Saquib contemplates…

So, pursuant to one of my earlier post regarding the insane dreams I see, here is a collection of some interesting instances from my dreams over past few weeks…

* I walk out of a theatre. The audience are suppose to remove their footwear outside(as if we are walking in some Mosque). So I start searching my new Adidas sneakers. I found them and as I am about to wear them I see there is a cactus inside my sneaker. I am absolutely frightened now. Then I gently pull out the cactus and keep it aside. All of a sudden now the cactus starts growing (like in one of those MIB movies where in the Aliens grow from any arbit objects). I am sh*t scared now. Then all of a sudden the self-destructive cactus explodes and burns itself. Fortunately my sneaker is safe. Then there are still a few small insects inside my sneaker which I kill with some acid my friend gives me. Then the dream became a bit blurred and I cant remember the later part

* All of a sudden I am in heavy traffic driving my bike with my friend on pillion. On our way we see a couple of negroes who ask for lift. I don’t know why and how I let two of them site behind my friend. So now four of us are riding. When we finally stop the negroes pull out some sharp weapons and try to rough up us. And then yours truly gathers the courage of all superheroes combine and defiantly pull a chair someone kept right on the street (typical dream stuff ) and start beating the hell out of them. Then more help comes for the blacks and I actually kill all of them. While I am on an unstoppable carnage, the background changes form a street side to a African jungle. Suddenly there are antelopes running around chased by Cheetahs. But by now yours truly has become a Tarzan-like junglee freak. And then I am doing all the wooo-hoooo around the jungle teasing lions and tigers (even in the dream I am reminded of Brendan Fraser from George of the Jungle ). And the best possible and dream-suitable culmination happens for my dream. While I am flying off from trees to trees I find a concrete wall at the border of this jungle ending my dream like M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village.

Planning to apply for ICWAI foundation course. I guess this will help me in the basic introduction to Accounting/Economics etc.
But what has disappointed me is that the website is so poorly and amateur designed. The navigation options are all so confusing and do not give enough information even to simple queries like “How To Apply”. And most of the forms/information available is completely out of date. So I have been struggling since morning to decipher this but I have given up. I am just going to call an old friend who has been through this exam and ask for help.

This problem is not just with this website. But many other educational sites in India. Take a look at the University of Pune website or even IIM websites. Most are lacking proper design of navigation.

On the other hand if you see any website of nay colleges in USA then you will see how well designed and user friendly they are.

I wish the educational institutes understand the importance of a well designed website in this age of Internet.

I believe some of the toughest times you face is when your dear friends, with whom you once share tea and samosas in college, ping you from their onsite locations and ask "whats your plan ? How long are you planing to stay in this company ?" … Even though the friend might be quite non-chalant but still it hurts sometimes. When you have been offshore all this time while all your college buddies are tanning themselves in California sun.

My newfound liking for polotical science and economics is now crossing new horizons. I am about to complete India Unbound, just a few pages more. I am now planning to read Fareed Zakaria’s The Future of Freedom.

Fareed Zakaria is a Indian born American. He hosts the show GPS on CNN and writes in Newsweek. His articles can be found in abundance on the webworld. His articles are really nice to read and very crisp and informative. He is a very serious writer and is effortless in penning down his view points. Many of his articles that I have read are about India, China and most of the things happening in and around South asia. His writings suggest the role that the American government is playing in these upcoming countries and also warns about any wrong steps taken.

Intrigued by the articles read I am looking forward to The Future of Freedom and Post-American World.

Lately I have been reading a lot of Gurcharan Das articles. For those in oblivion, Gurcharan Das was the CEO of P&G India. Now he is a full time writer and writes for various papers and magazines. All of his books are highly rated and are a must read for everyone.
I must admit that I have become a fan of his thoughts. As a layman in political economy and India’s economic history, for me his writings reveal everything there is to know about and that too in terms which I can comprehend.

