SYMBIOTISM Vs PARASITISM

In my last post “NETWORKING: The GOOD and The BAD”, I left you all with questions relating to the fine-line-divide to ponder upon. For the past few days, I have been thinking the same, trying to crack that code of conduct. The thing that further forced me to probe into this matter (and what I am gonna share with you in this post) is the forthcoming placement season (listing my weaknesses). Thinking what’s the connection?? Well, they say anything beyond the set limits is bad. And yes I have my obsessions too. This obsession has something to do with the fine-line-divide between symbiotism and parasitism… and yeah I dare to be rude...

I have an obsession to own the things I use daily or let’s just say more often. Starting from the toothpaste to the lotions to the deodorants; from a small eraser to a stapler or glue or cello-tape to a permanent marker ; from water bottle to coffee mug to spoon; from an iron for clothes to a kettle for coffee, I just NEED to own them. I HATE to ask people every other day for something that I require every day and which of course I can afford to buy. I have been in a hostel (where people use other’s stuff as their own) for 7 years now and this is the 8^th and yet my obsession has not subsided.

I generally don’t drink the pepsis and the colas. But if I need a bottle to fill in water and if the actual “water bottles” are expensive I will buy one, let my friends drink up the entire fizz liquids and I’ll use the bottle….

Girls often mix and match their clothes. And I can’t stand the thought of asking my friend a chunni or a legging leave alone a kurti every other time. Yes, after joining symbi and growing in width faster than ever before, I did start to borrow clothes in some occasions (a total of 7 in past one year). But if you compare how others borrow it, well I really can’t say whose kurti or legging or chunni is it in real anyway!!

It irks me further when people borrow things and don’t return it in time and I have to go and ask “hey you got my stuff” every single time they borrow it. It’s like it is me who is borrowing and not they! I do have a money plant at home, but it sure doesn’t produce any money!! So my obsession to own things is being taken advantage by people around me. I don’t mind sharing. I can lend my stuff to people as long as they respect the fact that it is someone else’s stuff and return it in proper condition without me asking for it back and understand if they can buy it they might as well should.

I know in this era of vast networking and increasing inter-dependencies, such obsessions have no place. But there ought to be a line between symbiotism and parasitism isn’t it?? 

So the question again arises where do we draw the line??????

NETWORKING: The GOOD and the BAD

We as humans are quite gregarious. We weave ourselves into a network, a network that is a part of bigger network called the solar system, which in turn is a part of a network called the “Milky Way” which yet again is a part of a much bigger and ultimate network called the “Universe”!

Like every damn thing in this universe, be it living or non-living, physical or non-physical, factual or just hypothetical, have both pros and cons attached to it. And so is true with networking too. The reason is simple: There is certainly a fixed price for every single thing in the universe. Here is what I feel about networking per se…

The GOOD:

Imagine being the only person on a scintillating yet isolated island. Would you be happy? I guess not. The solitude will only drive you insane even if you are the most introvert person on the face of the earth! It is good networking that keeps you upbeat. It is networking that takes you places, be it getting a visa or a job. It is networking that allows you to share you work burdens by getting the job done by others or at least a little help. It is networking that prints your invitation card for parties, weekend getaways and sleep overs. It is networking that helps when you are down with something bad while your near and dear ones are away.

The BAD:

I saw this movie ‘Up in the air’ sometime back. The protagonist has this to say- “Imagine you have to fit in all your belongings starting from what you put in your shelves to the furniture you have to all the relationships that you have made. You’ll notice that it is the relationships component that weighs the most! So why not de-clutter that component in your life?” This philosophy of his is based on the fact that, the more centered you are in the network, or bigger is the network, the more you are burdened with the responsibilities and the more chances that you put others before you. Is such kind of situation appealing?? I bet not, unless you are some kind of saint born in the wrong century. The constant pressure of meeting the demands, of people around you; sacrificing your real passion for something and yet sometimes failing on the deliveries sure puts suicidal thoughts into the brain more often than not.

Having put forth both sides of the argument, I now ask you…Where do we draw the line between the good and the bad leave alone the ugly? And having done that, when it comes to the bad part, where do we draw the line between symbiotism and parasitism? What bandwidth is good enough to take the load? Since each person is different from the other and has different tolerance levels and ideologies, can there be any universal index for networking?

