From Earth to Sky

If mapping the earth was not enough, we now have free access to the sky and the stars, planets and -- the empty space, all thats out there.

I am not going gaga over technology or product reviews here. There is Tech Clocks for that kinda stuff. This is about pure Joy and amazement to the idea of mapping the sky like they mapped the earth.

If you have used Google Earth before, trust me guys, you have to see Google Sky to believe it. It is awesome. Its still in its initial beta, but once you see it, you will get the idea where its going.

I dont know about you guys, but I have always wanted to see the sky and keep zooming till I can. See the farthest end of space. Well, Google Sky will not keep zooming, since it has only got images what NASA has captured so far using the various satellites and telescopes out there. Still, having access to the whole thing at one place is a dream come true. Moreover, the view is such that you dont feel like you are accessing pre-stored images, that you normally see on NASA or any other site, but it feels like you are watching through a high end telescope and you are zooming into the constellations towards the farthest place in space - watching the distant stars come closer.

One moment you are viewing the Earth and you press the toggle switch that takes you to the sky exactly above where you were on earth. From there, you are free to navigate as if you directed Star Wars.

This I can surely say is the best age for digital revolution. Internet communications is transforming knowledge and accessibility to knowledge to a whole new dimension - that wasnt envisaged a decade back.

Welcome and enjoy unrestricted access. Only spoil brats will feel threatened to such accessibility of earth and sky. Maybe about those in another post, sometime later. For now, enjoy watching the sky.

A preview :

Lonavala Heights

We decided to head for Lonavala for the weekend - away from the heat, pollution and boredom. It didnt take us long to decide the place and even lesser time to book the tickets of the resort there. Once this was done, all that was left to do was to go there and chillax. So, that was it. Have been there before, but since every trip is different, it felt like never before. True to its reputation, the climate was awesome. We headed towards Amby Valley and half way there we stopped at the bridge where people chill in the waterfall and enjoy the clouds and the greenery around. While climbing up there, the roads were steep and wet. The visibility was just of few meters. It was like walking in the clouds.
The five of us, having met just a year back, relieved ourselves of the office chores and mechanics and had altogether different experience that wasnt shared amongst us before.
The waterfall place was amazing.. though photography was prohibited.. it seemed painful not capturing the moments on camera. Sinfully, we did so and never regretted it. Those are the moments to remember... RIGHT !!
Going there after enjoying a heavy meal at Toni Da Dabbha at Kamshet was the best part. We had not decided of going there.. but just as we left Tonis, it felt obvious to carry on towards Amby Valley where on the way this spot existed.
We slept that day at 4 am and got up at 8 morning to head back towards bombay, we left many memories behind.

Bloody hell

These things get on my nerves... whenever theres something happening in the world.. our own grown and self moralized politicians start blaming something or the other for it. Now these days, the role of the politicians is also shared by the media.

Media was so far responsible for reporting news AS-IS, but has slowly become the haven for publicizing opinions and suggestions to common man without any ado. Who ever gave them that right. They are to report news, they way it happened. Instead they entice people and encourage them to form opinions, such as they construct their story. I remember, when Amitabh Bacchan had gone to the temple to offer prayers.. and stayed in the temple over the prescribed time limit, the correspondent on one news channel was so vociferous in alleging that a crime has been committed.. he was so narrating the incident as if he was the Judge and had the sole authority to decide what punishment will he serve. Is this News Reporting any more !!!! Let the appropriate action be taken by appropriate person by appropriate mechanism. Just cause some Idiot gave you the mike to stand on the road and speak.. you decide to dictate whats right and whats wrong. Do we really need this!!!
Again.. the number of news channels and they importance to the subject that they give. Boss its utterly humiliating at times to see all that. Its ok if you do not have news to show.. but is showing Amitab's son's wedding.. Sanjay Dutts ventuers FOR THE ENTIRE DAY called news or what. Is this India.. and is this all thats left to report for the entire day. A foreign news channel (BBC) reported about an Indian Army officer being killed on Line of Fire in India saving people the same day when all of our country news channel was busy waiting for the verdict of Sanjay Dutt's case. Hello.. any body there !!!

