Sunday, September 25, 2005
Lemme frankly tell u that I aint a voracious reader... I have hardly read any novels, very few infact. But I do read lotsa newspapers and magazines.
You must be wondering why am I talking about all these!! Whenever i read certain articles in newspapers & online media (including blogs), I always feel bad about my mediocre vocab. Its true, that I tried to improve it & let me keep the info about my effort in this regard & come straight to the point.
"what makes a good read?"
1. Richness in content
2. Richness in vocab & other artistic lingo.
I am damn sure most of you would say, a mixture of both!! But I feel we are being lil too diplomatic.
One thing is for sure, it depends on the audience or readers to whom the article is meant for, but still, the purpose n desire of the author is to reach the maximum number of readers!!
So, my poll question goes like this:
"Which is more important for an article to be a good read?"
1. Richness in content
2. Richness in vocab & other artistic lingo.
Mind you, its pretty difficult to keep the reader (hi-fi/fundoo) interested, if its just content centred and its more difficult if the language is obscure with complex words & hi-fi lingo for readers with mediocre vocab (like me!!).
PS: You are supposed to vote to just either of them, there is NO third option.
PS2: See the first comment of the post to know the format to be followed in voting!!
--Raju PP at 8:01 PM
16 comments
Monday, September 19, 2005
This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl’s every facet, from her privacy, to her theology, to her clothing style.
This is for the guys who escort their drenched, wet, lonely female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they are at her door, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favour cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don’t end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.
This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she should not worry about it. This is for that time she interrupted the best flow you had composing music to rant about a rumour that romantically linked her and the guy she thinks is the most repulsive person in the world. And even though you thought it was immature and you had nothing against the guy, you paused the music for two hours and helped her concoct a counter-rumor to spread around the floor. This is also for that time she did not have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing SERIOUS between the two of you, she dragged you to a shopping mall, where you did not know why you came, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone out there: "oh, but we're just friends!" And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you're nice like that.
The nice guys don't often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don't seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can't. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other colleges and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as "oh, he's too nice to date" or "he would be a good boyfriend but he's not for me" or "he already puts up with so much from me, I couldn't possibly ask him out!" or the most frustrating of all: "no, it would ruin our friendship." Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry, guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can't figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I'm going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn't last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single.
So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you're sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your shopping escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.
PS: This is a lil modified version of the original, but i endorse the views here completely!
--Raju PP at 12:15 AM
30 comments
Thursday, September 15, 2005
"Death is only one of the
many ways to lose ur life" - TFD
--Raju PP at 8:47 PM
7 comments
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
--Raju PP at 10:23 AM
8 comments
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
I am using BSNL broadband for the past 2 months. Initially i was so thrilled with the speed and the limitless nature of the plan (actually 1 gb limit exists), but the real pain in the A$$ started last monday.
I was browsing the net till late on sunday night and shut the comp down. On monday evening, routinely i switched on the comp & tried accessing the net, and I finally ended up "trying" the whole night.
I called the CUSTUMER CARE executive and I was promptly asked about the problem. She gave me a "docket no." and didnt speak a word and disconnected the line!!! I slept off still wondering wat to do with that no.
Next day, since i didnt get any response from them, i tried calling them up & gave her the no i was given last night, but amusingly she gave me another docket no meant for broadband users
On wednesday, as i was preparing to start my work at 9 in the morn, i got a call on my mobile from a tech exec of BSNL and he wanted me to check few settings in my comp which was just few tens of kms away from my office. I told him, that i cant do that now, and he told me to call him back at 7 PM
I went home early tat evening, even though i had lil work left to be completed. But when i tried calling the no. he gave, there was no soul to answer me. I tried calling up the "toll free no." and the lady told that the TECH DEPT works only till 8 in the night, and smashed her reciever hard, but i was amazed to see the time, it was just 7.30
Thursday, again, i called them at 6.45, this time I was lil more pissed off and was almost yelling at the guy. But i think that guy was a student of Newton, and he promptly taught me Newton's third law :| This was the time i felt how helpless I am..
Helpless, coz I couldnt do anything... ANYTHING... I have "bought" the modem for 2000 bucks, so tat means i cant discontinue their service after just 2 months, next, I wasnt in a position to apply a day's leave to go n meet a higher official of BSNL... Nothing seemed like working for me.
