A Finnish Fall
In the dim background of our mind, we know what we ought to be doing but somehow, we cannot start.
- William James
How do I start? It's been way too long. Nobody probably comes back to the iNFINITY to read any more.
But I need to begin somewhere because I really want to. Come back and write i.e.
A lot has changed in the time gone by. And I'm not really going to elaborate here. I worked, gave up on writing and then decided to stop working to study some more. One last time maybe? Who knows.
And then I decided to join this creative writing class at the university where I'm studying. No, it has nothing to do with what I am studying, it's all what I've always wanted to do.
As part of my tasks in the class, I need to write and post it somewhere? That is when I decided to come back here. To the iNFINITY. Right. Nothing can be more interesting than writing blog posts for home work!
I plan to write frequently. Homework mostly, but other stuff at times, as well. If you readers do come back, you'll be able to connect with me as time goes by. And for the new ones, well, rewind in time and you'll probably know better.
Must go on to do the homework now. And until we meet again...
Moi Moi
(Yes. I'm in Finland!)
Listening to: Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty
Dedicated to: The Sun shining outside my window. Never loved it so much.
Images Courtesy: Google Image Search
Back to Bedlam
To think the world therefore a general Bedlam, or place of madmen, and oneself a physician, is the most necessary point of present wisdom: an important imagination, and the way to happiness.
- Thomas Traherne
That, sums it up, I believe. I have lost count of the number of things / people / processes / results I have tried being during the time I have been away from writing in here.
There are those you believe genuinely care for you, of course there's no way of knowing unless you are good at looking trough the soul. So you either believe, or you don't. Then there are those who want to know, know it all. Like well informed citizens of the republic, just that you happen to be the subject of their concern, awkwardly, almost day in and day out. And then there are the paparazzi sans cool imaging devices, working for fancy little tabloids of their own mind. To their credit, they work hard, have a huge majority and coordinate and cooperate well for their numbers, and yes, they get you - all the time.
I fell prey too. To some of the above or now when I look at it, all of the above kind of people. Tried doing things. Nay, tried making them happen ahead of time, out of nowhere maybe. Of course the world goes by what it sees, and that notion gets to you every now and then. It did get to me. It might get to me again.
For now though, I'm back to bedlam. So come on over all you foolish people. Those who need the therapy and those who don't. Because I, for one, am the master of me again, and for now, I'm doing things - my way.
Of course life is bizarre, the more bizarre it gets, the more interesting it is. The only way to approach it is to make yourself some popcorn and enjoy the show.
Listening to: Anyone Else But You, Juno OST
P. S. No dedications for now but a small thank you to James Blunt. Yup, that blog post title is stolen :)
_
One for the cause
One of India’s most trusted and credible NGOs, GiveIndia is taking part in a competition on Facebook to win a US$1 million grant. The winner will be the NGO that gets the highest number of votes from Facebook users. The prize of $1 million will help put or keep 40,000 children across India in school for one year!
Voting in the competition is for one week only, from Friday, January 15 – Friday, January 22, 2010. Can we make a difference in the next 5 days? We sure hope so!
The link for voting, where you can also see more details of the competition is
Something you can easily take time of for while online for one of your countless social networking session... GO VOTE!
Listening to: Back Home Again, John Denver
P. S. Hell yeah! I'm back for sure :)
I guess I'm not done... just yet.
Why I've not been posting anything on THE iNFINIY all this time? Well, a combination of lame and not so lame excuses - have been lazy, haven't been well, had to undergo a nightmare (they call it surgery in medical terms), have been speculating a lot, haven't been thinking that much, have allowed my jobless tag get to me, have been listening to lots of people instead of just hearing them...
In a nutshell, I've been screwing and letting life screw me...
And then I remembered I certainly had things to do... probably a lot better than what I've been doing. This ain't really something worth reading... just a reminder to all my readers that I'm still here... and gonna be back writing soon... I do believe its better than most things I do.
Don't think there are many regular readers left on THE iNFINITY. But, asd's willing to do whatever it takes to get them back...