The Identity Crisis...

More often than not.. the simple question.. " So.. u r ??? Tell me something about ur self..." poses as a deadly bouncer.. be it introducing urself in a social gathering.. or interviews for some "esteemed" organisation. U either have a lot to say or nothing much to say... either way... what u say nd how u say it defines what's gonna happen next ... In this who's who kinda world we live in today.. Identity crisis is a higher level problem than food crisis !! Its like if "n" people face food crisis.. "N" people will face identity crisis...!!

Sure... from times immemorial... resumes nd CVs etc were required... but now its THE most important requirement... u'll agree with me that wen our parents scored a 75%... our grand parents threw a grand party... nd now... even if u get 98%... every one in the house is like... ooohhh y did u loose 2% of the marks... uff!! people. get some life...!! The argument is that they did not have all the facilities like library.. internet...best faculties..labs.. exposure nd blah blah... but people... don't u realize the information boom??? The growth in last 20 yrs has been much much more than last 100 yrs put together....!! But again to think of it...in a team of 4... u sure can make valuable contribution and stand out... u r NEEDED for that presentation or something to be good... but if its a team of 10... well.. it does'n matter u exist or not... u as an individual have no importance.. unless u r tooo good. Same is the case today as the population is exploding beyond imagination... Simple logic.. isn't it?? Remember what a nerd once said... "Survival of the fittest.." Well it jus got better...!!

While this is one kind of identity crisis.. the other kind is... our yearning and excitement when we see likes of self in foreign land... if u r an Indian born US citizen... and u happen to meet another Indian... say in NY..there sure is a surge of Euphoric molecules up ur heart and brain.... Well.. i guess that's quite natural.. and i completely understand as u r away from ur home "country"... but what i fail to understand is y some people get the same surge of euphoric molecules while staying in .. say Pune, India and meeting their "state" people... Sure.. u can acknowledge them.. be friends and do stuff... but y so happy??? A senior once asked me.. hey how come u don't know him??? he is from our state... and i was like... SO??? do i need to keep a track of all the Andhrites in Pune???? Do i need to talk to some stranger on the road just because he or she speaks my home state lang??? 

Another problem relating to the identity crisis is.. the peer pressure saga..... not only kids.. but adults and senior citizens too face this... a kid wants a PS 3 jus coz his friend has it... a guy in his 20's wants a gf just because he ends up paying more on stag entry to a pub/disc... a guy in his 30's wants a car to suit his so called IMAGE...a woman in her 60's wants a grand child just to please herself and boast the cuteness of her grandchild... What's wrong with the world???

If u ask me about my situation of identity crisis... well... i sure get bouts of self image crisis... but then...I am not really bothered with the image i create ... as in how people perceive me.. as long as i know.. what i am doing is right... nd i do it to satisfy my God and my soul..

Peepli [Live] the Movie - Reactions

"I'll commit suicide :("..

"No i'll :("..

"why will u? I'll commit suicide :( "...

"no no... nothing doing i'll commit suicide :("...

"hmmm ok...u commit suicide...but don't you dare not turn your back on it :) :)".....

"ummmm ..ookkkkk :( :("

Peepli [live]... a peep into the lives.. of the people (farmers/media/politicians)...by the people (media/politicians)..to the people (sitting in front of TV/reading newspaper with "blindfolds") .....

Me being an Indian..with Agri background (my most "grand grand" and some "grand" generation people.. did work to feed the nation )... and now doing my masters in "Agri-Business Management" ... this movie was something I wanted to see for sure..(in spite of last two tragedies of going for a movie in the 1st week itself) ..... On a fateful day... classes got cancelled and luckily we got the tickets (thou 2nd row in the front... :( )...

Talking about the movie.. well its a good movie...after all its been "perfected" by Aamir Khan!! :P the plot was too good.. Thou the issues were serious ones and brought out the "open" truth in a much clearer way..(which we being Indians shudn be feeling proud about...) the way everything was handled was simply great... even the "Somanto" thing.... :) :) m sure no one dozed off or fiddled with their mobiles during the show... The screenplay.. the dialogues and of course their comic timing and delivery were refreshing.. :P..... 