Politicians were not enough that we got these news channels. Here are some of the idiotic recommendations to save human kind....

Ban camera phones cause there can be voyeurism or MMS scandals..
MMS Scandal victim : "so what I allowed it to be clicked.. and i thought you wont share it. Now u disgraced my dignity. I thought i could trust you.. but u were so naughty..."
Voyeurism : this is a true issue.. but is banning the solution? say after you ban it, will it stop. It was there before the camera phones were invented.. and will be there even after you ban it. How about banning Cameras and Video Cameras production througout the world. Digicams available at as low as Rs 5000, does it really matter.


Ban Orkut cause people get kidnapped and killed or acts as a forum for talking bad about someone special on this planet...
so what those special people talk bad or audaciously vulgar about everyone else openly. India is truly democratic ... only for few it seems.

It gets nuttier
Ban cyber cafes since they allowed people to use Orkut from where someone allegedly accessed a hate community of somebody. No ... not just ban... blow them up!!!..Cyber cafes after all are not paying me for living.

Ban Valentines day cause ... its against our culture.

Ban outsiders (from other states) cause they took jobs away from insiders (homeland).. so insiders have right to vandalize.. now dont complain.

This was just a thought. It came up again today since sadly few days back a rich kid got kidnapped and met with a tragic end.

So now dont share personal info on Orkut. Remove all your pics and images from there or you may be the next victim.
Maybe Yes....But, media did the right thing of flashing the news in all news channels about his kidnapping. So what they were told to keep quiet. So what the first time offenders came to know about the news flash and decided to kill the kidnapped son. So what the parents gave the 16 year old kid a big car to roam at nights. So what, the son called up his parents saying he wont come home.. and thats OK.

So what.. but please dont share personal info on Orkut... thats important. Bloody hell !!!

Technology Cycles

I was wondering, how to do it... but then i realized that the best thing is to do start it and then improvise on it.

I was thinking since a while now, how do I start writing about technology? Human times isn't the best place to discuss all that. Frankly with the nature of the comments I get here... i feel hardly any room here to talk technology.

Anyways, this is not to say that I dont like the comments so far.. its just that this blog has evolved more of leisure kind and things that seem to happen ... but not really what I do for a living.

So started a new blog called Tech Clocks.. and this is purely to stop people keeping away from visiting my this blog if I had started writing technology here.

Just so that i mention it.. since you have read it so far... that Tech Clocks is more like technology for dummies. Thats the whole idea... its from non technical perspective - a technical understanding. Am not kidding !!!

You can see the link on my bookmark. Am starting to write about the latest craze in technology circles which is SOA. My first blog is the foundation or the first brick to the caste on talking about SOA i.e the Web Services, but it will get there.. as I, myself, learn about it... :)

So till that time.. posts will continue here on friends and families. For technology updates, please do visit Tech Clocks.

Bangalore Blues

I had been recently to Bangalore, and I think I will have to go there again... This time for two whole weeks. Oh Shit… Its still not confirmed... but let’s see.

Its not that I hate that place, but I do not like it as well. After spending my entire time in Mumbai, and then going to that place, many things don’t make sense. It just doesn’t.
The foremost of them are the Auto Rickshaws. If Himesh Reshamiya had ever been to Bangalore he would really start hating Auto Rickshaw walas there. And frankly, I really hoped he had been there... since that would have avoided making the unbearable torture movie of all times "App ka Suroor". That was just a thought..I know he would have made it anyways... how else will the world know Why he doesn't smile or Why he wears a Hat .. or why cant he sing or why...... is anybody still reading !!!

Anyways.. Coming back to the point, I hated the auto guys there.. Since there is no fairness left in any one of them. I had to deal with around 30 auto guys during my past visit.. and I have in all paid 30 times more to them... being stood around for 30 minutes each time for gaining sympathy of any Auto Guy to take me where I wanted to go... every time I needed an auto. Of course we were allowed to take cars.. But then, I had to go out for non official purposes, for which I couldn’t take one. It’s not what you think, but we didn’t really get good dinner any place close where we stayed.

