'm more excited with coming back to India than I was by moving to Hamamatsu.

To all my friends in India - See you soon.

To all the friends in Japan - Ja mata ne.

Updates

Last week I was on a business trip. Went to Osaka, Nishi Akashi and Hamamatsu. These cities are south of Tokyo towards the west Nishi Akashi being the last city in that particular direction.

The summer are over in Japan and the autumn has already begun. The weather is fantastic and reaches a maximum of 20degs in the day.

I'm moving to Hamamatsu soon, probably by the end of this month. Hamamatsu is called the music city as it has the headquarters of Yamaha Music Company. The presence of Yamaha Music Company can be felt the minute you step out of Shinkansen at Hamamatsu station. There's a beautiful jet black grand acoustic piano on display at the station and you are invited to play if you know how to. Just come outside the station and after about 5 minutes walk you can see a grand concert hall. I still haven't explored the city but I'm pretty excited already.

Another thing that you see at the station, just opposite the piano on the other side of the corridor, is the display of Suzuki's super sports motorcycles or the latest car launched by Suzuki. I think you already know what I'm about to say next. Suzuki Motor Corporation's Headquarter is also in Hamamatsu. Although there is no display of Yamaha motorcycles but Yamaha Motor Corporation's headquarter is also in Hamamatsu.

The atmosphere in Hamamatsu is pretty cool, you can feel the music in the air. I'm glad that I'll get a break from the maddening rush of Tokyo. Looking forward for my stay in Hamamatsu.

Love Story - Part 2

Gman: Hey DCat! I had to ask you something.
Dcat: Ok shoot.

GMAN TAKES OUT HIS REVOLVER AND POINTS IT AT DCAT

Dcat: (Screaming) NO!! I meant ask what you had to.
Gman: Oh! you better be careful with your words Dcat Ok
Dcat: (Phew) Ok.
Gman: Anyway, I just wanted to ask you about the picnic last Sunday. I hope you had fun.
Dcat: Well yeah! on one hand I had really had fun but on the other hand I was bored to death.
Gman: Oh! so you were multitasking huh! cool.
Dcat: No! I mean, I met so many new people so that was fun but it would've been better if there were a few friends. And you were busy running and jumping around with others.
Gman: I didn't know you were missing me so much. How about we hang out sometime tomorrow evening?
Dcat: Are you asking me out on a date?
Gman: Not exactly!! I got a new g-mobile and I wanted to show off.
Dcat: Ok!! let me see what you've got. See you tomorrow.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Dcat (to herself, while jumping on the bed): Yipppeee!!!

DCAT CALLS RTINI.

Dcat: Guess what? I am going out on a date with Gman tomorrow. Yippeee!!
Rtini: Way to go girl!

to be continued...

The Urban Guy

I always feel that I am lucky that I grew up in Delhi. Apart from good opportunities in terms of career, I think the atmosphere in Delhi taught me to be tolerant and open minded. During my growing years I learned to respect other cultures, opinions and most of all respect for an individual irrespective of caste, color or sex (Thanks to good schooling and progressive parenting).

So, I don't think that it's too much to expect that the people who have grown up with me in Delhi under similar circumstances, who have done their schooling from similar schools and who have well educated parents to be more or less like me when it comes to basic character and ethics.

Below is an abstract from a recent chat I had with an old acquaintance:

(We were talking about marriage in this part)

Me: tere end pe kya scene chal raha hai?
Urban: yaar kaam settle ho gaya to definitely next year
Me: sounds right vese bhi i guess 27-28 is the appropriate age i guess
Urban: dont know yaaaar i tell u one funda... :) girls are like fruits... first lot market mein aata hai 18-22 saal ka lucky guys get that fresh ripen lot
Me: then?
Urban: then second lot aata hai 23-26 saal ka usually used or smthg but still manageable phir aata hai last lot 27 - 30 saal ki ladkiyoon ka rarely good piece in the cart if u get one u r lucky otherwise accept it and move on :)
Me: OMG! Gurudev..
Urban: hehehe funde :)
Me: i don't have time for this rt now bt someday i'll love to know what exctly do u mean by "GOOD LOT" or if u can explain inshort
Urban: nothing for it good lot means good looking, fresh, .... etc etc just imagine a mango cart :) in mng, afternoon and eve
Me: u r treating girls like commodity man.. not the right approach . to find someone with whom u plan to spend rest of ur life with
Urban: lol.. not treating dude.. drawing analogy big diff the thing was.. that its better to find one by 26 otherwise difficult later on u took it in wrong sense LOL

After this I didn't feel like talking to him about this subject and digressed.

Urban is a guy of my age, grew up in Delhi, lives in one of the top residential location in Delhi, has done his schooling from a good school, is a shrewd fellow and has a successful career but I feel sorry to know him and I feel sorry for the mango he'll get married to.

Random Thoughts and Scribbles

Sometimes I feel guilty for not posting on this blog on a regular basis. I guess one of the reason is that I try to put what I think are my best ideas and thoughts, things that make sense and meaning, are complete, and if all of the above are in order then I need time to give words to those ideas so that every thing looks good.

All this has ultimately resulted in a nearly dead blog. But I can assure you that this blog is anything but dead, I'm always thinking about it, it's just a lot of stuff ends up just as a mere idea in my head or a scribble in the writer and saved as a draft. So, most of the time when I have a good idea either it's incomplete or it's not making much sense or I don't find enough time to put it in decent words.

I've decided to turn things around a bit and put those raw ideas into incomplete stories. Random thoughts even though they may sound stupid or ridiculous, things that come into my head, reflections, mental notes that I make while waiting for the train or while walking across a road intersection or while shopping. Things that I've learned, things that made me say Ahh!, perspectives, opinions, and many more things.

Just think that I'll be writing this to a friend to whom I just wish to say - I wish you were here.

Updates

Just managed to post something on the blog this month. phew! I am moving to a new city in Japan, it's called Hamamatsu (pronounce it as HAMA-MATSU) Yamaha and Suzuki headquarters are in this city. More on Hamamatsu once I get there.

Also today I saw Asakusa Samba carnival. I'll upload pics very soon.

Haven't you heard?