The utter desperation to make a living..so that their families can breath normally .. drove a shameful number of poor farmers of our "glorious 63 yr old" India.. into committing suicide. For they thought.. their death will bring in some money into the crumbling home...and fill the bellies of their children who smelt the food days ago... I am not exaggerating.... we sitting here in the so called urban/metro sky scrapers wouldn't know... we think its the interior Africans who die of hunger and poverty... true... but what about our own "interior Indians" ??? ..... One may argue.. its up to the person to sculpt his life.. Instead of begging.. or committing suicide... one should work hard and make a living ...and prosper...but I ask.. what if a person doesn't have the tools to sculpt one??? Should he beg..borrow or steal??? In fact, we are the one to blame... we readily purchase commodities for a higher market price from supermarkets with a false impression that the product and prices are standardized.... on the other hand we haggle with our cart pushers .... ask for free dhaniya/pudina/mirchi !! 

The utter desperation of the media to make money has made them forget the basic purpose of their very own existence. Today, the world of media is like a glam world and all they are worried is the TRPs.. the "glossiness" of the so called news they cover. True... competition increases efficiency... but too much competition is !@#$%^&^%$#@#$%^&*)(*&^%$#@!@#$%^&* !!!!!!

The utter desperation of the politicians to grab that chair , has well.. re-defined the term politics!! .... The blame game.. the shameless scams... the astonishing bribery... the scary world out there... has somehow overshadowed the few (exceptions) politicians who do good. Oh by the way.. we don't know if that's again true.. coz.. "information" today can be easily manipulated and every one in that filthy world has learnt the "game" well. For more clear picture, you may watch Rajneeti.. (another wonderful movie)- here gain.. its the competition between multiple parties that's making things more shittier. I am no expert but somehow believe a bi-party system will be much more efficient. However, in a diversified country like India..a multi-party system with stringent screening might be required. 

The point I wanna make by this post is not to tell you what you already know... but to kick and remind you... that.. if nothing is done now... to correct the flaws... India would soon be in a situation.. where...

We would have Mercs and Volkswagen to show off..

But no fuel or place to ride it.....

We would have huge open lands to show off...

But no one to cultivate a grain.....

We would have N number of buildings / sky scrapers to show off...

But people in it would still be !@#$%^%$# .......

We would have our "zero" "algebra" "trigno" etc to show off....

But millions of Indians still wont know what they are.....

We would have millions of Indians spread across the globe to show off....

But not one in India to do the same....

I must confess... My contribution to this great nation is negligible... and so I don't have the right to say anything to you. However.... I am willing to start....are you????

The Innovation Bug...

“Millions saw the “Apple” fall… but it was Newton who asked-why???”… 

Its worth to note here that the answer to the “why” part, i.e., gravity and the attitude (creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship) of the phrase, both incidentally are the major survival tools! While the “attitude” keeps the globe “spinning”, gravity keeps things from falling off while it spins! It is this attitude sure has got the world intoxicated more than weed. 

Did you know that: For a growing number of countries, innovation in its many dimensions is emerging as a leading factor of economic growth and prosperity! If yes, great! If no, keep track of the happenings my friend (placements round the corner!).

So, you ask: Where does India stand today? Well, “Global Innovation Index 2009-10” puts India at 56^th place out of 132 countries. While “Innovation capacity Index 2009-10”, puts us at 85^th place of 131 countries. These indices measure innovative-ness differently and hence the large variation in standing. However, both research teams agree that factors leading to rapid growth in India in last two decades and the Indian pitfalls: “high illiteracy, a poorly developed infrastructure, a festering fiscal deficit problem, and a highly bureaucratic regulatory framework” all of which seriously discourage entrepreneurship and innovation co-exist in India  

The question I now ask is: “Is this the real reason why the National Innovation Foundation; the Technopreneur Promotion Programme(TePP) by DSIR, Gov. of India; E-cells across the nation in various institutes; etc., don’t contribute to the fullest?” Till March 2009 (since 1998), TePP accessed around 7500 ideas, evaluated 1650 proposals and supported 240 innovations. Is this a good equation? I guess not. But, having worked on TePP for my summers, I can comment that it’s not always the “panel’s” fault that lead to rejection of a proposal.

