US and us

Firstly, this is for all those people who don't ever pick up calls, keep their cell phones locked away. (Its not a cartoon, Nelson and his thought-speak is a placard, and the telephone is real too. Courtesy: Universal Studios, Orlando)

Hello Party People,

Its been almost 10 months since I visited this space. Just like you lose the zeal to crack jokes once you don't feel very good about yourself, you lose the will to write. This is dedicated to Vibhu who was shocked with my stories and suggested I write all whats about to follow.

[Quick Summary: I studied for CFA level 2, Failed, Read Zero books, worked on some 6 projects, initiated a School in the workplace, the school failed after 8 months of much effort, Mom learnt how to write emails - from not being able to start a laptop, bro passed CA finals, Asif, Pondy, and Avinav surprised with engagement news, got posted to Jacksonville, Florida, USA.]

I was/am happy to be on my first On-Site Visit, my first visit to US, my visit to another country after a lot of time. The Promised Land, as I had heard.

Away from all the boredom called office and home, nagging parents, timelines, over burdened schedules, all the traffic, meeting the same people over and over again, not finding some personal space.

The first thing that I found difficult, was saying 'Mozzarella'. The waitress had to ask me 4 times to clear it out. I thought, is this the level of communication difference that I would have to cover up. I was good in 4 days. Its just a few letters like 'r' and ..

Staying alone in an apartment, cooking, dishwashing, throwing out trash, cleaning - feels good. Its a country which makes even sloths like me work to eat and live. Some places in the US don't have Public transport. Zilch. A car is a must. Jacksonville has no sense of distance and space, or rather the lack of it. It is 10 times bigger than Bombay with a population about half. Hardly ever do you see a 2 storey building. Everything is flat. Recently, I visited a mall which was 1 million sq. ft., around a mile long. We had to drive several times to visit different showrooms.

No trains, buses, Mahendar bhais, free ATMs or a bai. Now, thats a bummer, aint it? Its unimaginable for a person who has lived through 5 pm local.

At first, it was difficult to explain to my cousins about the course of my work. I work for 2 companies, deal in 2 currencies, have 2 access cards, have 2 HRs (and 2 monitors!). My workplace seems quite serious, with a very corporate culture in place, with formal greetings and lack of informal pats on the backs. People vary right from eating lunches at desks to taking whole 2 10 minute breaks in a day. [Yeah, thats the variation]. Spoilt by Fractal, I cannot imagine not getting off my butt at least 15 times a day, just for the heck of it. We are not meant to be sitting working all day long without being social, or abusive or smoking or having lots and lots of tea and samosa or talking crap on Fone or making some plans for the evenings.

However, this leaves a lot of time at hand in the evenings, when you can get out, party for 5 hours every night and still be fine with your schedule, i.e. if you have people to hangout with.

Visited Orlando - Universal Theme parks with infi bade rollercoasters, movie shows, simulation rides, and the happy music playing all along. Rollercoasters were crazy and scary. It gives a very happy feeling.

The Orlando HRC - worlds largest HRC was literally brilliant. It had a falling car out of its facade, and a colloseum feel to it from the outside. Inside, there was another car just above the bar.

The waitresses danced on MJ's number, the beer was good, and the sistine chappel ceiling with Jim Morrison quoted: 'Excuse My, while I kiss the sky". Awesome.

Euphoria on Thanksgiving

Gatecrashed on Thanksgiving eve, after waiting in line outside Best buy for 16 hours (16, yes). Slept on the road covered with blankets attracting smiles from middle aged women. Played American Football with others in the line and UNO with a group. A couple of American throwers tried to go long on distance while throwing, and we showed how strong our arms were, and a catch rate of 95 %. 15 years of cricket paid off. They were amazed (and a little belittled at our ability), while we hid the pain in our arms after a 4 hour catch and throw marathon. It was felt like a Poker night, with a tinge of adventure. This effort led me to buy a Sony Vaio for 400 bucks. Thats somewhere close to a 50 % discount. And believe me, typing on this keyboard is surely going to spoil me. Words just flow on this one.