 

Now check this -

Michael Jackson was an Alien

NASA and many other space organisations have been looking at the skies above for many years now with an expectation that one day they will be able to communicate with aliens. Well, I've got news for them, for the last 50 years an alien (that's just the one I know, there can be many) was living amongst us. He was singing, dancing and making best sellers. Now, why would I say that? Well, that's the only explaination that fits all that we've seen in MJ over the last 50 years.

Let me start with the numerous Plastic surgeries. Well actually those were not plastic surgeries. In fact those were routine maintenance exercises that are required because he was an alien disguised as a human and the 'human suit machine' needed regular maintenance for wear and tear. Of course he got a new chin, a new nose, a new wig and eyes every time. Those upgrades were not his efforts to look better, those were technological upgrades designed by the aliens, purely keeping the function in mind. May be to our human eyes they were ugly and asymmetrical.

The Color, some say Skin Bleach and some say Vitiligo. Well, the truth is that it was neither. The only simple explanation is that the alien skin is very receptive to the pollution on earth. MJ's skin was becoming paler and paler as the pollution on our planet was increasing. How else would you explain a skin that turns from black to brown to pink and finally into white. (Ok may be it's not pollution, but it's still alien skin.)

The singing, never ever in the history of mankind there has been a singer who has been able to sell millions and millions of copies of CD's by singing in falsettos. I agree that opera singers sing in falsettos but who listens to them? On the contrary, we simply loved MJ's singing! I mean just think of it, if you and I (and by 'you and I',   I mean human males) try singing in falsettos people will laugh. But for MJ, we bought his CD's, cassettes like hypnotised minions. Or may be we were hypnotised.

I heard that Google, Twitter, Facebook, Wikipeida and every major website in this world crashed as the news about Michael Jackson's death spread. I don't think the internet went down because of the overload, instead I think that the aliens were paying a tribute to MJ and wanted the whole world to observe 2 minutes of silence in his memory. And so may be Google was right, it was an attack, of sorts.

I guess, I've made my point. Am I, forgetting something?? OH YEAH!!! The MOONWALK. Need I say more?

The Love Story

THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW DCAT AND GMAN GOT TOGETHER.

ATTEMPT NO. 1

AT THE CHURCH.

Dcat: Hey Gman!

Gman: What?

Dcat: No, nothing.

Gman: Nothing what?

Dcat: Nothing.. drop it

Gman: ok

Dcat: (to herself) This shouldn't be this hard.

ATTEMPT NO. 2

THE PHONE CALL.

(WHILE DCAT WAS ON THE PHONE PADDY WALKS INTO DCAT'S ROOM AND THIS IS WHAT SHE HEARD.)

Dcat: Hi Gman.

Dcat: I was just thinking about you.

Dcat: No! No! I am not joking

Dcat: Seriously.

Dcat: That'll be wonderful.

Dcat: Ok bye.

Paddy: Wow! girl what's going on with you two?

Dcat: No nothing. What are you talking about?

Paddy: Come on you can't fool me. I heard everything you just said on the phone.

Dcat: Oh no. You've got it completely wrong. This is what happened

Dcat: (dialing no.)

RING RING.

Dcat: Hi Gman.

RING RING

Dcat: I was thinking about you.

RING RING

Dcat: No! No! I am not joking.

HELLO THIS IS GMAN I AM NOT AT HOME RIGHT NOW.

Dcat: Seriously!

ANYWAY MY PHONE HAS A CALLER ID SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR NO. OR A MESSAGE JUST HANG UP AND I'LL CALL YOU BACK.

Dcat: That'll be wonderful.

THANK YOU.

Dcat: Ok bye.

Paddy: Oh!

Dcat: (to Paddy) Why is this so hard.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Look Alike

Meaningless existence

A few days back I saw this - http://hubblesite.org/gallery/   .

I was truly amazed to see such beautiful and fantastic pictures of the universe. The events that are occurring out there are simply beyond my wildest imagination. And I was happy because now with the help of this little piece of equipment we are able to see a glimpse of what is happening out there. All that came into my mind after watching these images was "Wow".

But at the same time I my heart was filled with sadness just to realize that there is so much more out there that we, the mankind, don't even know about. Not just that, when I think of the new discoveries and inventions in the field of science, arts and technology that are yet to happen. The things that haven't yet been conceived. I feel more depressed. Just to realize that when all this will happen, I would be long gone. All this made me realize only one thing, that this life is totally, utterly, completely insignificant. It's something like - You are asked to watch an amazing movie from the middle, in the first place, and then you are asked to leave the hall just when you start enjoying it.

Having said all that, I can say that if it wasn't for the assurance, that I have in my life, of meeting the creator of all that exists and the one who knows everything about the past, the present and the future. If it wasn't for the belief, that I have, that I can still have the answers to all the questions and I can still see it all even after I am long gone then I can only conclude is that life is not worth living, it's insignificant and no one can make a difference, no matter how hard we try.

Nostalgia

No More Movie Reviews

In my last post I got tricked into writing a movie review. Suffice to say that the hoopla that the movie and it's subsequent Oscar glory created was simply irresistible. I am going through a period of drought in terms of having creative ideas for the blog, so this time I am trying something completely different. Here are the 10 random things that I have in my mind right now:

1. I think it’s possible to believe in something and still fail to live up to it. A situation that I most often find myself in.
2. Buono Kamachi is the first Japanese abusive word that I have learned. I must mention that it's quiet creative. But I won't disclose it's meaning. About the usage - well it's used in an "all show-no go" situation.
3. Hardest thing to do is to keep posting on this blog.
4. If I ever make a movie based on this blog. The following are some possible titles: (special appreciation to Vishal for the suggestions)
• Janakpuri to Japan
• Gman Returns
• The G Knight
• The Curious Case of Gman
• Gman/Nixon
• Taare G-meen Par
• Gman- The Last Stand
• Xmen Origins- Gman
5. In this life conflict is unavoidable. You will do well if you are
• Physically strong or
• A good runner or
• The boss
  If you are neither of the above keep your mouth shut.
6. I am a quiet person.
7. For any given problem the best solution is always the simplest one. And only real geniuses can provide the most simplest solutions. One of the reasons I believe in Jesus, because he is the simplest solution to all our questions about life. And of course God is the ultimate genius.
8. One word to describe myself: Single :)
9. You don’t have to be sad to write a sad song, you don’t have to be in love to write a love song.
10. The purpose of this life is not to save the world but to get saved.