Now, stop and think for a moment. When our faculty assigns us for some project, what do we do? The 1^st thing we do is Google it! And the last thing we do is Ctrl+V! Or maybe, some formatting here and there. That’s the maximum “creativity” that we show. And then we blame the faculty for the bad marks. A great man once quoted “Think not what your country has done for you, think what you have done for your country”. And this is exactly the case here.

Agreed, that the road from creativity to invention to innovation is often quite bumpy. Therefore, the “driver” ought to keep his eyes on road and the destination (visionary); actually drive the vehicle (actualize vision); and hit the break (quit) as required. Yes, you read it right. Quitting is leadership too! One needs to quit if need be for the right reason and the right time. Else, it could prove to be a catastrophe. If you prove yourself as a “good” driver, there is no reason why a “traffic police” should halt you in your journey to success!

There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose the ventures before us

                                                       -William Shakespeare

PS: Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what other haven't... invention is transferring creativity into reality ... and innovation is being able to commercialize the invention.... :)

The HUM-TUM War within Me..

Few years ago, my friend asked... "What do you want to be in your next birth..? As in what kinda species..?" Well, that was easy- "Of course Homo sapien...but... as a male" I said :) And she was like.."WHY!!!" And all I could say to keep the conversation light was.. "What's the fun in loving a guy!" ;).... [i actually read this funky answer in some mag... :P] I don't wanna write another "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus" book here. Yet....some life scenarios that I observed in college and our society...

Scenario 1:

One guy goofs up big time... all guys simply switch off the light put a blanket.. And you know what happens next... :) yet .. all is well at the end.... :)

One gal goofs up big time.... all gals simply talk and talk behind her back... giving her much more importance... bringing out anger.. frustration.. and hurt. And the gal in question pretends she doesn't even care even if you have "isolated" her. Mind you.. she just "pretends" . :(

Scenario 2:

2 guys angry with each other... flow of high degree abusive words... a kick- left right and center... and then... the proud hand shake...hug... "f*** you sale if you do that again..." THE END of FIGHT :)

2 gals angry with each other... flow of basic abusive words (sometimes just silent grumble) .... a kick in the gut of self.... slam doors... max to max some "tu tu .. main main" THE END of RELATION :(

Scenario 3:

2 guys share secrets... no matter what happens to their relationship in the future... the secret is secret..... :)

2 gals share secret... no matter what happens to their relationship in future.. the secret is no more a secret..... :(

Scenario 4:

Party time with friends.... jeans... shirt/t-shirt... shoes... no confusion... just requires good combination... wallet .. mobile...and here we go...... :)

Party time with friends.... 1st task.. fill the questionnaire.. Where are we going??? Who all are coming??? Are you going??? If u not going.. then I ain't going... What are you wearing??? Jeans.. or 3/4ths.. or skirt or one piece??? Full sleeves or short sleeved or sleeveless??? Blue or green or pink or white or.... heels or flats??? Purse with strings or no strings??? nd blah... nd blah..... :(

Scenario 5:

Best friend steals GF... guy is hurt... but eventually feels happy that the couple is happy :)

Best friend steals BF... gal in pain.... eventually hating d happy couple.. regretting ex relationship... back biting.. and bitching... :(

Scenario 6:

Serious relationship 4 several years... guy hurt.. but moves on.. new GF in couple of months.. max to max a yr.... wen reminded of ex.. simply laughs it out.. and says..was very immature relationship :)

Basic to serious relationship 4 few yrs or may b months... gal hurt... doesn't want 2 enter a new relationship.... feels "used"... more n more sleeping pills..... searches for a shoulder to cry on...... eventually moves on in a yr.. max to max a couple of yrs.. or never ...still cries inside when reminded of ex... :(

Frankly speaking, HUM is never "unwanted" in the womb .. HUM leads a care free life.. no one really complains vocally if HUM looks at 100 women lustily (single/engaged/married ).. it doesn't matter what time of "morning" HUM comes back home.... it doesn't matter if HUM sits before the TV while the working TUM is cooking /taking care of children too even if TUM herself is sick. HUM gets to enjoy the privilege that if the kid does well in life its because of papa-HUM . Also being a male means... No mensies ... no morning sickness during pregnancy.. no labour pains... no tension of getting drunk and raped and killed... What a life...!!! 

