Brutally Frank

This is a new line of thought that i am considering. Yes my outlook has been thoroughly anti social because of this quality. But maybe then there is grain of reason in being socially euphemistic towards one and all. An eye for an eye leaves the world blind. But now honesty in its purest form is not a socially desirable trait neither does it benefit you in some ways. Where there is a need to be warm, supportive, "pat your back and lift your spirit kind".

The trouble is this competitive world leaves one a cynic and I do not mind in leading, as used in lie to me, a radically honest person. Until I figured recently, its all immaturity and highly toxic in a social world. We are after all mutually supportive cohesive bunch of people who aim to be more productive together. Thus hurting someone's feelings with the in your face'ness does create uncomfortable scenes. I think there is balance as in all things. One has to be honest while giving criticism so as to help someone improve their lives in some ways, but that has to be laced with a sweet layer of support and positiveness to make the point.

This form of frankness and mixed with ego (guilty as charged) will undoubtedly lead to downfall. Thank goodness it happens early enough to not be critically damaged. By now no one would have read the cryptic message of this post (hardly anyone reads it anyways) but I still like the idea of expressing myself. Trouble is words don't do justice.

Long time no see

It's been more time than I can count since I have posted and a lot has happened in life. I have lived a good few months of the so called "corporate life". It has been wonderful and brilliant, horrible and lonely and most of all a huge learning experience. So on an empty sunday I laze around and then think of blogging. Finally at the EOD ( end of day :P ), I decide to go for it.
I lost my camera. So all those wonderful things in the corner of my world will stay unwatched. I'm thinking of buying one soon however confused between a good camera and a good phone. A debate rages in my mind. i think all the young people have this perneial debate in their mind. Be it careerwise, lovewise, moneywise, friendwise and what not. We however make very few wise decisions :D. I like the fact that work consumes me. That's when u can calm down the thoughts and focus on some intelligent thinking and getting the work done.
It's a lot of fun though. It can get rough and you learn to enjoy it. I have noticed its much easier when you crib and take everything in good humor. So we joke. Quite a lot actually. good and bad. Then we dint have any work after sometime and it turned out so weird :D. I had more than once thought of stealing other people's work :p. Then I took a vacation before which I moved to a new place. My mind kind of reset for 2 weeks and for one thing one's attachments to important people and things hardly change. Back here a lot has changed and I may have to move out of this place also soon.
Today while reading Nassim taleb's " Fooled by randomness" I noticed something interesting. He says that in trying to simplify things we end severly distorting them. It basically means you screw up things when simplifying them. Thus if you say that guy is a loser you may end up being very polarized and incomplete. This theory applies to love very heavily. I recently heard that fb added more options in you relationship status. I think it should be open for people to write what they want. While growing up all that bollywood love was real love for me. Then came high school college and now the different states if love are so varied and each exactly definable that its no longer enough to say it's complicated. It's always complicated and if you can't define the present state, well you better go with whatever she says :P. It's everywhere around you in all your relationships. That's why we have good friends, gr8 friends, just friends, friends with benefits ( havent seen this variety except in movies :P ), frnds who sometimes meet, school frnds, work frnds etc etc. And there is no point in simplifying this whole mass of relationships.
There is more of this confusion to add. At all times these things are changing. Every relationship improves and degrades with our control and our wishes. We urban jungle animals, alpha male/female, aware and active have to deal with such complexities that our ancestors never thought of while they were scratching their heads with sticks. And hence I say to all people ( especially the young ones ) well done and welcome to this crazy mindnumbing world.

Container for sale !!!

This is an email I got from mikelgomz@gmail.com who wanted me to buy a container. The question is what is this guy hinting at when he says any other uses you can imagine of a container.

Dear sir,

Good day.

We would like to inform that we have some used containers for sale (size 20' & 40').

Following are some usages of container

1. Storage of any goods
2. Portable Office
3. Portable Car parking
4. Portable House
5. Portable Kitchen
6. Portable Genset
7. Portable Medical store
8. Portable Boarding Hostel
(or) Anything that you can imagine in a container.

Please feel free to contact us for further clarification.

Best rgds,
Michael
Mob : 98650 80880

MS LOGISTICS
(Liaison Agent : Container Selling, Ship Chandling,
Ship Repairing, Ship Crew Manning, Exim)
59A/3B South Cotton Road,
Tuticorin 628001, Tamilnadu, India
Tel : +91 461 2333 433
Fax : +91 461 2321 220
Email : mslogisticsindia@gmail.com
michael@mslogisticsindia.com
Web : www.mslogisticsindia.com

SVNITTTT

Man, I have been dying to upload this post for a long time. However the hostel net probably chose the worst possible time to take a break. I had gone on a photography rampage sometime back and clickd several pictures. Some of them were just awsome.