There you go, 10 random thoughts. Much of it might not make sense, anyway. And yes! I might write another movie review, if it's worth it.

Slumdog Millionare and Whatever

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Slumdog Millionaire won Oscars, how did this happen?
1. Slumdog Millionaire was indeed the best movie of the year.
2. American's love to watch Indian slums and poverty.
3. Danny Boyle cheated.
4. It was destiny.

Not surprisingly many Indians (including the Old B) think that this is definitely not the best movie of the year. I agree too. You see, we Indians are accustomed to such high intensity of melodrama that when movies like SDM are presented before us where almost everything is so subtle we toss it out. But in this case the movie went on to win BAFTA, GG and 8 Oscars and hence the controversy. If this movie was made by an Indian some of the scenes would've had a lot more intensity. One particular example, if the scene where Jamal and Salim lose their mother was followed by a really sad song with tears rolling down from the eyes of the (now) orphan kids as they walk on the roads with dead bodies, burning buildings in the background and with flashes of the moments of their mothers love. We would've applauded and marveled at the skills of the master director. There are many such opportunities in the film. But SDM does not get stuck, it just moves on. How could Danny Boyle simply let tremendous moments like these get by? What was he thinking? You see SDM cannot be the best because it completely missed out on such moments almost all the time.

Most Americans are Dimwits. They think that US is the center of the universe. And what else can boost their ego other than seeing the abject poverty in other countries. No wonder why 'City of Gods', a movie based on the life in Brazilian Slums was critically acclaimed by them. Of course, this year their judgment was completely flawed, they gave the best actor award to a gay and best supporting actor to a joker. But isn't it true that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder? Then if Oscars are the awards given by the American movie fraternity to the movie the deem best then who are we to complain. It's their movie and furthermore it's their award.

I must say one thing here, I have seen a lot of Hollywood movies and with some confidence I can assert that SDM is not the greatest Hollywood flick I have ever seen. So in spite of all it's natural flaws and short comings, how did this movie win 8 Oscars? In this case, all I can say to Danny, in words of Anil Kapoor (from SDM), "What a playa! Ladies and gentlemen. What a playa!".

Sometimes, you've got to give in to the elements of the nature. If I try to draw out the current global economic scenario, particularly in US and Europe as backdrop of the movie's release. I can say that the timing of the movie was impeccable. At a time when the entire rich part of the globe is looking at gloomy days ahead, probably this movie gave a message of hope. Again, the message was to the Americans and Europeans and not us Indians.

My First Snowfall

Good-bye, maybe?

Every time I posted a blog entry, I felt that this may just be my last post. And that I will never have any more ideas. But some how I managed to do come up with something or the other for the last 2 year, I can't believe myself. But after my last post, the comic strip, I feel all dried up. The future of this blog is in jeopardy. Let's see. All the best to me.

Good Morning

Even though our hero GMAN appears to be absolutely different in each comic block, please note that this is because I can't draw, so I picked up clip arts and cartoons from the internet. Please assume that it's the same guy in all the blocks. (Click on the pictures to enlarge.)

 

To The Best Within Me

This year I promise myself to achieve what I haven't even dreamed of.

This year I create happiness. A happiness which will not be achieved at the command of an emotional whim. A happiness which will not be the satisfaction of whatever irrational wishes I might blindly attempt to indulge. A happiness which will be a state of non contradictory joy - a joy without penalty of guilt, a joy that does not clash with any of my values and does not work for my own destruction, not the of escaping from myself but a joy of utilizing my full power. Not the joy of faking reality, but the joy of achieving values that are real. Not the joy of a parasite, but the joy of a producer.

This year I create possibilities.

This year I pursue my goals with out the interference of my body but the will of my mind.

This year I make a difference.

This year is dedicated to the best with in me.

Feliz Navidad!

The Christmas Story - Part 2

BINDU ENTERS.

Vanny: Sush !! I think the results of the auditions are out.
Bindu: No the result aren't out, but i was just listening to you two nitwits and had no choice but to come. You two know absolutely nothing about christmas.
Gman: What is she talking about bindu? that's all there is to chistmas - a couple of hunks, a few flying angles , a bunch of smart guys, a dude called Joseph and his wife Mary and a cute baby Jesus.
Bindu: No you idiots. this is not the story of christmas, it's not about the dudes or the hunks or the angles or the smart guys. It's all about the little baby that was born that night.
Gman: Wo!! sister you ain't gonna tell us that that little kid is the centre of the entire story.
Bindu: Yes it is. Christmas is the story of the birth little baby called Jesus.
Vanny: You mean Christmas is a big birthday party?
Bindu: Christmas is a reminder to the world that the massiah, the saviour was born on that particular night. While the whole world was sleeping a giant star rose and lit up the night, while the whole world was lying in the dark an everlasting light had shone.
Gman/Vanny: Ohhhhh!! But what about the angles, the sheperds and the wise-men?
Bindu: Do you what happens when a king is born?
Gman/Vanny: Well I guess, every-one in his empire celerates, people bring him presents and bow down at his feet.
Bindu: Exactly. For that night a king was born in a manger. As the son a poor carpenter, but the whole creation rejoiced and celebrated his birth. From the ordinary sheperds and the wise men on earth to the angels in heaven above. That's the story of Chirstmas.
The celebration of the birth of an everlasting light, the birth of a king, the birth of a saviour.
Gman: I wanna play Jesus

ABAL ENTERS.

Abal: Alright, alright! it's out everyone. The casting for the play is as follows: Paddy you will be playing mary. 

Vanny: Yo! paddy

Abal: Joseph will be played by (ahem) me. The three wise men are Rian, Shasha and Gaumau. The sheperds are Tjay and Vind and the angels are Bjam, Dcat and Bindu

Vanny/Gman: Hey! What about us?

Abal: Well I have two spots left for donkeys, if you like?

