30Q

Apparently, someone else is more worried about my rusting blog than me. This post is just another way to while away the days of jobless winter vacation. ;)

1. Last movie you saw in a theater?
A. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. (Long long ago...)

2. What book are you reading?
A. The A.B.C murders by Agatha Christie.

3. Favourite board game?
A. Scotland Yard.

4. Favourite magazine/s?
A. Never bothered about magazines much.

5. Favourite smells?
A. Uh... I don't think I know its name.

6. Favourite sounds?
A. Keeps changing.

7. Worst feeling in the world?
A. How about happiness? :P

8. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
A. My music playlist.

9. Favourite fast food place?
A. None.

10. Future child’s name?
A. No clue.

11. Finish this statement. “If I had lot of money I’d…?”
A. Spend it.

12. Do you drive fast?
A. No.

13. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
A. Er. Now I'm really doubting if this tag is directed at everyone :P

14. Storms - cool or scary?
A. Cool.

15. What was your first car?
A. Yet to own one.

16. Favourite drink?
A. Black coffee.

17. Finish this statement, “If I had the time I would...”?
A. Get bored.

18. Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
A. :|

19. If you could dye your hair any colour, what would be your choice?
A. :)) Mine is the best!

20. Name all the different cities/towns you’ve lived in?
A. Hyderabad, Chennai.

21. Favourite sports to watch?
A. Swimming.

22. One nice thing about the person who sent this to you?

A. Just one?

23. What’s under your bed?

A. A cat :P

24. Would you like to be born as yourself again?
A. Yes.

25. Morning person, or night owl?
A. Night owl.

26. Over easy, or sunny side up?
A. No idea what this question means.

27. Favourite place to relax?
A. My room.

28. Favourite pie?
A. Never had a pie!

29. Favourite ice cream flavour?
A. Butterscotch.

30. Of all the people you tagged this to, who’s most likely to respond first?
A. None!

Star-crossed Lovers

"If you wish to converse with me, define your terms" - Voltaire

A discussion is trivial if the so called "arguments" involved are no arguments at all. Instead, it should be termed "Rant race". And it's even more fun when someone is talking to himself.

A: Are you clear on what I meant?

B: Yeah! But you don't understand me-

A: Yes, I understood you.

B: No! But you aren't doing it-.

A: I'm not going to do that and I understood what you said.

B: Then, you didn't get what I'm saying-

A: :|

Things like this happen because of the mental filter in our brain. We don't always hear what the other person says. Actually, that other person has an equally good chance of not meaning a word he says.

When did "Understanding" become equivalent to "Agreement" ?
and "Contrary opinion" become an "Insult" ?
"Selfish" = "Cruel" ?

Basically, if people talk to each other in two different languages, say English and French; we easily get the point that it isn't a conversation. There is no 'interchange of information'. "Language Barrier" is the figurative phrase used to indicate this type of difficulty.

Now, if two people converse in English and still have difficulties such as the above, can we attribute it to "Mental Barrier" ?

Define your terms - says Voltaire.

This might be a nice theoretical solution though not very feasible. We can't cross-check with a dictionary before we speak every word. We can, however, do this when we value debate per se and when we get the hint that the "argument" is tending towards rant race.

It's usually taken that a clearer understanding is reached with attentive listening. This might not be so true, when the speaker itself says things that they don't mean. One of the worst things that can happen is two people meaning the same thing in their head and still fighting about it.

Some of the minds who have thought about this problem suggest the "Common sense" theory. It is believed that for the most part a specific group of people think in a specific way.

Things are not all good with the "common sense" theory. As my cousin says, 'But what is logic? I doubt many people will agree on that'

If many people don't agree on a neutral word like "logic", common sense theory is doomed.

(Oh and by the way, I think the word 'logic' is neutral - just so that you 'understand' :p)

There are two things that you can do to minimize the problem of a rant race -

1. Stop talking altogether. (This works well when applied in the middle of a rant race too)
2. Define your terms and argue with only those people who define their terms.

Neither of the alternatives is extremely pragmatic, perhaps "Language" and "Communication" are star-crossed lovers.

123rd page

So, this blog is returning from a long hiatus and well, let's just clear off some arrears first.

