Tujhme Rab Dikhta Hai... Really???

Valentines Day??

So... what's all the buzz about V-Day? I have never celebrated V-Day... & why? Why do you need a day to celebrate love? If you have true love in your life everyday is V-Day; else a day doesn't do anything. It's just a day for Gift & Card Companies to make money... right? I don't hate V-Day but I don't love it either. I remember days in India when some religious fanatic groups (like shiv-sena, bajrang-dal) used to threaten couples if they hang out or if they see roses in a girl's hand. That's just stupid, you can't force people for such things.. it's wrong. I hope it's not so anymore. But still, V-day is just so commercialized that there's no feeling of true love anymore. The guys are just concerned about buying right gifts and girls are concerned about getting theres. Or if you don't have a valentine, you are just concerned about getting someone, anyone.... they just don't want to be alone. I celebrate V-days sitting home, relaxing. With family or even alone. Because where there is love, support, relaxation and peace.... that's where everything is. You don't need a V-day to be happy, you just need happiness.... Or maybe just visit and read my blog more!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!!!!!

This one's coming pretty late, however I guess that was expected from me (when was the last time I was on time in blogging, ummmm... i guess, never!!). I thought I would write this on New Years Eve or New Year’s Day, but anyways it comes after a week in new year... A year (yep, it's called 'A year' & not 'An year' and even I was not sure before googling & checking it) is a long time in any person’s life; after all how many years do we get to live (I wish I get billions or even more, I guess I just love this world. Just I should remain young & handsome & awesome...), an year can never be considered short in that period. One calendar year has passed now and we have entered a new calendar year. People had celebrations, resolutions, new aspirations & some other ‘shuns’ maybe. Celebrations to drink all night & vomit till dawn & then drive recklessly to home & have a hungover 1st day of new year. New resolutions, half of which were not considered worthy enough to be even started on the New Year's eve itself and remaining half to be broken as it comes. And aspirations hoping this year would be better than all the past years (which hardly happens) and every coming year. Not sure about the other 'shuns'...

And Yes, I was saying calendar year because that’s what it is. After all what changes except a date on this day; we just have to start writing new year in the date which might take some time to get used to (luckily we hardly have to write dates anymore because of computers & all, otherwise I remember the days when we used to write the date on top of our notebook everyday in school. It used to be hell of a job to remember right date and it still is except fro my awesome watches). We keep mentioning through out the first week or more that this or that would happen in coming year realizing that the new year has already arrived. What’s the significance of New Year except a date, not as if we get richer or younger or more beautiful or anything else by change of the calendar. WOW, what if we wake up on New Year in a grand mansion being the richest & most handsome & awesome person in the world (which I already am, i meant about awesome & stuff and not the richest yet!!). Or we get a salary raise & promotion just because it's a new year. What is so special about new year for us, it's not like we are the only people to enter the new year & other's are left behind in the old year, lol (that would be special and ridiculous too; and definitely unique & special too, a reason to celebrate over others!!). Is New Year really a reason to party till dawn, get drunk & do all kinds of BS?? I guess it is, because all we need is just a reason to party & have fun; and this does seems like a reason, lol.

I am not against New Year celebration or parties though, they are all fun (in spite of the fact that I have just attended one in my entire life till now, that was in DC last year). I just don’t like the chaos people make in the name of New Year with the loudness & noise everywhere and getting drunk & having accidents/incidents (not a good start for a new year I guess). Or spending there money or time on something which they can’t afford (they should better use that money for something good, like give it to me!!), or just anything like that. What did I do… I was at home with my parents & sister. After last year’s partying out in Washington DC on New Year, this was my year to be back home. In last 25 years (yeah, that might mean I am 25, or may be just a random number I chose, lol) I have spent 22 New Year’s eve at home with my family. We sit together & watch TV, usually cut cake or have sweets at 12 and have fun. It is really nice to be with family on special occasions and that’s what I mostly do on festivals, birthdays, and anniversary (my parent’s of course) etc or even new year.