Extreme Sports

The thing I wonder about sky diving is - Why do they even bother with the helmet? Can you almost make it? You might even wear a party hat, what's the difference? When you jump out of a plane 20,000 feet in the air, the shoot doesn't open. I've got news for you, the helmet is now wearing you for protection. Later on the helmet's taking to another helmet is going - Boy I  think it's a good thing he was there, I would've hit the ground directly.

- Seinfeld

Ho Gayi Peer Parwat Si

Ho gayi hai peer parwat si pighalni chahiye
Is himalay se koi ganga nikalni chahiye

Aaj yah deewar pardo si hilne lagi
Shart lekin thi ki ye buniyad hilni chahiye

Har sadak par, har gali main, har nagar, har gaon mein,
Haath lehrate hue, har laash chalni chahiye.


Sirf hangama khada karna mera maksad nahi
Saari koshish hai ki ye soorat badalni chahiye

Mere seene mein na sahi to tere seene mein sahi
Ho kahi bhi aag lekin, aag jalni chahiye.

by - Dushyant Kumar

The Christmas Story - Part 1

Gman: This is total bakwaas man. Christmas ain't for us. It's for kids man with santa and all. So why are we here auditioning for this christmas skit man?

Vanny: Shut-up man! I am thinking of getting into Hollywood and this skit is gonna be my first "big break".

Gman: What are you talking about man? Let's go to the mall and check out some hot chicks.

Vanny: It ain't a small thing man, it's Christmas man Christmas.

Gman: but but but.. vanny it's a beautiful night and the girls ain't gonna wait for us. You are breaking ma heart bro.

Vanny: Shut-up man! I just wish we get a part in it. Every character in the story has a very important role to play.

Gman: Like what?

Vanny: Like the sheperds and the angels.

Gman: What about them?

Vanny: You don't know nothing about the sheperds and the angels do you? You buddhu! Listen, sheperds are pretty cool folks and they have like hundreds and hundreds of sheep and they can control all of 'em with a small flute and they have huge muscles.

and the angels, they wear silky robes and they have wings and they can fly anywhere man also they are very pretty.

Gman: Surely, you ain't gonna become anyone of those man you ain't pretty or have huge muscles! but it sounds pretty cool. 

Vanny: Kiss my chaddi man! I ain't gonna say anything to you now.

Gman: Oh man come-on I was just joking. what about the other characters?

Vanny: You better be careful man. You are talking to the next Tom Cruise. Anyway, the story also has 3 wise-men. These guys were like the computer geeks of our times and they were very rich. They could read the stars in the sky and travelled to lands far-far away.

Gman: Wo wo wo!! That's what ma mum wants me to become. smart-rich-and out of her sight. 

Vanny: Do you what it takes to be smart and rich

Gman: No, wha?

Vanny: Brains! you buddhu.

Gman: Oh man! I want to play wise men. Let's play the wise men.

Vanny: Cha! I ain't playing no wise man or the sheperds or the angels.

Gman: What are you talking about man?

Vanny: You see Paddy is playing Mary man so naturally I'll be playing Joseph, you know what I mean. (Wink-wink)

Gman: Oh man! I don't wanna be playing the three wise man all on my own.

To be continued...

Ultimate DVD Collection

GMAN AND VANNY WALK INTO A CHURCH BUILDING

GMan: This church is huge man.

Vanny: Yeah! It is.

Gman: It makes you think isn't it.

Vanny: Yes the eternal question - What are we doing here on this planet?

Gman: No! I mean what are we doing in this building?

Vanny: It's Christmas man.

Gman: What do you mean by that?

Vanny: It's a festival. You do know what Christmas is right?

Gman: Kiss my underwear man! I'm not a fool. I know what it is. It like Valentines day.

Vanny: Absolutely right. It's a bit like valentine but instead of a girlfriend you get santa.

Gman: Woh! A festival with an old man with big belly and a long Beard. Wicked!

Vanny: Yeah man that's why we are here, but that isn't why we are actually here you know why we are here on earth, you get it?

Gman: No man.

Vanny: Listen up while I educate you. Our religion is like the re-cycle machine you see, you are created, you do wicked things, you die and then you God checks you and puts you into heaven or hell.

Gman: No man! I didn't get it.

Vanny: You see man, born as an angle means the you are released in a new format.

Gman: Yeah I know what you are talking about. Say like I am like a 12inch Simon and Garfunkel gramophone record right.

Vanny: Absolutely and then God checks your music and if he finds you holy and massive he re-releases you as a CD.

Gman: Woh! But what happens if He doesn't like Simon man?

Vanny: Then you come out as T-Series audio tape with Sonu-Nigam and Anuradha Paudhwal as playback instead of Simon and Garfunkel.

Gman: Eww... man that blows.

Vanny: Yeah!

Gman: So what's heaven man?

Vanny: You see God checks the sounds of all the records ever played and if you are groovy then you are played at the highest possible level man - a DVD-ROM.

Gman: That's cool man, So heaven is like God's Ultimate DVD collection man. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

Vanny: Yeah man and that's the answer to man's eternal quest.

Opportunities

If someone prays for patience, does God give him or her patience or the opportunity to be patient?

If someone prays for courage, does God give him or her courage or the opportunity to be courageous?

If someone prays for the family to be close, does God bless him or her with warm fuzzy feelings or does he give him or her the opportunity to love each other?

Evan Almighty

One Step Closer to Economic Equilibrium

I couldn't have found a better background score for this post. Just play before you read.

 

Tyler Durden: 3 minutes. This is it, ground zero. Would you like to say anything to mark the occasion?

It's getting exciting now. Two and a half.

Think of everything we've accomplished man.

Out of these windows we will view the collapse of the entire Financial Industry.

One step closer to economic equilibrium.

Arguably capitalism is the best social-economic structure of society that mankind ever developed. Its basic essence being that it is ever changing and evolving but gives no second chance. An arena where cut-throat is good and those who cannot adapt themselves to its ever evolving character are eliminated.

Here we are now - at the brink of an evolutionary breakthrough in the world of capitalism, as we know it. In a span of less that 6 months, the entire Financial Industry, the very soul of capitalism, is on its knees and is begging for help. There is no single victim here, the cataclysmic effect of this downturn has had victims on a global scale. And as the governments of the world put there heads to end the problem it might just be the end unilateralism as well.

