They are not green.
If you remember the gulmohar trees on the way to your school, or along that sunny road on summer afternoons, you'll know what I am visualizing.
The pretty red flowers of gulmohar tree that bloom on hot extremely sunny summers are a respite to anyone's eyes. They make a thirsty, sweaty and half blinded traveller believe that shade is around the corner, that its possible to stand calm even in this extreme weather, that there is beauty even in barren pastures.
You must know all this about gulmohar trees. But what you don't know is that gulmohar trees are not an Indian specie of trees. They are from Madagascar.
Yes..you got it right.. from the land of "You like to move it move it!"
Now the unfortunate side of these pretty somethings is that they do not attract the local birds. This is not good news for the birds. Not even for us. We don't want our Indian birds to hang up there in air, just because we like looking at red flowers on trees.
So I am writing this note to spread the awareness, so that next time you decide to plant a tree, you know your bird's opinion and mine too.
Plus, the sparrows I think have become extinct. Let me know if you spot one.. I am keeping count. There are 3000 tigers left, I don't know if sparrows are ahead of them or behind.
Friday, June 4, 2010
When Erection is a problem
I know what you are thinking. But I am not talking about that which you think I am.
I am talking about steel structures instead.
Its a cheap publicity gimmick to get readers to start reading this piece which deals with a complex engineering construction related subject. But I guess all is fair in blog publicity and war.
Steel structures, for the uninitiated, are basically heavy multi-story high-rise buildings made entirely out of steel. Such structures are composed of complex nutting and bolting together of heavy steel beams, columns, and bracings to form the main skeleton and then wrapped in steel cladding. This building is then furnished to cover up the steel and enhance the structure aesthetically. It basically leads to doing away with the entire conventional RCC framework. Now although this technology is being widely used globally for fast track heavy construction, India is yet to completely adapt to it.
This is when you should be asking why?
Experts believe that one of the key challenges for this industry in India is a lack of “erection” capability. Here you go. I have busted the mystery. I am talking about erection of steel fabricated structures. India doesn’t have enough contractors who possess the expertise to erect this type of structures.
But that is not the point I am trying to make. The key message that I am manoeuvring my way into is how important context is while you ascribe a meaning to anything. One word can swing into two entirely different contexts and have completely different meanings. And worse is that you can’t always react to it the same way, just because you reacted in a particular way in one particular context.
Hence, next time, don’t laugh at a double meaning joke. Roll at it. Because the beauty of the joke lies in the fact that its funny both ways!! Most words (or phrases) aren’t that lucky, they are often comprehended in the wrong contexts and lead someone into rocky waters. However, double meaning jokes are like palindromes of humour...funny both ways.. you can call them “palindumour”!!
The last one was not a double meaning joke... it was poor joke :P.
Tell me that my blog now officially sucks.
I am talking about steel structures instead.
Its a cheap publicity gimmick to get readers to start reading this piece which deals with a complex engineering construction related subject. But I guess all is fair in blog publicity and war.
Steel structures, for the uninitiated, are basically heavy multi-story high-rise buildings made entirely out of steel. Such structures are composed of complex nutting and bolting together of heavy steel beams, columns, and bracings to form the main skeleton and then wrapped in steel cladding. This building is then furnished to cover up the steel and enhance the structure aesthetically. It basically leads to doing away with the entire conventional RCC framework. Now although this technology is being widely used globally for fast track heavy construction, India is yet to completely adapt to it.
This is when you should be asking why?
Experts believe that one of the key challenges for this industry in India is a lack of “erection” capability. Here you go. I have busted the mystery. I am talking about erection of steel fabricated structures. India doesn’t have enough contractors who possess the expertise to erect this type of structures.
But that is not the point I am trying to make. The key message that I am manoeuvring my way into is how important context is while you ascribe a meaning to anything. One word can swing into two entirely different contexts and have completely different meanings. And worse is that you can’t always react to it the same way, just because you reacted in a particular way in one particular context.
Hence, next time, don’t laugh at a double meaning joke. Roll at it. Because the beauty of the joke lies in the fact that its funny both ways!! Most words (or phrases) aren’t that lucky, they are often comprehended in the wrong contexts and lead someone into rocky waters. However, double meaning jokes are like palindromes of humour...funny both ways.. you can call them “palindumour”!!
The last one was not a double meaning joke... it was poor joke :P.
Tell me that my blog now officially sucks.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Miss K Confessions
Two years ago she was 2008-10-028 Sana Khan - A small name lost in a long list. A tiny girl hidden in the world of giant outspoken men and women. A girl who was only known to her close friends and closed at that. She had a big designation on her resume. Miss AVP.
