Intolerance, backed and supported by the State, continues to be a constant source of amusement for me. A few recent examples will illustrate what I exactly mean.
1. Jaswant Singh's book on Jinnah was banned in Gujurat because it glorified Jinnah and called Sardar Patel as the reason for Partition.
2. Many libraries in the USA do not allow patrons to issue "Tintin in the Congo", one of the earliest Tintin books because of the naive, objectionable ways it depicts Africans.
3. Sites like Orkut have been banned in the UAE because of the moral decay they apparently spread in people.
4. Catholic Groups all around the world demanded a ban on Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy as it supposedly preached atheism.
There are so many such examples, some that make you laugh while others that make you worry. I have tried to include perspectives from around the world, to show that this is widespread even in countries you might assume are liberal.
The USA is certainly not a very liberal country especially as fringe hardball Catholic groups have always commanded great attention.
Banning books or other forms of art on the basis that they preach against a religion is a major form of hypocrisy. How can any work of Art hurt your sentiments about God? This belief is supposed to be a highly personal, highly strong bond. A mere painting should not be capable of hurting this bond. If it does, then your faith was never strong in the first place.
I believe that the Pareto's principle applies in the case of intolerance as well. 80% of all these protests, calls for bans and other extreme reactions are done by only about 20% of the practitioners of the particular religion. The rest 80% are the silent majority who unfortunately let these 20% hog the limelight, allowing them to act as spokespeople.
I hold the worst scorn for Governments which ban works of Art for the apparent "Good" of their people. India is a secular country, but the States are run in a bigoted feudalistic fashion. States such as Gujurat, Maharashtra and Karnataka have generally been at the forefront of banning stuff left, right and centre.
I very strongly believe in the freedom of expression. For me, no work of art can shake my belief in God. If one actually goes by the holy Books of every major religion, in no Book is it written that Ban something that goes against your religious beliefs. Dialogue and Debate are at the heart of a healthy society.
If you do not agree with the contents of a particular book, don't buy it, but don't stop other people from exercising their fundamental right of being able to buy that book. If you are worried about your children falling prey to the corrupt influences of such material, discuss with them about the pitfalls associated with such material, allow them to build a rationalistic approach towards life.
It is indeed sad that a fanatical fringe group of society decide our lives for us and worse when the very Government (especially one which claims to be a Secular Republic) which should support our rights to express our individual opinions in Society chooses to do the very opposite.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
A thought experiment
Is it possible for someone to change their personality overnight?
At least outwardly. And once the outward change is completely manifested over a period of time, will this gradually lead to an equivalent change inwardly as well?
Especially if that someone has entered into the latter half of his twenties?
This is a thought experiment being conducted to ascertain the feasibility of such a theory.
A precognition required for this discussion is the concept of inner and outer personalities, one which is apparent to the outside world and one which is apparent only to the individual.
Let us start by assuming that it is not possible to do so.
It is not possible for someone to change his or her personality once they are well into their adulthood.
This means that this person will display the same set of different reactions to various stimuli consistently according to the dictates of his conscious personality.
Ergo, the person's reactions can be predicted to an accurate degree by keen observation during the application of a same set of stimuli under different circumstances.
But, the one thing that nature has taught us and which has been proved by considerable empirical evidence is that the behaviour of men is highly stochastic.
This means that there is a part of the behaviour which is known, predictable and easily explainable. But there is another, quite substantial part, which cannot be understood and thus predicted or explained.
This is especially true in times of extreme stress or under those rare but unavoidable circumstances when the rational brain is bypassed by the amygdala to achieve quick, instinctive responses.
Thus, an apparent paradox comes into being which can only be resolved by recognizing that our initial assumption is untrue.
Thus, it is possible for a person to change his or her personality even at an age when conventional wisdom states that the personality is more or less reaching a state of stasis.
As to what proportion of outward personality can be changed vis-à-vis the inward personality is still unclear and may require further discussion by people more erudite than myself.
As to the possible application of the conclusion derived above, that is something I plan to adopt in the following days.
Whether the attempt is successful ergo proving my hypothesis is something left to the people in my coterie to ascertain.
