tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113974822024-03-08T04:22:36.792+05:30ErehwoNI Live...One day at a timeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-12347504546348905342007-09-12T18:46:00.000+05:302007-09-12T18:50:09.255+05:30Goodbye..I am at one of those phases in life when I find the need to shut off from this world of blogging.. a phase when I have too many thoughts, and I don’t want to disclose them.. These thoughts are random & unconnected, but very precious to me, to the core me..<br /><br />I have changed over the years… Life was so different when I used to study here.. It does not mean that I don’t enjoy myself now, I do, just in ways so different, it dint occur to me.. and if I look at myself from the outside, I see ‘me’ changing.. A huge part of me lives in the old Chennai.. a part lives in Trivandrum, a part in Kolkata, and a major part in Mumbai.. this new ‘me’ is and has to be, by circumstance, very different.. and I feel like I don’t know this person at all.. Its going to take time to get to know her…Time has come to say ‘Goodbye’ for now.. I will see you when I have moved on…<br /><br />Until then,<br />Khuda-hafis!<br />Ciao!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-86216654748064298432007-08-22T00:15:00.000+05:302007-08-22T00:56:33.216+05:30Chak De<o:p></o:p>It’s a must watch for any sportswoman who has been or is or wants to be…<br /><br /><o:p></o:p>Another movie that is as inspiring as this is a tamil movie based on an athelete – ‘Ashwini Nachappa’..<br /><br /><o:p></o:p>Ashwini Nachappa was a great inspiration for me in those days!!! I used to watch the movie before an athletic meet… just to get inspired! Now you call it filmy, or motivation – but, I always came away with a medal or two after watching her…<br /><br /><o:p></o:p>I was a sportswoman by birth… Any game I took to, I gave my life for it.. Ask my mother for anecdotes, and she will tell you of times when she was scared of my guts to perform, no matter what!<br /><br /><o:p></o:p>Another amazingly inspirational movie was ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander’… more than the last race, this movie was about the spirit to win.. the passion to prove a point to the world..All these movies have a common thread – the last match – the deciding match – the hero or heroine always win!<br /><br />But, to me, what’s inspiring about them is not the last match… it’s all the effort that has been put into that match.. & unless you have played a game, got training like that, and felt that team spirit, the movie wont come alive to you like it came to me..<br /><br />I was not the average teenage girl.. Instead of fussing over makeup, I fussed over the cricket bat I wanted to buy for Diwali.. I did not like to dress up for occasions and look pretty.. I wanted to be in my jeans & play with the boys..<br /><br /><o:p></o:p>I gained a lot from Sports.. I grew up learning to work in a team.. learning about Sportsmanship.. about motivation.. learnt that ‘how you play’ is more important than ‘who wins’.. learnt that the coach has advice to give you, and you must listen to the coach, if you want to win… learnt about responsibilities and commitments.. learnt about variety in a task.. learnt about learning new ways to do a particular task is very important.. learnt about studying strategies & patterns.. learnt about strengths & weaknesses, and how to harness it or work on it.. learnt about egos & what it can do to a game.. learnt about passion for a task.. I had gained a lot of inner strength by the time I moved to my workplace..<br /><br />I was very active in sports until I started working..I applied all my ‘learning’ at the workplace with ease as I had grown up understanding the world through my games.. But I realized, reality is different from my gaming world.. I had accepted everything I learnt in a game as true to the business world too...<br /><br />I thought my coach knew everything .. I thought my team will cooperate.. I thought that we play for one company/ country with one goal – to win as a team.. I assumed a lot and it worked against me…<br /><br />Reality is harsh.. I couldn’t continue playing or take it up as a profession coz I could not have earned a living with it.. So, I had to find other things I love to do, and move on..<br /><br />Its past quarter-time now.. Its been a tough game.. My strategy has to change…<br /><br />Chak De!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-68847598006254693772007-07-01T23:18:00.000+05:302007-07-01T23:26:32.110+05:30Reality is an illusion.. caused by alcohol deficiency - Mondys!& i am back!<br /><br />Its been a long journey since my last post.. Too much has happened for me to even start narrating events, leave alone whats in my head!<br /><br />A reality check - I am back in Chennai!<br /><br />A reality I don't want to check - return to my friends & life in Mumbai!<br /><br />A reality that I have always wanted - Working for a Social Entrepreneur<br /><br />An illusion - My dreams for my present company; they are illusions; or may I say, "Dreams"..<br /><br />An illusion - Chennai is how I had left it a couple of years back (am way off track on this one)<br /><br />An illusion - I will make new friends; I will get my life back (until this happens, its an illusion)<br /><br />An illusion - The life I have left behind in Mumbai will be mine, at some point in lifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-76873622850867452782007-05-15T14:20:00.000+05:302007-05-15T14:29:34.117+05:30Random thoughts- Leaving Mumbai is going to be very difficult. I will miss this city so much; its variety, life, entertainment, and my family here..<br />- Leaving my job after 2 years. I have no regrets at this one. My job scene is looking up.<br />- Going back home after 2 years to stay with my folks. Mixed emotions.<br />- Honesty is not a policy, taking insurance is.<br />- Culture has 4 ‘ingredients’ – values, norms, institutions & artifacts.<br />- Like the movie 2046, 1503 is mine (in a strange way).<br />- Blogs are stress relievers.<br />- We are generation-next.<br />- The world is unfair, especially to women. I am not a feminist, but, I do believe in ‘Equality’, and fighting for it makes me seem like a ‘rebel’.<br />- I believe in the power of love from a human being rather than God, is that a wrong?<br />- We are the future society, and we are changing mindsets, just that we don’t know it. Like the term – ABCDs (American Born Confused Desis), I think we are at times a generation of IBCDs (Indian Born Confused Desis).