Quotes from Chanakya

• A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first.
• Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.
• The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody! It will destroy you.
• There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no Friendship without self-interests. This is the bitter truth.
• Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.
• As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.
• Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.
• The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.
• A man is great by deeds, not by birth.
• Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends.
• Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.
• Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.
  

Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)

Arundhati Roy's View on the War on Terrorism

A video that talks about Arundhati Roy's view on the War on Terrorism. It's her view, not necessarily yours; but have an open mind and watch it.

A large file, so it is better to just right click and save it before playing it.

Never Another Like Sachin

India's third consecutive defeat against SA - sharmanak haar, if you may - forces me to dust the cobwebs of my mind and recollect some happy memories of Indian cricket, from the years gone by.

An excellent article to help in that pursuit. Never Another Like Sachin.

Ahle - Dil

A beautiful song.

Ahle-Dil Yoonhi Nibha Lete Hai
Dard Seene MeiN Chupa Lete Hai

Dil Ki Mehfil Mein Ujalon Ke Liye
Yaad Ki Shamma Jala Lete Hain

Jalte MausaM MeiN Bhi Yeh Deewane
Kuch HasiN PhOOl Khila Lete Hai

Apni AankhO Ko Banakar Yeh ZubaaN
Kitne Afsaane Suna Lete Hai

Jin Ko Jeena Hai Mohabbat Ke Liye
Apni Hasti Ko Mita Dete Hai.

B-school Life, Anyone?

A slightly frustrated and therefore funny look at B-school Life in India. Have a look.

What does it mean to be serious?

Have you ever thought what it means to be serious? Is it the stopping of laughter? To have a smile on your face, would that indicate that you are not serious? To want to look at a tree and see the beauty of a tree, would that be lack of seriousness? To want to know why people look that way, what they wear, why they talk that way, would that be lack of seriousness? Or would seriousness be always having a long face, always saying: "Am I doing the right thing, am I conforming to a pattern"?
- J. Krishnamurti

Midsection?

Unlike many other professionals, my parents, both mathematics professors, can’t seem to leave their work in the classroom. Recently I witnessed the following conversation.
Mom: Has my midsection gotten larger?
Dad: Yes.
Mom: Since exactly when?
Dad: I don’t know. It’s a continuous function. But it became statistically significant about six months ago.

Chinese Whispers

This is what comes out of Chinese Whispers!

Theatre in Delhi

Watched 2 plays recently at the IHC in New Delhi. They were presented by "The Players", the Dramatics Society of Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. I went on the invitation of one of my students, Hemant Arora, who is an ex-"Player" himself.

The first was a comedy in English, "Abducting Mallika" which is an adaption of Dario Fo's Il Ratto Della Francesca. It was a treat to watch, to say the least. A tight script and a great cast to boot, the play in its director's words "turns into a sly, political tale of the media, the market and the managers of the society." One wishes for slightly less slapstick, but I guess as long as it is under check, it too has its share in humour.

The second one, "Murdon Ka Prachar" - was an adaption in Hindustani - not Hindi, mind you - of Gregory Burke's Gagarin Way. It was a serious play, and had some "rough vocabulary" in the chastest of Hindustani. Fair enough, considering the setting of the play. Some of the cast was brilliant, but the others left a lot to desire for. The direction needs to be more taut so that the play does not sag in the middle. One dialogue captivated me, and in fact I had a bit of discussion with Hemant on that, "You can't domesticate Capitalism."

All in all, a great way to spend an evening. Thanks Hemant!!!

Phobias anyone?

What is the name for the fear of the number 666?
Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

Fear of the number 13?
Triskaidekaphobia

Fear of Friday the 13th?
Friggatriskaidekaphobia

Fear of long words [which you must be suffering from, by now, after reading the previous answers]?
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

Phobias are interesting. Just as you can tell a lot about a man's character by looking at what he throws away in his trash bin, you can tell a lot about a society by looking at what it fears. To me, phobias are God's way of saying, "Well, you had better be careful of these things, since I made some irrational fears built into you." They are like hard-coded bugs in our operating system, if I may.

Interesting phobias are available here, and here.

Engaged

Got engaged recently. Getting married on 5th February 2007 !

My name is Bond....James Bond

James Bond Style : The character James Bond has a peculiar style of introducing himself by saying first Bond, then followed by great smile & finally James Bond. His style is absolutely killing but he doesn't know the consequences when he meets our great South Indian guy.

When Bond meets a Hyderabadi guy...

James Bond : "My name's Bond...(smiles and then says).... James Bond."
James Bond: "And you?"

Telugu Guy : "I am Sai... Venkata Sai... Siva Venkata Sai... Laxminarayana Siva Venkata Sai....Srinivasulu Laxminarayana Siva Venkata Sai... Rajasekhara Srinivasulu Laxminarayana Siva Venkata Sai..... Sitaramanjaneyulu Rajasekhara Srinivasulu Laxminarayana Siva Venkata Sai.... Bommiraju Sitaramanjaneyulu Rajasekhara Srinivasulu Laxminarayana Siva Venkata Sai....

James Bond faints!!!