I can only hope that it is so.
Note : The desirability of the application of the result of this thought experiment to society is something which is not included in the scope of this discussion.
At least outwardly. And once the outward change is completely manifested over a period of time, will this gradually lead to an equivalent change inwardly as well?
Especially if that someone has entered into the latter half of his twenties?
This is a thought experiment being conducted to ascertain the feasibility of such a theory.
A precognition required for this discussion is the concept of inner and outer personalities, one which is apparent to the outside world and one which is apparent only to the individual.
Let us start by assuming that it is not possible to do so.
It is not possible for someone to change his or her personality once they are well into their adulthood.
This means that this person will display the same set of different reactions to various stimuli consistently according to the dictates of his conscious personality.
Ergo, the person's reactions can be predicted to an accurate degree by keen observation during the application of a same set of stimuli under different circumstances.
But, the one thing that nature has taught us and which has been proved by considerable empirical evidence is that the behaviour of men is highly stochastic.
This means that there is a part of the behaviour which is known, predictable and easily explainable. But there is another, quite substantial part, which cannot be understood and thus predicted or explained.
This is especially true in times of extreme stress or under those rare but unavoidable circumstances when the rational brain is bypassed by the amygdala to achieve quick, instinctive responses.
Thus, an apparent paradox comes into being which can only be resolved by recognizing that our initial assumption is untrue.
Thus, it is possible for a person to change his or her personality even at an age when conventional wisdom states that the personality is more or less reaching a state of stasis.
As to what proportion of outward personality can be changed vis-à-vis the inward personality is still unclear and may require further discussion by people more erudite than myself.
As to the possible application of the conclusion derived above, that is something I plan to adopt in the following days.
Whether the attempt is successful ergo proving my hypothesis is something left to the people in my coterie to ascertain.
I can only hope that it is so.
Note : The desirability of the application of the result of this thought experiment to society is something which is not included in the scope of this discussion.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Homeland Security
In the manufactured world of the media, the detention of Shah Rukh Khan by the security staff at a US airport has knocked off the dreary details of Swine Flu off the main pages. Everybody and his uncle has an opinion on this one and as usual the media is blowing this incident way out of proportion. Our politicians have got into the act as well and now this threatens to be a diplomatic issue between New Delhi and Washington DC.
My opinion is that
a) This is a stupid issue.
b) King Khan is pretty much Kommoner Khan when it comes to the rest of the world.
b) An official complaint by the Indian Government on this issue will have as much effect on the Obama Government as much as that pesky fly did in one of his interviews (It got squished by the President of USA - for the benefit of those who didn't watch the video on Youtube).
c) US is doing a damn better job of protecting its shores with its racial profiling policies than India is.
Of course, its mightily racist of the US to target people in airports just because they happen to be Muslim. But lets face it, Islamic terrorists did attack the US on 911. We must understand that after 911 the Government swore that they'd never let another such incident occur again. Plus, they are doing it within the confines of their country. If we don't like it then we should stop visiting the US.
Hence, a Khan or a Siddiqui or a Sheikh will continue to face detention in US Airports, whether they like it or not. Thats until some Hindu terrorists (Oh they do exist!) carry out some attck on Uncle Sam. Then even Bhats will no longer be secure.
As for India, it has been almost a year since the September 11 attacks and we still haven't been able to convict one Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab. We are as vulnerable to another terrorist attack as we were on September 10, 2008. Of course it is difficult to similarly profile people at our airports considering that Hindu or Muslim we all look alike. Also, there are too many options open for the ghuspetiyas to ghus into our country.
Shahrukh has petulantly threatened that he will never visit the US again. Good for him.
On a parting note, isn't it curious that Shahrukh's new film is called "My name is Khan" whose story is about an Indian Muslim in the US who is unfairly targetted by the Government after 911. Is it a case of real life imitating the reel one, or is it just me but this stinks of a publicity stunt.
Either ways we shouldn't care.