But then, they discovered her. Somewhere in the middle benches of a 61 faced class where there sure was a “No 19” but actually no 19. In that chronicle of incredible talent she was 28. Sandwitched right between the finance God Rajarasmus and the page 3 goddess Rani of Ranchi. This was a land of opportunities. A land of new beginnings. She always thought she was a square peg in a round hole. But in this magical land, each peg was unlike the other and each one great in some way. You didn’t really had to fit in. You had to stand out.
The adventures of Jumanji were dwarfed in front the adventurous narrations of “Jijoji”. Narrations of stories in his life, in my life, in the life of the dog at the corner, etc or even in the life of Tushar Kapoor. She learnt story telling from him.
She learnt to “focus focus focus”. Focus on life. Focus on fun and focus on the power of networking.
Although she had no option to choose her co-dweller, she landed up with the perfect one. The Brightest star. The strategic star who loved bikes and automotive engineers ;).
In this land of magic, she discovered men who could really stand tall at times difficult and dark. They were the “tower” of strength. She learnt being positive from them.
There was also a “smoke buddy”, she found. The one that made all worries fly off like smoke. She learnt being fun from him.
She moved around in circles of scholarly intellect and remained a quiet listener most of the times. But those silent conversations, left her more learned than the books she never read.
She met lovers. “Lover of dogs”, “lovers of moon”, “lovers of skinny pleasures”, and “lovers faking not being in love”. She learnt love from them. And she loved those who loved her back, even those who didn’t.
She was no longer another face in a crowd. She was Miss K. She was Miss PGA. She was what she is today.
To all the people who made it worth the stay.
But then, they discovered her. Somewhere in the middle benches of a 61 faced class where there sure was a “No 19” but actually no 19. In that chronicle of incredible talent she was 28. Sandwitched right between the finance God Rajarasmus and the page 3 goddess Rani of Ranchi. This was a land of opportunities. A land of new beginnings. She always thought she was a square peg in a round hole. But in this magical land, each peg was unlike the other and each one great in some way. You didn’t really had to fit in. You had to stand out.
The adventures of Jumanji were dwarfed in front the adventurous narrations of “Jijoji”. Narrations of stories in his life, in my life, in the life of the dog at the corner, etc or even in the life of Tushar Kapoor. She learnt story telling from him.
She learnt to “focus focus focus”. Focus on life. Focus on fun and focus on the power of networking.
Although she had no option to choose her co-dweller, she landed up with the perfect one. The Brightest star. The strategic star who loved bikes and automotive engineers ;).
In this land of magic, she discovered men who could really stand tall at times difficult and dark. They were the “tower” of strength. She learnt being positive from them.
There was also a “smoke buddy”, she found. The one that made all worries fly off like smoke. She learnt being fun from him.
She moved around in circles of scholarly intellect and remained a quiet listener most of the times. But those silent conversations, left her more learned than the books she never read.
She met lovers. “Lover of dogs”, “lovers of moon”, “lovers of skinny pleasures”, and “lovers faking not being in love”. She learnt love from them. And she loved those who loved her back, even those who didn’t.
She was no longer another face in a crowd. She was Miss K. She was Miss PGA. She was what she is today.
To all the people who made it worth the stay.
Tabula Rasa
The only place where it is less painful to fall in than come out is love-ville. Thats such a cheesy topic for a blog post that comes after a hundred years.
I just watched an old time favourite “Shall we dance” and thats where the thoughts came from. Well... that and other thoughts.
My life is a tabula rasa (thats a new word I have learnt and I totally love it. Plus its relevant here). All over again. I am not in love. I am not even in school anymore.
Its like the life cycle of a butterfly. Starts with egg, larva, caterpillar, cocoon and then flies out a beautiful colourful two (or is it four?) winged dancing butterfly...
... and then strangely enough.. the circle is closed back at the egg. I always wondered how the butterfly turns into the egg back again. As it turns out.. it graduates from a business school.
So here I am, angel faced cherub who just landed on the corporate planet and taking my shaking first steps all over again. Or am I fakign it?
Lol.. Its like I am trying to convince myself to be a certain way that a “new” guy is supposed to be. Irresponsible, inefficient and essentially a Y-type of personality. I mostly enjoy it. I have been trained for two years and given an additional degree for being that way. But sometimes I don’t. And I think of quitting..
Its strange. When you are doing something for the first time it is understandable to say that you don’t know how you are supposed to behave because you have never done it before. Its true for me also. I have never done a second time before!!