No bangs, but yes, I'm back! :D
[Silly punchline to end with, I know, but you know, I'm outta form]
And then I remembered I certainly had things to do... probably a lot better than what I've been doing. This ain't really something worth reading... just a reminder to all my readers that I'm still here... and gonna be back writing soon... I do believe its better than most things I do.
Don't think there are many regular readers left on THE iNFINITY. But, asd's willing to do whatever it takes to get them back...
No bangs, but yes, I'm back! :D
[Silly punchline to end with, I know, but you know, I'm outta form]
Listening to: Ye Dooriyan, Kaminey. Courtesy: Radio Mirchi
Dedicated to: The hapless radio jockey on the same station. Man! I'm a fan of their stamina and shameless stupidity.
P.S. The preview pic that I put up was t attract more readers... nothing to do with a movie review as you must have realised by now. Ya kamina... dazz me!
A hundred, a bit down BUT not out :)
If I need a cause for celebration
Or a comfort I can use to ease my mind
I rely on my imagination
And I dream of an imaginary time.
- Billy Joel
About the same time last year, home for the summer break at the end of the third semester in college, I ran into this brilliantly done up article in the Sunday express about the new phenomenon in online advertising. It went gaga over how google was helping small website publishers substantial sums. In a nutshell, the article was all about Google AdSense.
Having gone through the piece, I began weighing my options...
I'd always believed I could write alright. And more often than not, I did. Lots of useless scribbling at the back of my notebooks, that, more often than not, ran me into trouble. Here was a chance to put it to monetary use I thought. I'd earn my own pocket money and make it big in life [Okay. A bit of exaggeration here and there never killed a human being. Bear with me. Please do.]
So there I was, setting up THE iNFINITY in about a week, without researching deep into everything concerning the so called enterprise. So when I should have gone for a niche blog ['cos apparently, that's what pays] I was busy setting up a general 'free for all' sorts blog. And when done with that part, I began to think myself smart, way too smart, when I began clicking on my own advertisements hoping that Google won't know. The rest as they say, isn't history. It's still a bittersweet memory, when instead of getting a notification for a payout check as I had been expecting, I received a mail saying that my AdSense account was being shut down for 'Invalid Click Activity' in a no questions asked / answered manner. And just like that, I was on the streets again.
So much for the melodrama...
Friends who had earned and earned big, suggested making a new account and blog, with of course the advice that I ought to consider google the smartest the next time round. Call it height of laziness, or sheer love for something I thought belonged to me, I decided to persevere. And so, iNFINITY continued on it's turtle pace, to reach a small but significant milestone a few days back.
I wrote my hundredth post. Within a year. And my blog marked about five thousand unique hits within that period too. A Google PR of high of 3. And to top it all, some dilligent followers of whatever crap I may dish out. [Of course, I have to keep doing things to bring them back, when I go absent for my ever so frequent short sojourns...]
Without too many celebrations [that's becaue I'm jobless and broke as of now :P] I move on to the next milestone(s), with some interesting goals in mind. Also, I thank from the bottom of my heart [no puns intended] each and everyone, who stumbles by my blog, every now and then, and cares to read or even comment sometimes.
And while at it, I ask you all, the readers, to put forth some suggestions to make iNFINITY better. [Save the 'blog's too big, takes ages to load' comment though, I'm working on it and haven't got anywhere].
For now, as I see the Mumbai rains through my balcony, and think of interesting things to write home about, there's just a small reminder every now then in the form of the flickering modem LEDs - "Do something about the dough dude, you're still broke." :P
Listening to: Hai Junoon, New York - courtesy some stupid FM station.
Dedicated to: Google and AdSense, that insensitive pair of Americans.
P.S. : Individual comments would be rewarded with a link back to their blog(S) in the same post. [That's how I plan to bring readers back this time]
_
Letting go...
All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
Havelock Ellis
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When you stay away from your blog that long, coming back is an exciting yet difficult thing to do. Right now, I've got so much to say, so much to tell, and so much to express (yeah! all three mean different things to me) that I can hardly contain my dancing fingers. (The keyboard being their stage) I have got news to break (No, sadly, I'm not going around with Tanniji, in fact I haven't even met her yet.)