Surprisingly, as I had thought earlier, I still haven't felt a jingoist within me. The phrase, " Jo Dar Gaya so Mar Gaya" is perfect for newcomers here. If at once, you hesitate due to an uncertainty in your plan, or discomfort with the system, getting over it will take long. (If you are spending that much time here that is)

The difference of living is tremendous. Everything looks spectacular. The rules inherently make it work. Technology assists every little chore. Personal Space is a given. The concept of friendship still baffles me in such an environment. It is joyful at moments, other times it feels a bit lonely. I believe, its a place for me where I should be busy. (i.e. cause you are not with any prior friends in the same place)

Its much less picturesque than Europe. European surroundings were very peaceful, with cultured people, a very laid back attitude, and much importance to a family life. Clubbing was not THE most important part of a week. Sunbathing, reading, visiting monuments, museums, language trouble were.

In these respects, US is totally opposite to Europe. (forgive me, my Europe is Germany/France/Italy)

Germany was very disciplined concerning public rules and safety, more than the US. Even crossing wrongly, spitting or ticketless travel could cancel your interim stay. People in US seem more free though. I met half a dozen people discussing the arrogance of US, blondes maaroing blonde jokes, no subordination at work place.

Its a different experience. Europe was good to have fun, but US is better to work. (this is also biased with the Southern US hospitality and good natured culture which I'm exposed to, compared to the fast paced NY or LA.)

Happy New Year World. May we fulfill some of our desires, move an inch towards our untold, humongous ambitions, may we drink to our glory in the new year, may we find what makes us go Wooooohooooh!

I think I'm a man of too many words.

Rest for the Next.

(To see Orlando Pics, Click here for Facebook link)

Newton's Inertia

Khoob time Ghatiya kaam se awesome vaali feeling aati hain. Ghar jaaker nahate hain to lagta hain saare paap dhul gaye.

So I guess I will shower with some pseudo philosophical sipirituality. What is happiness? Once again, within a span of 2 years, this question has risen making it finally umpteen number of times.

A theory.

Abstract:
1. There are two inertiae. One of Happiness and one of Unhappiness.
2. Inertial of Unhappiness is statistically much longer than inertia of happiness.
3. Man's state always tends towards inertia of unhappiness.
4. Man has to put fight to enter state of happiness.
5. This happiness is short lived (due to 2).
6. When both inertiae become equal, there arises Indifference.
7. At this state of indifference, there is no distinction, since then both inertiae become
infinitesimal. (this may require some proof, but we postpone it for later)

Analysis:
We always say, 'move on'. From what? Unhappiness, right? Have we ever said, 'move on from your happiness, get a life'. Then we are definitely saying, we all need happiness. At least desire happiness. Since we are in short supply.

If you are still reading this, I suggest you look up Aristotle, his theory of happiness. Might find promising yet troublesome views.

Page 1 over. Will publish as soon as I methodize my postulates and 'move on'.

And then there were none

Agatha Christie

Since the last few months, had this urge of reading her book, and this was suggested to me by a
friend. A 3 hour read, it is a very gripping yet non horror story. Suspense. Very known suspense yet baffling. The style of writing is very unique. I liked the simplicity with which she has narrated the whole story. Very simple language, intricate plot. Liked it.

The Art of Reading

When you don't understand why a book is so great, or why you are not able to relish how others have proclaimed to, either they all are false, or there is a possibility, you are not in the best position to read, comprehend, absorb the intricacies and the depth of the situation described. Maybe you are just unaware. Unlearned. Not upto the level. Hasn't it happened, that you have started reading a very famous book, but you are not interested and put off the book, just to read it a year later and derive amazing levels of contentment and pleasure from the whole text? Or the book is plainly horrible.

How to write a novel, exist, but I haven't read anything about how to read a novel. Do you go about it scientifically, reading a series of books one after the other, and derive organized pleasure? Maybe that is possible. More often that not, picking up random books on random subjects is what I do. Which introduces me to topics suddenly, and hits me. I like that feeling. Instead of reviewing the book, knowing about its details and then try to find how the book is. I'm not a critic. What I want is learning. Pleasure of a spontaneity. Of novelty.