I am mostly talking non-sense and posting it on the web. But that is purely because I am feeling extremely confused and worthless and want to fake (yet again) that I am atleast doing something interesting. Please bare with me.
I’ll be back.
PS: Ever wondered why a butterfly is called a “butter” – fly. I am almost imagining a 500gram Amul butter slab gliding in air.
I just watched an old time favourite “Shall we dance” and thats where the thoughts came from. Well... that and other thoughts.
My life is a tabula rasa (thats a new word I have learnt and I totally love it. Plus its relevant here). All over again. I am not in love. I am not even in school anymore.
Its like the life cycle of a butterfly. Starts with egg, larva, caterpillar, cocoon and then flies out a beautiful colourful two (or is it four?) winged dancing butterfly...
... and then strangely enough.. the circle is closed back at the egg. I always wondered how the butterfly turns into the egg back again. As it turns out.. it graduates from a business school.
So here I am, angel faced cherub who just landed on the corporate planet and taking my shaking first steps all over again. Or am I fakign it?
Lol.. Its like I am trying to convince myself to be a certain way that a “new” guy is supposed to be. Irresponsible, inefficient and essentially a Y-type of personality. I mostly enjoy it. I have been trained for two years and given an additional degree for being that way. But sometimes I don’t. And I think of quitting..
Its strange. When you are doing something for the first time it is understandable to say that you don’t know how you are supposed to behave because you have never done it before. Its true for me also. I have never done a second time before!!
I am mostly talking non-sense and posting it on the web. But that is purely because I am feeling extremely confused and worthless and want to fake (yet again) that I am atleast doing something interesting. Please bare with me.
I’ll be back.
PS: Ever wondered why a butterfly is called a “butter” – fly. I am almost imagining a 500gram Amul butter slab gliding in air.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Facebook Vs Phonebook
Social networking is important. Erstwhile, people networked via letters, then came phones and now its the virtual world. The virtual world is new, exciting and offers you an opportunity to be a person of your imagination! The virtual life is perfect, and if not, it can be easily mended. Just yesterday, I got a "frand" request from this person, who made a new orkut profile and mentioned upfront "that this is not my real profile... I am starting a new "virtual life" since I was bored of the last one. I am making new friends, add mee if you want to have some fun"... Makes me wish if our lives were as simple, that we could delete one profile and start a fresh one when things get messy!!
Anywho, coming back to where I started from, phonebooks or rather fonebooks are fast being replaced by facebook... but here is an interesting observation on this..
fonebook = f-one-book
while facebook = f-ace-book
now one = numero uno = ace
Hence, fonebook = facebook !!!! <<>>>
Now this is what you call self explanatory phenomenon.. There is actually no transition.. just translation :D
(PS: If you were wondering when do I think of all crappy stuff.. I must remind you that I am an MBA student and that too in second year )
Anywho, coming back to where I started from, phonebooks or rather fonebooks are fast being replaced by facebook... but here is an interesting observation on this..
fonebook = f-one-book
while facebook = f-ace-book
now one = numero uno = ace
Hence, fonebook = facebook !!!! <<
Now this is what you call self explanatory phenomenon.. There is actually no transition.. just translation :D
(PS: If you were wondering when do I think of all crappy stuff.. I must remind you that I am an MBA student and that too in second year )
Zukisms!!
Letters
Series #1, Volume #4
On his way to the post office, to post new years greetings..
Zuk: Letters have become so rare these days.. no one writes to anyone.. for love atleast.
Zak: Well..letters are no longer important.. there is orkut, and fb and buzz...
Zuk: Hell no.. letters are very important.. they make all the difference!
Zak: How?
Zuk: Well.. Is your underpant news?
Zak: Wtf! Why would it be news for anyone? Just because I got new ones.. it wouldn’t be news!
Zuk: Hehe.. but new it is.. just one letter made all the difference.. :P..
Monday, February 15, 2010
Zukisms !!!
The Haircut
Series #1, Volume # 3
Zuk has just had a new haircut at a stylish uber-cool saloon with an extremely shaven look.
Zak: I see.. something is new.. Did you get a haircut?
Zuk: No.. its autumn and I am shedding!!
Zak: Haha.. but seriously.. what made you go for this next to nothing look?
Zuk: Fashion mags are saying the lesser the better.. skimpy is in.. so here I am.. skimpy from head to toe...node to node..
Zak: But you are fully clothed! Whats node?
Zuk: Head is bare and I have a hole in my socks.. start node to end node .. :P
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