<br />- Money is a very delicate topic to deal with. Either you have it or you don’t.<br />- Setting up a house is a tough job. Its like software – you need to understand requirements, design a code, deploy and umpteen people are employed for maintenance.<br />- Parents love you, no matter what.<br />- Good friends can be thicker than blood relations.<br />- Books are the best things that happened to/by mankind.<br />- Taboo topics are no more taboo. Many others are.<br />- The change in life of a close friend affects everyone around him/ her.<br />- Perception is the beginning & almost the end to understanding people. I think this is the strongest foundation.<br />- Humor is the best gift one can be born with.<br />- I can’t remember jokes for the life of me.<br />- I have shifted from drinking tea to just plain milk from the vending machine in the hope of losing weight, and I got to loose oodles of it.<br />- Surprises are not always good.<br />- Don’t keep reminders for birthdays of family / siblings. If the phone conks, you forget the birthday and it goes down in history.<br />- Erehwon is in everyway ME.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-84101295820134128482007-04-07T16:36:00.000+05:302007-04-09T10:36:19.265+05:30<span style="color:#ffff66;"><strong>I..</strong><br /></span><span style="color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I am thinking about</span></strong>… all the good times with my friends.. with family, when the 5 of us were together.. the choices I’ve made.. what the future beholds.. life.. career.. hobbies..<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I said</span></strong>... an apology, but, it wasn’t accepted.. a joke, and everyone laughed.. ‘Yes it is’..<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I want to</span></strong></span>...fly away from here with my soulmate E.. become more emotionally strong.. have more time on my hands to do all the things I want to do, and have no tensions to worry about.. earn a good living, and support myself.. travel around the world..<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I wish</span></strong>... I could spend some time, like the good ol’ carefree days with my friends, not all at the same place, but, sitting at the same spots we used to hang out at, doing all the things we used to, being the way we were, laughing away at silly jokes..<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I hear</span></strong>... my soul pleading me to get some peace..<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffff66;"><strong>I wonder</strong></span>.. what will happen in the future?<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I regret</span></strong>... nothing..<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I am</span></strong>... confused..<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I dance</span></strong>... for myself, in my head; for when it translates into action, I am not as elegant as I must be..<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I sing</span></strong>... only in my head!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I cry</span></strong>... very easily these days.. which I try not to do.. So, everytime my eyes well up, I tell myself, “No, don’t cry!”, par kambakht, manta hi nahi..<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I am not always</span></strong>.. careful.. offlate in fact, I have been ‘Ms. Butterfingers’ herself.. broke R's photoframe (which was a gift) :-(<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I make with my hands</span></strong>... Tea, Maggi..<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I write</span></strong>... sometimes to release my hurt & frustrations.. It gives me an instant relief.. Blogging has to be the best thing that has happened to me..<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I confuse</span></strong>… myself with the umpteen choices I throw up to myself..<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">I need</span></strong>... love, affection, peace, happiness, warmth.. my old friends around me more than anything else.. someone who understands me..<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffff66;"><em>P.S – this is a borrowed idea from Everyman's blog (who had got tagged from his blogger friend), so we don't know the origin of this idea.. Having said that, the thoughts are Mine!</em> </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><strong><span style="color:#ffff66;">So, tell me about you..</span></strong><br /></span><span style="color:#ffffff;"></span><span style="color:#ffffff;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-58900498483420262652007-03-06T09:12:00.000+05:302007-03-07T10:07:25.183+05:30Pyaar ke side effects – the female version:This is our take on the movie.. The movie, hilarious as it was, and that all of us could relate to at some level, had some truth & fiction to it, but, was the man's story.. Here is the female version:<br /><br /><strong>Pyaar Ke Side Effects:<br />Overtime</strong> - If you are in a 9 - 5 job, and your boyfriend goes to office from 11am - 11pm, you have to do Overtime!!! Meaning, you sleep late, get up early.. make food after you get home <em>(even if you have had the toughest day in your life, first cook his food)..<br /></em><br /><strong>Khaana Pakana</strong> - as much as he might be OK with you not knowing how to cook, he expects you will learn and make him some good food, if not as good as his moms (never will be), atleast something edible..<br /><br /><strong>Food changes everything</strong> - His mood, his feelings for you, his opinion of you..<em>Believe me, EVERYTHING!! </em><br /><br /><strong>His friends/ your friends</strong> – become ‘Our Friends’<br /><br /><strong>‘Commitment’</strong> – the word that scares him the most in the English dictionary..<br /><br /><strong>The 2-faced man</strong> – as much as he likes you to be ‘western’ in your clothing, he would Really prefer the traditional girl in you..<br /><br /><strong>The Kid</strong> - Men will always be boys!!! They don’t grow up.. EVER!!!!<br /><br /><strong>Appreciate his brilliance from time to time</strong> - Men like to be appreciated for their ideas/ methods / conversations / advice.. Many of the brilliant conversations come after a few pegs are down.. <em>(they may be repetitive, but, don’t notice).. So, give it to him<br /></em><br /><strong>Tell him who you find HOT / SEXY</strong>.. He doesn’t believe in the line, " Tu hi to mera sansar hai.. Aisa mera pyaar hai".. He wants to know who his competition is!! <em>(Even though there may be none) </em><br /><br /><strong>Momma’s boy</strong> – At the end, Momma knows everything & you don’t know anything!