Revolution!!!!!! wtf

I am yet again pestered by mails regarding a so called revolution. I am trying to avoid such trash for long but the rationalist in me screams and shouts to respond. Hence yet again I am here writing about it. Let me structure it out for you.

Myth : The new cgpa rule is unjust for us as we had already completed 2 years of our wonderful college when it was implemented. It is against our values and the spirit of fairness in this college.

Fact: It is a well known fact that our academic records are relative. However it is to my notice that records of all our marks are kept somewhere in a so called "secret place". Justice or fairness for all stakeholders (students, faculty, other colleges) should ideally be achieved by calculating our real percentages based on those marks. However I am damn sure that if that is done, even many of our " 9 ptrs " would struggle getting a 80%. Even if a whopping 10% is cut from our cg we are still at an advantage and would get a higher percentage. since this is to be compared with other colleges, why should authorities give us undue advantage over others which would violate many laws of the land. In fact, the blow to us is cushioned many times over. It is of also interest that many of the "leaders" of the revolution would be very adversely affected because of the rule and even more so due to their records, hence the protest have come. Again are our values to get higher pointers and then jobs or to be educated and turn out cultured and open minded.

Myth: Renesa & CHRD are dissolved

Fact: I hardly believe the euphoria surrounding the opposition to this particular brand of misinformation. Renesa is not dissolved but the renesa team is. Yes maybe we have lost a good team however it is not that the next team will consist of incompetent fools. The faculty has also seen the kind of changes in renesa and would like to encourage that (no controversy about this). It has started to bridge the gap between us and them and shall continue to do so. However after the "days" fiasco i hardly think that CHRD is away from blame of the incident even if indirectly. Rather dissolving it is a way to reforming it to do better in the future. However responsibility, if any, is of the students to maintain decorum and not turn it into a circus. Or is this responsibility not among our so called "value"

Fact: It is a sad fact that many among us are not placed. It is a frustrating time for the students as we are about to leave the college and well our lives are not made. Placements though not an academic responsibility, are turning important for the college as a whole. However it is still out of the hands of our college. At such a time it may be frustrating and gloomy, however it is unfair, unjust and simply outrageous to blame the college for events which are justified on the whole.

Suppression of Speech : Opportunism

What the 21st century has begun to symbolize is the blatant and aggressive violation of our freedom to speak out. Be it regarding war crimes, nexus between politicians and businesses, oppression and a hundred other things. I even believe that my email is being checked for inflammatory content. However, we are surely now beginning to become so vulnerable to those so called leaders among us, we have stopped thinking rationally.

Freedom of speech is important. Its value is highlighted by its deficit mostly. A Chinese would fantasize about living in a country having a constitution like India. Where one is not restricted to government certified information. With the Internet and world wide web, free speech is a given for most people (not Chinese) who desire to express themselves and be heard. However this freedom should be accompanied by a thirst to look at the bare facts and not speculation.

In recent times what seems to me is that our institute is in the process of getting liberalized. With extension of girl's intimes, option of a 3rd internal, rock concerts, greater access to representatives and proper spirit of the institute mouthpiece, we have seen a great amount of change. The future looks bright with many such reforms in the process of passing in keeping with the spirit of our institute.

However the recent CHRD days fiasco has bared before us our own failure and shortcomings in showing responsibility towards change. What happened in the canteen on department cum chocolate day may live short in our memory, however it shall remain in the minds of faculty and administrators as a clear violation of the liberties extended to us. In future expect them to think twice before allowing such activities. However its is a serious failure on our part to not be able to maintain a decorum and order. Clearly we fail to show maturity when it is demanded the most.

In view of this, the onus is on us to show these qualities when an opportunity is available to us. So as and when we plan to show our displeasure and protest the CGPA conversion rule, it would serve us best if we choose to have a constructive debate with the inclusion of the respective faculty members. Having a head on clash, showing stubbornness for our ideas, turning violent will not do. The system is flawed. However, to correct it we have to be open to ideas ( rather compromises) and Will have to show deep respect for members of faculty as they are vastly more experienced in this matter.

Such atmospheres are breeding grounds for opportunism. There is a tendency of exaggeration (call of the phoenix video - our promised land!!!!!!! really) and our own sense of being victimized makes it easier for us to accept these things. There are rumours doing rounds about the death of renesa and CHRD, which further cloud a persons perception. We being educated and rational people must therefore attempt to clear such things with the concerned people before creating a wave of discontent based on misunderstanding.

So people do choose your protests carefully. A good leader brings about real change. A bad one will only add to trouble already existing and make your life hell.