The worst incident was the day I reached.. I was coming back after having dinner with my colleague. We were put up at different places for the first day.. dat was due to some confusion while booking.. so had to travel alone. We negotiated with a Auto guy with double rate at 10:00 PM. We thought that was loot.. but later realized it was a steal. I know.. living in Mumbai.. even an Auto at 11:30 PM will be normal meter rates. But in Bangalore, we have paid almost Rs 200 to travel 1 KM at 11 at night and mind you.. that was at proper city places.. not long lost deserts.

Anyways.. after settling for double fare, I was happy that the night was over. While we were going, after a while.. some place in middle I asked him.. do you know where we going. He said this is where u said "Airport Road". I just told him.. "I said, Airport Road, Diamond district". He schrreched to halt. He shouted saying, “you said Airport Road and not Diamond District". BTW, for those who dont know Diamond district is on Airport Road. It was late and I didn’t want to argue, but I still managed to ask him.."Airport Road is so long.. the way you are going you will reach Airport.. Diamond district is before that.. so what is the problem". He said, it will charge me more. Now, I really hated to answer him back.. but something in me just made me ask him.. "When u agreed to take me where I asked.. where did you think I will go on Airport Road". Since he did not take me on meter and took fixed charge, where exactly did he think I wanted to go. To that he said "Just till here" . Now he had stopped me in the middle of a road and that too since I asked him if where you are going, I realized he thinks I am new and alone ... so chance to make a quick buck Asking for double rate was not loot enough.. he wanted more. Basically I asked him a wrong question and he took an opportunity to get more out of it. Now, I don’t think I have ever done this before, but I was shocked with the attitude of this guy. I said.. "You stop me here.. i will not pay you anything". He did'nt reply.. I just got down and started walking…..

He started speaking in his language.. and I could guess he wasn’t praying. I reached a phone booth and asked the guy where is Royal Orchid hotel... that’s where i wanted to go. The Auto Guy also went up to him and started explaining him something. I couldn’t understand what he said.. Since it was entirely in the state language. Whatever the version he said.. the good phone booth guy realized that he was trying to take me for a ride... so instead he told him to take me to my hotel.. as it wasnt far from where he had stopped.

So after some 10 minutes of arguing.. he took me there. At the gate of the hotel, since he wasn't allowed to enter in, some five star guidelines…, I had to get down at the gate which was again lonely at that time. Security was behind the gate. I took out the money. He then says… he doesnt have change.. so I will need to get it. I now realized that he is just trying to give a hard time .. since he didnt get his way before. I said fine.. and I started walking towards the gate. I wasn’t carrying anything.. and it was dark. I was determined.. if i entered the gate.. I will not come back till next morning. To hell with him. He also thought I wont come back.. so he said.."Saheb... not that side.. we will go back and get it from the nearest store". I said, "You are driving, and you don’t have change.. and you want me to come with you at 11:00 at night .. dat too for you !!! You can go and get change.. I am waiting.. I didnt give him any money. So now.. he wasnt ready to leave.. and I wasn’t ready to go with him an extra inch.. I was again stranded. I thought.. What worst can happen !!!! I had the Hotel security just few meters away.. and I really didn’t want that guy to get his way... If it was someone else.. I would have told him to keep the change…. but not with this guy. So he started shouting…”You don’t know who I am… blah blah !!” . I have never really confronted anyone like this, that too in an unknown place.. at close to midnight. I just said.."I don’t have change.. you don’t have change.. and I wont come with you. What do you want to do you decide.. And I don’t want to know who you are." There was a silence for sometime… and then he finally realized I wasn’t budging... so with fist of anger, he reached his pocket.. took out a bundle of Ten Rupees notes and handed me exact change. I smiled and I walked away.

The Art of saying 'No'

This is not a lecture or katha.. but just random observation
If you don't agree.. please comment.. if you do agree.. still comment !!!

You would be lying, if you had ever said 'Yes' to something where internally you just wanted to say 'No'. You are forced sometimes to do things where and crib about it for ever, where else you had a simple choice to say 'No' in the first place. But u didn't. Thats what this is all about... Some people can say it easily .. and better.. where as some just cant.