<br /><br /><strong>‘The Image”</strong> – ‘I don’t fall for ANY girl.. Girls fall for me” Poor dude, doesn’t know when reality hits him, <em>“Chappad phaad ke deta hai!!”<br /></em><br /><strong>Most common gene</strong> - “I am emotionally stable & mature” - <em>Yeah, and I am the princess of Narnia!! </em><br /><br /><strong>Decision Maker</strong> – he makes ALL the decisions in the house.. <em>He decides which bank account the money comes out of – urs or mine!? </em><br /><br /><strong>Sports</strong> - “Even if the streets are filled with riots, and there is an Arsenal – Chelsea match, the match is more important.. Don’t dishturb!” <em>Even if they don’t understand the sport, they have to watch it & make comments. </em><br /><br /><strong>Friends </strong>- Constant comparison as to whether they are ‘Joey’ or ‘Chandler’ or ‘Ross’, and couldn’t care less about which of them you are..<br /><br /><strong>The Acid test</strong> - The best Friend!<br /><br /><strong>Weekend </strong>– “Life is a weekend” – it seems that they live from Sunday to Saturday, and thus you work Overtime (refer to point no. 1) during the week.. and you don’t even get any extra credit for it!<br /><br /><strong>Gossip Mongrels</strong> – He wants all the gossip on your friends, but, wont accept that its gossip, coz, then, its called <em>‘An update’!<br /></em><br /><strong>Smoking </strong>– Time pass & a good reason to check out the women at office..<br /><br /><strong>Women Effect</strong> - The ex-s, the present, mom, sister, sister-in-law, cousin sister, all the women in his life- <em>His biggest balancing act!<br /></em><br /><strong>Work-life balance</strong>- He is always the busy one at work.. <em>If by any chance you are busy one day, god help you!!! </em><br /><br /><strong>Flirting</strong> – He thinks it’s an art, and he knows it! <em>Worst of all, he thinks that’s how he got you..<br /></em><br /><strong>Fights & Makeup</strong> – Goes by the assumption that a kiss or a rose is all that you need to patch up after a fight.. <em>I say, “Be a man”, “Mard Ban”; Lets talk!!<br /></em><br /><strong>TV Remote </strong>– <em>What is that?<br /></em><br /><strong>Statements you hear often from your boyfriend:<br /></strong><br />“I have to take care of the family” – <em>I am not family! </em><br />“Main hoon na” – <em>That’s the problem!</em><br />“Who is she talking to for SO long?” – <em>Dude, its only been 10 minutes!<br /></em>“Your phone is constantly engaged.. Who are you talking to?” <em>(no matter what the reply, its not good enough) </em><br />“Make tea na… Get me biscuits… Maggiiiiiii…” –<em> Get a cook!!</em><br />“What are we doing for dinner tonight?” - <em>Like I have a say in the matter!!!!<br /></em>“Uff.. How much Shopping will you do?” – <em>even when the last time you went Shopping was 3 months back! </em><br /><br />To the men reading this post : We all know the reality of the situation, so, lets not be justfying anything said here..<br />To the women reading this post : Have I left out any important points?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Disclaimer </strong>– this is a collection of thoughts from women with boyfriends and not about anybody in particular. Any coincidence with my friends’ behaviors with their girlfriends is purely coincidental.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-41171359059271017212007-02-27T16:44:00.001+05:302007-02-27T16:44:56.112+05:30DisappointmentsIts strange.. I always thought I could deal with disappointments.. “throw them at me and I will be fine!” was what I thought I told the world.. This year seems to be that year when everyone is throwing disappointments at me.. <br /><br />Now now now.. Its not that I cant handle them.. I have understood a few things though:<br />a.Disappointments are disappointing ‘cause of the bubbles it bursts<br />b.Disappointments are unintentional<br />c.Disappoint… are unexpected<br />d.Disapp.. are not something we ‘look forward to’<br />e.Disa.. are something we are never prepared enough for<br />f.Di.. are a part of life<br /><br />They come in ranges too.. “Very disappointing”.. “A little disappointing”.. “Damn Disappointing”.. end of the matter is, it is DISAPPOINTING!!<br /><br />Why do I stress on the word so much? ‘Cause of points c – f. We talk so much about life, and how its so beautiful, and all the lovely things we have to do.. so much to explore.. so much to work towards.. so much to hope for..<br /><br />Actually, when I think about it, I think I understand why the activists are constantly disappointed?! ‘Cause every day, every minute, they hope to set their flag and conquer the hope mountain.. they hope that someone up there in the high authority seat will listen and heed and talk and solve issues..<br /><br />& that is when our disappointment goes up.. coz, well, face it, nobody does solve your problems.. It’s a world where you fight your own battles.. relationships may be tarred, loved ones may be lost, but, if you want to remain tall on the mountain, all you really have to cling on to, is Hope!<br /><br />Hope – such a positive word, isn’t it? So filled with energy, enthusiasm, excitement, love, passion, beauty, freshness, and hope..<br /><br />All we all have is Hope! That is all we have.. Hope that tomorrow, things will be fine.. hope that one day, things will be fine.. Hope that someday, things will be fine..<br /><br />Its not strange anymore.. It is true.. I can handle disappointments.. 'cause I have Hope.. I have loads of it..Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-35758000398360439882007-02-23T13:02:00.000+05:302007-02-23T13:03:12.943+05:30Consider This..1. Join the army, see the world, meet interesting people, and kill them.<br />2. Until I was 13, I thought my name was ‘Shut Up’<br />3. Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use<br />4. Work is fine if it doesn’t take up too much of your time<br />5. Born free; Taxed to death<br />6. If our constitution allows us free speech, why are there phone bills?<br />7. Someday is not a day of the week<br />8. If you tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe, he’ll believe you. But if you tell him a park bench has just been painted, he has to touch it to be sure.<br />9. The road to success is always under construction.<br />10. Life is unsure; always eat your desert firstUnknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-70159538219047667672007-02-13T10:45:00.000+05:302007-02-13T11:25:16.933+05:30WHAT ABOUT RACISM IN INDIA ?Below is a cut-copy-paste job of an article written by my uncle for the Pioneer..