The modern model of capitalism has failed along with various other models of communism and of totalitarianism and definitely anarchism has never been a solution to our problems. Why then are we holding on to capitalism?

It's time to move on, it's time to look into the future with fresh perspective, new ideas and a desire to change. We must consider this event as an opportunity to think about a new world and build it on virtues that have, perhaps, long being forgotten - kindness, selflessness, humility, compassion, intelligence and love.

It's time to wipe the slate clean and give everyone a fresh start.

Japan Little

Japan is a little country made of 4 little islands inhabited by little people that have little eyes. They live in little houses that have little cabinets for their little clothes and their little shoes. They sleep on little beds in night and they drive little cars in the morning. They work in little offices and eat food packed in little boxes. They are happy in their own little world and give little thought about the world outside.

Hear the Sounds of Silence

And In the naked light I saw,

Ten thousand people may be more,

People talking without speaking,

People hearing without listening,

People writing songs that voices never share

And no one dare

Disturb the sound of silence

Ever been with a friend who was going through a rough patch, may be lost someone he loved, you asked him how is he feeling and he said that he is fine. But you could just tell the truth by looking into his eyes? Ever trembled when your dad looked at you in anger and preferred that he yelled at you instead? Ever wondered who teaches a new born baby how to tell his parents whether he is good or whether he needs their attention? Ever wondered why we all laugh the same way, cry the same way. Our anger, hatred, jealousy, confusion, anxiety, sorrow and thousands of other emotions are expressed in the same way - across the globe?

I am sure that you wouldn't be surprised to know that almost 90% of human conversation is non-verbal.

My grandmother once told me that Akbar-the-great believed that Arabic was a divine language and if a new born baby was kept in solitude he would end up learning Arabic on his own because it comes from up above. So he did an experiment. He took a new born child, kept him in isolation for many years, no human contact - only to discover that Arabic was not the language that God's speak. But I am sure that that child would've still known how to cry and laugh. Something that Akbar overlooked.

I am sure that if there was a common language in the pre-tower-of-babel-era it was a language without sounds. Nobody had to learn it, people were simply born with it. A language so refined, pure and perfect no wonder it hasn't changed over the centuries. This sound of non-spoken words is much more louder than a scream. Shh.. can you hear it?

The Prophecy

The global economy is in a horrible shape. This is no longer a news to anyone, anymore. Everyone is making predictions about the future. So will I. Here is my take on the future -

Do you remember those sci-fi movies where the protagonist suddenly realizes the truth, or wakes up from a coma or is enlightened suddenly about the reality in some way or the other only to find out that the world, as he knew it, does not exist anymore. There was some event that lead to a unified world, a single government.

Be it a common enemy like AI or aliens, be it a natural catastrophe like global warming or worldwide earthquakes, be it a world war that lead to a massive nuclear holocaust or a biological war, be it anything. But it was on a global scale and it destroyed the world. The result was a single unified government or a company running the whole world.

Is this break down of global economy pointing in that direction?

I know I am wrong but I could be right.

The Weekend Adventure: Doing the Thing

Gman and Vanny are sitting quietly in there rooms on what looks like a dull Saturday evening.

Vanny: I am bored. Let's do something, I can't sit here anymore.
Gman: Great! Where do you wanna go?
Vanny: Let's eat outside.
Gman: Ok, where?
Vanny: I don't know I am not hungry.
Gman: We can go to the coffee shop.
Vanny: Nah! I don't feel drinking coffee or something.
Gman: Let's go to the movies then.
Vanny: No! It's against my principals to go to a theater.
Gman: Rent a movie?
Vanny: Nah! Same thing.
Gman: Let's go to the mall.
Vanny: I don't like the malls. They are boring.
Gman: Ok, let's watch t.v.
Vanny: That's boring too.
Gman: Let's go out for a walk in the park then?
Vanny: No, it is too polluted outside.
Gman: Wanna switch places?
Vanny: No way. your part of the room is so untidy.
Vanny: Why is life so stressful? Why O why?
Gman: Let's go to the roof and I'll give a nudge from the edge.

Karaoke Adventure

 

When the legendary singer Tansen sang in the courts of Akbar the Great; at first all the lamps got lit, there was light, and then came the rain and all the lamps were off. The rain however continued until every one in the king's court was drowned and dead.

Well, all I mean is that I can do better than Tansen.

Check out the latest Gman adventure - Karaoke recordings. Prepared to be blown? Click the link below:

http://www.karaokeplay.com/profile.php?id=32568

Enjoy

Updates

Not all ideas that come to me get converted in to blog post. Some of them simply end up being drafts and wait for me patiently. I laid my eyes upon them recently and completed a few of them. So, if you have time go through the entire blog, you may find a few new articles.

ABC

Most people who know me would confirm that I love traveling. A lot of my good memories, certainly the ones that I cherish the most, have been while traveling long distances. I think, traveling brings out the best in me. A lot of my blog posts are an outcome of ideas that came to me while traveling, of course the remaining came to me when I was in toilet.

These days I have purchased an i-pod and so I have started listening to a lot of music while traveling. On one such occasion as I was coming back from office I started humming and this is what came up.

(Of course, not the entire thing but just the idea. Most of it was improvised later and I know that someone else can do a lot better job.)

Anyway, here it goes...

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound of

Blessed assurance that Jesus is mine so

Come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, because the

Day of the Lord is at hand; and 

Everybody ought to know, Everybody ought to know who Jesus is. He is 

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature and I give

Glory to His Name and wonder

How great thou art, how great thou art and

I will sing all the mercies of the Lord forever I will sing for

Jesus I adore you lay my life before you how I love you because

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You, there is no greater thing. You are the 

Light of the world, you stepped down into darkness, open my eyes let me see.

My Jesus, my saviour, there is none like you. Just because of you I have

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, and my heart sings

O what a wonderful wonderful day, day I will never forget. As we are standing on the 

Promises of Christ my king and There’s a

Quiet understanding when we gather in the Spirit that makes our Hearts

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice for I know that 

Salvation belongs to the Lord, who sits upon the thrown. And O Lord, I know that

Thy loving kindness is better than life. I bless the day when

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. and He was

Victorious! Victorious! Christ has arisen glorious And so we say

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same. All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!