I realized this cause lately I have started saying 'No' and believe me.. its more satisfying.. :) Again, let me iterate, theres nothing wrong in being helpful.. rather one should be.... but sometimes.. one just has to say 'No' so that your answer is not taken for granted.
Be it to friend, parents, brothers, sisters.. acquaintances just about anybody for that matter...

It does get hard to say 'No' when someone comes over specially for you and asks you to do some favor. Cause when u say No, you are sure that the other person will feel something bad about you and you don't want that. To keep up the image and to keep the entire universe happy.. you commit the crime of never saying "No" to anything..to anybody.
I know some of my friends.... at work . they get tied up at situations where they don't want to. Others know their weakness and hence they take advantage of them. Who wouldn't !!!

If you had a choice to get something done for you.. and you know for a fact that the particular person will not say 'No'.. you will never hesitate to ask. If a shocking 'hmmm' or.. *thinking looks* appear on his face.. then all you have to say is 'PLEASE'.. and thats it.. the job is done... Why even bother going to others. Convenience huh!!!

Being in other persons' place.. you would keep thinking.. why the hell does he always comes back to me.. why!!! Well, why did you say 'YES' when you could have said 'NO'.

And by the way, I know there is someone on this planet who will think me writing this post for some other reason... And hence to clarify...this is NOT targeted to the Girl-Friends of all the Boys.. who say YES to their requests.. and daily proposals... :)
(*I still wonder was it only me who suffered :(( *)

This is mostly targeted to people and friends at work and home.. who get these typical questions like.. "Please do this for me", "Will you go to that meeting since i have work", "can you help me with this", "Can you stay late and help me if you done with yours".

I know few people who have developed the art of saying No.. and they say it in such a way that you wont even realize, until later, that he said no to what i asked. Thats where the real fun begins... To be in control .
So how to do that.. no clue.. but wouldn't it be great to be able to tell your boss NO without he even realising you actually declined the request.... wow.. that would be cool..

Will stop to write now... and i know you want to read more.... but I Have to say 'NO'.

I was tagged

I got tagged.... I got tagged by someone...Dats all !! Dont u get it.. Its outta be some invisible thing on my blog or on my face...

In return to this unforseen gesture, I have to write this post.

Now this is the rule of tagging. First someone invisibly tags u with something... that u cant see... then that person has to tell you that he/she made this invisible tag on you
.. (offcourse, how else would u know abt it) and then u gotta write what was written by that person filling in the blanks....Phew !!!!

Believe me ppl, if there was anything more interesting that this.. i would stop coming online....

Anyways... i ottcha do wht i gottcha do .... So here it goes.

I am thinking
What is the purpose of existence of myself and everyone around me.. What big picture are we serving on this infinite space and time. Guess thinking about Contact :)

I Said
We are here for a purpose, lets not forget that... the toughest part is to find that purpose.

I Want
Peace in mind.. and babes in real

I Wish
Everything gets all right

I Miss
Every moment i shared with her...

I Hear
People talking behind my back...........that i am d best...(*kidding*).

I Wonder
How did this happen... how did i get here.. I wonder sometimes how life is . . and how people can be so cruel.

I Regret
nothing... regretting is usually a choice taken wrong ... giving u a path that u cant undo. Regretting is usually a waste of thought (takes brain cells to do that)... i regret i regretted before.

I Am
Free

I Dance
when my feet cant do with just tapping.

I Sing
when i am alone....

I am listening to
Chains around my heart - Richard Marx

I Cry
When i am lost... and when people close to me take me for granted

I Remember
the times I laughed... i cried.. i sang... i danced.. i loved....i was loved... i fell down ... i was helped....I remembered who came close to me and changed my life ... gave me their part of the memories to share.

I Recommend
Take Lite

I Write
When there is no one to talk

I Confuse
myself at times

I Need
to be remembered

I Should
believe in myself

I Finish
whenever i can

I am Sure
Life is not meant to be like this... It means more than living day in day out...It is meant to be for something else... someone ought to be watching... and laughing at the way we made it out to be.