<br /><br />WHAT ABOUT RACISM IN INDIA ?<br />A. SURYA PRAKASH<br /><br />"British citizens have lost no time in exorcising the racist ghost that had suddenly come to haunt them after Jade Goody's inappropriate comments and conduct in the reality television show Celebrity Big Brother. Whatever be the views of persons like Goody, the desire of British society at large to distance itself from her remarks that were construed racist and offensive is indeed commendable.<br /><br />While Indians are rejoicing over Shilpa Shetty's victory ( triumph of good over Goody ?), the celebrations would be meaningless if they were not accompanied by some soul-searching about racist attitudes within our own country. It is all very well to raise our voices against Jade Goody but like the British are we ready to face the issue squarely? The people of India belong to many races and cultures. Are we even aware of the prejudices we display and the cruelty we practice towards fellow citizens who happen to be dark skinned? Are we ready, like the British, to face the truth and initiate some corrective action?<br /><br />If we are troubled by racism, we must begin the clean-up act with Hindi cinema which is full of situations and dialogues that can be described as racist. Millions of Indians have watched a lungi-clad Mehmood, his face daubed in black paint, prance around crazily to "Hum Kale Hai Tho Kya Hua, Dilwale Hai". This indeed is the racial stereotype that Hindi cinema has projected for decades. More recently, Satish Kaushik played the role of a South-Indian musician in a movie along side Govinda. Here too the make-up guys painted his face black. The dialogues in this movie too were loaded with crude racist remarks with Govinda and Khader Khan, another actor, heaping scorn on Satish Kaushik for being dark skinned.<br /><br />I am appalled at the stereotypes that Hindi cinema and television seek to project all the time. Going by these stereotypes, all South-Indians are "black" and "ugly" and all North-Indians are "white" and "good-looking". The truth is that most Indians have a dark or light brown skin tone. This is the typical skin tone across a majority of the states in all regions be it Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharastra, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh. The tone gets lighter up north in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and darker in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In fact, a good percentage of people in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are dark-skinned. It is therefore ironical and comical to find people from these states refer to the skin tone of South-Indians in a pejorative way. But the stereotypes run so deep that people from the North find it difficult to accept the fact that Indian women who have bagged the Miss World or Miss Universe titles like Aiswariya Rai and Sushmita Sen do not come from "white" northern stock. Though the Rais are from Karnataka, many in the North would like to believe that Aiswarya is a Bhoomihar from Uttar Pradesh !<br /><br />Hindi television has carried this trend forward. The Great Indian Comedy Show often jokes about dark-skinned people. This prejudice against dark-skinned people then gets extended to other things which constitute the ingredients of culture. You first laugh at "Madrasis" because they are dark and then make a joke of other things associated with these "dark" people – their language, their dress and their food habits. Once the "madrasis" becomes the butt end of your jokes, you begin talking down to them. This is what racism is all about and for centuries the Caucasians believed that while everything about them was perfect, the black, brown and yellow races were imperfect. This attitude led to colonization and apartheid. It was only in the latter part of the twentieth century that the White Man recognized the need to stamp out racism and other such prejudices and to bring in political correctness in public discourse.<br /><br />When will this process begin here? Such is the power of these prejudices that it impacts the work of even established film stars like Shahrukh Khan, who is now anchoring Kaun Banega Crorepati. I was distressed to find Shahrukh joke about the name of a contestant from Andhra Pradesh – Dr.Ramakrishna Guggila - and his companion, Mr.Venkateshwarlu Putta. Shahrukh joked about their names and hinted time and again that their names were unpronounceable. Then, without so much as a by your leave, Shahrukh told Dr.Guggila that he would call him "Guggi" or just "Guggs". As for the contestant's companion, Shahrukh was unaware that Venkateshwarlu was one word. He kept calling him Venkatesh Warlu and eventually, unilaterally decided to rechristen him as "Venky". But the anchor's patronizing attitude truly came out when he mockingly offered a prize to viewers who could say "Venkatesh Warlu Putta" five times without faltering. Shahrukh must learn political correctness quickly. It is foolish to rouse the "atmagouravam" of the Telugu-speaking people. In case Shahrukh does not know, an Andhra with an equally "unpronounceable" name – Potti Sriramulu – set Andhra on fire with his fast unto death to secure a separate Telugu state. Another Andhra with an even more "unpronounceable" name – Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao – launched the Telugu Desam and ousted the Congress Party from power in that state in 1983. This he did after Rajiv Gandhi, like Shahrukh, behaved inappropriately with a fellow Andhra - Mr.Anjiah - who was then the Chief Minister of the state. Shahrukh's graceless conduct is in utter contrast to the great dignity and poise with which Mr.Amitabh Bachchan anchored this programme earlier. I regard Mr.Bachchan as the most evolved human being because life and professional experiences have purged his mind of prejudices and endowed him with sage like qualities. That is why he made every contestant before him feel like a king. Delhi-bred "King Khan" must shake-off his prejudices if he is to emulate the real King of Indian Cinema.<br /><br />Finally, a word about matrimonial ads. Every groom wants a "fair" bride and therefore products which promise to lighten the colour of the skin are much in demand across India and bear names which seek to reinforce the view that only those who are "fair" are "lovely". So, let us cut out this hypocrisy vis-à-vis Jade Goody's conduct by initiating measures that will make us a humane and tolerant society. We can make a beginning by stamping out stereotypes in Hindi cinema and television. "<br /><br />Think about it .. Racism is in every form - language, color, culture, food, art & craft... Are you pro-racist or anti? Its about time we all learn to respect all cultures, dont you think?