Try not to sing while you read it. Oops too late..

Deal!!

Usually, Gman doesn't buy new stuff. The reasons being obvious, you might have noticed in the previous blog posts. So, Gman mostly uses Vanny's stuff or has to buy from him in case Vanny banishes Gman from using his stuff.

Recently Gman was interested in buying Vanny's wedding ring.

Gman: That ring is awesome man, I want to buy it.
Vanny: Sure man, anything for you.
Gman: I'll give 20,000.
Vanny: 25,000
Gman: 22,000
Vanny: 24,000
Gman: 26,000
Gman: No! 25,000
Vanny: 25,000
Gman: Deal!!
Vanny: Deal!!
Gman: (to himself) ha ha ha (sinister laugh)
Vanny: (to himself) ha ha ha (sinister laugh)

LATER THAT DAY...

Paddy: How could you sell my ring?
Vanny: Don't worry, I'll steal it back.

SOMEWHERE ELSE (AT THE SAME TIME)...

Gman: Damn it! I could have stolen it.

The Weekend Adventure: The Fuji Experience

ON THE MORNING OF 16TH AUGUST. PADDY IS READING HER FAVORITE NEWSPAPER.

Paddy: Vanny! did you read this piece news in the paper? Is it fools day today? I feel sick and delusional.
Vanny: No, I have not, what is it can you read out aloud?
Paddy:
_________________________________________________________________________________________

The Gman Times

Tokyo, 16th Aug 08: Gman conquered Mt. Fuji on Indian Independence day. This unparalleled feat was accomplished ...

___________________________________________________________________________________________

DCAT COMES RUNNING.

Dcat: Did you read todays headlines?
Vanny: Yeah! I can't believe it.
Dcat: Yeah! So can't I. The world is coming to an end tomorrow. I better do all that shopping that I have been planning.
Vanny: What! No, read this... (Gman conque.... )
Dcat: Is he going to be on TV? I better go to the beauty Parlor before the TV guys come.

VANNY CALLS GMAN ON PHONE.

Gman: Hello, Gman here. How may I save you today?
Vanny: I just read the news paper.
Gman: Yeah, man it's awesome isn't it?
Vanny: Yeah, but is it true?
Gman: Of course it is true man, the world is coming to an end.
Vanny: No. The news about you climbing Mt. Fuji yesterday. It's today's headlines on The Gman Times.
Gman: Oh! really I better put on my superhero underwear costume before the TV guys come.
Paddy: Please, take me to church now.

AT THE CHURCH.

Abal: Did you hear that tomorrow the world is coming to an end?
Paddy: Yeah, we know and also that Gman climbed Mt. Fuji.

The Weekend Adventure:At the shopping mall

The weekend adventure continues...

Gman: Then I went to the shopping mall.
Dcat: What did you buy?
Gman: I have been wearing the same underwear for a while now, so I thought it's time to buy a new underwear. Also Vanny's underwear sucks.
Dcat: The world has been trying to tell you this for a long time.
Gman: I bought the latest design, with latest technology, a top brand and no compromise on cost.
Dcat: I am sure you would've found them.
Gman: Yeah! Look at this, I bought a class one underwear. Best fabric known to man. It's antiperspirant, wrinkle free, smooth as silk and much-much more. Its a whopping 5000 rupees underwear.
Dcat: Then why aren't you wearing it?
Gman: It's not my size.


The weekend adventure will continue...

The Weekend Adventure:At the movies

Obviously, a great adventures begins on a week-end.

Dcat: Hi, gman so what did u do this weekend.
Gman: Hey! I watched this really amazing movie.
Dcat: Which one?
Gman: I actually forgot the name of the movie but it was really awesome.
Dcat: So what was it all about?
Gman: Well, it was really great. You see in the beginning everything was fine but then weird stuff happened and everything got messed up and finally in the end everything was back to normal.
Dcat: Ohho! gman now you've spoiled the movie for me....

The weekend adventure will continue...

Setting things straight

About three years back when I was in my final year of college a friend gave me a pack of DVD's of FRIENDS, the famous television series that captured the heart of all America in late nineties.

Well, the series is pretty entertaining, I must say. I copied all the episodes on my computer and started watching FRIENDS pretty regularly. Even after college when I started working I was still watching Friends pretty regularly. During dinner, during holidays or whenever I had nothing better to do.

One night as I was having dinner I switch on one of the episodes of Friends. The episode was about events leading to Ross's wedding with Emily (the British Chippie) in London and the scene was in Central Perk. Monica and Rachel were sitting and talking and Rachel was telling Monica how hard it is for her to accept the fact that Ross is getting married to someone else and that she still had feeling for him and even though they were not seeing each other she always hoped that someday they'll be back as a couple. And that it is so hard to see somebody you love getting married to somebody else.

Tears were rolling down the eyes of both the girls as Monica hugged Rachel to comfort her. And as the scene lasted for about 50 seconds, I too started thinking of how hard life can be. I mean after all life is to love and be loved.

Enters, pregnant Phoebe in the scene. After a regular “Hi! Hello". Phoebe asks, "What are you girls talking about?". Rachel replies that she was just sharing with Monica about her feelings about Ross' wedding and how hard it it for her to accept that Ross is getting married to somebody else. And that for her it is a big problem.

"Oh! it's just the same when I was a child." says Phoebe.
"Except not!" she continues.
"What are you saying?" replies Rachel.
"Yeah! you see when I was growing up my mother had killed herself, my father had run away, I was forced to live with a mad man who spoke to his hand and when I was a teenager a man asked me to sleep with him in exchange of food." said Phoebe.
"I totally understand what you guys are talking about." she concluded.

Seldom have I been stuck between my eyes like this.

"If you lose your parents, if you have nothing to eat, if you have nowhere to live - then you have a problem. Everything else is mere discomfort."

Life is full of ups and downs. It is sure a bumpy road, this life. But one should learn to understand the difference between a problem and everything else.

Just as a broken heart and a heart attack are not the same things.

Business of Life

This is a fast paced world. Believe it or not all of us have a desire to be amongst the leaders and to get noticed. And I am no better, than all of you who are reading.