Friday, i got through to the tech dept, and he made me make few hundred changes in the settings... it was ME who called HIM for 45 mins (imagine the telephone bill) and atlast, he told me that net wud start working after i restart my comp... and yeah, u guessed it right, IT DIDNT, and he didnt bother recieving my call again that night !!
Saturday, I went to the BSNL office at yediyur and without the board n few ads, I couldnt have recognised the "office". There were around 15 employee working in customer info dept, and there were hardly 7-8 chairs including the ones meant for customers. The funda is simple.. not more than 5 ppl would be working at the same time together :p
I waited for 4 hours after i got the modem (went back home n got it!!) for "check-up". And after 4 hours, i was told thet the server is busy to (just) reset the password!!! so he asked me to collect the modem on monday, and i had to ask my mom n sis to get it for me amidst the "katrinafied" bangalore rains
If anyone is thinking about having broadband, THINK again !!!!
PS: I am enjoying 256 kbps and 1gb download... its a different experience ;):p
--Raju PP at 2:27 AM
24 comments
Monday, September 05, 2005
I couldn't' stop making this comparison..
inches of rain in new orleans due to hurricane katrina... 18
inches of rain in mumbai (July 27th).... 37.1
population of new orleans... 484,674
population of mumbai.... 12,622,500
deaths in new orleans within 48 hours of katrina...100
deaths in mumbai within 48hours of rain.. 37.
number of people to be evacuated in new orleans... entire city..wohh
number of people evacuated in mumbai...10,000
Cases of shooting and violence in new orleans...Countless
Cases of shooting and violence in mumbai.. NONE
Time taken for US army to reach new orleans... 48hours
Time taken for Indian army and navy to reach mumbai...12hours
status 48hours later...new orleans is still waiting for relief, army and electricty
status 48hours later..mumbai is back on its feet and is business is as usual
USA...world's most developed nation
India...JUST A DEVELOPING NATION.. :|:|
oopss...did i get the last fact wrong??? Or am I just being proud of being an INDIAN?
PS: The "facts" mentioned above seems true to my knowledge, any misinfo is regretted!!
--Raju PP at 10:17 PM
11 comments
POLL !!!
Lemme frankly tell u that I aint a voracious reader... I have hardly read any novels, very few infact. But I do read lotsa newspapers and magazines.
You must be wondering why am I talking about all these!! Whenever i read certain articles in newspapers & online media (including blogs), I always feel bad about my mediocre vocab. Its true, that I tried to improve it & let me keep the info about my effort in this regard & come straight to the point.
"what makes a good read?"
1. Richness in content
2. Richness in vocab & other artistic lingo.
I am damn sure most of you would say, a mixture of both!! But I feel we are being lil too diplomatic.
One thing is for sure, it depends on the audience or readers to whom the article is meant for, but still, the purpose n desire of the author is to reach the maximum number of readers!!
So, my poll question goes like this:
"Which is more important for an article to be a good read?"
1. Richness in content
2. Richness in vocab & other artistic lingo.
Mind you, its pretty difficult to keep the reader (hi-fi/fundoo) interested, if its just content centred and its more difficult if the language is obscure with complex words & hi-fi lingo for readers with mediocre vocab (like me!!).
PS: You are supposed to vote to just either of them, there is NO third option.
PS2: See the first comment of the post to know the format to be followed in voting!!
--Raju PP at 8:01 PM
16 comments
______________________________
Monday, September 19, 2005
For all the nice guys . . . .
This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl’s every facet, from her privacy, to her theology, to her clothing style.
This is for the guys who escort their drenched, wet, lonely female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they are at her door, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favour cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don’t end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.
This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she should not worry about it. This is for that time she interrupted the best flow you had composing music to rant about a rumour that romantically linked her and the guy she thinks is the most repulsive person in the world. And even though you thought it was immature and you had nothing against the guy, you paused the music for two hours and helped her concoct a counter-rumor to spread around the floor. This is also for that time she did not have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing SERIOUS between the two of you, she dragged you to a shopping mall, where you did not know why you came, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone out there: "oh, but we're just friends!" And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you're nice like that.
The nice guys don't often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don't seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can't. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other colleges and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as "oh, he's too nice to date" or "he would be a good boyfriend but he's not for me" or "he already puts up with so much from me, I couldn't possibly ask him out!" or the most frustrating of all: "no, it would ruin our friendship." Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry, guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can't figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I'm going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn't last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single.