P.S. I am kinda glad that Swine Flu is off the front pages after the blitzkrieg coverage it received from the media in the past few days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYNa4rhxffc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORZ00OyKp0I
My opinion is that
a) This is a stupid issue.
b) King Khan is pretty much Kommoner Khan when it comes to the rest of the world.
b) An official complaint by the Indian Government on this issue will have as much effect on the Obama Government as much as that pesky fly did in one of his interviews (It got squished by the President of USA - for the benefit of those who didn't watch the video on Youtube).
c) US is doing a damn better job of protecting its shores with its racial profiling policies than India is.
Of course, its mightily racist of the US to target people in airports just because they happen to be Muslim. But lets face it, Islamic terrorists did attack the US on 911. We must understand that after 911 the Government swore that they'd never let another such incident occur again. Plus, they are doing it within the confines of their country. If we don't like it then we should stop visiting the US.
Hence, a Khan or a Siddiqui or a Sheikh will continue to face detention in US Airports, whether they like it or not. Thats until some Hindu terrorists (Oh they do exist!) carry out some attck on Uncle Sam. Then even Bhats will no longer be secure.
As for India, it has been almost a year since the September 11 attacks and we still haven't been able to convict one Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab. We are as vulnerable to another terrorist attack as we were on September 10, 2008. Of course it is difficult to similarly profile people at our airports considering that Hindu or Muslim we all look alike. Also, there are too many options open for the ghuspetiyas to ghus into our country.
Shahrukh has petulantly threatened that he will never visit the US again. Good for him.
On a parting note, isn't it curious that Shahrukh's new film is called "My name is Khan" whose story is about an Indian Muslim in the US who is unfairly targetted by the Government after 911. Is it a case of real life imitating the reel one, or is it just me but this stinks of a publicity stunt.
Either ways we shouldn't care.
P.S. I am kinda glad that Swine Flu is off the front pages after the blitzkrieg coverage it received from the media in the past few days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYNa4rhxffc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORZ00OyKp0I
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The curious incident of the light in the night time
Ok this is some real freaky shit that's happening to me!
Someone is playing tricks with me and my parents swear it ain't them.
On Thursday morning, I woke up to find my mom standing in front of my bed with a frown on her face.
I wasn't in the mood to find out the reason for this so I pulled the covers over me further. But she pulled them off anyways and finally I found out what bugged her.
I had left the room tubelight on during the night. Knowing it was a touchy subject with her, I grudgingly listened to her complaints about the rising electricity bills, the recessionary state of the economy, etc.
Eventually I managed to soothe her frayed temper by promising never to commit such a heinous act again in a million years.
But on Friday morning the same scene was reenacted. This time I was mightily confused. I was damn sure I had switched out the light before hitting the snooze mode myself. This time she hadn't turned it off herself like yesterday so that I could see the proof with my own eyes.
Before hitting the bed yesterday, I paid special attention to the fact that I had switched the damn light off and I had locked my door too. But today morning the damn thing was on again.
Either I'm losing my mind, am suffering from some strange sleepwalking episode where all I do is switch on the light or there is a frigging ghost in my room with a pretty sad sense of humour. I plan to stay awake tonight with the lights off. I am going to solve this once and for all.
Hell yeah!
Someone is playing tricks with me and my parents swear it ain't them.
On Thursday morning, I woke up to find my mom standing in front of my bed with a frown on her face.
I wasn't in the mood to find out the reason for this so I pulled the covers over me further. But she pulled them off anyways and finally I found out what bugged her.
I had left the room tubelight on during the night. Knowing it was a touchy subject with her, I grudgingly listened to her complaints about the rising electricity bills, the recessionary state of the economy, etc.
Eventually I managed to soothe her frayed temper by promising never to commit such a heinous act again in a million years.
But on Friday morning the same scene was reenacted. This time I was mightily confused. I was damn sure I had switched out the light before hitting the snooze mode myself. This time she hadn't turned it off herself like yesterday so that I could see the proof with my own eyes.
Before hitting the bed yesterday, I paid special attention to the fact that I had switched the damn light off and I had locked my door too. But today morning the damn thing was on again.
Either I'm losing my mind, am suffering from some strange sleepwalking episode where all I do is switch on the light or there is a frigging ghost in my room with a pretty sad sense of humour. I plan to stay awake tonight with the lights off. I am going to solve this once and for all.