I am always in a hurry and always late. I have a convenient mode of transport, my Alto. Over a period of time my Alto has experienced the heat of my haste. Once the bumper on the back got damaged because I was getting late to go somewhere and did not carefully take it out from the parking area. The headlight has been broken once because once at a traffic-jam very close to my destination, I lost my patience and banged it into a truck. And craziest of all was once again in a traffic jam, there was some space between two lanes and I thought I can squeeze into that space and get right ahead, I ended up scratching my car with 10 other cars on the way, both sides. That day I somehow managed to save my life. Everybody was furious and almost ready to pound on me just waiting for someone to start. It didn't happen.

Although, now I drive more sanely now and I got my car repaired and right now I am pretty sure that I will not try that squeeze act again. After all it's a car not Mr. Fantastic. Not only just me but all of us are in some way or the other alike, rushing here and there, always in a hurry, always panicking, always late. We are not maniacs, are we? No, we are just simple people who take up more than what we can handle. We want to do everything in life, which is good, but at what cost?

There is a trade-off here that I must identify in the business of life. We sell our life today to buy our life for tomorrow, which never comes. 

I recently read something that gave an insight to this business we called life.

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his soul?" 

(Mark 8:36: Bible)

Think about it. It changed my life.

Birth of a Super-Hero

This is the tale of a simple boy called G and how he became the Gman:

G: I was sleeping last night and all of a sudden I fell down from my bed and now I have a huge bump on my head.
Dcat: Oh that's awesome. I think that might have given you some superpowers as well.
G: You think I am stupid?
Dcat: No, You think you are stupid and I just agree with you.
G: On second thoughts, I think, I did get some superpowers.
Dcat: I told you so, tell me what you've got?
G: I can listen to people's thoughts.
Dcat: Can you listen to my thoughts right now.
G: Yeah it seems you want coffee.
Dcat: Yeah, and just 2 spoons of sugar.
Gman (to the rescue): Ok

Later that evening.

Vanny: Do you know what I am thinking right now?
Gman: Yeah, call paddy for that.

Mala-maal

Finally blogging is paying off. After more than six months of blogging and opening my adsense account; I today accidently checked my adsense account and look what I found (see pic) I have earned $0.81.
Looks like I am all set to be a millionare. :)
I am all pumped-up to revive my blog now. Since now I have the motivation to make millions from the blog.
And a request for all of you guys, whenever you come to my blog just spend sometime in checking out the google ads link on the left hand side of the page.

English speaking

One of my favorite genre of jokes is making a mockery of the English language. Here is a collection:

1. All of you stand in a straight circle.
2. There is no wind in the balloon.
3. The girl with the mirror please comes her. (Means: girl with specs please come here).
4. To a boy , angrily: I talk , he talk , why you middle middle talk?
5. While punishing students:
You , rotate the ground four times.
You , go and understand the tree.
You three of you stand together separately.
Why are you late - say YES or NO .....(?)
6. Inside the Class room:
Open the doors of the window. Let the atmosphere come in.
Open the doors of the window. Let the Air Force come in.
7. Cut an apple into two halves - I will take the bigger half.
8. Shh...Quiet , boys...the principal JUST PASSED AWAY in the corridor
9. You , meet me behind the class. (Meaning AFTER the class.)
10. Both of u three get out of the class.
11. Close the doors of the windows please. I have winter in my nose today.
12. Take Copper Wire of any metal especially of Silver.
13. Take 5 cm wire of any length.

How many do you know?

OK enjoy this English but don't forget your English.

The Boy Who Held His Hand

They gouged them out;
At first I could not bear to look.
Empty and raw and cruel;
I would not look, the shock of emptiness knowing that he would not see;
I watched the shaven head bowed low,
Rocking with the rhythm of the grid stone,
Round; round; round,
I watched the needless shackles;
Heavy and hard;
Biting the flesh that needs no binding
Now! it does not matter
That his eyes are gone;
I am his eyes,
He sees through me;
He has to see through me
There is no other way;
And i have wept the tears he cannot weep;
For all those careless years;
And i've learned to love this broken man
While he has learnt at last
To fear his God!
So i am not afraid to die
Happy to be his eyes
This one last time
Taking his hand
Leading with practiced care
Step by guided step
Leading to a place where he can pray
Oh! Lord Oh! soverign Lord,
And as the pillars fall
I cried...AMEN

AUTHOR: UNKNOWN

Updates

So it turns out that people who have boring lives have interesting blogs. Lately my life has been pretty intresting and as a result no time to update my blog. This post is out of a complusion and a promise that I made to myself that I will write at least one post a month. I guess once I go back to Japan I will have plenty of time to write, so I better spend this time doing something better. Rest from Japan, which will be next month.
Oh! by the way another update... Vanny and Paddy are actually getting married this month and guess what I am the best man.

Konichiwa

For quiet sometime I was thinking of writing something on "Life in Japan" but I wasn't inspired enough, until this trip.

I wrote a part of this while I was in the Bullet train, :) :) (Its called the Shingasen.) We took Shingasen from Tokyo to Nishi-Akaski (Kawasaki Headquarters), that's north of Tokyo and then we went to Hamamatsu (Suzuki and Yamaha Headquarters). The best part of Shingasen is that you don't feel a thing no noise, no vibrations nothing. They serve liquor in the train :) You can never estimate the actual speed unless they display on the board. Surprisingly there were no seat belts, Wonder why? And when the train really catches up speed you sometimes feel the strange sense in the ear (similar to the one that you feel when a plane is landing) or may be I was the only one who got that feeling!! Singasen moves at around 300kmph and in the past 44 year history of Shingasen there have been no accidents. We covered over 700 km in less than 3.5 hrs. Simply amazing!! In India it would've been a day's journey. Again, they must have seat belts at such high speeds. Usually when 2 Shingasen pass each other there is a jerk, which is not good (I am not criticizing, just that if you are sleeping you get up because of the jerk.) Well I think even the best of engineers can't get rid of it. After all, no mater what, you still have to work within a definite time frame and a limited budget. Even in Japan. I think this jerk is because of the sudden low pressure area that is created between the 2 trains (passing each other at such high velocities.) that it throws them apart. The train has a wing kinda structure on its roof above a few coaches. I guess it has something to do with aerodynamics.