After reading his articles and watching his several videos on youtube I have encountered a new found interest in political economics. I am planning to buy more of his books and read them. And while I read all these enigmatic and enchanting facts I guess I have found out what I really want to do in life after my 40s.

Both my paternal and maternal grandparents were teachers. My paternal grandfather was a highly respected law college principal. Somewhere deep inside me even I want to be associated with the teaching field. I think after working for years and learning about the industry this is the best way on way pay-back: By educating the next generation. But for that I need to study more and need to understand things that I want to teach. Books never completely teach you what they have. You need a guide, a mentor to decipher the theories and serve the teachings to you in comprehensive forms. You should have a respect for your teacher, a bonding with your teacher. I have always missed a Guru in my life. I hope to meet one soon. And then I would reciprocate those teachings for others like me.

The Road Not Taken-

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference…

Lately I have become an avid reader of SWAMINOMICS. Though there are some of the views which I do not agree with , still there is lot to learn about economics and economies. I am particularly reading articles about China and Russia. I have always been intrigued by these communist giants. Since I did not study economics in college a lot of things are new for me and hence I am completely fascinated at the information contained in these articles.

Here is the link

http://swaminomics.org/

Since I was a kid I have always been fascinated with toys. Specially those remote controlled cars. Those mini look-alikes of Hummers with wide tires controlled remotely by a heavy remote sending some uncanny wireless signals.
As a kid I was raised in a typical lower middle class family. My dad used to visit Bombay 3-4 times a year for official purpose. As a kid, Bombay, for me, was a place where you could get anything. And a remote controlled car for sure. A remote controlled car was a dream. It was the magical possession. I could do anything for a remote controlled car.
I always asked my dad if he could get me a remote controlled car from his trips to Bombay. I never threw tantrums or cried or fasted because you are not allowed to do such things in a lower middle class family. You know your limits right from the time when you are born. But I would ask him with those typical childish eyes whether he could get me a remote controlled car. I have often seen similar look in many kid’s eyes. They are so beautiful. The kid knows he wouldn’t get what he is demanding but there is so much of hope in his eyes. Same was with me. There was more of a hope, a dream, a wish in my eyes.
My dad would typically return from Bombay in train by 7am in the morning. And I would stay awake waiting for him to come. I wouldn’t get out of my bed straight away asking if he had brought me the car. But rather I would try to get hints. I would say to myself that may be my mom would soon wake me and say that dad has got a remote controlled car for you. Or my dad would just keep the box by my bed side waiting for me to wake up and see the surprise.
But nothing would happen till 9am. My dad would get ready and leave for office and my mom would start cooking for me and my sister. But I would say to myself that may be my parents want to give me a surprise and have kept the box in the cupboard. Or may be they don’t think the car is a big deal and have just kept the box somewhere in the room and were waiting for me to wake up.
With butterflies in my stomach I would wake up and very casually walk through my house. Trying to see if there is any box or any new plastic bag anywhere. I would try to see if there is anything in the cupboard or anything in the drawer. Finally after hours of searching I would give up and accept that there is no car. NO REMOTE CONTROLLED CAR. But I would never let my parent know how badly I wanted the car. I would never give them the slightest hint. And time flew by…I never got a remote controlled car…
Four years back I joined in my first job as a software engineer. I went to Mangalore with a bunch of friends for a 2 day trip. And I saw one of the most beautiful remote controlled cars in a mall. It was a big fat hummer style car with a powerful motor.The remote was classy too. And I just knew what I had to do. I didn’t even look at the price tag and bought it. I bought a remote controlled car at the age of 22. And I just knew what to do with it. I gifted it to my cousin who is in school and who also always wanted a remote controlled car,……..

Yesterday I finished reading Eliyahu Goldratt’s The Goal. I am absolutely impressed by this book. Goldratt has so nicely explained all the concepts of his Theory Of Constraints by weaving it into a thriller story. I am planning to read more of his books.

Lately I have been caught by the economics bug. I am reading articles related to economics. Hmm..
So here is book I plan to read next..