Hell yeah!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
A style of their own
...and thus, I just finished watching Andaz Apna Apna for the twelfth time.
Amazingly enough, it still managed to make me laugh. Which is when I realized that I had to blog about it.
What is it about this movie, a flop when it was released way back in 1994, which has since gone on to become a beloved cult classic, that pulls me back time and again?
Well for one, the director Rajkumar Santoshi had made this movie at the time when he was at the peak of his art, having already made Ghayal and Damini, two heavy-duty Hindi potboilers, still popular today.
Andaz Apna Apna was an out and out comedy. Unlike other Hindi movies of the time, which used comedy as an ingredient along with parts of romance, tragedy and action (typically termed masala movies), here was a movie which was packed with comedic material from start to end. And what material it turned out to be!
The amazing part of this movie is that even after multiple viewings there will always be a particular joke or a throwaway line which we discover, just like discovering a particularly good piece of prose in a book undetected in previous readings.
The jokes are hurled at us at a breakneck speed, and even though some of them do fall flat, most of them do hit the mark. Till today!
Speaking of "mark", the most brilliantly funny piece of farce I have seen till today, is the scene where Amar (i.e. Aamir Khan) draws a mark on the face of Ramgopal Bajaj (played brilliantly by Paresh Rawal) to distinguish him from Teja (Paresh Rawal again) in the eyes of Teja's bumbling henchmen, Robert and Bhalla. The very fact that someone actually conceptualised this scene speaks volumes of human creativity and inventiveness. In my eyes, no Hollywood movie has ever come up with a scene more funny.
And then there is the evergreen character of Crimemaster Gogo, a brilliant riff on the arch-villian Mogambo from Mr. India. In fact, he is introduced as Mogambo ka bhatija (nephew). Played by Shakti Kapoor, everything about the character is funny, from the costumes he dons, to the modus operandi he uses to rob his victims, to the one-liners he spouts. "Aaya huun, kuchh toh loot ke jayega".
As for the plot ... there is no plot. Basically, the story is about two rascals, Amar and Prem who go to Ooty to marry the daughter of the billionaire industrialist Ramgopal Bajaj, Raveena (or Karishma) who has returned to India from the USA to find a groom for herself. But the evil mastermind Teja, RamGopal Bajaj's evil twin brother has his eyes on the family fortune ...
The movie is so wonderfully amazing, that even Salman Khan (who plays Prem) is funny, a feat that he has never again managed to achieve in any movie after that. Aamir Khan is endearing as the cocky Amar, who always tries to stay one step ahead of the slightly dim witted Prem, but ends up ... but that is something you need to watch.
Me and my friends in Hexaware, Siddhesh and Prakash have been and will be die-hard fans of the movie. We spent countless lunch breaks endlessly spouting the hilarious one-liners in the movies (mostly from Teja) applying them to all sorts of day to day situations.
I could go on and on about this movie. It is one of my favourite films and THE best comedy of all time. If you haven't watched this movie, do watch it ASAP. If you don't understand Hindi, get a friend to translate.
Believe you me, there are few better ways to spend two and a half hours on a Sunday afternoon.
Amazingly enough, it still managed to make me laugh. Which is when I realized that I had to blog about it.
What is it about this movie, a flop when it was released way back in 1994, which has since gone on to become a beloved cult classic, that pulls me back time and again?
Well for one, the director Rajkumar Santoshi had made this movie at the time when he was at the peak of his art, having already made Ghayal and Damini, two heavy-duty Hindi potboilers, still popular today.
Andaz Apna Apna was an out and out comedy. Unlike other Hindi movies of the time, which used comedy as an ingredient along with parts of romance, tragedy and action (typically termed masala movies), here was a movie which was packed with comedic material from start to end. And what material it turned out to be!
The amazing part of this movie is that even after multiple viewings there will always be a particular joke or a throwaway line which we discover, just like discovering a particularly good piece of prose in a book undetected in previous readings.
The jokes are hurled at us at a breakneck speed, and even though some of them do fall flat, most of them do hit the mark. Till today!