The last year has been good i guess, or nice or maybe just okay. I mean I am not sure, the year wasn’t bad at all but nothing too special as well. Lots of happenings have been mentioned in my past blogs. I wrote 21 blogs in 2008, that’s an achievement I think. It’s like 1.75 blogs every month (of course 0.25 had to be left as I am too lazy on writing blogs), or 3 blogs per month considering I wrote all of those in 7-8 months (and why am I making this average figures & all, does it actually changes anything… like that’s all I did all year, ugh!!). I visited many places all over the world (US-Kansas & Chicago, Philippines-Manilla & Cebu and India-Delhi, Chandigarh, Manali/Rohtang, Lucknow) and had lots of fun; made new friends & fiends maybe; bought guitar & laptop too; got my promotion (yeah, now doesn’t seems that exciting somehow); got operated (and it still sucks, I still have pain & it’s not healing or going away… seems something is wrong) and lots of other stuff which I have mentioned in blogs (yeah, I turned 25 as well, big achievement!!!). Lots of stuff happened, but nothing extremely special yet. I really hope & wish that this year is that special year of my life (now that’s where this new year comes in play when you start hoping for better or best things in a new year. All you couldn't do could be blamed on a bad past year & hope that new good stuff is waiting in new year. That's called being Positive!!!).

Also, recently 2 news have been up in airs. One about the war with Pakistan as the things are getting messy and other about the Satyam-Scandal. Both of them are disastrous, a very disappointing start for India in the New Year. We all know how dangerous wars are, innocent people loose there lives and country looses lots of its money & strength. In a war both the sides always loose, it's just that the side which looses more is considered defeated. Also this whole Satyam story is a big setback for Indian IT industry and economy. More than 5000 crore of money and 53000 people's jobs at stake is not a good sign. We know that many of these company’s do these kind of 'jhols' in the industry but at least they should not put the whole company or people at stake and not be able to even control it. Lets hope things will get better...

I have watched both Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (as suggested by 'wish on a star') & Ghajini, both are good movies and can be watched in theatre (& i mean movies should be watched in theatre, i am not suggesting to download & watch movies even if they are not good; just don't watch them. But if you do watch some, go to theatres or get genuine DVDs to watch them). Nothing too special as both have there flaws but fun too. Watch Rab Ne for a SRK & Chopra's usual romantic comedy fun, has some good cinematography & songs/dance too. SRK is cool as always & the new girl Anushka is good too (lil bit like Kajol, but not as awesome of course). The bad is that movie does not has a story worth stretching 2.5 hrs and goes illogical at many points (which is usual for any masala flick). DDLJ & Mohabattein were great so you would expect better from Adi (Aditya Chopra) though. Watch Ghajini for the new avatar of Amir (which is normal now as with every new movie he looks new & different). The movie has lots of action & some fun/comedy in flashback too, the new girl Asin is cool & bubbly (reminds of Rani, but not as good of course). The bad is that it's logical at very few points, or I guess hardly any. The mix up of action & comedy is lil jumbled and the movie is too loud & noisy at places. Watch MEMENTO for the real fun. So both these movies do not have great stories or an amazing plot, so don't expect anything special but just great performances & Nice Fun. I also watched Jumbo which is a cool kid's movie with poor/old animation but good Indian dubbing. Just to let you guys know it's not an Indian movie but a dubbed version of 2006 Thai movie Khan Kluay. I guess am watching & studying lots of movies these days!!!

Alright boys n girls and dear friends, that's it for now. Please keep blogging & keep reading my blogs (haven't seen many or any comments lately, means people may not be even reading my blog yaar!!!). This is RAHUL again saying, Good Bye & Good Luck and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!!!!!

I am PISSED... (also I didn't vote)

First day of last month of this year and I am really pissed. Why... or why not... I mean doesn't this world kinda sucks, at least right now. I have not been very well lately; have not had any project (on so called bench/beach) for more than 2 months; the world is going through this awful recession & economical downfall; and some bloody $%^&#$@ enter in to our own country, blow up our places, kill our innocent countrymen and try to spread terror.......