Escape from the Benevolent Zookepers by Swami (the one who writes swamonomics)

I am going a to make a list of the worst movies I have seen in theatres. I am emphasizing on the part “in Theatre” since I have seen a load of crap movies on TV and DVDs but then going to a Theatre with certain expectations and spending hard-earned money to see a crap movie is a terrible, ridiculous experience.
So here I start

Date : 17th Oct 2009
Theatre : E Square
Movie :: BLUE

(more…)

"Zion hear me! It is true what many of you have heard. The machines have gathered an army and as I speak that army is drawing nearer to our home. Believe me when I say we have a difficult time ahead of us but if we are to be prepared for it we must first shed our fear of it. I stand hear before you now truly unafraid! Why?! Because I believe something you do not? No! I stand here without fear because I remember. I remember that I am hear not because of the path that lay before me.. but because of the path that lies behind me! I remember that for one hundred years we have fought these machines! I remember that for one-hundred years they have sent their armies to destroy us and after a century of war I remember that which matters most! We are still here! tonight let us send a message to that army! Let us shake this cave! Tonight let us tremble these walls of earth, steel and stone! Let us be heard from red core to black sky! Tonight let us make them remember this is Zion and we are not afraid!

Soldier : “Sir, we’re surrounded!”.

Army Officer : “Excellent. We can attack in any direction now !”.

If you ask this question to a bachelor like me I would say the following

1. Fresh Undies

2. Fresh Socks

3. Fresh handkerchief

Believe me, nothing can kickstart your morning in a better way…..

He is an interesting game for all those who are interested in honing their probability skills.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem

Found this on a blog by an ISB student. I would have never got this right if I were asked this question.

Received this as a forward from a very close friend….really nice…

Friends,

Friendship is not about “I m sorry “ its about “abbe teri galti hai “

Friendship is not about “I m there for u “ its about “kahan marr gaya saale “

Friendship is not about “I understand “ its about “sab teri wajah se hua manhus“

Friendship is not about “I care for u “ its about “kamino tumhe chhod ke kahan jaunga “

Friendship is not about “I m happy for ur success “its about “chal party de saale“

Friendship is not about “I love that girl“ its about “saalo izzat se dekho tumhari bhabhi hain “

Friendship is not about “R u coming for outing tomorrow “ its about “ nautanki nahi, hum kal bahar ja rahe hai “

Friendship is not about “Get well soon “ its about “ Itna piyega toh yehi hoga“

Friendship is not about “All the best for ur career“its about “bahut hua, abhi toh switch mar saale“

Cheers to our friendship!

Let me tell you a little story.

A little girl – the 20th of 22 children, was born prematurely and her

survival was doubtful.

When she was 4 years old, she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet

fever, which left her with a paralysed left leg.

At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and

began to walk without it.

By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a

miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a

race and came in last.

For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last.

Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running.

One day she actually won a race, and then another. From then on she won

every race she entered.

Eventually this little girl – Wilma Rudolph, went on to win three

Olympic gold medals.

Winners never quit !

Sometimes some people just get what they want in a stroke of luck.
Sometimes some people thrive for success and eventually succeed.
Sometimes some people just burn out contemplating…..

Have you ever felt the bliss of achieving something coveted ?

Have you ever planned, persevered, and finally accomplished something ?

Have you hit a six of the last ball and won the game ?

Have you ever been written off but bounced back in the end successfully ?

Have you ever tasted success ?

My answer to all above questions is NO.

I have never felt the bliss of achieving something I badly wanted.

I have planned, persevered but failed in the end.

I have failed to hit the winning run and lost the match.

I have been unlucky at most of the times..

I have faced greatest failures at times when I was best prepared…

My life is a game of Tetris with wrongly placed bricks ruining my entire game; no matter how strongly I started or how badly I am trying to rebuild my destiny…

There are times when I feel that the point where you have the strongest urge to quit is the point when you are nearest to achieving your dream.

But I guess I was born to be defeated. I was born to lose. I was born to have broken dreams. I was born to just fight and burnout…..