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-49178309449536815882007-02-03T12:30:00.000+05:302007-02-03T12:38:46.501+05:30Phantoms in the brain.. and outside..Footsteps all around.. Children playing at a distance..'Can I have your attention please'.. Voices speaking a familiar language..'Calling Mr. B.K.Mathrey'.. A child's laughter makes you smile.. 'Please meet customer service immediately'.. Conversations with strangers.. A lady calls her child..- 'I will go home with dad, and wont call later to say Goodnight, So I am calling to say Bye. I had a good time with you. Come back home son.. We miss you'..she left a voice mail... A few people sitting alone.. A man wearing a coat, carrying a company laptop.. 'Please board your flight to Ahmadabad immediately'.. A few lonely people.. Shahrukh Khan on NDTV.. BMC Elections update.. A distressed man who is flying in his Graphic Designer to India for a 12 minute job, because no one else in the country will suffice - he carries a high techno laptop..The coffee vending machine calling out to you to have a cup of coffee..'Can I have your attention please'.. 'Check 1 2 3 4.. No no, its too loud, Awaaz kam kar'.. 'Can I have your attention please..'.. 'Calling Mr. B.K.Mathrey'..'Passengers travelling to Ahmadabad, your attention please - the flight is delayed due to heaving incoming air traffic'..A funky teenager listening to music.. Groups of friends traveling for the first time by air - they are giggling..'Can I have your attention please'.. 3 friends very passionately involved in a discussion about their company.. 'Calling boarding for flight 466 to Chennai'.. the 3 friends are talking about the company I work for.. my ears are fine tuned to hear their frustrations - 2 from HR, and 1 is a trainer in the company.. 2 friends waiting for another friend to come, so they can board the flight.. Frantic calls to the friend.. 'Have a nice flight ma'am'.. An old lady alights the bus with help from an elderly gentleman.. Everybody is lost in their own thoughts.. Nobody has a minute for the person standing next to them.. Some are frustrated.. Many are happy.. The food hasn't been loaded on the flight yet, the steward pleads with the authorities to make it fast, 'Passengers are waiting to alight'.. 'Ma'am, would you like a cold towel to wipe your face'?..The man on my left is strapped up and snoring.. The man on my right is in awe.. I take out my book to read.. 'Ma'am. would you like some orange juice'.. 'This is your captain speaking.. Welcome on Flight 466 to Chennai.. Regret the delay in the flight.. We are expecting turbulent weather'....'Request you to remain strapped up and refrain from using the loo'... 'I want fruits'.. 'I want a blanket'..'Get me some water, have some mercy man!'.. Nonstop service through the flight..Phantoms in the brain.. Phantoms outside.. Song playing in my head - 'I walk alone... My shadow's the only one that walks beside me... Boulevard of Broken Dreams...' The journey ends, but the thoughts remain & the lives go on..Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-43534295938880726812007-01-18T15:58:00.000+05:302007-01-18T16:24:19.591+05:30Looking ahead..From the time I was born, till date, I have been hearing:<br /><br />What is it you are passionate about?<br />What do you love to do day-in and out?<br />What will make you sit up and look?<br />What wil make life seem like a fast paced book?<br />What do you 'really' want to do?<br />In life, where do you want to go?<br /><br />Now, when I look ahead I wonder:<br /><br />What lies ahead?<br />Will i find my passion?<br />What will I achieve?<br />What will remain undone?<br />Will I travel the road less travelled?<br /><br />All I have right now, is an uncertain mind.. uncertain future.. uncertain life..<br /><br />I have hope in what Bernard Shaw says: Looking ahead is a "Romantic possibility of an unknown future"..Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-53479706458876703732006-12-28T17:31:00.000+05:302006-12-28T17:39:59.504+05:30The Explorer’s AddictionAAH! Addiction to Explore!! Addiction to Travel! Addiction to see new places.. an addiction I cant seem to get out of!<br /><br />An ideal job for many of us : – traveling the world, understanding and adapting to new cultures, relishing different food pallets, meeting new people, reading or/and writing about your explorations and getting paid for it!!! :-)<br /><br />Its absolutely the worst kinda feeling to go on an awesome trip, only to go back to work the next day. No matter how good and interesting the job profile, reality is a shock!<br /><br />Looking back at ’06, I have had so many trips, and I am thankful for such a wonderful year.. I’ve covered – Trivandrum, Bekal, Cochin, Ponmudi, Munnar, Pondicherry (Auroville), another trip to Kolkata, Korigad (in Lonavla – had gone for a trek), Mahabaleshwar– and I have a feeling I am forgetting some place I have covered.. Oh! How can I forget? Pune & Mumbai.. J (& I got to talk to Big B!!)<br /><br />’06 has been a lovely year filled with a lot of ‘ups’ and hardly any ‘lows’.. Thanks to my family & all my friends who have been a part of ’06..<br /><br />Good Luck for a brilliant ’07 people.. Hope you get to travel and do all the things you love to do.. Happy New Year!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1165243799973382182006-12-04T20:06:00.000+05:302006-12-04T20:20:00.056+05:30Die Another DayHave you had one of those days when you had the best time ever of your life?<br />Have you had one of those minutes when you just felt that, "This is it.. this is what we live for"! <br />Have you had one of those friends with whom you can stand and say, "Where would I be without you?"<br />Have you had one of those years when everything went right - almost perfect!<br />Have you had one of those days when you were at your brilliant & hilarious best?<br /><br />Have you not wished for time to freeze at such instances??? <br />I wished umpteen times for time to freeze during the weekend..<br /><br />Thanks Piku, R, r, V (primarily), and also M,Ri & Su (secondarily).. Life can only get better with you guys around! For, :0 where life will take us tomorrow, I say, 'Die Another Day'!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1164303081664838612006-11-23T22:50:00.000+05:302006-11-23T23:03:46.413+05:30Ayn Rand - excerpt 1<em><strong>Why do you think you think?