It's just that I'm over with the final semester of my engineering, which effectively means that I'm done with college, which effectively implies that I've joined the cadres of our country's jobless youth (until one of the company's that picked me up during campus placements decides to call me, which right now, seems a distant dream)
Off late, I have had to deal with the rather difficult proposition of parting - taking leave off friends, things and off course places. My dad has recently shifted base from Hisar to Mumbai, and that is where I'll be going too, soon. I've left JUIT, Waknaghat for good, for ever (hope so with fingers crossed) and I left back a few (or lot is it?) friends both at Hisar and college. Things? Well, when you move, you are forced to throw away a lot of things that you'd probably have loved to keep. More on that later.
Seeing that I have so much to write about, I have decided to go low and slow. And you can trust me to share each boring detail of my life from the past month or so. So keep coming back for what I promise is going to be interesting stuff. Till then, this is yours truly signing off... cyao.
Festive times...?
If there's something like loyal readership to THE iNFINITY (going by my number of followers and RSS feed subscribers, I have to say there is one), there's good news for the readers.
I'm back.
OK. Enough of the antics...
What kept me away for the days that I did not post was my annual college fest - The Le Fiestus '09. This being my final year in college, I wanted to be a part of the fest as much as possible, and hence decided to to send THE iNFINITY into standby mode for good. And finally, I'm glad that the fest, is over.
The annual fests in our college have been an altogether boring experience for me at least. Characterized by mundane events that clash at the wrong time, mismanagement and some weird terms (ever heard of something called the 'mixed DJ nite'? It happens to be the question of utmost importance in my college!)
This edition of Le Fiestus sucked like any other, just that it did so, a bit more than the others that I happened to attend. We (me and my buddies) literally had to run form pillar to post, in order to find some interesting event or activity that we could be a part of... of course, there weren't many (read any). It was like some frustrated souls in search for the said oasis that never happened to spring out of nowhere.
Hard core Rock music is still not big with the best of Indian Music fans. We had 15 bands performing live, back to back in a Rockathon sponsored by some little known Indian social networking startup... and the crowd and audience (I've always believed there's a different undertone to the two) just kept dwindling as the event progressed. The fact that they didn't give our own college bands the liberty of performing more than two numbers didin't help the event's cause either.
And for the final night, we had KK (sorry, but I forgot the bloke's real full name again) singing his heart out. I'm not a big fan of KK's. And though he got the crowd on it's feet for most part of his performance (me included), I still won't be, a fan. I mean, come on, what idiot, starts off with senti numbers to make your mood and activities hilariously hysterical. It was good to be able to catch up with friends in that mood though, for what looked like, one last time.
Every cloud happens to have a silver lining(okay that's more of a cliche than a saying now), but the fest did have a sliver lining to it... from my own point of view, that is. After some fifteen years or more I went back on stage to... (hold your breath)... DANCE! Yes, thanks to some of my friends who got together to co-ordinate a grand event for the final yearites and one buddy in particular,(he'll comment on this post with the same name, mind you.) I was a part of a formal dance sequence on stage for which I worked my ass off for like, one huge week!
And as Tanniji (did you just say Tanniji who? STOP! Go search Google for Anushka Sharma a.k.a. Tanniji of RNBDJ fame, and come back to read this piece. You don't deserve to read me if you don't know Tanniji!) has said, "Wo Banda Hi Kya Hai, Jo Naache Na Gaaye..." I guess, I'm finally eligible as a bachelor... (I sang at the last edition... or was it the one before that?) Anything for you Tanniji...
The fest is over, and so would be my college in about a month more... Do forgive me if my posts in the next few days turn out to be nostalgic tosats from a half drunk's closet... probably I'm left with nothing better to do as I move into the twilight of my JUIT day(s)...
Till I come back with something better... this is yours truly, signing off.
My Locus... Redefined
On a foggy winter's morning,
as I sat down to ruminate.
I saw flashes of days gone by,
and the morrow they could procreate.