So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you're sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your shopping escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.
PS: This is a lil modified version of the original, but i endorse the views here completely!
--Raju PP at 12:15 AM
30 comments
______________________________
Thursday, September 15, 2005
True!!!
"Death is only one of the
many ways to lose ur life" - TFD
--Raju PP at 8:47 PM
7 comments
______________________________
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
how nerd r u???!!!
--Raju PP at 10:23 AM
8 comments
______________________________
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
BSNL Data(N)one!!!!
I am using BSNL broadband for the past 2 months. Initially i was so thrilled with the speed and the limitless nature of the plan (actually 1 gb limit exists), but the real pain in the A$$ started last monday.
I was browsing the net till late on sunday night and shut the comp down. On monday evening, routinely i switched on the comp & tried accessing the net, and I finally ended up "trying" the whole night.
I called the CUSTUMER CARE executive and I was promptly asked about the problem. She gave me a "docket no." and didnt speak a word and disconnected the line!!! I slept off still wondering wat to do with that no.
Next day, since i didnt get any response from them, i tried calling them up & gave her the no i was given last night, but amusingly she gave me another docket no meant for broadband users
On wednesday, as i was preparing to start my work at 9 in the morn, i got a call on my mobile from a tech exec of BSNL and he wanted me to check few settings in my comp which was just few tens of kms away from my office. I told him, that i cant do that now, and he told me to call him back at 7 PM
I went home early tat evening, even though i had lil work left to be completed. But when i tried calling the no. he gave, there was no soul to answer me. I tried calling up the "toll free no." and the lady told that the TECH DEPT works only till 8 in the night, and smashed her reciever hard, but i was amazed to see the time, it was just 7.30
Thursday, again, i called them at 6.45, this time I was lil more pissed off and was almost yelling at the guy. But i think that guy was a student of Newton, and he promptly taught me Newton's third law :| This was the time i felt how helpless I am..
Helpless, coz I couldnt do anything... ANYTHING... I have "bought" the modem for 2000 bucks, so tat means i cant discontinue their service after just 2 months, next, I wasnt in a position to apply a day's leave to go n meet a higher official of BSNL... Nothing seemed like working for me.
Friday, i got through to the tech dept, and he made me make few hundred changes in the settings... it was ME who called HIM for 45 mins (imagine the telephone bill) and atlast, he told me that net wud start working after i restart my comp... and yeah, u guessed it right, IT DIDNT, and he didnt bother recieving my call again that night !!
Saturday, I went to the BSNL office at yediyur and without the board n few ads, I couldnt have recognised the "office". There were around 15 employee working in customer info dept, and there were hardly 7-8 chairs including the ones meant for customers. The funda is simple.. not more than 5 ppl would be working at the same time together :p
I waited for 4 hours after i got the modem (went back home n got it!!) for "check-up". And after 4 hours, i was told thet the server is busy to (just) reset the password!!! so he asked me to collect the modem on monday, and i had to ask my mom n sis to get it for me amidst the "katrinafied" bangalore rains
If anyone is thinking about having broadband, THINK again !!!!
PS: I am enjoying 256 kbps and 1gb download... its a different experience ;):p
--Raju PP at 2:27 AM
24 comments
______________________________
Monday, September 05, 2005
Am I being harsh??!!!
I couldn't' stop making this comparison..
inches of rain in new orleans due to hurricane katrina... 18
inches of rain in mumbai (July 27th).... 37.1
population of new orleans... 484,674
population of mumbai.... 12,622,500
deaths in new orleans within 48 hours of katrina...100
deaths in mumbai within 48hours of rain.. 37.
number of people to be evacuated in new orleans... entire city..wohh
number of people evacuated in mumbai...10,000
Cases of shooting and violence in new orleans...Countless
Cases of shooting and violence in mumbai.. NONE
Time taken for US army to reach new orleans... 48hours
Time taken for Indian army and navy to reach mumbai...12hours
status 48hours later...new orleans is still waiting for relief, army and electricty
status 48hours later..mumbai is back on its feet and is business is as usual
USA...world's most developed nation
India...JUST A DEVELOPING NATION.. :|:|
oopss...did i get the last fact wrong??? Or am I just being proud of being an INDIAN?
PS: The "facts" mentioned above seems true to my knowledge, any misinfo is regretted!!
--Raju PP at 10:17 PM
11 comments