</strong></em><br /><br />"Thought is a primitive superstition. Reason is an irrational idea. The childish notion that we are able to think has been mankind's costliest error.<br /><br />What you think you think is an illusion created by your glands, your emotions and, in the last analysis, by the content of your stomach.<br /><br />That gray matter you're so proud of is like a mirror in an amusement park which transmits to you nothing but distorted signals from a reality forever beyong your grasp.<br /><br />The more certain you feel of your rational conclusions, the more certain you are to be wrong. Your brain being an instrument of distortion, the more active the brain the greater the distortion.<br /><br />The giants of the intellect, whom you admire so much, once taught you that the earth was flat and that the atom was the smallest particle of matter. The entire history of science is a progression of exploded fallacies, not of achievements.<br /><br />The more we know, the more we learn that we know nothing.<br /><br />Only the craziest ignoramus can still hold on to the old-fashioned notion that seeing is believing. That which you see is the first thing to disbelieve."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1164216074205436642006-11-22T22:46:00.000+05:302006-11-22T22:51:14.230+05:30Politics of Desire"Acquisitiveness - the wish to possess as much as possible of goods, or the title to goods - is a motive which, I suppose, has its origin in a combination of fear with the desire for necessaries."-Bertrand Russell<br /><br />The desire to acquire material possessions is in all of us. We want either a car, or a flat, or an investment, and preferably all of it!<br /><br />We are not greedy! We have a desire! What’s so wrong in desiring? As long as, the means by which we attempt to fulfill our desires is ‘just’.<br /><br />‘Just’ is a legally defined term, legality comes in with society. Laws are man-made.<br /><br />So, essentially, what we are saying is that, we can fulfill our desires, as long as the means by which we do so is accepted by society. What is acceptable to one in such a case may not be to another – that’s where the complexity of our cultures comes in. Culture brings in different ideas to a certain point, and different views bring in politics.<br /><br />Politics can also imply conflicts. Conflicts can be internal or external. Internal conflicts are tougher to manage. External can be categorized, while internal is driven by a set of values.<br /><br />Values stem desire. Desire is manifested as greed. Greed is Acquisitiveness re-defined.<br /><br />The politics of desire is a vicious loop.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1163314614487542232006-11-12T12:17:00.000+05:302006-11-12T15:59:45.563+05:30Size MattersIt was a saturday evening..We had just finished seeing 'Don' and we had some time before we met another friend for dinner.. My friend Everyman & I were in a mall & I was 'window shopping'.. We went into a opticals store, and I tried on umpteen shades.. nothing seemed good..then, I got a kajal stick & lip gloss.. and then, suddenly, there was an urge to buy some good clothes..<br /><br />I saw this store that said, "Ladies top -Rs.199" .. Boy! The shopper in me awoke after deep slumber, and in a looot of enthusiasm, I walked in & asked the shop owner to show me some ladies tops..<br /><br />He looked me up & down once, and said, "Aapki size nahi hai" (we dont have ur size)!!!!!!!!!!!!! I said, "Huh? What?" & then, he repeated so I could hear it loud & clear.. "Aapki size nahi hai"!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />How on earth does this bugger know my size? was question no.1<br />What a cheap Bas&%@# he must be to 'know' my size by looking at me was thought no.1<br />How the F*&^% does he know my size? was question & thought no. 2<br /><br />What If.. I was buying for a friend - as a salesman, he just put me off completely!<br />What If.. I like tight fitting clothes..<br />What If.. I plan to lose weight in the near future & wear this string of cloth someday (in private, if it comes to)..<br /><br />How the F*&% would that Bas@#!* know? Is my question..<br /><br />I am offended.. I want to get back at that shopkeeper Ass$#@! - how?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1162616840339864242006-11-04T10:27:00.000+05:302006-11-04T10:37:20.340+05:302 sinsThe two biggest sins in this world are:<br /> <br /> “Unfulfilled Potential”<br /><br /> &<br /> <br /> “Avoidable Suffering”<br /><br />Or, so, I hear…<br /><br />Your views on it.... ????<br /><br />(A good read unfulfilled potential is a speech by Steve Jobs titled - "Stay Hungry Stay Foolish" -<a href="http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html">http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html</a> )Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1159197072926864582006-09-25T20:34:00.000+05:302006-09-25T20:41:12.943+05:30Eventfully UneventfulCome the weekend, and I had no plans in mind – surprising? Well, that’s me!<br /><br />Anyway, so, Saturday was spent in shopping & lunch with one friend, coffee with another, shopping for myself and dinner with Tom Hanks – Philadelphia!<br /><br />Sunday was a whole new story altogether!! My friend S woke me up at 9.55 A.M – we had decided to watch * & Obelix @ 10.30 A.M. I dint want to miss the usual luxuries of a Sunday morning, so I carry my first cup of tea & newspaper with me and rush to the theater. Both of us reach Fun Republic by 10.25 A.M. – just rushing in to the counter!<br /><br />Counter Boy (CB) : Good morning Sir, which movie would you like to watch?<br />S – Ya, Hey.. Good morning – 2 tickets to * & Obelix @ 10.30 please..<br />CB : Uh.. Sorry Sir – we just cancelled it!<br />S - You what???<br />CB - Uh, We cancelled it!!<br />S - @*%r@# What???? Why?? Don’t you announce that in the papers?<br />CB – Uh.. Sorry Sir – you are the only one who wants to watch the movie. So, we just cancelled the show!!<br />S is dumbstruck, and walks away. Enter Aparna G<br />AG – You cannot do this to me! I come rushing on a Sunday morning with my first cup of tea to enjoy * & Obelix, and you CANCEL it??? You should have cancelled earlier! How can you do it now? Play it for us!! What the !@#W@$<br />CB – Uh, Sorry Maam. Its already been cancelled<br />AG- Don’t keep saying that! Its cancelled! Its cancelled! Cant you check and uncancel it now?<br />CB –Uh ,Sorry Maam.. would you like to watch Pyaar ke side effects<br />AG- NOOOOO! I dont want to watch Pyar..