I am Not
Just somebody else

Phew...
All done.. and i need to ask..
How the hell do I tag someone else..

Ppl, if you know.. please comment.

Rains to Remember

This has been second time in 7 days...

-Eventful story ahead...

Rains Rains Rains...

It was last friday I walked home from Mulund station to home... due to trains being jammed. The memories were fresh in my mind when I was walking on the tracks, drenched in rains, today.

Last friday was destiny... today was stupidity...

Chapter 1

We left office at 6... tried our luck with the cab.. but as usual.. the cab Maharajahs had some other important appointments to meet... I mean.. they decided not to take us in.. but rather stay gossiping about God knows what... Then finally got into an auto and went towards Mulund...
We took the dharavi route to sion to catch the express way.. but it was already 7 by the time we touched sion. I had a colleague with me and I kept telling him.. it was a bad idea.

It was raining heavily and enough for us to get wet sitting inside the Auto. As we were passing the BKC road towards Dharavi.. I noticed so many people asking us.. if we were headed towards bandra station and could split the auto. It is really sad that we have to put up with the govt. that does nothing for the roads and transportation.. to make it comfortable.. that we now have to be on the mercy of the autowalas and the taxiwalas to help us reach our place..

I mean.. ARENT THEY SUPPOSED TO TAKE ALL FARE!!!

Anyways.. it was their day... I decided to go to Mulund station and would get a easy train to thane... since I fancied better chance getting auto from station than the check naka to my place.. I surely added 30 more minutes to my journey.. but that would have presumably avoided me to beg for a ride in the auto or worse.. walk home from checknaka.

As I reached Mulund in middle of the heaviest of the jams.. I saw the scene that I had dreaded. Mulund station in knee deep water.. and water flowing from the road - to the station - on to the tracks. I head a woman saying.. no trains in 40 minutes.
DAMN !!!!
I waited for 30 minutes thinking what to do... everyone was waiting on the station .. for the train to come.. It was already 9:00 now. I got a call from my friend saying we have no electricity in our society complex. I decided to get out on the road, rather than waiting for the miracle to happen.
My friend on the other hand, saw a train coming at the station, climbed in it.. he had a quite a bit of journey to make from there...whereas I was just 4 KMS far from my house.
We exchanged goodbyes on phone.. and I decided to walk towards checknaka.
Believe me.. on any other day.. even in the rains.. 4 KMs is not a big deal... not for me..
But the bloody bag with my laptop and stuf.. protecting it on my shoulders was the worst nightmare. There were no streetlights to add to my joyride. I reached home at 10:15 and called my friend. Not so surprised, he was still where I had left him. The train had not moved from there.

It almost felt like a re-visit of 26/7 to me.. but luckily.. not everyone had a bad time.

That was last friday.

Chapter 2

Today, I decided to go home.. after waiting for an hour (from 9:15 am to 10:15 am) at Thane station.. I realized my friend was at the same station. I decided to catch the train and go with him...(I can deal with pain if I have company)

We were standing at the gate..(which is another part of the unforgetfull journey) and getting wet by the rain water coming in as it is..

Our lady luck striked when the train got really slow after Kanjurgmarg.. and eventually stopped. We were busy cribbing about our office.. when later we realised we were actually in the same place for a long time..

I tried looking left right and talk to people.. and we understood that all train services have been stopped. We had trains waiting behind us.. ahead of us and in side of us..none of them thinking of moving. We saw people walking on the tracks to the nearest station that had gone. The thought of getting down again reminded me of past friday.. but having the same laptop hung in my shoulder in the crowded train.. I felt.. walkign freely in rain would be better.

And so me and my friend jumped down and deicided to walk to the nearest station. None of us wanted to go home.. so we decided to catch a movie at the mall.. which due to some luck was near to the station. Having cursed for the next 3 hours.. watching CASH, we came out and deiced to got to office from there.

I know you would now say... I am stupid.. but I was not alone..... I hope i get a concession on the stupidity rating now.. :)