Do you want it?

Jack stole the rabbi's gold watch and afterwards began to feel guilty about what he did. After a sleepless night, he went to see his rabbi.
"Rabbi, I stole a gold watch," Jack admitted sheepishly.
"But Jack, that's forbidden," replied the Rabbi. "You should return it immediately!"
"What shall I do?"
"Give it back to its owner," answered the Rabbi.
"Do you want it," asked Jack slyly.
"No, I said return it to its owner."
"But he doesn't want it," said Jack.
"In that case Jack," pronounced the Rabbi, "you can keep it."

MBA :)

MBAs Marte Nahin, Zinda Dafnaye Jaate Hain,
Har 3 Mahino Mein Tadpaye Jate Hain,
Kafan Khol Ke Dekho
Toh Yeh Kabr Mein Bhi Presentation Dete Hue Paaye Jaate Hain!

Refusing To Accept Failure

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to climb Mount Everest. On May 29, 1953 he scaled the highest mountain then known to man-29,000 feet straight up. He was knighted for his efforts. He even made American Express card commercials because of it! However, until we read his book, High Adventure, we don't understand that Hillary had to grow into this success. You see, in 1952 he attempted to climb Mount Everest, but failed. A few weeks later a group in England asked him to address its members. Hillary walked on stage to a thunderous applause. The audience was recognizing an attempt at greatness, but Edmund Hillary saw himself as a failure. He moved away from the microphone and walked to the edge of the platform. He made a fist and pointed at a picture of the mountain. He said in a loud voice, "Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I'll beat you the next time because you've grown all you are going to grow... but I'm still growing!"

Made me think....

Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.
-Albert Einstein

Inspiring!

Far too many can never see where they should or could be, because they are blinded by where they are.

Men will be men!

Dear Tom,

I've never written to you before, but I really need your advice on what could be a crucial decision.

I've suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs... phone rings but if I answer, the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out with the girls a lot recently although when I ask their names she always says, "Just some friends from work, you don't know them."

I always stay awake to look out for her taxi coming home, but she always walks down the drive. Although I can hear a car driving off, as if she has gotten out of the car round the corner. Why? Maybe she wasn't in a taxi? I once picked her cell phone up just to see what time it was and she went berserk and screamed that I should never touch her phone again and why was I checking up on her.

Anyway, I have never approached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just didn't want to know the truth, but last night she went out again and I decided to really check on her.

I decided I was going to park my Harley Davidson motorcycle next to the garage and then hide behind it so I could get a good view of the whole street when she came home. It was at that moment, crouching behind my Harley, that I noticed that the valve covers on my engine seemed to be leaking a little oil.

Is this something I can fix myself or should I take it back to the dealer?

Thanks,
Stuart

The Scourge from the Skies

It's here. As Nostradamus predicted, the scourge has finally struck the Earth from the skies.

Reality TV finally hit Indian Cable Television this last week, with the launch of the atrocious, obnoxious, odious, loathsome and stinking "Bigg Boss" (that's an extra g, in bold so that you don't miss it!).

Who wants to see "celebrities" doing household chores? Firstly, are they really even semi-celebrities? They are wannabes or havebeens. I don't want to watch Rakhi Sawant or Deepak Parashar or God forbid, Rahul Roy! Secondly, I certainly don't want to see them, without makeup, doing things that everyone does. I pay the cablewallah so that I can watch escapist fare, that makes me forget my life for the time I watch the telly. I have enough troubles in my life, thank you very much! I don't want to see theirs too!

When the show was announced through fairly slick promos, I had this premonition that something bad was coming out of this. And how!

Puhleez, take it off-the-air. Give us a break. Increase 10 rupees in my cable bill, but take this off now!

Doors and Towels

We got lucky when we heard the old Piedmont Hotel in Atlanta was getting a face-lift and its beautiful maple doors became available for sale as salvage items. We bought several and had them installed in our 19th-century home.

Showing a friend around the house, I pointed out, "You know, these doors are from the Piedmont Hotel."

He raised an eyebrow. "Most people just take the towels."

India hires beggars to spread awareness against AIDS

Only in India! Read more here.

Get land for free in USA

I just purchased some land in New York. Err....purchased is the wrong word.....it's more like, got it for FREE!

Get yours here!

Lola Kutty At the Movies

Lola Kutty ees nawt takeeng thees seatting pleasse. Looking at da general decline of the quality remakes of movies, she has decided to step in! Farhan Akhtar, Ram Gopal Verma and others, please take note.

Have a look!

The Elephant and the Event Horizon

What happens when you throw an elephant into a black hole? It may sound like a sick joke, but it's a question that's been weighing heavily on physicist Leonard Susskind's mind. Susskind has been trying to save that elephant for decades. Now he has finally found a way to do it, and the consequences shake the foundations of what we thought we knew about space and time. If his calculations are correct, the elephant must be in more than one place at the same time. Susskind claims that nothing is what, or rather, where it seems. All this is more than just a mind-bending curiosity. It tells us something about the fundamental workings of the universe and could even lead us to a theory of everything.

Read more.