Speaking of "mark", the most brilliantly funny piece of farce I have seen till today, is the scene where Amar (i.e. Aamir Khan) draws a mark on the face of Ramgopal Bajaj (played brilliantly by Paresh Rawal) to distinguish him from Teja (Paresh Rawal again) in the eyes of Teja's bumbling henchmen, Robert and Bhalla. The very fact that someone actually conceptualised this scene speaks volumes of human creativity and inventiveness. In my eyes, no Hollywood movie has ever come up with a scene more funny.
And then there is the evergreen character of Crimemaster Gogo, a brilliant riff on the arch-villian Mogambo from Mr. India. In fact, he is introduced as Mogambo ka bhatija (nephew). Played by Shakti Kapoor, everything about the character is funny, from the costumes he dons, to the modus operandi he uses to rob his victims, to the one-liners he spouts. "Aaya huun, kuchh toh loot ke jayega".
As for the plot ... there is no plot. Basically, the story is about two rascals, Amar and Prem who go to Ooty to marry the daughter of the billionaire industrialist Ramgopal Bajaj, Raveena (or Karishma) who has returned to India from the USA to find a groom for herself. But the evil mastermind Teja, RamGopal Bajaj's evil twin brother has his eyes on the family fortune ...
The movie is so wonderfully amazing, that even Salman Khan (who plays Prem) is funny, a feat that he has never again managed to achieve in any movie after that. Aamir Khan is endearing as the cocky Amar, who always tries to stay one step ahead of the slightly dim witted Prem, but ends up ... but that is something you need to watch.
Me and my friends in Hexaware, Siddhesh and Prakash have been and will be die-hard fans of the movie. We spent countless lunch breaks endlessly spouting the hilarious one-liners in the movies (mostly from Teja) applying them to all sorts of day to day situations.
I could go on and on about this movie. It is one of my favourite films and THE best comedy of all time. If you haven't watched this movie, do watch it ASAP. If you don't understand Hindi, get a friend to translate.
Believe you me, there are few better ways to spend two and a half hours on a Sunday afternoon.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
A year of management education
As my first year of MBA almost comes to a close (just two more days remain), the first thought that comes to my mind is "Is this it?"
Is this all that the great Indian obsession, the much vaunted term "Management Education", adds up to?
How much of management have I really learned, in comparison to what I might have learned if I had stayed back at my old job is an interesting question. Not that I would have really stayed back in my old job but that's because my old company is currently in a pretty bad shape. Rather, if I had continued to be in IT.
Sure there was a slim chance that considering the current economic scenario I might have been laid off, but self-deprecating though I am, I do have enough self-confidence to believe that I wouldn't have been thrown out.
I must confess that I possess little of what are generally acknowledged to be "Management Skills". That is something that you pick up eventually with experience. All I have been equipped with is an uncertain sense of jargon. I am vaguely aware of what most of the terms mean. Also, after a year, I can now confidently sift through the Economic Times and understand the nuances behind the articles, and not be bewildered by the unfamiliar terms, as was the case pre-MBA.
So now, after these two days are over and a 5 day break in between, I move into my Summer Internship phase. Ah! Now this is where the real challenge is going to lie. I have been given a Sales profile and I am uncertain as to how adequately I am prepared for it. Firstly, throughout this past year, I have been somewhat of a social recluse, happy to stick to my room surfing the internet, rather then going out there and networking.
I have managed to make few good friends, but not nearly enough. Now being in sales, my attitude will need to show a 90 degree shift. I cannot afford to be a recluse anymore or I might as well kiss the chances of a Pre Placement Offer goodbye. But this past year I have done little to develop this skill, nor is it something that comes to me naturally.
Anyhow, there's no sense worrying about it now and I guess it is going to be a case of Baptism by fire. I am not unduly stressed about it. One thing I have realized is, I do manage to accomplish stuff in my own special, bumbling and diffident manner. But Boy! Is this internship going to be completely different from anything that I have endeavoured before!
But then this is why I joined to do an MBA in the first place!
Today, when I read my post "Chala Murari hero banane", written just before I had joined my b-school, I find a curious sense of optimism that seems to have somehow, just diminished a little. Mind you, it's just a little dip. I do not think I will be posting again till my Internships are over.