"Not a derelict,
that's not what I want to be."
And I prayed with folded hands;
To the heavens above, and forces that be,
and the Guardian of the lands.
Out of the vacuous eternity - sedate,
I espied a virgin streak illuminate.
My prayers, the divinity answered to;
and the scouting stars recombined.
Untrodden paths they made me follow;
and I had, My locus, redefined.
Listening to: Mama I'm Coming Home, Ozzy Osbourne
Dedicated to: All people who are busy finding their way around the ways of this world.
P.S. : I wrote this as submission for my college literary committee's contest seeking 'justifications' for this year's annual fest, the theme being - Locus Redefined. I haven't heard from them ever since... so thought I'd post it here and let my readers tell me how has it come out. I've written formal poetry after ages... For now, I'm off for a week long (or longer is it?) vacation. cya people around... Happy Holi! Have fun! tada...
as I sat down to ruminate.
I saw flashes of days gone by,
and the morrow they could procreate.
"Not a derelict,
that's not what I want to be."
And I prayed with folded hands;
To the heavens above, and forces that be,
and the Guardian of the lands.
Out of the vacuous eternity - sedate,
I espied a virgin streak illuminate.
My prayers, the divinity answered to;
and the scouting stars recombined.
Untrodden paths they made me follow;
and I had, My locus, redefined.
Listening to: Mama I'm Coming Home, Ozzy Osbourne
Dedicated to: All people who are busy finding their way around the ways of this world.
P.S. : I wrote this as submission for my college literary committee's contest seeking 'justifications' for this year's annual fest, the theme being - Locus Redefined. I haven't heard from them ever since... so thought I'd post it here and let my readers tell me how has it come out. I've written formal poetry after ages... For now, I'm off for a week long (or longer is it?) vacation. cya people around... Happy Holi! Have fun! tada...
and as you might be wondering, so am I... how in the world didi I forget to hit the publish button before leaving? anyways... I guess all of you won't mind belated holi greetings ;)
The Masterpiece
I started out on this piece of fiction, a long time back, so much so, that I had lost track of the original plot, when I sat down to continue this. Continue all of a sudden? The inspiration for that, comes from a lot of fiction that I've been reading on various blogs, of late. The earlier parts have not been commented upon much, given the trickle of readers iNFINITY attracted back then. So, if you read, please read it from the very beginning, and as you go along... do make it a point to reflect back, on how you felt about it.
The Masterpiece - Part I
The Masterpiece - Part II
The Masterpiece - Part III
continued from Part III...
Abhay woke up, in what looked like a beautifully designed IT park, one of the numerous designs by his own team, that he had been a part of, as an architect. Only, it seemed like the Sports Meet from school, with everyone, in white. But their silhouettes made it seem far from an aerobics drill, with flowing robes and gowns substituting for shorts and T-shirts.
And then, he realised to his astonishment that he had been observing up until now from a distance, more of a spectator than a part, of the crowd. And just as he decided to join the festive atmosphere, where it seemed everybody was having the time of their lives, he a heard music... a familiar tune.
By the time he walked closer to what looked liked 'spirits in white', he saw them all swaying, to the Guns and Roses rendition of 'Knocking on Heaven's Door'. Ah! what a beautiful melody. For long, he had tried perfecting the strumming pattern on his acoustic guitar, before giving up on sheer frustration and giving in to the sheer brilliance of one of his best loved songs.
"Wait! Why this very song in such peculiar circumstances at this particular moment?" And as he looked around for clues, he saw beneath his feet, to his horror that he was floating. There wasn't the slightest hint of gravel or concrete, just clouds.
"Clouds! So I'm not even alive anymore. Oh my God! That can't be it... I thought I would live more, at least till I had my masterpiece ready. No ways!"
"Anybody there? I suppose you got the wrong guy! I wasn't up for the stakes yet. I've got work to do. There are meetings to attend and buildings to design. Plus I do charity. Lots of it! You could see my account statements. Here... "
And as he felt around for his pocket, he realised he had none. He was wearing the same white robe as the others that he could see around him and there was no sign of his designer jeans or the Armani wallet and the HTC Touch. Two of his prized possessions.