I'm not very certain as to why this "Tagged" phenomenon erupted all of a sudden. Possibly, people have just nothing left to write/post.

This tag is from Smilee.

The rules: Pick up the nearest book. Go to page 123. Find the fifth sentence. Post the next three sentences. Tag five people, and acknowledge the person who tagged you.

The competitive advantage is maximized by the surprise factor. The English longbow was a shock-and-awe weapon in the fifteenth century, comparable to the Colt revolvers and Winchester repeating rifles of the Wild West. Not all new weapons are as fearsome as these, but the fear of unknown is itself a powerful weapon.

This quote is from, "How Life Imitates Chess" by Garry Kasparov.

Tag five people huh? Since most people I know who would continue the tag are already tagged. I tag Nobody, Nobody, Nobody, Nobody and Nobody. :p

MIT, you aren't alone!

"Finals"

Finals...

F i n a l s

Finals!

F.i.n.a.l.s

Finals??

Finals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enough said.

You've to hand it to Duran Duran for this amazing song and wonderful lyrics.

Child, don't you worry
It's enough you're growing up in such a hurry
Brings you down the news they sell you
To put in your mind that all mankind is a failure

But nobody knows what's gonna happen tomorrow
We try not to show how frightened we are
If you let me I'll protect you however I can

You've got to believe
it'll be alright in the end

Fighting, because we're so close
There are times we punish those who we need the most
No, we can't wait for a saviour
Only got ourselves to blame for this behaviour

And nobody knows what's gonna happen tomorrow
We try not to show how frightened we are
Would seem lonely, if you were the only star in the night

You've got to believe
it'll be alright in the end

You've got to believe
it'll be alright again

time is a river
a silent icy river
pulls us all
running deep
deep and fast enough to get lost down in the flow
thrashing around me
tiny lives mean everything

And nobody knows what's gonna happen tomorrow
So don't let go, now we've come this far
Hope I have peace
Understand me
you're never alone

We've got to believe
it'll be alright in the end

nobody knows

You've got to believe
it'll be alright my friend

So don't let go

Unless we believe
it'll be alright again

Nobody knows

What happens tomorrow (Duran Duran)

Tagged!

Tagged by Leela! I'm so excited ( :P )

Thankfully, this thing is related to music. One of the few things I care about.

1. Which song is being played in your mind right now?
Love don't cost a thing by Jlo. Arbit song selected by my even more arbit shuffle-selection.

2. One song that describes your life... (No self made compositions please!)
This is how a heart breaks by Rob Thomas. Self-explanatory.

3. The song you listen to most on your I-pod/ MP3/ cell/ PC/ etc
Moi Lolita by Alizée. Coincidence, Leela, I swear! There's this girl, who can dance to the tune of this song. Keep guessing who it is ;)

4. A song that describes best the following stages in your life
- School days: I will follow by U2 Well, that's pretty much what I did with my school days.
- Love: What If by Coldplay
- Your mood right now: Tanha Dil by Shaan.

5. Your all time favorite song and the reason for it... maybe some memory/ some funny story etc!!!
Honey and the Moon by Joseph Arthur. Memories... Memories are too precious.

6. A song you wish you hadn't heard!!! (More than one is always a pleasure!!!)
Not one. Any horrible mixes of songs cause me to go ewww!

7. A song that would best describe... me
(Hey, I took pains to tag you, I guess I deserve this ;-) )
She’s Always A Woman To Me by Billy Joel. No one! No one dare argue with this!!

8. If, you were in an elevator with Himesh Reshammiya and Altaf Raja, you would... (please please please... something funny!!!)
Ask them to put intro. Who are these people?! ;)

Ah well, that's done. Long time since I've sat down and written something.

Tag whom? :O Everyone I know is tagged by Leela! (At least people wouldn't curse me now :P )

Retrospection

Facing the reality
Of our own imperfections

The waves crash without warning
Overwhelmed and short of breath
Never able to escape
The bloodstains upon your hands

I AM! Still bleeding you
From wounds you've never known
I AM! Still bleeding you
From wounds you've never known

The core of our being
Torn out and cast aside

I never looked this far away
Never saw what lies ahead
In the midst of false comfort
The scars were hidden but never healed

The ghosts of past failures (Shadows Fall)