As for not being well, it's been both me & my lovely home. By living in US for sometime, my immunity power has definitely weakened (it's like a superpower most of us Indians have; immune to dirt, pollution, noise, political downfall, crime, corruption, all kinda enforced pain etc). I can't stand pollution, dirt & keep falling sick; or at least not in best of my health. And on top of that I had that surgery (see my previous blogs) which has definitely affected me for sometime, I am much better and almost recovered now though.

I don't talk much about my work here (bcoz some of my colleagues & managers read the blog too, lol). But I am not very happy with my current situation. I have been on so called beach (usually called as bench in other companies), which means I don't have any project to work on. There were project opportunities in Philadelphia/Kansas/Portland but thing's didn't turn up well. Sometimes because of me being sick or not available or mostly because of this recession because of which new projects are not coming up. I don't have much to do and I am getting kinda bored and concerned too. I want a nice project soon, in US!!!

Recession and Economic Downfall sucks soooo much, many of us have been affected by it in some or other way. Many of my friends have lost there jobs or are on the verge of losing there jobs because of this. I lost two project opportunities, because they could not get signed-off owing to recession I guess. The dollar is strong as compared to rupee these days (around Rs 50 for a dollar); whereas it used to be pretty low when I used to transfer money sometime back (I have even transferred on Rs 37 per dollar). The prices are so damn high of everything now; the usual vegetables, milk, ration and everything else is damn expensive. Even the burger & pizzas are almost twice the price now. What's there to be happy about it??

And on top of that... these Mumbai Attacks. Some bloody $^&*%@ enters in our own country and try terrorize our own people in middle of the daylight. They captivate places like Taj & Oberai and kill innocent people there for no damn reason. What kind of f***ng religion or faith or aspirations can lead anyone to such actions. And I despise those Indians who are involved in this or supporting this; yeah, I mean how can someone enter into your own house without anyone knowing unless someone from your house lets them in or helps them. There has to be some of our people who are helping them. I consider Rape & Terrorism as two of the biggest crimes; those who are hurting innocent people for just there pleasure should be punished mercilessly. Because these people do not just hurt the victims but also affects the whole society in negative way. People are afraid to get out of there houses, or even stay in there houses; how bad is that? We do not feel safe in our own homes, we see our own people killed & hurt and we can't do much to save them.... This has to be stopped, if the government and our leaders are not capable enough to fight for us, we the 'people of India' have to rise together to bring it to justice!!!

Hmmmmm, also I didn't vote this time in Delhi Elections. As it was being said this time around,'Pappu vote nahi deta'. I guess its better to be a 'pappu' than to go ahead & vote for some jerk whom you have never heard of or you are not sure what is he gonna do for you, your place & your country. I heard there is an Article 49-O under which you have right to not vote, or say that I don't like anyone and want to vote for no one. And if no votes are more than total votes in the region, a re-election will happen with all new candidates. Earlier in paper polling, an unstamped vote was considered as no-vote. But with electronic voting, there is no option yet for a button for no-vote. I have heard that it has been suggested by election commission in electoral reforms but lets see when it actually happens. I am sure our cunning politicians would never like to give us a right to not vote for them; but I hope this happens sometimes and all of us can get together to show we do not like them. I guess the situation would be same for me, until I go ahead and contest in election myself!!

So... so much to be pissed and not much to be happy about!!! But I watched 'Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye', pretty nice movie. I always have liked Abhay Deol out of all the Deols; he's charming, smart & a good actor. The movie is a story of a young boy wanting goods in life who turns into a smart thief. Stealing stuff by outsmarting people with his intelligence is not just his profession but passion too. A nice comedy movie with decent presentation & good acting by Abhay as the thief and Paresh Rawal in 3 different roles. Overall it's a nice fun movie. Also I am waiting for 'Rab ne Bana Di Jodi', seems interesting movie.

Alright boys n girls and dear friends, that's it for now. Please keep blogging & keep reading my blogs (please COMMENT to let me know of your views too). This is RAHUL again saying, Good Bye & Good Luck!!!!!