<br />CB – Ghosla … @ 12.30<br />AG – Dude, its 10.30 – give me a show running now!<br />CB – How about this horror flick?<br />AG – (in horror) You want me to watch a horror flick on Sunday morning??? What’s wrong with you? You should have cancelled that! I don’t watch horror on anyday, you want me to watch it on Sunday morning when I wanted to watch *……<br />Play my movie - * & Obelix<br />CB – Uh, sorry Maam!<br />Guy standing next to me is giggling – I stare at him, and he is all smiles now!!<br />I am flustered!<br /><br />I trot off towards S who is standing far away – embarrassed! I am saying (in an apparently loud voice, which I realized only later) – OK, So, what now?<br /><br />Imagine the scene – 2 frustrated souls in a movie complex on Sunday morning – 1 with tea and a newspaper in hand, and the other filled with angst! I start drinking my tea and begin to read my newspaper, and feel a bit better about the whole situation..(guess the bitter got the better of me) I offer him some! & then, it strikes us, that we can atleast catch good breakfast somewhere!<br /><br /><br />So, we are on our way:<br />AG –OK, Theres Mocha, Taj Lands End, Hyatt..<br />S – Are you paying?<br />AG – (sheepish grin) – Ummm, lets go dutch!<br />S – OK.. So, lets go to crepe world – you get the best pancakes there! Its in Juhu!<br />AG - OOO, Yummmm! Okie..Lets go!<br />I called to an auto 2 miles away from us going in the opposite direction to stop and turn around and come & take us to Crepe World – The autoguy just nods, and says No! I am waiting, wondering, “Is he coming or what?” while S is sitting in an auto behind me!!<br /><br />On our way:<br />S- Damn it! How can they cancel it?<br />AG – O well, shit happens! This time around, it was only a movie! Yea! & Turns out, you were the only one in entire Mumbai who wanted to watch the movie!<br />S – Ok, you want to have a south Indian breakfast at Shiv Sagar?<br />AG – NOOO! Pancakes!! Crepe world!!<br />S –OK, Fine!<br /><br />We reach Crepe world..<br /><br />AG –OO, what a beautiful place..<br />We settle down and see the menu<br />AG – 1 plate of pancakes for 130 Rs? (in shock) – I look at S<br />S- Ya, what do you expect? I said we could go to Shiv Sagar, but nooo.. You wanted to come here<br />AG – Look, Pancakes could have been dosas, had I known this was soo expensive!!<br />S had a Spanish omlette & I had my pancakes! We got watermelon juice (on the house!- it comes complimentary with the breakfast)!! I am flustered!<br /><br />S – “Have you told anyone we were going to watch this movie? ‘cause, we can just pretend we had planned for breakfast”<br />AG – Uh..No, I told too many people! You know what, If I call them now, and tell them what happened, they can make fun of me, and then I will be OK. Lemme call someone now<br />S- (snatches my phone, cancels my call and says ) ARE YOU MAD??<br /><br />5 minutes later – he is on ISD relating the incident to his friend on the phone!! What the @#$#@$ I am flustered!!<br /><br />Later in the day, my roomy & I go shopping. At the billing counter, we realize we have overspent – I am still just a bit ahead of what I had budgeted for, but, my roomy had overspent! She suddenly realizes (only at that minute) that I owed her tons of money, and so I could just pay this bill and clear all accounts! I am flustered!! I pay!<br /><br />We get home by 8 – and the fridge is overdue for a defrosting routine!<br />AG – We should defrost the fridge<br />D – O ya, lets do it in the morning. It will only take 15 minutes<br />AG – 15 minutes? Are you sure? No, I think it takes much longer<br />D – O, I know.. I have done it at home (unlike me, she has spent a little bit more time in the kitchen, and I give her credit!)<br />AG – Well, ok..if its only 15 minutes, lets do it now.. or I will do it. Just take all the stuff & switch it off, right?<br />D –Uh, ya..come, lets get to it<br />AG –(looking at the fridge )– damn! My curd is gonna go, milk is gonna go waste..bread..o crap! All our stock is gonna go<br />D- Nah! Don’t worry. ( she is not looking at the fridge)<br />AG – OK. I have taken it all out. Lets give some to our neighbour to keep in the fridge till tomorrow, cause I think this is going to take some time<br />D - O, No No ..those guys wont get up in the morning! So, lets just keep it out. We will get milk tomorrow morning! & You can buy curd later!<br />AG – Well ok. So, here goes nothing. We switch it off<br />Both of us watch the fridge in awe – (Is it melting? Is that it? But, there is no switch that says, “DEFROST!” Hmmmm.. I hope its okay!!)<br /><br />15 minutes later:<br />D – Uh, Looks like this is gonna take some more time..<br /><br />1 hour later<br />D- I guess it will be okay by tomorrow morning<br /><br />The next morning:<br />I wake up – walk into the kitchen to make my tea, and the whole place is filled with water!<br /><br />The fridge is now de-frosted! I am flustered!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1158170910690126552006-09-13T23:20:00.000+05:302006-09-13T23:38:30.773+05:30SpaceAll I need is Space..<br />All I need is Space..<br />Space is all I need..<br />(the 'Space' version of - 'All I need is Love')<br /><br />Space for growth..<br />Space for my thoughts..<br />Space to meet new people..<br />Space to meet my old friends..<br />Space to be with myself..<br />Space to be with you..<br /><br />Space to get my old life back..<br />Space to live in those days again..<br />Space to be the 'old me'<br />Space to be 'just me'..<br />Space to breathe..<br />Space to explore..<br /><br />Space.. Space.. Space..Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1155845084900363042006-08-18T01:24:00.000+05:302006-08-21T13:47:07.873+05:30ConnexionsCon-nex-ions..its such a conny thing at times.. in the sense that - one cant estimate if a new contact is going to be a 'good' or a 'bad' one..ofcourse, 'good' & 'bad' are perceptions, but none the less..<br /><br />As we live our daily lives, we are constantly in the quest of finding someone new - someone we dont know.. the irony is, when we do find someone new, we try hard to find someone we both know!! Its all about commonality (if there is such a word)..<br /><br />Connecting people - as Nokia puts it, is integral to a human - rather to society..in a way, it brings us closer to ourselves & helps others too..<br /><br />At certain points in life, you start looking for people who were a part of your life @ one point, and vanished for various reasons..lets just say, neither of you bothered to keep in touch..and u suddenly have an urge to connect up with the past.. The urge to do this is so high that sometimes, the image we had of the person remains the same -no matter how many years back u knew this person.. a 'good' or a 'bad' image remains..