Now... I know some guys who would respond to this remark and say... all that is fine.. but.. what about women reservations... women only seats / coaches in public transport.... working or non working husband is the ATM... longer average life span... better immunity.....??? Such a question make me roll my eyes and say --- "ab aur kya chahiye bhai???"

Let me clarify here that the reservations in schools/workplaces is to encourage better sex ratio and discourage female feoticide/infanticide. And I guess I don't have to explain the reason for reservations in public transport. I am sure you know why they are in place! The ATM point is not always true. And if yes .. its coz  of two reasons by large- 1. Gender based Wage / Salary discrimination 2. It hurts the ego of HUM if TUM pays the bill. The word immunity itself explains better immunity... longer avg life span may be attributed to better genes and simply coz the role of TUM is always important no matter what age and she dives into it. The same is with HUM... but here HUM feels completely out of place and unimportant once he retires from his work-place ....

I must state here that the pleasure of being a female is being born as a female. Like its said in the Spiderman movie- "With great power comes great responsibility", TUM is blessed with such immense power and thereby responsibility that most of the times the world stands stunned !!!!

So .... is it HUM or TUM for you???

Will all smokers in the house please stand up...

"Pull up the collar a little...shoot a hole in the cigarette smoke...for what's there to think about...what will happen will happen....." Sounds familiar?? Its a word to word translation of "jaane kya hoga rama re" of Kaante fame. NO offence, but that's the attitude of most smokers! So.. what's so addictive about it?? I did a little research and here's what I found....

Scientifically speaking, the nicotine creates a chemical locha in the brain and makes you feel profoundly happy, relaxed, rewarded, energized and blah blah... Nicotine and like drugs "get you hooked on to it faster.. and keep you hooked longer" .... In spite of all the warnings, campaigning, movies (i never understood Bollywood's No Smoking) and mobile applications (NixFixer), it is this chemical locha that makes quitting the stick... harder.

Talking of the pleasures of smoking... Though most non-smokers don't like the smell of burning tobacco, smokers on the other hand treat it as a room freshener. Speaking of the creative smoke art competitions.. smokers admit that it brings back the childhood memories of seeing the breath take strange forms in the winter air. Some studies even state that smoking leaves out an "erotic sensitivity" in the oral zone.

A smoker invariably wants a smoke:
>>> Just after waking up
>>> After a meal
>>> During/after a boring/tiring work
>>> While waiting for someone
>>> Just before turning the lights off
>>> And sometimes when jealous that the atmosphere is so clean (Rolling my eyes now! )

When one gets to do it after a long time (the definition of long time varies from smoker to smoker) , the 1st puff sends the intoxicating nicotinic effect to each nd every nerve ending, pushing him/her into a trance..And if the person doesn't smoke within his / her "stipulated" time gap, then its an end of the world kinda situation. I have got friends who ask for a break during lectures to just be able to have a fag! .

Researchers have observed that, the way one holds the poison stick tells a lot about his/her mood. Holding it with the index finger against the thumb indicates tensed or aggressive mood while between index and middle finger indicates casualness. Smoking using a pipe etc is considered classy and stylish :) Some people just smoke for the sake of style. They do not actually take the smoke in. Now, I am not sure if that's a good thing or bad 'coz anyways they are quite actively participating in creating demand for the tobacco rolls.

For some odd reason, I jokingly asked my friend to teach me how to smoke... and spat came the reply "NO!! Its highly addictive and its not good to smoke". I now ask, if my friend knows this, probably all smokers do know it.. then why not try quitting? Why the attitude of "now that we are addicted and damage has been done, we'll continue to smoke the same number of fags, or even increase the capacity.. what will happen will happen".. I have long family history of asthama and bronchitis patients... so should I also start smoking 'coz the damage has already been done to some extent??? Another friend of mine said she had trouble climbing up a hill and so she would quit smoking (a zillionth time) and yet I found her holding the stick again !!