Greatness

"In what way does life contribute to the beauty of human existence? As respects those puruits which contribute only remotely, by providing the mechanism of life, it is well to be reminded that not the mere art of living is desired, but art of living in the contemplation of great things."
- Bertrand Russell.

Jean Paul Sartre was also involved in Marxist politics and was impressed upon visiting Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, calling him "not only an intellectual but also the most complete human being of our age". It feels so big, Satre meeting Che and commenting. Great people. Great ideas. Great events.

That is something you can idealize. Reading about books, reading them, and reading in between the lines, when you realize the experience and thought that has gone into writing the phrase, the line and the paragraph, is when you see a pursuit. When Salman Rushdie says, while writing Midnights Children, he was not considering it as a joy, but as work. He wanted to perfect the work. Not just romantically writing the book, jot down his feelings, and make a bestsellor. Most ideas which have bases so noble as these, are what become in the true sense, 'successfull'. Others just randomly pass by and make some impression, but the former ones are the ones which stand out. Talent is not enough, but the inspiration, the motivation, and the objective. That is what is quintessential.
Today is Martyr's Day. Today symbolizes the siren which goes on in respect of the father of the nation. His ideologies, strength, perseverence. His fight. Whether he was wrong, right, good, his approach, his ideas, implementation faults, whatever. The point is, he was so strong to carry it out. As in individual.

I can go on and on, and it will be an epic.

So when you see an 80 year old man at the base of Mount Everest in Full gear, then is when you realize what greatness is.

Friendly Living, High Thinking

Last weekend I went for my first play ever, to Sophia college in Breach Candy, (the eye candy for southies, its a girls' college). I was already late for the play, reached right spot on when the bell rung, with the 8 books I bought from fort an hour earlier, for a mere 600 bucks. (Including the Unarmed Victory, by Bertrand Russell which is a banned book here)

I was already very happy throughout the day, I had watched Dasvidanya with Sheru and Shama, and liked it, also we had met after a really long time.

The play was ok. Lots of sexual comedy. And we were embarrassed that we had invited Archit and his sister for the play. Anyways, they were quite cool with it. When we came out, I just saw how beautiful the place is. The buildings were all with the old British feel. The roads were sloping and curvy, (as they were when I was in Paris, at Luv's university, and we had to walk down at least 400m to get to the sea level. ) There was graffitti on the walls, with the teenage one liners like, 'Suicide, I've already died'. The whole ambience felt very homely.

When I finished up dinner and was in a cab with pooja and gaurav, I realized something. We are changing. I, who never cared for how much we spent, on at least friends and outings. I had told Pooja how much money she owed me. That had never happened. Now, I felt like telling her, ' have we ever done a hisaab, ditch maar'. But I didn't, unconsciously, either not to make her feel bad, or just that others might feel odd.

Anyways, will feel so nice...it is just another feeling.. to be friends who dont care about money.. saying - we will be the same as always no matter what.. we are strong, carefree people with our own rules..Let the world go down.. Yessss.. truly.. we will live life kingsize as suits us, and we will believe in simple living, high thinking.. Suddenly my thoughts changed to a line which I shaama had told me earlier that day when we were discussing about body building, "Kitna mast lagta hoga, khud ko dekhkar roj bolte honge " Main kitna awesome hoon!" "

In the long confused version of life we are living where we are so netted by all the constraints we put on ourselves, not living as freely as we used to, we tend to 'mature', becoming more individualistic, having certain principles and making rules of behaviour for our mates. Which tends to kill all the fun. Too much sentimental abstraction, but considering it objectively, not.

Just remember the old saying,
"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
Walk beside me and be my friend."
- Albert Camus

The Inscrutable Americans

A good book. described what i think i have already read a lot about, I think most of us have. but anyways a funny enough story.. A book I want my mom to read.