Okay! enough of Shingasen...

I saw Mt. Fuji. as well. Japanese called it Fuji San (they respect it). It erupted 300 years ago so categorically it's not a dead volcano. It's just sleeping'. How to identify Mt. Fuji? Well! you just have to look for a mountain with snow on top. Wonder if they come up with some adventure sport where you can ski on Mt. Fuji.



Nishi-Akashi is also called Kawasaki city, because a lot of credit goes to Kawasaki for bringing the city in the world map. next stop was Nagoya where we switched trains to reach Hamamatsu. Nagoya is the Toyota city, same reasons of course.

My pit stop for the evening was hotel Heitetsu in Hamamatsu, its called the Suzuki city, need I say why? The hotel room was amazing, its wasn't the typical Tokyo hotel room, which are like rat holes. It was huge and I was told by Suganuma San (a Japanese associate) that they were trying to book a single seat room for me, but the rooms were full, my good chance. After almost 10 days I really got to spread myself. But the best part was not the room, it was the food.

We went to a traditional Japanese restaurant, where you get to sit on mats right in front of the chef. We started off with raw fish :) Tofu. It's an extremely poisonous fish and people die if it's poison is not removed properly and you have to get a license to serve Tofu. Raw Tofu was extremely delicious. I wouldn't have imagined eating raw fish 10 days back in India and there I was eating and relishing the moment. What followed was an amazing round of food that I had never experienced. Next on the menu were baked crabs, followed by fried oysters, boiled Tofu, beer, boiled sea shells, fish eggs, Japanese wine Sake (pronounce as Sakey). Sake is served in a unique way. They'll serve Sake in a beaker placed inside a wooden container. They keep on filling the beaker until it overflows and fill the wooden container too. Sake has a sweet taste and it's very mild. Its made from rice. I am pretty good with chop-sticks now but the language has a far way to go.

The restaurant bill.. 60,000 yen. Wow!! that's 20,000 Rs. You say 20K for a dinner for 5. I'd say impressive.

I came back to my hotel room after an amazing day and glanced outside the window. The view was really beautiful. Looks like the city is all set to celebrate Christmas and welcome the new year. There were lights all over the city sidewalks. Dead Sakura trees have been given life by glowing bulbs. There are huge Christmas trees in market plazas. I could see couples cuddling up as they walked on the streets. The air has a festive feeling... reminds me of a popular Christmas song Silver Bells...


...
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks.
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing,
People passing,
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, [Silver bells] Silver bells, [silver bells]
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling [ring-a-ling],
Hear them ring [hear them ring]
Soon it will be Christmas day.

I went to bed thanking God for a wonderful blessed day he gave me. :')

Love Actually

So even the most crowded place in the world cannot make you feel as if you’ve got company if you feel lonely at heart. I got up this morning did my usual chores and left for work. The metro was over crowded as always and specially form the station where I change trains, Morichita, it gets worse.

Anyway this post is not about life in Tokyo, may be sometime later. It’s about “love”, I’ve been thinking about it lately and I’ve been wondering if this thing called love is just another feeling that fades with time or is it more? I remember sometime back saying this to a friend:

“zindagi kisi ke liye nahi rukti, bas jeene ki vajah badalti rehti hai.”

But I wonder in the truth of the statement in respect to love, if love is one of those feelings that fade with time then I don’t think love should be given the attention it gets. Everyone of my age has been in love at least once, however brief it might’ve been and then most of us fall out of it. I wonder if it was love in the first place at all or does love too has an expiry date. I guess most relationships that expire is not because love has ceased to exist it because love was not there in the first place at all, may be it was a mere impulse, but then does it mean that we close our doors thinking that its an impulse or do we take the plunge and to find out how deep those feelings are.

Anyone who has been in relationship will confirm that the first few weeks are the most memorable ones, when you can’t stop talking to one another, when you can’t stop thinking about each other. There is so much to know, there is so much to tell. But then here is the question; can you in these first few weeks tell whether this is meant to be or no? I’d say yes, at a certain level everybody knows right in those first few weeks that a relationship is meant to be or not. However most of us just ignore that feeling and move on to the next level and eventually hit a point where you don’t know what next. Because the next level is all about expectations, it’s about commitment, where you become answerable to someone, where you have to share your space.

However, I believe that being in love is about companionship, when someone just walks into your life, breaks all barriers, emotional and physical and fills the voids and not occupies your space.

Being in relationship is an experience in itself and being in love with a person is not a feeling, we often make that mistake. There are reasons to have feelings. Like pain is a feeling. I get hurt I feel pain. And that’s exactly what we do when we are in love. We look for reasons to fall in love with a certain person not realizing that that person is that reason itself. We feel that being in love is a means to achieve a certain end and not an end in itself.

And then things fall apart because we were looking for reasons to fall in love and what we eventually bang into are reasons why we shouldn’t love that person. Things that never mattered in the first place at all. We start loosing our patience, we start getting angry, we start keeping records. And eventually love fails. The truth is there is no perfect match; I’ve heard people say this a million times, but I’ve hardly seen anyone actually believing in it. That includes me. So the consequences are as expected a break-up or in a more somber way “Lets Just be Friends”.

However, having said all that I still believe that being in a relationship is an experience in itself. Having someone in your life changes a lot. You’ll do things that otherwise you wouldn’t even consider doing. And if we are lucky enough to grow old with the person we love, I mean a lifetime of experiences of high’s and lows, I’d say it was a life well lived. Because in the end it is what you have experienced that matters not what you have achieved.

Life's Seasons

There are times when life's seasons change without an alarm.

One moment you were with friends and family and in just few hours you are in a strange land. You had your future planned, you thought you were all set, life was spring back home, wonderful, with fragrance of love, with freshness of morning dew on the green grass.

I don't know when the autumn came and went by, I guess I was too much in love with the spring that I thought it would never end. I closed my eyes and began to believe that this would never end.

And suddenly life has changed. I've opened my eyes to a cold-freezing winter. Everything around me that once was so lively, seems dead. What happened to that fresh green grass I was standing on? Where are those beautiful flowers that had filled the air with fragrance?

I'll have to find these answers very soon, I may be able to get my life back before it dies forever.