My post may not make much of a difference for it doesn't speak about the harmful effects as such. Moreover, it is not required as we all have been reading it, seeing it and living it since childhood. All I wanna say is.. We are not that rich that we pump out the tar accumulated in our lungs periodically and smoke all we wanna.. and even if we did..whats natural is natural..no amount cosmetic surgery will hide your age you know..

Its my request to all u smokers out there to hit the ESC button before the whole toxic thingy is downloaded in your system and you are forced to count your no. of birthdays left to celebrate.... (Inspired by No smoking ad of SIIB 09/11 marketing batch)

References:

http://smokingsides.com/docs/whysmoke.html

http://www.43things.com/things/view/1142726/share-and-enjoy-the-pleasures-of-smoking-cigarettes

http://www.gearfuse.com/phone-app-to-help-you-kick-smoking/

The F-word.......

Having missed (read: skipped) my academic class this "Sunday" morning... I kept lying lazily in my almost cluttered bed... staring at the not so white ceiling clueless of what to do. Suddenly, my A.D.D brain reveals to me a strange but nevertheless undeniable fact of how much the entire world is hungover with the F-word. And before you guys start thinking naughty.. ;) let me just list a few F-words to elucidate my point... in random order of course.

1. Family.....
2. Friends.... ooooh BTW Happy Friendship's day... :)
3. Fon (Phone)...
4. Firangs....
5. Fishing.... (considered pretty elite game actually in the west)
6. Fashion... (wink wink)
7. Fame.... 
8. Fever... (we loved faking it in school dayz... )
9. Finals.... (sports... not examz... :P )
10. Fatte (phatte - xamz or no xamz... ;) )
11. Fruits.... (health concious)
12. Facebook... (Status: M gonna die in next 10 min)
13. Football/FIFA... 
14. French.... (Ahem... city...language..women..cuisine..fashion nd fries...;) )
15. Fair.... (both mela wala and gora wala)
16. F.R.I.E.N.D.S.... (season 1-10)
17. Foot long..... (Yummmmy!)
18. Falooda..... (again yummmmy !)
19. Foto shoot (Photo).....
20. Phineaus and Ferb....
21. Flavours... (oooh so many.. which one should i have 2de? )
22. Falls... (water falls... and slides...)
23. Films.. (movies/...)
24. Fights.. (don't like if u r in it.. but love if u r in d gossip team..)
25. Fire... (not the literal one... wink)
26. Fear..... :(
27. Fridays.... (@siib fri-sun)
28. Feelings.....
29. Fan.... (both pankha... and "likes")
30. ......ya ya here comes ur fav... F***

The list can go on and on. So.. why only "F" ??? why not any other alphabet ?? I tried similar listing with other alphabets.. but none matched up to "F". Is it the sound of "F" or something else??? Or is it purely co-incidental??? Our intellectual capability may not actually give us the exact answer to this strange yet undeniable fact...but... well... who knows.... some day.. some one may research on it.. and come up with a theory or something...... :) :)

Life's Little Questions....

All seems pretty dark ahead... 
Is it the lights over my head... 
or my eyes, that have gone bad???

“Children are the incarnation of God” they say...

Then why is my birth a problem??

“Play all while you can @ this age” they say

Then why is my incomplete notebook a problem??

“@ 10 you are just a kid! “ they say...

Then why is my goofy nature a problem??

“@ 10 you are mature enough” they say...

Then why is my intervention in their matter a problem??

“Not all are equally blessed “ they say...

Then why is my 2^nd rank a problem??

“Getting into a medical college is tough” they say...

Then why is my miss @ it a problem??

“Make an identity of your own” they say...

Then why is my viewpoint a problem??

“Make friends and socialize” they say...

Then why is my social circle a problem??

“Love all around you” they say...

Then why is my love for one a problem??

“God helps those who help themselves” they say...

Then why is my selfishness a problem??

“Told or untold, life=expectation” they say...

Then why is my expectation from one a problem??

“Follow your dreams, live by your passion” they say...

Then why is my priority of life a problem??

All seems pretty dark ahead... 
Is it the lights over my head... 
or my eyes, that have gone bad???