The Romantics - Pankaj Mishra

I'm reminded of Pink Floyd. It goes so much beyond logic, it beats all logic, by the sheer simplicity and the flow. A very chilled book, it reminds me of my Gang in Chemical, IIT Bombay. We used to fantasize about how we would leave everything, go to North, read up stay in Manali, smoke up and live a simple life with high thinking. He has taken it forward. later story. How he fails and finds what he thought he would, how hs journey in the untold confusion of certainty and nihilism, ends up with him experiencing emotions which he hadn't expected to, and he moves on in the same way. The story doesn't end with the book. A very soothing story. The phrases he uses to describe the usual situations, suit so aptly. He uses the English language so perfectly.

Unbearable Lightness of Being - Q2-Q4

Continuing from where I left off, the book is quite on a different level than the others which I read. My friend had said, 'it is not a quite a fiction, it has so many explanations that it tends to get a wee boring', which is not quite unacceptable, but then I didn't feel the same way when I read it. Maybe it appealed to me in a very different way. It was like i didn't want to imagine with the writer while reading the book,i wanted explanations as and when I was in that situation and that is why I was reading the book. I didn't want to imagine, as my friend wanted to do in a novel, in a fiction.

And so, the explanations which he gives, are so apt, so logically sound and rational, He redefines the whole base of reason and certainty. The sexual fears, its relations to everyday life and the relation ship fears and the various phases a person goes through, are written down well. philosophically, it is a wonderful book. it might not appeal to someone who would assume to be in a culture shock on reading a book with so many infidelities, passages and metaphors about shit, being in a toilet and vomiting compared with sex. It might get too much. But the whole description of it all is very nicely done.

You are Here

So this girl journalist, miss. Reddy has written a book named You are Here. Having read the blog, I was of the opinion that it would be a whiny, extremely emotional, full-of-sex, break ups and mushy relationships, painful boyfriends, judgements passed, a glimpse of high society who smoke coke, the cool lingo and the trivialities which affect them. It is EXACTLY this. It is full of SHIT. Literary Pleasure to chhodo, a not so horrible storyline is also not defendable. It feels like a mixture of one of Sidney Sheldons and some mushy type of a girly story and it brings you to the point of Yuk. It might have appealed to the general public, who have never read a classic love story, a mushy love story, a pornographic novel, mills n boon, penthouse, sidney sheldon, erich segal, or the likewise. Its just an indian copy of a mixture of it all.
It is just a conglomerate of Indian ways of defining 'Cool and Hep' in the new generation. Some may argue it is bold, it represents Indian Youth, the Fuckoff Generation, and the coolness associated with it which lets pulses running and the desperate junta gets a hard on reading such a piece of work, but then No. 1? Is Indian literary public actually literary? Is it worth even publishing such a book other than this type for them then? Will Intellect be awarded ever then?
It was a horrible attempt for a kitsch. Better are those Mumbai Mirror Writers who gossip about the Bollywood likes and dislikes and relationships and boob jobs. Let us not elevate the status of the writing and the book because it reflects Youth of India and the SMS generation.

Ess Muss Sein. It Must be.

The life of Galileo

A play on the later life of Galileo, when he was already famous for his thoughts and theories. He wants some time for his own research and wants people to believe what they see, rather than what they believe through texts. Preachings. Repeated judgements have been made against the Church, rational reasoning. The fear of the masses to change their beliefs, their faith in the church and hence, avoid a panic stricken social order is the arguement given to disallow him to preach his findings. He is threatened to be killed for this, when he as a normal human, submits that he doesn't believe what he proved and works within the shackles of the kingdom, and carries his own research. 'Better work with cowardice than die.' finally, he hands over his work to his disciple at the age of 80 when he is almost blind.

A good play. The dialogues are power packed. It is almost on the edge of being ironic. The arguements make us symphathize with Galileo. Nice, 85 pages. The point of view of a scientist, disciples, his family life and his conflicts with everything are very well potrayed.

The Art of Mathematics

Nice book. A little more attached to mathematics than the philosophy and the dying need of being a mathematician. Gets a little drab for a layman, in the middle. Covers more concepts than 'A Mathematician's Apology'. It is almost a Part 2 of the latter. It is more about numbers. Talks about the beauty of mathematics. The other book talked about the beauty of mathematics in the mind of mathematicians and their pleasure and inevitable need to do so. The earlier one was a better book for laymen and for thought, while this one appeals to a more mathematical frame of mind.