How will it all turn out? What experiences will I have? I am damn curious to peek into the future and find out but unfortunately I have no recourse but to allow things to take their own sweet time.
So until next time, Sayonara!
Is this all that the great Indian obsession, the much vaunted term "Management Education", adds up to?
How much of management have I really learned, in comparison to what I might have learned if I had stayed back at my old job is an interesting question. Not that I would have really stayed back in my old job but that's because my old company is currently in a pretty bad shape. Rather, if I had continued to be in IT.
Sure there was a slim chance that considering the current economic scenario I might have been laid off, but self-deprecating though I am, I do have enough self-confidence to believe that I wouldn't have been thrown out.
I must confess that I possess little of what are generally acknowledged to be "Management Skills". That is something that you pick up eventually with experience. All I have been equipped with is an uncertain sense of jargon. I am vaguely aware of what most of the terms mean. Also, after a year, I can now confidently sift through the Economic Times and understand the nuances behind the articles, and not be bewildered by the unfamiliar terms, as was the case pre-MBA.
So now, after these two days are over and a 5 day break in between, I move into my Summer Internship phase. Ah! Now this is where the real challenge is going to lie. I have been given a Sales profile and I am uncertain as to how adequately I am prepared for it. Firstly, throughout this past year, I have been somewhat of a social recluse, happy to stick to my room surfing the internet, rather then going out there and networking.
I have managed to make few good friends, but not nearly enough. Now being in sales, my attitude will need to show a 90 degree shift. I cannot afford to be a recluse anymore or I might as well kiss the chances of a Pre Placement Offer goodbye. But this past year I have done little to develop this skill, nor is it something that comes to me naturally.
Anyhow, there's no sense worrying about it now and I guess it is going to be a case of Baptism by fire. I am not unduly stressed about it. One thing I have realized is, I do manage to accomplish stuff in my own special, bumbling and diffident manner. But Boy! Is this internship going to be completely different from anything that I have endeavoured before!
But then this is why I joined to do an MBA in the first place!
Today, when I read my post "Chala Murari hero banane", written just before I had joined my b-school, I find a curious sense of optimism that seems to have somehow, just diminished a little. Mind you, it's just a little dip. I do not think I will be posting again till my Internships are over.
How will it all turn out? What experiences will I have? I am damn curious to peek into the future and find out but unfortunately I have no recourse but to allow things to take their own sweet time.
So until next time, Sayonara!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
An ode
I came across this beautiful poem by Arthur O'Shaughnessy during my travels on the Internet.
I think I know what it means, but I am not sure. I somehow am entranced by it and a whole world of imagination opens in front of my eyes.
WE are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.
With wonderful deathless ditties
We build up the world's great cities,
And out of a fabulous story
We fashion an empire's glory:
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song's measure
Can trample an empire down.
We, in the ages lying
In the buried past of the earth,
Built Nineveh with our sighing,
And Babel itself with our mirth;
And o'erthrew them with prophesying
To the old of the new world's worth;
For each age is a dream that is dying,
Or one that is coming to birth.
I think I know what it means, but I am not sure. I somehow am entranced by it and a whole world of imagination opens in front of my eyes.
WE are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.
With wonderful deathless ditties
We build up the world's great cities,
And out of a fabulous story
We fashion an empire's glory:
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song's measure
Can trample an empire down.
We, in the ages lying
In the buried past of the earth,
Built Nineveh with our sighing,
And Babel itself with our mirth;
And o'erthrew them with prophesying
To the old of the new world's worth;
For each age is a dream that is dying,
Or one that is coming to birth.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Raw poetry from Trainspotting
Choose Life.
Choose a job.
Choose a career.
Choose a family.
Choose a fucking big television,
choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers.
Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance.
Choose fixed interest mortage repayments.
Choose a starter home.
Choose your friends.
Choose leisurewear and matching luggage.
Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics.
Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning.
Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows,
stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth.
Choose rotting away at the end of it all,
pishing your last in a miserable home,
nothing more than an embarrassment
to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourself.