"Great! You've already robbed me of everything I had. But I can assure you, you got the wrong person... I have unfinished business down there... stuff to do. You hear me? You got the wrong person delivered..."
"Every new guest of ours, feels the same way... but they get used to it over time. So will you, don't you worry.",said a voice from behind, with a slight pat of his back.
"Who are you? And I'm not your guest sir. I never signed up for a holiday in recent days, if I remember well."
"You needn't sign up for this particular holiday package son. Everyone gets to have it, when it's due." said the simple and on the outset, friendly looking, fifty-something gentleman as he turned towards him. "Welcome, to Heaven! By the way, I'm Sabhya, your guardian angel."
To be continued....
Back to you!!!
A month of cold winter mornings, and sombre quilty nights later, I'm back to what I like doing most... The vacations were good as long as they seemed like the much needed break, but once through, all I ever wanted to do was get back to action and do all that I love doing. So, here I am posting my heart out, full time on THE iNFINITY, before you people thought I was done with another one of my numerous fads.
Before I begin.... here's a piece that I wrote much before I left for the holidays, but could never get myself to post due to a series of glitches, both technical and otherwise.
And another thing ... Wish you all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Comeback (KID!)
"All sin tends to be addictive, and the terminal point of addiction is what is called damnation"
- W. H. Auden
Almost a month back, out of the blues, I had decided to get rid off my blogging addiction - be less regular, or give up altogether. And true to my word I haven't done a post for a month or so. It seems like an eternity now, and the break helped me realise that there are some things that you can't seem to give up on, come what may. So, here I am back to square one, posting on the iNFINITY, as a full time job.
I know its a psychic addiction, one that is going to lead me to damnation sooner than later, but one thing is for sure - it is not a sin.
So much has happened in the short time that I did not blog, that I feel as if I missed out on some some real good things to discuss on the iNFINITY.
On a personal front, I went back to writing a diary. And it feels good to be doing something that brings back those nostalgic feelings. That, is the one place where I make friends with my enemies, realise things, that are good about them and finally, don't mince words when criticising myself. The final year project that I am working on, seems to be headed no where. And, my wonderfully idealistic attitude does just about enough to provide the icing on the cake. My very intelligent room mate just made a mockery of the GRE, that all important examination that you need to crack, in order to make it to the US of A for higher studies. And, I have won the exclusive rights to his interview, which would appear right here, on the iNFINITY - a first!
Team India trounced Australia in a test match, the series is still on though. Tendulkar got another record to his name. Ganguly decided enough was enough, and made public, his decision to hang up his boots.
India joined the elite nuclear group, thanks to 123, joined the moonfarers courtesy Chandrayaan I, its first unmanned moon mission.
Barak Obama, seems to be doing better at being USA's first black president every time he goes out to campaign.
Another black, Lewis Hamilton (I hate him!) is well on his way to becoming F1's youngest championship winner.
Another Indian, Arvind Adiga won the Man Booker, for his fictional fantasy The White Tiger. (I am desperately trying to get hold of that thing, somehow!)
And yes, the economy! I'm still trying to figure out whatever happened in the world, all of a sudden that made banks go (bank)rupt, companies lay off their resources (read employees!) markets crash, and blah, blah, blah. So I decided to make Udayan Mukherjee my guru for some time. (Don't know him? Thank God, that you are human after all... even I've given up on him.) One thing that I did figure out, during all this economy gyan though, was the fact that I won't easily get a job, once I pass out, or get a call from the companies that I kind of landed a job with.
So? Who cares? The present is pretty much OK... and the future... is still miles away!
And that, is the most important thing that I think I have learnt of late - let the world run away with bounties off heaven's droppings... you'll get to have the most important and more importantly, serene left overs.
Pessimistic me? Not really, will elaborate in the coming days.
And yes, I have begun with a weird post dedication thing from this post onwards.
And this post is dedicated to - Mr. Jagjit Singh!
Leave a comment to know the reasons!
Happy Reading.
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