<br /><br />Connecting up like that can be fun, but, we dont realise that a part of our past is just a part of our past at times..& some relations are possibly best left in the past..<br /><br />Its a quest or a risk..You decide!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1155322566781390492006-08-12T00:11:00.000+05:302006-08-12T00:26:06.993+05:30Food for thought.."I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might have-been has never been, but a has was once an are." By Milton Berle<br /><br />I think its a brilliant quote, some people think otherwise... lemme know your view on it!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1152718018988073812006-07-12T20:31:00.000+05:302006-07-12T20:56:59.190+05:30The show must go on..I've been in Mumbai for about one and a half months now, and each day has been new & different.. I've made so many friends, got a good job profile, got a great place to stay (on the 15th floor overlooking the hills & the ocean)..<br /><br />To me, Mumbai is (among other views): filled with high energy & a very deep need to make the daily bread - this need is so highly ingrained into every person in Mumbai (whether from Mumbai or outside) and that drives them to get back on track ASAP, no matter what.. "I must earn my daily bread".. "I must survive".. "I must live".. "The show must go on.."<br /><br />The last 3 weeks in my life - so much has happened, and it still is happening..<br />-My roomie quit her job (rather she is 'on a break') and went to her hometown - was just getting to know her a lot more when, she decided to leave.. & today, I got a call from another friend, he quit his job yesterday & returned to his hometown today..<br /><br />-the rains & hype over it - my roomie & I were just as good as stranded without a cooking arrangement or electicity @ home.. we bought the cooking arrangement the next day.. saw a rockslide - we have this huge rock mountain that acts as a pillar to our flat, which started eroding in the rains!!<br /><br />- a sudden trip to Trivandrum - came to office in the morning at 11am, caught the 2.30 flight out & came back the next day. When I came back, my office PC being formatted - by 'mistake' and I've still not recovered my data!!!.. <br /><br />- my friends/cousins landing up in Mumbai - An,Ru,Nu,Aj & my folks too..<br /><br />- the riots - the entrance/ exit to my flat was actually locked. Ignorance is bliss I guess - coz, I dont have a TV at home yet, I was so 'pakaued'(bored to death) so, I decided to go catch a movie with friends, and we ended up having a super time @ club IX, which brought together 6 strangers..<br /><br />- & how can I not mention the blasts?..<br /><br />All that I can think of now is, "The show must go on.."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1150725764200824812006-06-19T19:14:00.000+05:302006-06-19T19:32:44.216+05:30Six DegreesThis is the first time I've been tagged...and what a topic to get tagged on for a first tag - 6 wierd things about you?!?! Shortcomings/wierd stuff..here goes:<br /><br />1. I cant help staring in disbelief at people who eat a 'dosa' with a fork & knife!<br />2. I dont have any logical conclusions to my thoughts - its just that - thoughts..<br />3. I am highly organised for sometime, and highly disorganised for sometime during the year<br />4. I have a 'time limit' for sleep & food, and if it passes that time, I cant sleep or dont feel hungry - if I stay awake till 3 for e.g., I would rather not sleep if I have a full day ahead, and if I dont get food by 22.30(23.00 max), I dont feel hungry anymore..<br />5. I can go chatting a dime to a dozen on the phone one minute & be extremely silent when I meet you the next minute..<br />6. I have friends who are any day more wierd than I am!! :DD<br /><br />My turn! My turn!! & I refuse to stop at 6!! Muhahahahahahaha!! (Wicked laugh) <br />I tag:<br />1. Zoxcleb<br />2. GS<br />3. Ajax<br />4. R (you can leave it as a comment on my post :D)<br />5. Arunima<br />6. Anwesha<br />7. Ishy<br />8. Unforgiven<br />9. Drishyanvesh (I know everyman has already tagged u, this is a double tag!! :D) <br /><br />If you choose to get tagged on this topic, just let me know, so the next time around, I can tag you!!! :D<br /><br />Ciao people!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1150123191236494502006-06-12T20:08:00.000+05:302006-06-12T20:09:51.253+05:30I wanna go here!! Wanna join???<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7663/714/1600/I%20wanna%20go%20here%20now%21%21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7663/714/400/I%20wanna%20go%20here%20now%21%21.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11397482.post-1149518669748944492006-06-05T19:49:00.000+05:302006-06-11T00:02:34.253+05:30"Hi.. Please meet Mr/Ms......"Introductions are so difficult.. specially about someone you dont know too well to somone you dont know too well..<br /><br />There was this one time.. It was at Lions club @ Chennai..and you know how hosh-posh these things can get!! There is this man in a coat & suit..a very 'hi-flung' dude...has spared some of his 'very valuable time' to come to the function.. & there was this nervous lady who kept reharsing her line of introduction of Mr. A..The final moment came:Mr. A is on the dias..and she is inviting him to come and talk..and she says, "Please give it up for the ever SMELLING Mr. A" instead of ever SMILING!! O Man!! The giggles throughout his talk!! <br /><br />& then again, you feel so good, when someone introduces you well..you feel like GOD!!! Some people can say the best things and make you feel so good about yourself!! Another perspective to this - one of the leads of a project in our company was well introduced on stage to a bunch of freshers in our company. After the 10 minute very highly commending introduction, he comes on stage and says:<br />"Have any of you been to court?" (Dead silence)"Have you heard the sermons being read against someone?" (Dead Silence) My sermon was just read.. now, you are my judges!! (Dead silence throughout his talk..so much that even when he opened the floor for questions, DEAD SILENCE!!!)<br /><br />Some people have that capability to say the right things at the right time, and others just dont know when to stop!!<br /><br />I feel like GOD today - I was introduced like one!! WOW!! Sooooo WOW!!! And all I could do was Smile!! :DDDUnknownnoreply@blogger.com8