Choose your future.
Choose life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJzX9i24IKs
Choose a job.
Choose a career.
Choose a family.
Choose a fucking big television,
choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers.
Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance.
Choose fixed interest mortage repayments.
Choose a starter home.
Choose your friends.
Choose leisurewear and matching luggage.
Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics.
Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning.
Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows,
stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth.
Choose rotting away at the end of it all,
pishing your last in a miserable home,
nothing more than an embarrassment
to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourself.
Choose your future.
Choose life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJzX9i24IKs
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Marketing
If there is one subject which is full of self-important jargon it is marketing.
Try some of these on for size.
We should leverage our core competencies to target the value for money segment.
By optimizing the usage of the 4Ps we shall provide a value proposition to all our stakeholders.
We will position our brand to attain relevant synergies with the consumer.
I could go on. One year in MBA has given me this tool with which I can "pfaff" with ease. Pfaff(P silent) - the latest word added to my vocabulary. One which in its simple structure covers the entire course of MBA.
MBA is all Pfaff. What does Pfaff mean? It means making stuff up as you go along, all the while enclosing it in a mist of meaningful sounding jargon to hide the fact that all you are saying is utter bullshit. In a way all MBAs learn to be confidence men or shysters. Some get better at it. Some like me initially rebel against it but later join in the flow.
Because its easier to do so and more practical.
Try some of these on for size.
We should leverage our core competencies to target the value for money segment.
By optimizing the usage of the 4Ps we shall provide a value proposition to all our stakeholders.
We will position our brand to attain relevant synergies with the consumer.
I could go on. One year in MBA has given me this tool with which I can "pfaff" with ease. Pfaff(P silent) - the latest word added to my vocabulary. One which in its simple structure covers the entire course of MBA.
MBA is all Pfaff. What does Pfaff mean? It means making stuff up as you go along, all the while enclosing it in a mist of meaningful sounding jargon to hide the fact that all you are saying is utter bullshit. In a way all MBAs learn to be confidence men or shysters. Some get better at it. Some like me initially rebel against it but later join in the flow.
Because its easier to do so and more practical.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Wretched thoughts
There is a nihilistic urge within me that threatens to immolate me. I feel I could self combust at any instant such is the nature of the urge. It has been caused by my inability in the recent past to have any kind of control or be able to harness my thoughts and my actions.
I despair. I despair at my inability to wake up from my slumber. It is as if a part of me has been blindfolded, ruthlessly cut off from the rest of my being. I find solace in writing this down. Slowly I find my frustration ebbing as if the inner clutter is being swept away. I glance at my hands as they type, tippety-tap, on the keyboard. I wonder how I'd live without them. To be rudderless in an ocean of misery.
But then my mood lifts. It was all due to a game I had begun with someone. Trying to infect that person with my negativism. And it seemed to work. I seemed to have transferred my fury and rage and incoherence and the translucent haze was lifted off my mind. I could see clearly how facetious I had truly been, how all these words and thoughts were an elaborate charade, created by a bored intellect and mistaken for torpor. I could see through the self important claptrap and suddenly I realized. I need to stop typing and start studying.
Oh wretched BDA, you soporific subject taught by that odious demagogue, I take a stab at you again!
I despair. I despair at my inability to wake up from my slumber. It is as if a part of me has been blindfolded, ruthlessly cut off from the rest of my being. I find solace in writing this down. Slowly I find my frustration ebbing as if the inner clutter is being swept away. I glance at my hands as they type, tippety-tap, on the keyboard. I wonder how I'd live without them. To be rudderless in an ocean of misery.
But then my mood lifts. It was all due to a game I had begun with someone. Trying to infect that person with my negativism. And it seemed to work. I seemed to have transferred my fury and rage and incoherence and the translucent haze was lifted off my mind. I could see clearly how facetious I had truly been, how all these words and thoughts were an elaborate charade, created by a bored intellect and mistaken for torpor. I could see through the self important claptrap and suddenly I realized. I need to stop typing and start studying.
Oh wretched BDA, you soporific subject taught by that odious demagogue, I take a stab at you again!
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